Acting
Robert Preston
Robert Preston (June 8, 1918 – March 21, 1987) was an American stage and film actor and singer, best known for his collaboration with composer Meredith Willson and originating the role of Professor Harold Hill in the 1957 musical The Music Man and the 1962 film adaptation; the film earned him his first of two Golden Globe Award nominations. Preston collaborated twice with filmmaker Blake Edwards, first in S.O.B. (1981) and again in Victor/Victoria (1982). For portraying Carroll "Toddy" Todd in the latter, he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor at the 55th Academy Awards. Preston was born Robert Preston Meservey in Newton, Massachusetts, the son of a garment worker and a record store clerk. He attended Abraham Lincoln High School, training as a musician and playing several instruments, but quit at age sixteen to study acting at the Pasadena Community Playhouse. Preston made his Broadway debut in 1940 in the play The Philadelphia Story. He went on to star in a number of successful Broadway musicals, including The Pajama Game (1954), Damn Yankees (1955), and I Do! I Do! (1966). He also appeared in a number of films, including The Music Man (1962), The Dark at the Top of the Stairs (1960), and Victor/Victoria (1982). Preston was a versatile actor who could play a wide range of roles. He was known for his charisma, his singing voice, and his comic timing. He was a two-time Tony Award winner and was nominated for an Academy Award. He was also a member of the American Theatre Hall of Fame. Preston died of cancer in 1987 at the age of 68. He was survived by his wife, Catherine Craig; the couple had no children. A biography of the actor, @Robert Preston - Forever The Music Man”, was published in 2022.
Filmography
Disclosure
Film · 2020
Chita Rivera: A Lot Of Livin' To Do
Film · 2015
Sam Peckinpah's West: Legacy of a Hollywood Renegade
Film · 2004
Broadway's Lost Treasures
Film · 2003
The World of Hammer
Series · 1994
Outrage!
Film · 1986
Night of 100 Stars II
Film · 1985
Finnegan Begin Again
Film · 1985
The Last Starfighter
Film · 1984
Going Hollywood: The '30s
Film · 1984
September Gun
Film · 1983
Victor/Victoria
Film · 1982
Rehearsal for Murder
Film · 1982
Night of 100 Stars
Film · 1982
S.O.B.
Film · 1981
The Man That Corrupted Hadleyburg
Film · 1980
The Chisholms
Series · 1979
Semi-Tough
Film · 1977
My Father's House
Film · 1975
Mame
Film · 1974
Junior Bonner
Film · 1972
Child's Play
Film · 1972
All the Way Home
Film · 1963
Island of Love
Film · 1963
How the West Was Won
Film · 1962
The Music Man
Film · 1962
The Merv Griffin Show
Series · 1962
The Dark at the Top of the Stairs
Film · 1960
The Bell Telephone Hour
Series · 1959
Sentinels in the Air
Film · 1956
Confession
Film · 1956
Made in Heaven
Film · 1956
Tony Awards
Series · 1956
Tony Awards
Series · 1956
Tony Awards
Series · 1956
Tony Awards
Series · 1956
Tony Awards
Series · 1956
The Last Frontier
Film · 1955
The 20th Century Fox Hour
Series · 1955
Climax!
Series · 1954
Climax!
Series · 1954
Climax!
Series · 1954
General Electric Theater
Series · 1953
Face to Face
Film · 1952
My Outlaw Brother
Film · 1951
Cloudburst
Film · 1951
Best of the Badmen
Film · 1951
When I Grow Up
Film · 1951
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Series · 1951
The Sundowners
Film · 1950
Lux Video Theatre
Series · 1950
Your Show of Shows
Series · 1950
Robert Montgomery Presents
Series · 1950
Lux Video Theatre
Series · 1950
Lux Video Theatre
Series · 1950
Lux Video Theatre
Series · 1950
Lux Video Theatre
Series · 1950
Lux Video Theatre
Series · 1950
Robert Montgomery Presents
Series · 1950
What's My Line?
Series · 1950
The Lady Gambles
Film · 1949
Tulsa
Film · 1949
Blood on the Moon
Film · 1948
Whispering Smith
Film · 1948
Big City
Film · 1948
The Macomber Affair
Film · 1947
Variety Girl
Film · 1947
Wild Harvest
Film · 1947
Night Plane from Chungking
Film · 1943
Wings Up
Film · 1943
Wake Island
Film · 1942
Reap the Wild Wind
Film · 1942
This Gun for Hire
Film · 1942
Star Spangled Rhythm
Film · 1942
The Night of January 16th
Film · 1941
New York Town
Film · 1941
The Lady from Cheyenne
Film · 1941
Parachute Battalion
Film · 1941
Pacific Blackout
Film · 1941
North West Mounted Police
Film · 1940
Typhoon
Film · 1940
Moon Over Burma
Film · 1940
Beau Geste
Film · 1939
Union Pacific
Film · 1939
Disbarred
Film · 1939
King of Alcatraz
Film · 1938
Illegal Traffic
Film · 1938