Robert J. Wilke

Who was Robert J. Wilke?

Robert J Wilke was an American film and television actor noted primarily for his roles as villains, mostly in Westerns. Before going into acting, he had a variety of jobs, including working in a high-dive act at the Chicago World's Fair in 1933-1934.

Wilke started as a stuntman in the 1930s and his first appearance on screen was in San Francisco (1936). He soon began to acquire regular character parts, mainly as a heavy, and made his mark when, along with Lee Van Cleef and Sheb Wooley, he played one of the "three men waiting at the station" in High Noon (1952).

Wilke appeared in many, if not most, television westerns, including seven episodes each of NBC's Laramie and CBS's Gunsmoke. Outside of westerns, Wilke appeared in such films as From Here to Eternity (1953) and 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954).

Wilke was an excellent golfer. He was rated the best amateur golfer in Hollywood. In 1960, 1963, and 1964, he won the World Entertainment Championship golf title.