Robert Lowery (actor)

Motion picture and stage actor; born Kansas City, Missouri, October 17, 1913; passed away December 26, 1971 in Hollywood, California. Father Roscoe Hanks was a local attorney and oil investor; mother Leah Thompson Hanks was a concert pianist. Mr. Lowery graduated from Paseo High School as an accomplished athlete, and sang with the Slats Randall Orchestra in the early 1930's. He went to Hollywood in 1935 after the death of his father, and signed with Twentieth Century Fox in 1937 after attending the Lila Bliss acting school. Some of his earliest films included major productions such as "Four Sons" and "Drums Along the Mohawk."

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Mr. Lowery went on to make over seventy motion pictures, mostly action films. Some notable films from the forties include:"The Mark of Zorro," "Big Town," "The Mummy's Ghost," "Dangerous Passage," and many others. He is also known as territorial governor Cuthbert in the John Wayne film "McClintock!."

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Mr. Lowery also played the second batman in the 1949 serial version of the caped crusader. He also enjoyed a successful stage career, and appeared on stage with wife Jean Parker in "Born Yesterday," "Caine Mutiny" and in several other stage productions. Well known during the fifties as 'Big Tim Champion' on the TV series "Circus Boy." Featured in Ivan Tors' "Zebra in the Kitchen", "Johnny Reno", "Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond" and several other theatrical releases during the 1960's. Other TV appearances include those on "Playhouse 90: The Helen Morgan Story," "Wagon Train," starred in the sitcom "Pistols and Petticoats" with close friend Ann Sheridan; and appeared on the sitcom "Hazel".

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He bore a striking resemblance to Clark Gable in his later years. Mr. Lowery is survived by his son, Robert; two granddaughters,and widow Jean Parker, now 90.

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