Matinee Classics - Robert Lowery Biography & Filmography

Robert Lowery ACTOR

PHOTOS

ROBERT LOWERY BIOGRAPHY & FILMOGRAPHY:

Robert Lowery was born on October 17th, 1913 in Kansas City, Missouri with the birth name Robert Larkins Hank, born to Roscoe hanks and Leah Thompson. After graduating from Paseo High School in Kansas City he was given the chance to join the Slats Randall Orchestra in the early 1930's to sing with them. Along with his early singing career he also excelled as a baseball player and played with the minor league baseball team, the Kansas City Blues.

Over the course of his career he appeared in over seventy films many of which his roles were un-credited. His career in acting began when after his father passed away, his mother relocated to Los Angeles, California and he began studying acting at the Lila Bliss acting school.

Soon he was finding work as a stage actor appearing in a number of productions until Twentieth Century Fox took notice of his talents and signed him to a contract in 1937. It did not take to long before he was working in the film industry appearing on such features as, "Drums Along the Mohawk" (1939) starring Henry Fonda and Claudette Colbert, "The Mark of Zorro" (1940) starring Tyrone Power and Linda Darnell, "The Mummy's Ghost" (1944), "Dangerous Passage" (1944), "The Homesteaders" (1953), "The Parson and the Outlaw" (1957), "The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond" (1960) starring Ray Danton, "Young Guns of Texas" (1962), "McLintock!" (1963) starring John Wayne and "Johnny Reno" (1966).

Along with his successful film career he never neglected his love of working as a stage actor and continued adding such credits to his resume as, "The Caine Mutiny" and "Born Yesterday". Plus in addition to film and stage roles he appeared on a variety of television series such as, "Circus Boy" (1956-1957) starring Mickey Dolenz who later became lead singer with The Monkees, "The Adventures of Superman" (1956) starring George Reeves and other guest appearances on, "Playhouse 90", "Maverick", "Rawhide", "77 Sunset Strip" and "Tales of Wells Fargo".

In the late 1960's he made his final appearance on a comedy/Western film called, "The Ballad of Josie" (1967) starring Doris Day and Peter Graves. He then decided to retire from the industry and started a whole other career with Jackie Coogan involving celebrity travel cruises.

Throughout his lifetime he married three times and all to actresses. His first wife was Vivian Wilcox whom he wed in 1941 however by 1944 this marriage came to an end. He then married Rusty Farrell in 1947 but only for one year before another marriage ended in divorce. His third and final wife was Jean Parker from 1951 through 1957 and together they had one son, Robert.

On December 26th, 1971 Robert Lowery passed away from heart failure in Los Angeles, California. His remains are buried at Valhalla Memorial Park cemetery in North Hollywood, California.

Filmography

1966-1967 Pistols 'n' Petticoats

1967 The Ballad of Josie

1966 The Undertaker and His Pals

1966 Waco

1966 Johnny Reno

1965 Zebra in the Kitchen

1964 Stage to Thunder Rock

1964 The Farmer's Daughter

1963 McLintock!

1962 Hazel

1962 Young Guns of Texas