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Edward G. Robinson

Actor

Edward G. Robinson

Born December 12, 1893 in Bucarest, RoumanieDied January 26, 197399 films

Edward G. Robinson (born Emanuel Goldenberg; December 12, 1893 – January 26, 1973) was a Romanian-born American actor and political activist. Although he played a wide range of characters, he is best remembered for his roles as a gangster, most notably in his star-making film Little Caesar (1931). Robinson's career saw a decline during the 1950s Red Scare when he was threatened with blacklisting. Experiencing underemployment, he turned towards minor roles in B movies until he eventually returned to the mainstream by playing one of Moses' adversaries Dathan in Cecil B. DeMille's religious epic The Ten Commandments (1956). He was ranked number 24 in the American Film Institute's list of the 25 greatest male stars of Classic American cinema. Never having been nominated for an Academy Award during his 60-year career, he became a posthumous recipient of an Honorary Oscar in 1973, two months after his death.

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Robinson was Jewish and a staunch critic of fascist and Nazi ideologies that were on the rise in the 1930s. He donating more than $250,000 to 850 political and charitable organizations between 1939 and 1949, hosted a gathering at his home to sign a declaration calling for a boycott of all German-made products, frequently appeared at Soviet and American war relief rallies, delivered radio addresses in over six languages to Nazi-occupied European countries, and traveled to Normandy to entertain the troops, becoming the first movie star to go there for the USO. Robin was also an outspoken supporter of the civil rights movement, and regularly campaigned to overcome segregation.

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The best way into Edward G. Robinson's work
Double Indemnity posterFirst watchDouble Indemnity19448.1as Barton KeyesAn insurance representative is seduced by a dissatisfied housewife into a scheme of insurance fraud and murder that arouses the suspicion of his colleague, a claims investigator.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach

Filmography

99 films as actor
  1. 2026Away with WordsEdward G. Robinson
  2. 1973Soylent GreenSol Roth
  3. 1972Neither by Day Nor by NightFather
  4. 1971Mooch Goes to Hollywood
  5. 1970Song of NorwayKrogstad
  6. 1970The Old Man Who Cried WolfEmile Pulska
  7. 1969Operation HeartbeatDr. Lee Forestman
  8. 1969Mackenna's GoldOld Adams
  9. 1968It's Your MoveSir George McDowell
  10. 1968Never a Dull MomentLeo Joseph Smooth
  11. 1968The Biggest Bundle of Them AllProfessor Samuels
  12. 1967Operation San PietroJoe Ventura
  13. 1967Grand SlamProf. James Anders
  14. 1967The Blonde from PekingCIA Chief Douglas
  15. 1966Planet of the Apes Test ReelDr. Zaius
  16. 1965The Cincinnati KidLancey Howard
  17. 1965Born a ManNarrator
  18. 1964Cheyenne AutumnSecretary of the Interior Carl Schurz
  19. 1964The OutrageCon Man
  20. 1964Good Neighbor SamSimon Nurdlinger
  21. 1964Robin and the 7 HoodsBig Jim Stevens (uncredited)
  22. 1963The PrizeMax Stratman/Walter Stratman
  23. 1963Sammy Going SouthCocky Wainwright
  24. 1962Two Weeks in Another TownMaurice Kruger
  25. 1962My GeishaSam Lewis
  26. 1960PepeEdward G. Robinson
  27. 1960Seven ThievesTheo Wilkins
  28. 1960The Right ManTheodore Roosevelt
  29. 1959A Hole in the HeadMario Manetta
  30. 1956The Ten CommandmentsDathan
  31. 1956NightmareRene Bressard
  32. 1955Hell on Frisco BayVictor Amato
  33. 1955IllegalVictor Scott
  34. 1955A Bullet for JoeyRaoul Leduc
  35. 1955Tight SpotLloyd Hallett
  36. 1955The Violent MenLee Wilkison
  37. 1954Black TuesdayVincent Canelli
  38. 1953The Glass WebHenry Hayes
  39. 1953Big LeaguerJohn B 'Hans' Lobert
  40. 1953Vice SquadCapt. 'Barnie' Barnaby
  41. 1952Actors and SinMaurice Tillayou (segment Actor's Blood)
  42. 1950My Daughter JoyGeorge Constantin
  43. 1949It's a Great FeelingEdward G. Robinson (uncredited)
  44. 1949House of StrangersGino Monetti
  45. 1948Night Has a Thousand EyesJohn Triton
  46. 1948Key LargoJohnny Rocco
  47. 1948All My SonsJoe Keller
  48. 1947The Red HousePete Morgan
  49. 1946The StrangerFederal Agent Wilson
  50. 1945Scarlet StreetChristopher Cross
  51. 1945Journey TogetherDean McWilliams
  52. 1945Our Vines Have Tender GrapesMartinius Jacobson
  53. 1944The Woman in the WindowProfessor Richard Wanley
  54. 1944Mr. Winkle Goes to WarWilbert Winkle
  55. 1944Double IndemnityBarton Keyes
  56. 1944TampicoCapt. Bart Manson
  57. 1943Flesh and FantasyMarshall Tyler (segment 2)
  58. 1943DestroyerSteven 'Boley' Boleslavski
  59. 1942Tales of ManhattanLarry Browne
  60. 1942Larceny, Inc.'Pressure' Maxwell
  61. 1941Unholy PartnersBruce Corey
  62. 1941ManpowerHank McHenry
  63. 1941The Sea Wolf'Wolf' Larsen
  64. 1940A Dispatch from ReutersPaul Julius Reuter
  65. 1940Brother OrchidLittle John T. 'Johnny' Sarto
  66. 1940Dr. Ehrlich's Magic BulletDr. Paul Ehrlich
  67. 1939BlackmailJohn R. Ingram
  68. 1939Confessions of a Nazi SpyEdward 'Ed' Renard
  69. 1938I Am the LawJohn Lindsay
  70. 1938The Amazing Dr. ClitterhouseDr. T.S. Clitterhouse
  71. 1938A Slight Case of MurderRemy Marko
  72. 1937The Last GangsterJoe Krozac
  73. 1937Kid GalahadNick 'Nicky' Donati
  74. 1937A Day at Santa AnitaEdward G. Robinson (uncredited)
  75. 1937Thunder in the CityDan Armstrong
  76. 1936Bullets or BallotsJohnny Blake
  77. 1935Barbary CoastLuis Chamalis
  78. 1935The Whole Town's TalkingArthur Ferguson 'Jonesy' Jones / 'Killer' Mannion
  79. 1934The Man with Two FacesDamon Welles / Jules Chautard
  80. 1934Dark HazardJim 'Buck' Turner
  81. 1933I Loved a WomanJohn Mansfield Hayden
  82. 1933The Little GiantJames Francis 'Bugs' / 'Jim' Ahearn
  83. 1932Silver DollarYates Martin
  84. 1932Tiger SharkMike Mascarenhas
  85. 1932Two SecondsJohn Allen
  86. 1932The Hatchet ManWong Low Get
  87. 1931Five Star FinalJoseph W. Randall
  88. 1931Smart MoneyNick 'The Barber' Venizelos
  89. 1931The Stolen JoolsGangster
  90. 1931Little CaesarCaesar Enrico 'Rico' Bandello aka 'Little Caesar'
  91. 1930The Widow from ChicagoDominic
  92. 1930East Is WestCharlie Yong
  93. 1930Outside the LawCobra Collins
  94. 1930Every Woman's LongingTony
  95. 1930A Lady to LoveTony
  96. 1930The Night RideTony Garotta
  97. 1929The Hole in the WallThe Fox
  98. 1923The Bright ShawlDomingo Escobar
  99. 1916Arms and the WomanFactory Worker