Cliff Robertson

Actor

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The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About

About this interview

In his two-and-a-half-hour interview, Cliff Robertson (1923-2011) talks about his training at the Actors Studio and his early career on the New York stage. He talks about working in anthology series during the "live" television era of the 1950s. He discusses his role as "Charlie Gordon" on both television (The U.S. Steel Hour's "The Two Worlds of Charlie Gordon") and in film (Charly, which earned him an Oscar for Best Actor). He speaks in great detail about his work with director John Frankenheimer on the Playhouse 90 show "The Days of Wine and Roses." Robertson talks about being personally selected by President John F. Kennedy to play him in the feature film PT 109. He describes his two appearances on the classic anthology series The Twilight Zone and speaks about series creator Rod Serling. Robertson discusses his blacklisting by the industry following "Hollywoodgate," in which he accused Columbia Pictures head David Begelman of forging a check. Robertson speaks about several of his television movie appearances as well the television series Rod Brown and the Rocket Rangers and Batman. Stephen J. Abramson conducted the interview on March 1, 2005 in Beverly Hills, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"Willy Loman's wife had that line in that wonderful Arthur Miller play, 'Death of a Salesman': 'Attention must be paid.' I think our attention span in this business is so short. We're worried about some little starlet temporarily on all the covers of all the magazines. That's kind of shallow. Attention must be paid to those talents that are real, that are viable, that are lasting."

People Talking About ...

Cliff Robertson

Highlights

Cliff Robertson on being selected by John F. Kennedy to play JFK in the film "PT 109"

03:50

Cliff Robertson on the premise of the Playhouse 90 production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"

01:55

Cliff Robertson on appearing on The Twilight Zone episode "The Dummy"

05:19

On his blacklisting by the industry following "Hollywoodgate," in which he accused Columbia Pictures head David Begelman of forging a check

05:10

Cliff Robertson on his acting mentors

01:26

Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early years and influences; on being raised by his grandmother; on his interest in aviation; on his talent for journalism and his start in acting in New York

On his formal acting training at The Actors Studio; on his acting style

On being cast to star in the feature film "PT 109"; on meeting John F. Kennedy

On moving to New York; on his first television work in dramatic anthologies

Chapter 2

On working on Robert Montgomery Presents; on his predilection for live television when he was younger

On starring in the Playhouse 90 production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"

On the ensemble feeling of working in live anthology dramas and the prestige level of television in the early 1950s; on encouragement he received from Bosley Crowther

On U.S. Steel Hour's "The Secret World of Charly Gordon" and the film version of "Charly"

Chapter 3

On his involvement with William Goldman's first movie; on winning an Oscar for the film version of "Charly" but not being allowed to attend the ceremony

On his work on Philco Television Playhouse and Hallmark Hall of Fame; on the writers for the classic anthology series, including Rod Serling

On on appearing on The Twilight Zone episode "The Dummy"

Chapter 4

On his two appearances on The Twilight Zone and on series creator Rod Serling; on appearances on shows including The Outer Limits and Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers

On his blacklisting by the industry following "Hollywoodgate," in which he accused Columbia Pictures head David Begelman of forging a check

On going back and forth between film and television; on differences between production on feature films and classic TV anthology dramas

On the possibility of a sequel to "Charly"; on his guest appearances on The Untouchables, Wagon Train, and Ben Casey

Chapter 5

On his fun experience on Batman; on guest-starring on Falcon Crest; on his appearances in television movies including "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" and "Henry Ford, the Man and the Machine"

On being a spokesperson for AT&T; on advice to aspiring actors; on then-current projects and voiceover work

On his proudest career achievement and his biggest career regret; on the best advice he's ever received; on how he'd like to be remembered

Shows

Ben Casey

Cliff Robertson on appearing on Ben Casey

02:59

Hallmark Hall of Fame

Cliff Robertson on his work on Hallmark Hall of Fame

01:06

Cliff Robertson on his work on a production for Hallmark Hall of Fame

02:10

Outer Limits, The (1963-65)

Cliff Robertson on appearing on The Outer Limits

03:35

Philco-Goodyear Television Playhouse

Cliff Robertson on his work on Philco Television Playhouse

00:20

Playhouse 90

Cliff Robertson on starring in the Playhouse 90 live production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"

13:16

Cliff Robertson on the premise of the Playhouse 90 production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"

01:55

Cliff Robertson on his character and the importance of the Playhouse 90 production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"

03:12

Cliff Robertson on John Frankenheimer's directing process on the Playhouse 90 production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"

02:08

Playhouse 90: "Days of Wine and Roses"

Cliff Robertson on starring in the Playhouse 90 live production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"

13:16

Cliff Robertson on the premise of the Playhouse 90 production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"

01:55

Cliff Robertson on his character and the importance of the Playhouse 90 production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"

03:12

Cliff Robertson on John Frankenheimer's directing process on the Playhouse 90 production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"

02:08

Robert Montgomery Presents

Cliff Robertson on acting in live Robert Montgomery Presents productions

03:30

Cliff Robertson on his work on Robert Montgomery Presents>

00:30

Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers

Cliff Robertson on appearing on Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers

04:33

Twilight Zone, The

Cliff Robertson on appearing on The Twilight Zone

02:14

Cliff Robertson on appearing on The Twilight Zone episode "The Dummy"

05:19

Cliff Robertson on the classic Twilight Zone episode "The Dummy" (SPOILERS!)

01:07

United States Steel Hour, The

Cliff Robertson on The U.S. Steel Hour's "The Two Worlds of Charly Gordon" and the feature film "Charly"

06:08

Cliff Robertson on being nominated for an Emmy for The U.S. Steel Hour production of "Charly" and why he wanted to make a film version of "Charly"

04:15

Untouchables, The

Cliff Robertson on appearing on The Untouchables

02:26

Wagon Train

Cliff Robertson on appearing on Wagon Train

00:40

Topics

Advice

Cliff Robertson on advice to aspiring actors

01:58

Anthology Drama

Cliff Robertson on starring in the Playhouse 90 live production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"

13:16

Cliff Robertson on The U.S. Steel Hour's "The Two Worlds of Charly Gordon" and the feature film "Charly"

06:07

Classic TV series episodes

Cliff Robertson on the classic Twilight Zone episode "The Dummy" (SPOILERS!)

01:07

Creative Influences and Inspiration

Cliff Robertson on receiving encouragement from Bosley Crowther

02:55

Drama

Cliff Robertson on the classic Twilight Zone episode "The Dummy" (SPOILERS!)

01:07

Hollywood Blacklist

Cliff Robertson on his recollections of The Hollywood Blacklist

00:47

Industry Crossroads

Cliff Robertson on his recollections of The Hollywood Blacklist

00:47

Pivotal Career Moments

Cliff Robertson on receiving encouragement from Bosley Crowther

02:55

Cliff Robertson on receiving encouragement from Bosley Crowther

02:55

Pop Culture

Cliff Robertson on the classic Twilight Zone episode "The Dummy" (SPOILERS!)

01:07

TV's Golden Age (1940s & '50s)

Cliff Robertson on starring in the Playhouse 90 live production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"

13:16

Cliff Robertson on The U.S. Steel Hour's "The Two Worlds of Charly Gordon" and the feature film "Charly"

06:07

Television Industry

Cliff Robertson on his recollections of The Hollywood Blacklist

00:47

Cliff Robertson on advice to aspiring actors

01:58

Professions

Actor

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Cliff Robertson on his formal acting training at The Actors Studio

03:36

Cliff Robertson on actors who inspired him

00:48

Cliff Robertson on his acting style

01:34

Cliff Robertson on advice to aspiring actors

01:58

Performers

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Cliff Robertson on his formal acting training at The Actors Studio

03:36

Cliff Robertson on actors who inspired him

00:48

Cliff Robertson on his acting style

01:22

Cliff Robertson on advice to aspiring actors

01:58

Genres

Classic Anthology Series

Cliff Robertson on his involvement with the early television anthology dramas

02:58

Cliff Robertson on the ensemble feeling of working in live anthology dramas and the prestige of television in the early 1950s

02:53

Cliff Robertson on starring in the Playhouse 90 live production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"

13:16

Cliff Robertson on The U.S. Steel Hour's "The Two Worlds of Charly Gordon" and the feature film "Charly"

06:07

Cliff Robertson on the writers for the classic anthology series

01:08

Cliff Robertson on being nominated for an Emmy for The U.S. Steel Hour production of "Charly" and why he wanted to make a film version of "Charly"

04:15

Sci-Fi/Supernatural Series

Cliff Robertson on appearing on The Twilight Zone episode "The Dummy"

05:19

People

Bill Dozier

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Cliff Robertson on appearing on Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers thanks to Bill Dozier

01:58

Bosley Crowther

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Cliff Robertson on receiving encouragement from Bosley Crowther

02:55

Buck Houghton

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Cliff Robertson on working with Buck Houghton

00:20

David Begelman

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On his blacklisting by the industry following "Hollywoodgate," in which he accused Columbia Pictures head David Begelman of forging a check

05:10

Dominick Dunne

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Cliff Robertson on acting in live Robert Montgomery Presents productions

03:30

Elizabeth Montgomery

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Cliff Robertson on acting with Robert Montgomery's daughter, Elizabeth Montgomery

00:45

JP Miller

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Cliff Robertson on meeting with writer JP miller when working on the Playhouse 90 production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"

00:24

Jack Lemmon

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Cliff Robertson on Jack Lemmon starring in the film version of "The Days of Wine and Roses"

01:36

John F. Kennedy

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Cliff Robertson on being selected by John F. Kennedy to play JFK in the film "PT 109"

03:50

Cliff Robertson on meeting John F. Kennedy

01:29

John Frankenheimer

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Cliff Robertson on starring in the Playhouse 90 production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"

12:07

Cliff Robertson on his character and the importance of the Playhouse 90 production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"

02:44

Cliff Robertson on John Frankenheimer's directing process on the Playhouse 90 production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"

02:08

Kim Stanley

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Cliff Robertson on acting in live Robert Montgomery Presents productions

00:44

Michael Caine

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Cliff Robertson on winning an Oscar for the film version of "Charly" but not being allowed to attend the ceremony

02:33

Piper Laurie

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Cliff Robertson on his co-stars in the Playhouse 90 production of "The Days of Wine and Roses"

00:36

Robert Vaughn

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Cliff Robertson on a stunt gone wrong with Robert Vaughn

00:32

Rod Serling

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Cliff Robertson on working with writer Rod Serling and appearing on The Twilight Zone

07:55

Sydney Pollack

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Cliff Robertson on appearing on Ben Casey and working with Sydney Pollack

02:59

William Goldman

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Cliff Robertson on his involvement with William Goldman's first movie and asking him to write the film version of "Charly"

05:16