Biography for
Robert Clarke (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

1 June 1920, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA

Date of Death

11 June 2005, Valley Village, California, USA (complications from diabetes)

Birth Name

Robert Irby Clarke

Nickname

Bob

Mini Biography

A movie-crazy kid in his native Oklahoma City, Robert Clarke decided at an early age that he wanted to be an actor, but nevertheless suffered from stage fright in his first school productions. He acted in University of Oklahoma radio plays and on stage at the University of Wisconsin before hitching a ride to California to try to break into the picture business. After screen tests at 20th Century-Fox and Columbia, Clarke landed a berth as a contract player at RKO. When RKO dropped his option three years later, he began freelancing. Clarke married Alyce King of the singing The King Sisters in 1956 and, a decade later, began appearing on TV and on tour with The King Family. His autobiography, To "B" or Not to "B": A Film Actor's Odyssey, was published in 1996.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Tom Weaver <TomWeavr@aol.com>

Spouse

Alyce King

(31 March 1956 - 21 August 1996) (her death) 1 child

Trivia

Brother-in-law of Maxine King, Yvonne King, Luise King, Marilyn King, Donna King, Alvino Rey, Buddy Cole, Del Courtney, and record label executive James Conkling.

Uncle of Tina Cole, Cathy Green, Liza Rey, Chris Conkling, Xandra Conkling, Candy Conkling, and Carolyn Thomas.

Attended Kemper Military College planning to make a career in the service but dropped out after his asthma prevented his serving in WWII. Later switched to acting and attended the University of Oklahoma and University of Wisconsin.

Survived by his son actor/voice artist Cam Clarke, two stepsons (Ric de Azevedo and Lex de Azevedo ), 11 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren.

The non-singer appeared as a regular on "The King Family Show" (1965) via his marriage to singer Alyce King, not for any musical prowess. On the program he appeared in comedy sketches and sentimental readings.

His cult movie The Hideous Sun Demon (1959) was featured in the 1982 movie sendup It Came from Hollywood (1982) which starred Dan Aykroyd, John Candy, Gilda Radner, Cheech Marin and Tommy Chong.

Stated in his biography that the horror movie he produced/directed/wrote was made for less than $50,000, including $500 for the rubberized lizard suit he wore. He shot the movie over 12 weekends to get two days' use of rental camera equipment for one day's fee.

Attended the Kemper Military College, the University of Oklahoma and the University of Wisconsin.

He died on the same day as his Captive Women (1952) co-star Ron Randell.

Interviewed about his RKO Western credits of the 1940s in "Wild Wild Westerners" by Tom Weaver (BearManor, 2012).

Salary

The Man from Planet X (1951)	$210
Captive Women (1952)	$350/week
Sword of Venus (1953)	$350/week
The Incredible Petrified World (1957)	$500
The Astounding She-Monster (1957)	$500/week
Beyond the Time Barrier (1960)	$2,000
The Brotherhood of the Bell (1970) (TV)	$500