A prolific character actor of imposing presence, Robert F. Simon
drifted into acting via the Cleveland Playhouse, hoping that this would
cure his natural propensity for shyness. After training at the Actor's
Studio in New York he had a ten year run on Broadway (1942-52) in
which he cut his teeth--both as actor and as stage manager--on anything
from drama to musical comedy. In a roundabout way, he was even able to
fulfill his original career goal of becoming a traveling salesman: as
understudy to the great
Lee J. Cobb as Willy Loman in
Arthur Miller's "Death of a
Salesman".
Robert started in films in 1950, but over the years came often to be typecast
in stereotypical roles of benevolent authoritarianism or grouchy
executive stress. At times he drew unkind reviews from the critics. He
was considerably better served by the small screen, where, for some 35
years, he became a familiar face as generals, police captains, doctors,
journalists and attorneys. We may remember him most fondly as
George Armstrong Custer's disapproving superior, General Alfred Terry,
in
Custer (1967); as the sympathetic,
long-suffering father of Darrin Stephens in
Bewitched (1964); or as Maynard M.
Mitchell, one of the wackiest of generals ever to have served in the
Korean War (or any other war), in
M*A*S*H (1972).
Nicholas: The Boy Who Became Santa(1990)
Airwolf(1984)as The Admiral
Quincy, M.E.(1976)as Colonel Wilcox, Dr. Fry, Mr. Brady, State Sen. Howard Morganthal
Eight Is Enough(1977)as Paul Wells
The Amazing Spider-Man(1977)as J. Jonah Jameson
Journey Through the Past(1973)as The General
Lamp Unto My Feet(1948)as Self
Hell's Highway: The True Story of Highway Safety Films(2003)as Rellik
Crazy Horse and Custer: The Untold Story(1990)as Gen. Terry
Spider-Man: The Dragon's Challenge(1979)as J. Jonah Jameson
Spider-Man Strikes Back(1978)as J. Jonah Jameson
The Legend of Custer(1968)as General Alfred Terry
