
Robert Preston
Biography
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.
Filmografi
Victor/Victoria1982 · Carroll 'Toddy' Todd
How the West Was Won1962 · Roger Morgan
The Last Starfighter1984 · Centauri
Mame1974 · Beauregard
Outrage!1986 · Dennis Riordan
Blood on the Moon1948 · Tate Riling
Best of the Badmen1951 · Matthew Fowler
Disclosure2020 · Carole 'Toddy' Todd (archive footage)
This Gun for Hire1942 · Det. Michael Crane
Reap the Wild Wind1942 · Dan Cutler
The Lady Gambles1949 · David Boothe
Wings Up1943 · Himself
All the Way Home1963 · Jay Follet
Semi-Tough1977 · Big Ed Bookman
The Last Frontier1955 · Col. Frank Marston
The Music Man1962 · Harold Hill
Junior Bonner1972 · Ace Bonner
North West Mounted Police1940 · Ronnie Logan
Made in Heaven1956 · Zachary Meredith
Union Pacific1939 · Dick Allen
S.O.B.1981 · Dr. Irving Finegarten
Night of 100 Stars1982 · Self
Beau Geste1939 · Digby Geste
The Sundowners1950 · James Cloud ('Kid Wichita')
Walter Brennan
Barbara Bosson
Beau Bridges
Eli Wallach
Lee Van Cleef
Julie Andrews
Catherine Mary Stewart
James Stewart
Henry Fonda
Debbie Reynolds
John Wayne
John Rhys-Davies