Robert Hudson Walker
Robert Hudson Walker (
October 13,
1918 â€"
August 28,
1951) was an American actor.
Born in
Salt Lake City,
Utah to Zella (McQuarrie) and Horace Walker, he was the youngest of four sons. An interest in acting led his maternal aunt
Hortense (McQuarrie) Odlum to offer to pay for his enrollment in
1937 at the
American Academy of Dramatic Arts in
New York City. She was the president of
Bonwit Teller and he stayed in her home his first year in the city. He met fellow aspiring actor Phylis Isley (better known as
Jennifer Jones) and also a student at the Academy. After a brief courtship, the two were married in 1939 and moved to
Hollywood to find work in films but their prospects were meager and they soon returned to New York. Walker soon found work in
radio while Phylis stayed home and gave birth to two sons in succession,
Robert Walker, Jr., born April 15,1940 and
Michael Walker, born March 13, 1941. Phylis soon returned to auditioning where her luck changed when she was discovered by producer
David O. Selznick. He changed her name to
Jennifer Jones and groomed her for stardom. During their initial meetings Selznick was highly attracted to Jones and they quietly began having an affair. She eventually landed the plum role of
Bernadette Soubirous in the
Twentieth Century Fox production
The Song of Bernadette (1943). Many speculate that her film success was the result of her affair to Selznick who managed every aspect of her life and furthered her career.
The couple returned to Hollywood and Selznick's connections helped Walker secure a contract with
MGM where he started work on the war drama
Bataan (1943). Walker's charming demeanor and boyish good looks caught on with audiences and he worked steadily playing "boy-next-door" roles in films such as
See Here, Private Hargrove (1944) and
Her Highness and the Bellboy (1945). He also appeared in Selznick's
Since You Went Away (1944) in which he and his wife Jones gave poignant performances as doomed young lovers. During filming Walker learned of Jennifer's affair. Filming the loves scenes was especially difficult for Walker who was humiliated by Selznick's authority over his wife. Selznick was especially cruel to Walker by having him perform take after take of each love scene with Jones.
Walker and Jones separated during the filming of
Since You Went Away and divorced after filming completed. Although Walker continued to work steadily in Hollywood, he was distraught over the divorce and was soon prone to drinking, emotional outbursts and eventually, a nervous breakdown. He spent time at the
Menninger Clinic in 1949 where he was treated for a psychiatric disorder. He married Barbara Ford, daughter of director
John Ford, in 1948 but the marriage only lasted six weeks.
Following his dismissal from the Menninger Clinic, he was hired by director
Alfred Hitchcock for
Strangers on a Train (1951). His performance as the evil but oddly sympathetic Bruno Anthony was highly lauded and considered his greatest performance.
While filming
My Son John in 1951, Walker died suddenly after being administered
sodium amytal by a doctor following another supposed emotional outburst. The drug when mixed with the alcohol in Walker's system provoked
heart failure instantly. Unused footage from
Strangers on a Train was used in the film as well as a body double for Walker for scenes not yet completed. Walker was only 32 years of age.
The circumstances of Walker's mysterious death has been a subject of debate. Conflicting stories surfaced from those who were present the night of his death and controversy involving
murder has even been addressed.
Linet, Beverly.
Star Crossed: The Story of Robert Walker and Jennifer Jones. New York: G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1985. ISBN 0399131949
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Robert Walker tribute*
Robert Walker's Gravesite
