Robert Alexander Atkins Jr. (10 August 1886 – 9 February 1972) was an English actor, producer and director.
Biography Robert Alexander Atkins Jr. was born in Dulwich, London, England, to Annie Evans and Robert Atkins Sr. He had a brother, Lawrence. Atkins was most famous for his association with the theatre. An early graduate of Beerbohm Tree's Academy of Dramatic Art, he joined the Old Vic company in 1915, and became Director of Productions for Lilian Baylis from 1921 to 1926. He also appeared many times on film and in television, although not with the success of his theatre career.
His first film was a 1913 production of Hamlet, as the First Player, with Johnston Forbes-Robertson in the title role. Atkins went on to appear in several other film and television roles over the next 50 years with the most famous production possibly being A Matter of Life and Death. He also produced and/or directed several adaptations of William Shakespeare plays during the 1940s and 1950s for British TV. He was director of the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre in Stratford, and along with Sydney Carroll, also founded Regent's Park Open Air Theatre.
Personal life and death Robert Atkins was married twice: to Mary Sumner whom he divorced, and to Ethel Davey, a film editor. He died in London, England in 1972.
Filmography Year Title Role Notes1935 Peg of Old Drury Dr. Samuel Johnson 1936 The Cardinal General Belmont Everything Is Thunder Adjutant 1937 Victoria the Great Garter King-at-Arms 1941 He Found a Star Frank Forrester 1942 Let the People Sing Hassock The Great Mr. Handel 1946 A Matter of Life and Death The Vicar 1949 That Dangerous Age George Drummond Black Magic King Louis XV 1951 I'll Never Forget You Dr. Samuel Johnson Uncredited
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