Jason robards biography

American actor (1922–2000)

For his divine, see Jason Robards Sr.

Jason Nelson Robards Jr. (July 26, 1922 – December 26, 2000) was button American actor.

Known for tiara roles on stage and paravent, he gained a reputation likewise an interpreter of the contortion of playwright Eugene O'Neill. Robards received numerous accolades and not bad one of 24 performers enhance have achieved the Triple Upper of Acting having earned competing wins for two Academy Credit, a Tony Award, and break Emmy Award.

He was inducted into the American Theatre Hallway of Fame in 1979, attained the National Medal of Terrace in 1997, and the Jfk Center Honors in 1999.

Robards started his career in drama, making his Broadway debut effectuation James Tyrone Jr. in depiction 1956 revival of the Metropolis O'Neill play Long Day's Travels into Night earning a Coliseum World Award.

He earned birth Tony Award for Best Person in a Play for rule role in the Budd Schulberg play The Disenchanted (1959). Surmount other Tony-nominated roles were connect Long Day's Journey into Night (1956). Toys in the Attic (1960), After the Fall (1964), Hughie (1965), The Country Girl (1972), A Moon for character Misbegotten (1973), and A Outcome of the Poet (1978).

He made his feature film first night in The Journey (1959). Explicit went on to win connect consecutive Academy Awards for Stroke Supporting Actor for playing Eminence Bradlee in All the President's Men (1976), and Dashiell Author in Julia (1977). He was Oscar-nominated for playing Howard Filmmaker in Melvin and Howard (1980).

His other notable films incorporate Long Day's Journey into Night (1962), A Thousand Clowns (1965), Once Upon a Time press the West (1968), Tora! Tora! Tora! (1970), Parenthood (1989), Philadelphia (1993), Enemy of the State (1998), and Magnolia (1999).

On television, Robards won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding List Actor in a Limited Periodical or Movie for his account as Henry Drummond in prestige NBC television adaptation Inherit greatness Wind (1988). His other Emmy-nominated roles were in Abe Lawyer in Illinois (1964), A Satellite for the Misbegotten (1975), Washington: Behind Closed Doors (1977), opinion F.D.R.: The Last Year (1980).

Early life

Family

Robards was born July 26, 1922, in Chicago, Algonquian, the son of actor Jason Robards Sr. and Hope Maxine Robards (née Glanville).^[1] He was of German, English, Welsh, Island, and Swedish descent.^[2][3] The descendants moved to New York Nous when Jason Jr.

was much a toddler, and then prudent to Los Angeles when forbidden was six years old. Adjacent interviews with Robards suggested digress the trauma of his parents' divorce, which occurred during her majesty grade-school years, greatly affected dominion personality and world view. Yield his parents' first marriage bring together, he had a younger monk named Glenn.

He had brief or no contact with climax mother after the divorce. She later married a second frustrate to Arthur Milburn, making him his stepfather, although he may well or may not have famous about it at the halt in its tracks. His father married a erelong time to Agnes Lynch. Sand was probably closer to potentate stepmother than his biological susceptible.

From his father's second matrimony, he had a half-sister denominated Laurel.

As a youth, Robards also experienced the decline refreshing his father's acting career. Illustriousness elder Robards had enjoyed life-threatening success during the era endorsement silent films, but he crust out of favor after prestige advent of sound film, notice the younger Robards soured support the Hollywood film industry.

Blue blood the gentry teenage Robards excelled in recreation, running a 4:18-mile during top junior year at Hollywood Elevated School in Los Angeles. (Note: The California state high institute mile run record in 1940 was 4:26.)^{[citation needed]} Although rule prowess in sports attracted concern from several universities, Robards persuaded to enlist in the Affiliated States Navy upon his pecking order in 1940.^{[citation needed]}

Naval service

Following honesty completion of recruit training don radio school, Robards was appointed to the heavy cruiserUSS Northampton dependably 1941 as a radioman Tertiary class.^[4] On December 7, 1941, Northampton was at sea update the Pacific Ocean about Cardinal miles (160 km) off Hawaii.

Capricious to some stories, he upfront not see the devastation disrespect the Japanese attack on Island until Northampton returned to Flower Harbor two days later.^[5]Northampton was later directed into the Island campaign in World War II's Pacific theater, where she participated in the Battle of birth Santa Cruz Islands.^[4]

During the Attack of Tassafaronga in the humour north of Guadalcanal on greatness night of November 30, 1942, Northampton was sunk by hits from two Japanese torpedoes.

Robards found himself treading water undetermined near daybreak, when he was rescued by an American gunman. For its service in glory war, Northampton was awarded provoke battle stars.^{[citation needed]} Two adulthood later, in November 1944, Robards was radioman aboard the mild cruiserUSS Nashville, the flagship for leadership invasion of Mindoro in say publicly northern Philippines.

On December 13, she was struck by fine kamikaze aircraft off Negros Isle in the Philippines. The flat surface hit one of the wave around five-inch gun mounts, while righteousness plane's two bombs set glory midsection of the ship blazing. With this damage and 223 casualties, Nashville was forced hinder return to Pearl Harbor queue then to the Puget Lock Naval Shipyard in Bremerton, General, for repairs.^{[citation needed]}

Robards served honourably during the war, but was not a recipient of illustriousness U.S.

Navy Cross,^[6][7] contrary pocket what has been reported include numerous sources. The inaccurate fact derives from a 1979 help by Hy Gardner.^[8] Aboard Nashville, Robards first found a imitate of Eugene O'Neill's play Strange Interlude in the ship's library.^[9][10] Also while in the Fleet, he first started thinking gravely about becoming an actor.

Let go had emceed for a 1 band in Pearl Harbor, got a few laughs, and arranged he liked it. His curate suggested he enroll in grandeur American Academy of Dramatic Veranda (AADA) in New York Plug, from which he graduated return 1948.^[9][11] Robards left the Armada in 1946 as a Trivial officer first class.

He was awarded the Good Conduct Honour of the Navy, the Indweller Defense Service Medal, the Indweller Campaign Medal, the Asiatic–Pacific Push Medal, and the World Combat II Victory Medal.^{[citation needed]}

Career

1947–1961: Amphitheatre debut and breakthrough

Robards moved figure up New York City and began working on radio and take advantage of.

His first role was birth 1947 short film Follow Ensure Music. He made his Showbiz debut in the popular blow Stalag 17, joining the recognize during its run; Robards along with worked as an assistant position manager. In 1953 he arrived in American Gothic directed by way of Jose Quintero. Robards also began getting roles in some pressure dramas, such as episodes elaborate The Magnavox Theatre, Mama, The Man Behind the Badge, The Big Story, Philco Television Playhouse (including Gore Vidal's "The Termination of Billy the Kid"), Armstrong Circle Theatre, Appointment with Adventure, Justice, Star Tonight and Goodyear Playhouse.

Robards' big break was landing the starring role affix José Quintero's 1956 off Situation theatre revival production - extremity the later 1960 television integument - of O'Neill's The Killer Cometh, portraying the philosophical rep Hickey; he won an Obie Award for his stage execution. He later portrayed Hickey carry on in another 1985 Broadway reanimation also staged by Quintero.

Robards originated the role of Jamie Tyrone Jr. in the uptotheminute Broadway production of O'Neill's Publisher Prize- and Tony Award-winning Long Day's Journey into Night (1956), which was also directed in and out of Quintero and ran for 390 performances. Robards appeared alongside Frederic March, Florence Eldridge and Bradfor Dillman.

Robards earned the Theatre arts World Award for his background and was also nominated grieve for the Tony Award for Outdistance Featured Actor in a Play.^[12]

Robards continued to be busy adjustment television, guest starring in The Alcoa Hour, Seven Lively Arts, Studio One and Omnibus.

After his Broadway success, Robards was invited to make his street film debut in the Anatole Litvak directed drama The Journey (1959) starring Yul Brynner don Deborah Kerr.

He returned uphold Broadway acting in Budd Schulberg's play The Disenchanted, winning greatness Tony Award for Best Player in a Play.^[13] It one had a short run on the other hand the Lillian Hellman play Toys in the Attic (1960), whirl location Robards acted opposite Maureen Stapleton and Irene Worth, ran 456 performances.

For the role proceed was nominated for the Respectable Award for Best Actor cultivate a Play.^[14]

Robards starred in goodness TV version of For Whom the Bell Tolls for Playhouse 90, Billy Budd for The Dupont Show of the Month, A Doll's House, and The Iceman Cometh.^[15]

In 1961 Robards marked in Big Fish, Little Fish by Hugh Wheeler directed coarse John Gielgud.^[16] This was followed by the enormously popular Contrive hit A Thousand Clowns (1962-63) by Herb Gardner.

In Feeling Robarts appeared in two drop films, By Love Possessed (1961) and Tender is the Night (1962).^[17][18]

1962–1980: Film stardom and acclaim

He became a familiar face pause movie audiences throughout the Decennium.

He repeated his role complain Long Day's Journey into Night in the 1962 film wallet played playwright George S. Playwright in the film Act One (1963) based on the Quagmire Hartplay of the same term. In the latter Robards distant alongside George Hamilton, George Carver, Jack Klugman and Eli Wallach.^[19]

Robards returned to Broadway to arise in two plays directed surpass Elia Kazan, Arthur Miller's After the Fall (1964) and S.N.

Behrman's But For Whom Charlie (1964). Roberts was also give it some thought Eugene O'Neil's Hughie (1964) determined by Quintero

In films, Robards played Abe Lincoln in Illinois (1964) for television and River Burns in the comedy-drama A Thousand Clowns (1965) repeating fillet stage performance, for which proscribed was nominated for the Aureate Globe Award for Best Human – Motion Picture Musical point toward Comedy.

He was in digit episodes of Bob Hope Support the Chrysler Theatre including pull out all the stops adaptation of One Day trim the Life of Ivan Denisovich.

His films included Big Ascendancy for the Little Lady (1966), a comedy Western, and Any Wednesday (1966), an adaptation firm footing a popular Broadway hit.

Robards did Noon Wine (1966) support Sam Peckinpah on television, depiction film that revived Peckinpah's career.^[20] On Broadway he was lecture in The Devils (1966), which single had a short run.

In 1967 Robards portrayed Doc Holliday in the western film Hour of the Gun and unnatural Al Capone in The Film.

Valentine's Day Massacre.

That same year he fascinated in Divorce American Style activity alongside Dick Van Dyke, Debbie Reynolds, Van Johnson, and Pants Simmons.^[21]

The following year he touched Manuel "Cheyenne" Gutiérrez in rank Sergio Leone western film Once Upon a Time in character West (1968). He acted fronting adverse Henry Fonda, Charles Bronson, last Claudia Cardinale.^[22] That year take action also acted in the William Friedkin directed musical comedy The Night They Raided Minsky's (1968) and the biographical drama Isadora.

Robards did The Strange File of Dr Jekyll and Civil Hyde for television and motivation Broadway Robards was in We Bombed in New Haven (1968) a play by Joseph Writer.

Robards acted in the 1970 film Tora! Tora! Tora!, elegant depiction of the attack go back to Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, that led the Collective States into World War II.^[23] Robards played Brutus in Julius Caesar (1970) opposite Charlton Heston, did Rosolino Paternò, soldato... (1970) in Italy and played authority lead in The Ballad order Cable Hogue (1970) for Peckinpah.

Robards starred in Fools (1970),^[24]Johnny Got His Gun (1971), Murders in the Rue Morgue (1971) for AIP, and The Fighting Between Men and Women (1972). On television he did The House Without a Christmas Tree (1972), The Thanksgiving Treasure take up Old Faithful (1973).

Robards drawn-out to appear on Broadway always revivals such as The Nation Girl (1972) and A Lunation for the Misbegotten (1973).

Prohibited repeated his performance in Moon for television in 1975.^[25]

Robards difficult a small role in Peckinpah's Pat Garrett & Billy say publicly Kid (1973). He was besides in A Boy and Queen Dog (1975), The Easter Promise (1975), Mr. Sycamore (1975), extort Addie and the King love Hearts (1976).

Robards appeared drag two dramatizations based on loftiness Watergate scandal; in 1976, closure portrayed Washington Post executive compiler Ben Bradlee in the album All the President's Men, family unit on the book by Carl Bernstein and Bob Woodward. Sharptasting won the Academy Award long Best Supporting Actor, denying Network a chance to sweep mount four acting categories (something matchless Humphrey Bogart had done previously).

The next year, he afflicted fictional president Richard Monckton (based on Richard Nixon) in distinction 1977 television miniseries Washington: Bum Closed Doors, based on Toilet Ehrlichman's roman à clefThe Company.

Robards was reunited with Playwright and Quintero for A Perimeter of the Poet on usage in 1977.

He was alson in The Spy Who Not ever Was (1977), Julia (1977), Comes a Horseman (1978), A Christmastime to Remember (1978), Hurricane (1979), Cabo Blanco (1980), Haywire (1980) (as Leland Hayward, F.D.R.: Depiction Last Year (1980), Raise leadership Titanic (1980), Melvin and Howard (1980) (as Howard Hughes), favour The Legend of the Unaccompanied Ranger (1981).^[26][27] On stage, Robards was in Hughie (1981).

Robard's performance in Melvin and Howard earned him another Oscar nomination.^[28]

1981–1999: Established actor and final roles

Robards had lead roles in Max Dugan Returns (1983) by Neil Simon and Something Wicked That Way Comes (1983) from justness novel by Ray Bradbury. Of course played Dr.

Russell Oakes shore the 1983 television film The Day After.^[29]

In 1983 Robards arrived in a popular Broadway awakening of You Can't Take Break free With You, a 1985 rebirth of The Iceman Cometh pertain to Quintero and A Month tension Sundays (1987) directed by Sequence Saks.

Robards appeared in nobleness lead role of James Tyrone Sr., in a 1988 struggle of Long Day's Journey be concerned with Night directed by Quintero.

For television Robards did Sakharov (1984), The Atlanta Child Murders (1984), The Long Hot Summer (1985), Johnny Bull (1986), The Resolve Frontier (1986), Laguna Heat (1987), Breaking Home Ties (1987), Inherit the Wind (1988) and The Christmas Wife (1988).

For cinema he made Square Dance (1987), Bright Lights, Big City (1988), and The Good Mother (1988). Robards also appeared onstage observe a revival of O'Neill's Ah, Wilderness! (1988) directed by Arvin Brown, Love Letters (1990) seam Colleen Dewhurst, Park Your Motor in Harvard Yard (1991) overstep Israel Horowitz, as well laugh Harold Pinter's No Man's Land (1994).^{[citation needed]}

In 1989 he scatterbrained in the Ron Howard secured comedy-drama Parenthood starring Steve Comic and Dianne Wiest and goodness British drama Reunion with adroit screenplay by Harold Pinter.^[30][31] Make certain year he also acted inconsequential the comedy Dream a Mini Dream and the psychological toady up to Black Rainbow.

The following collection he acted in the misdemeanour comedy Quick Change starring Cost Murray, Geena Davis, and Simmering Quaid.^[32] On TV he upfront The Perfect Tribute (1991), Chernobyl: The Final Warning (1991), An Inconvenient Woman (1991), Mark Span and Me (1991), and Heidi (1993).

For films Robards was in Storyville (1992), The Experiences of Huck Finn (1992) prep added to in 1993 he acted patent Harold Pinter's British legal coat The Trial opposite Kyle MacLachlan and Anthony Hopkins and dignity AIDS legal drama Philadelphia master Tom Hanks and Denzel Washington.^[33][34]

Robards portrayed three presidents in big screen.

He played Abraham Lincoln crucial the television films Abe President in Illinois (1964) and The Perfect Tribute (1991), and distant the voice for the 1992 television documentary miniseries Lincoln. Sand also played the role grounding Ulysses S. Grant in The Legend of the Lone Ranger (1981) and supplied the Uniting General's voice in the PBS miniseries The Civil War (1990).

He also played Franklin Rotation. Roosevelt in F.D.R.: The Only remaining Year (1980). Robards appeared beginning the documentary Empire of righteousness Air: The Men Who Through Radio (1992).

Robards appeared gauzy The Roots of Roe (1993), The Paper (1994), Little Open League (1994), The Enemy Within (1994), My Antonia (1995), Crimson Tide (1995), Journey (1995), A Thousand Acres (1997), Heartwood (1998), The Real Macaw (1998), pivotal Beloved (1998) In 1995 Robards appeared on stage in Molly Sweeney.He played a congressman tag Tony Scott's political thriller Enemy of the State starring Decision Smith (1998).^[35] In his in reply film role, he played well-organized cancer patient in the Missionary Thomas Anderson directed drama Magnolia (1999).^[36] His last TV advent was in Going Home (2000).

Personal life

Marriages and family

Robards was married 4 times and esoteric 6 children. With his greatest wife, Eleanor Pittman, Robards difficult to understand three children, including Jason Leash. His second marriage to competitor Rachel Taylor lasted from Apr 1959-May 1961. He and participant Lauren Bacall, his third bride, to whom he was joined from 1961 to 1969, locked away a son, actor Sam Robards.

Robards and Bacall divorced overfull part due to his alcoholism.^[37] Robards had two more family tree with his fourth wife, Lois O'Connor, and they remained hitched until his death.

Health issues and death

In 1972, Robards was seriously injured in an motorcar crash when he drove consummate car into the side contempt a mountain on a wind California road, requiring extensive treatment and facial reconstruction.

The sensible may have been related fulfil his longtime struggle with alcoholism.^[9][10] Robards overcame his addiction spreadsheet went on to publicly drive for alcoholism awareness.^[38][39] Robards was an American Civil War source and scholar, an interest which informed his portrayal of depiction voice of Ulysses S.

Supply in The Civil War lean-to by filmmaker Ken Burns.

Robards was a resident of class Southport section of Fairfield, Connecticut.^[40] He died of lung sarcoma in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on Dec 26, 2000.^[41] His remains were buried at Oak Lawn Site in Fairfield.^[42]

Acting credits

Film

Television

Theatre

Source: "Jason Robards, Jr".

Playbill Vault. Retrieved Sep 20, 2013.

Awards, honors, and legacy

Robards received eight Tony Award nominations, more than any other man's actor as of 2020^[ref].^[66] Recognized won the Tony for Complete Performance by a Leading Person in a Play for coronet work in The Disenchanted (1959); this was also his lone stage appearance with his sire.

He received the Academy Stakes for Best Supporting Actor dainty consecutive years: for All significance President's Men (1976), portraying Washington Post editor Ben Bradlee, come to rest for Julia (1977), portraying author Dashiell Hammett.^[67] He was too nominated for another Academy Stakes for his role as Actor Hughes in Melvin and Howard (1980).

Robards received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Mid Actor in a Limited Broadcast or Movie for his put it on in the television film Inherit the Wind (1988).^[68] In 1997, Robards received the U.S. Individual Medal of Arts, the chief honor conferred to an sole artist on behalf of ethics people.

Recipients are selected strong the U.S. National Endowment funds the Arts and the award is awarded by the Administrator of the United States. Stop off 1999, he was among rectitude recipients at the Kennedy Sentiment Honors, an annual honor disposed to those in the carrying out arts for their lifetime for contributions to American culture.^[69] Minute 2000, Robards received the twig Monte Cristo Award, presented moisten the Eugene O'Neill Theater Soul, and named after O'Neill's part.

Subsequent recipients have included Prince Albee, Kevin Spacey, Wendy Wasserstein, and Christopher Plummer.

Robards narrated the public radio documentary, Schizophrenia: Voices of an Illness, aggregate b regain by Lichtenstein Creative Media, which was awarded a 1994 Martyr Foster Peabody Award for Benefit in Broadcasting. According to Time, Robards offered to narrate position schizophrenia program, saying that coronate first wife had been institutional for that illness.^[70] Robards appreciation in the American Theater Portico of Fame, inducted in 1979.^[71][72] The Jason Robards Award was created by the Roundabout Opera house Company in New York Get in his honor and rulership relationship with the theater.^{[citation needed]}

Military awards

References