Thread: Cliff Robertson R.I.P.

Cliff Robertson, the American film actor, who died on September 10, a day after his 88th birthday, was best known for his portrayal of handsome, square-jawed soldiers, sailors and airmen, but his career stalled in the 1970s when he exposed a Hollywood studio chief as an embezzler and forger.

Robertson and Claire Bloom in a scene from Charly (1968), for which he won an Oscar for Best Actor Photo: AP
The ensuing scandal uncovered widespread "creative book-keeping" at Columbia Pictures and several other studios and resulted in major changes in Hollywood's financial practices.

Robertson as Lt John F Kennedy in PT-109 (1963)





In February 1977 Robertson received a demand for income tax on earnings of $10,000 that he was certain he had not been paid. When he approached Columbia about the missing cheque, he discovered that his signature had been forged and the cheque cashed in Beverly Hills.

Despite receiving death threats, Robertson pressed for a full investigation. Further inquiries revealed that the culprit was the head of the Columbia studio, David Begelman.

Film bosses at Columbia closed ranks. They suspended Begelman after uncovering two more forgeries (totalling $60,000) but it was only because Robertson continued to complain about "cover ups" that Begelman was finally sacked.

Pending Begelman's trial for fraud, Robertson was warned by the FBI that he was marked man who should be "in fear of his life". He was warned to leave home and stay with friends. When arriving or leaving the studios, where he was filming Morning, Noon And Night, Robertson was smuggled through a back entrance, hidden under a blanket.

Immediately after his conviction for fraud, Begelman was offered the job of head of production at MGM.
Robertson himself fared less well. Shooting on Morning, Noon And Night stopped when the film's financial backers withdrew, and for the next seven years Robertson was boycotted in Hollywood. Instead he returned to television, playing the astronaut Buzz Aldrin in Return To Earth (1977) which chronicled Aldrin's nervous breakdown.
In a career spanning more than 50 years, Robertson had few starring roles. In his most successful film, for which he won an Oscar for best actor, he was cast against type as a mentally-retarded cleaner in Charly (1968).

Cliff Robertson - Telegraph

Cliff was certainly a fine actor. Everyone should watch his oscar winning performance in 'Charly'.

Haven't seen PT 109 for a few decades but just the mention the film and everyone should know who played JFK

RIP Cliff, nice to hear about someone making a stand against corruption, well played sir!

Originally Posted by Mr Lick

Cliff was certainly a fine actor. Everyone should watch his oscar winning performance in 'Charly'.

Haven't seen PT 109 for a few decades but just the mention the film and everyone should know who played JFK

RIP Cliff, nice to hear about someone making a stand against corruption, well played sir!

Yes indeed. To bad his stand pretty well cost him his career.

Bangyai,

Thanks so much for that!! I really wasn't aware of that "Rest of the Story".

RIP Cliff