Robert George Strange (November 26, 1881 – February 22, 1952) was an American actor during the first half of the 20th century, performing in theater and film. His Broadway career spanned 20 years, from 1913 through 1933, and included appearances in over 30 plays. He then appeared in film throughout the 1930s and 40s, in such roles as Waxey Armitage in Special Agent (1935), Dr. Hubert Foote in The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle (1939), Art in High Sierra (1941) and John Malcolm in Adventures of Captain Marvel (1941)."Robert Strange", Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved July 24, 2024
Early life and career Strange was born in New York City, the elder of two sons"Obituaries: William Crawford Strange, Jr.". Santa Ana Register. p. 4. Retrieved July 23, 2024. born to William Crawford Strange and Mary Young. He attended Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School and Columbia University, where he played football."Strange, Athletic Actor". The Brooklyn Eagle. June 17, 1917. Sec. 6, p. 7. Retrieved July 23, 2024."Athletics at Columbia". The New York Times. December 6, 1901. p. 2. Retrieved July 23, 2024. He also set a bicycle-racing record at age seventeen and spent eight seasons as goaltender for the New York Athletic Club hockey team, helping the squad win two championships.
Strange started a real estate career, but was drawn to acting, performing with various companies, including one headed by Blanche Bates."Robert Strange's Career Has Been Interesting". Brooklyn Daily Times. November 29, 1931. p. 12. Retrieved July 23, 2024. He became a member of Washington Square Players, while remaining employed as supervisor of a diamond-cutting factory, before appearing in a string of Broadway plays from 1913 to 1933 (and occasionally thereafter), including The Famous Mrs. Fair, which ran for nearly a year.
Later career From 1931, after the introduction of sound films, he was "in constant demand" for character roles by the film studios. Some of his best known film roles were Waxey Armitage in Special Agent (1935), Dr. Hubert Foote in The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle (1939), Art in High Sierra (1941) and John Malcolm in Adventures of Captain Marvel (1941).
In the fall of 1940, having relocated to the San Fernando Valley, Strange and his wife, herself a veteran stage and radio actress, joined the faculty of the Leslie Academy of the Dance, directing its newly instituted drama program."Noted Pair Joins Academy Staff". The Van Nuys News. October 24, 1940. p. 11. Retrieved July 23, 2024."We're Glad to Be Back 'Cause IT'S FUN TO DANCE". The Van Nuys News. September 11, 1941. pt. II, p. 2. Retrieved July 26, 2024. An outgrowth of this development was their little theatre troupe, the Strange Show Shop. One notable alumnus of both the school and the troupe emerged the following summer, when 16-year-old Farley Granger delivered his "monologue satire" as part of an event staged to benefit the Van Nuys contingent of the Women's Ambulance and Defense Corps."New Theater Group Will Give Benefit for Corps". The Van Nuys News. July 24, 1941. p. 10. Retrieved July 26, 2024. As of October 1942, Granger was still being described as a "pupil of Mr. and Mrs. Strange.""Hospitality of Whitsett Home Draws Throng". The Van Nuys News. October 2, 1942. p. 12. Retrieved July 26, 2024.
Personal life and death Strange was married at least three times, the first two marriages ending in divorce. All three spouses were fellow performers. The first, Florence Edith Stockwell (1905–1915),"Married: Strange-Stockwell". The New York Times. June 4, 1905. p. 9. Retrieved July 23, 2024."Actor Takes Trip to Woods; Wifey Leaves Him Flat". Bridgeport Evening Farmer. May 28, 1915. p. 1. Retrieved July 23, 2024. was an accomplished contralto soloist who would fall victim to a fatal car crash just two years after their divorce."Former Buffalo Singer Loses Life in Auto Accident; Mrs. Florence Stockwell Strange; Singer Well Known in Buffalo Killed Suddenly". Buffalo Courier. August 11, 1917. p. 5. Retrieved July 29, 2024. The second, from 1920 until 1929, was fellow thespian Diantha Pattison,Jacobs, Frank (May 15, 1929). "'Immoral Lady' Model Man Not Moral, Says Wife's Suit". New York Daily News. p. 3. Retrieved July 23, 2024. with whom Strange collaborated extensively in 1922, when they joined Detroit's Woodward Players, performing a new play each week for seven months.Shaw, Len G. (July 30, 1922). "Protracted Lovemaking Comes to an End at the Majestic; Now the Great Lovers Will Go Their Separate Ways". Detroit Free Press. pt. 5, p. 8. Retrieved July 29, 2024. In 1929, the couple's widely publicized divorce on grounds of adultery was uncontested and promptly granted to Pattison following "15 minutes of spicy testimony.""Social Affairs". The Omaha World-Herald. May 16, 1929. p. 17. Retrieved July 29, 2024."Reno Is Beaten for Speed in Mrs. Strange's Divorce; 'Most Immoral Lady' Actor Defaults Wife's Action". New York Daily News. May 16, 1929. p. 41. Retrieved July 29, 2024. Strange's final and most successful marriage, from October 1938 until his death, was to actress Ruth Dean Rickaby."California, County Marriages, 1850–1953", FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8VW-Y58 : Sat Mar 09 08:46:59 UTC 2024), Entry for Robert Geo Strange and Ruth Dean Griffiths Rickaby, 7 October 1938."Noted Pair Joins Academy Staff". The Van Nuys News. October 24, 1940. p. 11. Retrieved July 23, 2024."Funeral Notices: Strange, Robert G.". Valley Times. February 25, 1952. p. 12. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
On February 22, 1952, Strange died at the Motion Picture Country Hospital in Los Angeles, California. Survived by his wife, his cremated remains were interred at the Oakwood Memorial Park Cemetery."Obituary Notices: Robert George Strange". Van Nuys News. February 28, 1952. p. 11-C. Retrieved July 24, 2024.
Stage credits Plays Year Play Role Theater Notes 1913 Children of Tomorrow Harris Theatre December 1, 1913 – December 19131915 The Attick Rev. Jonas Boutwell Bandbox Theatre October 4, 1915 – May 20, 1916 The Age of Reason Bandbox Theatre October 4, 1915 – May 20, 19161916 The Seagull Dr. Dorn Bandbox Theatre May 20, 1916 – May 31, 1916 Literature Comedy Theatre August 30, 1916 – ?1917 The Scrap of Paper Criterion Theatre September 17, 1917 – November 1917 In the Zone Comedy Theatre October 31, 1917 – Apr 27, 19181918 Youth Comedy Theatre February 3, 1966 – March 13, 1966 Mrs Warren's Profession Sir George Crofts Comedy Theatre March 11, 1918 – November 11, 1918 Nothing But Lies Longacre Theatre October 8, 1918 – February 19191919 I Love You Booth Theatre, 48th Street Theatre April 22, 1919 – ?, June 2, 1919 – ? First Is Last Harvey Maxine Elliott's Theatre September 11, 1919 – November 1919 The Famous Mrs. Fair E. Dudley Gillette Henry Miller's Theatre December 22, 1919 – October 17, 19201921 Nobody's Money Carl Russell Longacre TheatreOppenheimer, George (January 29, 1969). "On Stage: 'Fire's' Fire dims as Symbols Clash". Newsday. p. 54A. August 17, 1921 – September 1921 Wait Til We're Married James Twells Playhouse Theatre September 26, 1921 – ? The Straw Fred Nicholls Greenwich Village Theatre November 10, 1921 – November 1921 1922 Scandal Sutherland York Majestic Theatre January 15, 1922 – January 20, 1922Culver, Harriet (January 16, 1922). The Theater.