Robert Brubaker

Robert Brubaker (October 9, 1916 – April 15, 2010) was an American character actor best known for his roles in television and movie westerns, including Gunsmoke and 40 Guns to Apache Pass.

Early years

Brubaker was born in Robinson, Illinois, on October 9, 1916, the son of George Brubaker.^[1] His interest in acting developed when he was a student^[2] at Robinson Township High School. He dropped out of Northwestern University after two years^[1] and went to New York.^[2]

Military service

During World War II, Brubaker was an aircraft commander in the U.S. Army Air Force. Later, he served during the Berlin Airlift, and in the Korean War he was a part of the Strategic Air Command.^[2]

Career

Brubaker debuted as a professional actor in Oh Say Can You Sing, Dance or Act (1936), a production of the Federal Theatre Project.^[2] While he worked at radio station KMPC, Brubaker caught the attention of an executive of Paramount Pictures,^[1] and his film debut came in a bit part in Blonde Alibi (1946).^[2]

Brubaker portrayed a deputy in the syndicated television series U.S. Marshal.^[3] He was the only actor to have two recurring roles on the television series, Gunsmoke,^[4] portraying both a bartender named Floyd and a stagecoach driver named Jim Buck.^[2] Some of Brubaker's other credits included the Rock Hudson film, Seconds, and television crime drama The Walter Winchell File and the television police drama The Asphalt Jungle.

Later years

After he left acting, Brubaker worked for Forest Lawn Cemetery as a director in the training department. When he retired from that job, he moved to Lake Elsinore, California.^[1]

Death

Brubaker died on April 15, 2010, at the age of 93. He was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California.^[4]

Partial filmography

Blonde Alibi (1946) – Pedestrian (uncredited)
The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell (1955) – Major H.H. Arnold
Pardners (1956) – Businessman (uncredited)
The Girl He Left Behind (1956) – Colonel Thomas Murphy (uncredited)
Written on the Wind (1956) – Hotel Manager (uncredited)
The Book of Acts Series (1957) – Simon Peter
The Walter Winchell File – "Act of Folly" – (1957) – Beckman
Battle Hymn (1957) – Briefing Officer (uncredited)
Mister Cory (1957) – Card Player (uncredited)
Man of a Thousand Faces (1957) – Jack Conway, Director of 'Unholy Three' (uncredited)
My Man Godfrey (1957) – Man with Monkey
The Female Animal (1958) – Bartender (uncredited)
The Gift of Love (1958) – State Trooper (uncredited)
Official Detective – "Tinseled Alibi" – (1958) – Snyder
The Walter Winchell File – "Portrait of A Cop" (1958) – Janis
The Heart Is a Rebel (1958) – Dr. Chambers
The Walking Target (1960) – Brenner (uncredited)
Moon Pilot (1962) – Space Flight Technician (uncredited)
Seven Days in May (1964) – Gen. Diefenbach (uncredited)
Apache Rifles (1964) – Sgt. Cobb
Mirage (1965) – Bar Patron (uncredited)
40 Guns to Apache Pass (1966) – Sergeant Walker
Seconds (1966) – Mayberry
Airport (1970) – Dr. Nash (uncredited)
The Brotherhood of the Bell (1970) – Bell Operative (uncredited)
The Bus Is Coming (1971) – Chief Jackson
The Sting (1973) – Bill Clayton from Pittsburgh (uncredited)

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Goldrup, Tom and Jim (2012). The Encyclopedia of Feature Players of Hollywood, Volume 1. BearManor Media. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f Lentz, Harris M. III (2011). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2010. McFarland. pp. 48–49. ISBN 9780786441754. Retrieved 28 May 2018.
^ Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. p. 1134. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
^ ^a ^b Aaker, Everett (2017). Television Western Players, 1960-1975: A Biographical Dictionary. McFarland. p. 72. ISBN 9781476662503. Retrieved 28 May 2018.