Robert Stack
Robert Langford Modini Stack was a multilingual American actor and television host. In addition to acting in more than 40 films, he also appeared on the television series The Untouchables and later served as the host of Unsolved Mysteries. Born in Los Angeles, California, Stack spent his early childhood growing up in Europe. ย Becoming fluent in French and Italian at an early age, and he did not learn English until returning to Los Angeles. ย Stack achieved minor fame in sporting, winning multiple championships including setting two world records and winning multiple honors in skeet shooting Stack studied drama at Bridgewater State College, earning his first hollywood role at the age of 20 and continuing to star in numerous roles throughout the early 1940s. After serving in the military, Stack returned to Hollywood to star in numerous films including stand out roles in The High and the Mighty (opposite John Wayne) and Written on the Wind (1957), for which he was awarded an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Stack later moved on to televised dramatic series, depicting the crime-fighting Eliot Ness in The Untouchables (1959โ1963), which earned him a best actor Emmy Award in 1960. Stack also starred in multiple drama series, before returning to film, this time in comedies to satirize his famed stoic and humorless demeanor. He began hosting Unsolved Mysteries in 1987, and served as the show's host throughout it's entire original run from 1987 to 2002.
Known For
Credits
- 2023 ยทUnsolved Mysteries: Behind the Legacyas Self (archive footage)
- 2019 ยทYellowface: Asian Whitewashing and Racism in Hollywoodas (archive footage)
- 2018 ยทThese Dead Soulsas (archive footage)
- 2008 ยทActing for Douglas Sirkas Self (archive footage)
- 2004 ยทUnsolved Mysteries Volume 1: UFOsas Host
- 2002 ยทButt-Ugly Martiansas Stoat Muldoon (voice)
- 2001 ยทLana Turner... a Daughter's Memoiras Self
- 2001 ยทKiller Budas The Gooch
- 2001 ยทRecess: School's Outas Superintendent (voice)
- 1999 ยทMumfordas Himself
- 1999 ยทSealed with a Kissas Sumner Ethridge
- 1999 ยทHercules: Zero to Heroas Narrator (voice) (archive sound)
- 1999 ยทThe Y2K Crisisas Host
- 1998 ยทHerculesas Bob (voice)
- 1998 ยทBASEketballas Robert Stack
- 1997 ยทBarbara Stanwyck: Straight Down The Lineas Self
- 1997 ยทThe Angry Beaversas Narrator (voice)
- 1997 ยทKing of the Hillas Reynolds Penland (voice) (uncredited)
- 1996 ยทBeavis and Butt-Head Do Americaas Agent Flemming (voice)
- 1996 ยทSuddenly Susanas Robert Stack
- 1996 ยทThe Making of '1941'as (archive)
- 1996 ยทClark Gable: Tall, Dark, and Handsomeas Self
- 1993 ยทDiagnosis: Murderas Peter McReynolds
- 1992 ยทVicki!as Self
- 1991 ยทThe Return of Eliot Nessas Eliot Ness
- 1991 ยทThe Real Story of Baa Baa Black Sheepas Lt. Littleboy (voice)
- 1990 ยทThe Fanelli Boysas Robert Stack (uncredited)
- 1990 ยทThe Fanelli Boysas Kyle Hadley
- 1990 ยทBlossomas
- 1990 ยทJoe Versus the Volcanoas Dr. Ellison
- 1988 ยทUnsolved Mysteriesas Host
- 1988 ยทDangerous Curvesas Louis Faciano
- 1988 ยทCaddyshack IIas Chandler Young
- 1988 ยทPlain Clothesas Mr. Gardner
- 1987 ยทPerry Mason: The Case of the Sinister Spiritas Jordan White
- 1986 ยทThe Transformers: The Movieas Ultra Magnus (voice)
- 1986 ยทBig Troubleas Winslow
- 1985 ยทMidas Valleyas Drew Hammond
- 1985 ยทHollywood Wivesas George Lancaster
- 1984 ยทMurder, She Wroteas Chester Harrison
- 1984 ยทBrothersas
- 1984 ยทGeorge Washingtonas General Stark
- 1983 ยทUncommon Valoras MacGregor
- 1982 ยทBarry Norman in Celebrity Cityas Self
- 1982 ยทHotelas Lewis Blackwood
- 1982 ยทHotelas Charles Vandoor
- 1981 ยทFalcon Crestas Roland Saunders
- 1981 ยทStrike Forceas Captain Frank Murphy
- 1981 ยทEntertainment Tonightas Self
- 1980 ยทAirplane!as Captain Rex Kramer
- 1980 ยทDouglas Sirk: รber Starsas Self
- 1979 ยท1941as Maj. Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell
- 1979 ยทUndercover with the KKKas Host - Narrator
- 1979 ยทThe Muppets Go Hollywoodas Self
- 1978 ยทUn Second Souffleas Franรงois Davis
- 1977 ยทThe Love Boatas Bret Garrett
- 1976 ยทMost Wantedas Captain Linc Evers
- 1975 ยทMurder on Flight 502as Captain Larkin
- 1975 ยทAdventures of the Queenas Capt. James Morgan
- 1975 ยทLes Rendez-vous du dimancheas Self
- 1974 ยทDinah!as Self
- 1974 ยทThe Strange and Deadly Occurrenceas Michael Rhodes
- 1973 ยทThe Dean Martin Celebrity Roastsas Self
- 1973 ยทPolice Storyas
- 1971 ยทThe Grand Opening of Walt Disney Worldas Self
- 1971 ยทThe Selling of the Pentagonas Self (archive footage)
- 1970 ยทStory of a Womanas David Frasier
- 1968 ยทThe Name of the Gameas Dan Farrell
- 1968 ยทLauraas Mark McPherson
- 1967 ยทThe Danny Thomas Houras Angelo (Businessman)
- 1967 ยทAction Manas Jim Beckley
- 1967 ยทThe Corrupt Onesas Cliff Wilder
- 1966 ยทIs Paris Burning?as General Sibert
- 1965 ยทAsylum for a Spyas James Andrew Congers
- 1963 ยทBob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatreas Major Morgan
- 1963 ยทBob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatreas James Andrew Congers
- 1963 ยทThe Caretakersas Dr. Donovan MacLeod
- 1962 ยทThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carsonas Self
- 1962 ยทThe Merv Griffin Showas Self
- 1962 ยทThe Lucy Showas Agent Briggs
- 1961 ยทThe Mike Douglas Showas Self - Co-Host
- 1961 ยทThe Mike Douglas Showas Self
- 1960 ยทThe Last Voyageas Cliff Henderson
- 1959 ยทThe Untouchablesas Eliot Ness
- 1959 ยทJohn Paul Jonesas John Paul Jones
- 1959 ยทThe Scarface Mobas Eliot Ness
- 1958 ยทThe Gift of Loveas William 'Bill' Beck
- 1957 ยทThe Tarnished Angelsas Roger Shumann
- 1956 ยทWritten on the Windas Kyle Hadley
- 1956 ยทGreat Day in the Morningas Owen Pentecost
- 1955 ยทGood Morning, Miss Doveas Dr. Tommy Baker
- 1955 ยทLauraas Mark Macpherson
- 1955 ยทThe 20th Century Fox Houras Mark MacPherson
- 1955 ยทHouse of Bambooas Eddie Kenner
- 1954 ยทThe High and the Mightyas John Sullivan
- 1954 ยทThe Iron Gloveas Captain Charles Wogan
- 1953 ยทSabre Jetas Col. Gil Manton
- 1953 ยทConquest of Cochiseas Maj. Tom Burke
- 1953 ยทWar Paintas Lt. Billings
- 1953 ยทThe Oscarsas Self
- 1952 ยทThe Ford Television Theatreas Ralph Saunders
- 1952 ยทThe Ford Television Theatreas Ben Barton
- 1952 ยทBwana Devilas Bob Hayward
- 1951 ยทSchlitz Playhouse of Starsas Vic Flint
- 1951 ยทThe Red Skelton Showas Self / Bo Bo McGoon
- 1951 ยทMy Outlaw Brotheras Patrick OยดMoore
- 1951 ยทBullfighter and the Ladyas John Regan
- 1950 ยทMr. Musicas Jeff Blake
- 1950 ยทLux Video Theatreas First Man
- 1950 ยทLux Video Theatreas Self - Intermission Guest
- 1950 ยทThe Bob Hope Showas Self - Cameo
- 1950 ยทRiviera Dreamas
- 1949 ยทLights Outas
- 1948 ยทFighter Squadronas Capt. Stuart L. Hamilton
- 1948 ยทMiss Tatlock's Millionsas Nickey Van Alen
- 1948 ยทA Date with Judyas Stephen Andrews
- 1948 ยทThe Ed Sullivan Showas Self
- 1944 ยทGolden Globe Awardsas Self
- 1944 ยทGolden Globe Awardsas Self - Presenter
- 1943 ยทScreen Snapshots (Series 23, No. 1): Hollywood in Uniformas Himself
- 1942 ยทKeeping Fitas Bob - Factory worker
- 1942 ยทMen of Texasas Barry Conovan
- 1942 ยทEagle Squadronas Chuck S. Brewer
- 1942 ยทTo Be or Not to Beas Lieut. Stanislav Sobinski
- 1941 ยทBadlands of Dakotaas Jim Holliday
- 1941 ยทScreen Snapshots Series 21 No. 1as Self
- 1941 ยทNice Girl?as Don Webb
- 1940 ยทA Little Bit of Heavenas Bob Terry
- 1940 ยทThe Mortal Stormas Otto Von Rohn
- 1939 ยทFirst Loveas Ted Drake