Actor Cliff Robertson passed away this evening. Most younger audiences will instantly recognize him from Sam Raimi’s “Spider-Man” franchise. A Columbia Pictures scandal in the late-1970s saw him blacklisted for sheer honesty. He won an Oscar over 40 years ago for his work in “Charly.” I’ll always remember him as one of the many faces of “Midway,” one of Dad’s favorites growing up. He will be missed.
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8 responses to “R.I.P. Cliff Robertson”
Underworld USA is the dopest. He was a hell of a face.
He didn’t win an Oscar over 50 years ago
Over 40.
Math is fun.
He didn’t win an Oscar over 50 years ago, it was in 1969
Like I said in comment #3, I meant over 40.
This is the first I’ve read of this. He was also very good in Three Days of the Condor.
I was terribly sad to hear this news. To anyone who hasn’t read David McClintick’s watershed book, Indecent Exposure (1982), Mr. Robertson’s stature in the industry may not be well appreciated. He paid a shameful price for his honesty and integrity in exposing a story that sent Hollywood reeling. As so often occurs with “truth tellers” or whistleblowers, the wrath that resulted from Mr. Robertson’s courageous revelation ended up being directed back at him for having the audacity and “bad taste” of roiling the waters. I hope he found satisfaction and comfort in knowing he kept his good name and the respect of his fellow actors. May he rest in peace. Condolences to his loved ones.
Unfortunately, I hadn’t thought of Cliff Robertson for years.
“Indencent Exposure” is a VERY good book; anyone interested in how Hollywood was run in those days should read it. As Kris and RHS said, he was an honest man…and the Hollywood establishment made him suffer for that.