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







