Cool News
Two time Oscar winner Jason Robards dies at 78
"If things aren't funny, then they're exactly what they are; and then they're like a long dental appointment."
Father Geek here with another sad bit of end of the year news; actor Jason Robards died today after a long battle against cancer. In last year's hit motion picture MAGNOLIA he gave us a truely oscar deserving performance as the terminally ill father of Tom Cruise. Of course one of my all time favorite films is ALL THE PRESIDENT'S MEN for which he received his 1st Academy Award, but the role of his that will forever be burned in ol' Father Geek's brain is none other than that of Murray Burns in the highly honored 1965 movie A THOUSAND CLOWNS. He was shear perfection. Pure entertainment. Many of our readers might remember him best for his wonderful genre work in Poe's MURDERS IN THE RUE MORGUE, Harlen Ellison's A BOY AND HIS DOG, and Ray Bradbury's SOMETHING WICKED THIS WAY COMES.
An actor's actor Robards was honored at one time, or another by every organization giving awards for motion picture acting, not only in the USA, but abroad as well. He had 5 Golden Globe nominations, 2 BAFTA's, and he won at CANNES in 1962 for A LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT. He was further honored for his stage and TV work by The Tonys and The Emmys. Whatever he did be it comedy, drama, western, war film, crime, or epic; whether he played the good guy, or the bad Jason Robards could be counted on for a fine and professional performance. Just Click Here for a list of his many motion picture and television appearances. All of us at Geek Headquarters in Austin will miss him in future films. Here's what the AP wire had to say about his passing...
Actor Jason Robards Dies of Cancer
By RON ZAPATA
Associated Press Writer
An actor's actor Robards was honored at one time, or another by every organization giving awards for motion picture acting, not only in the USA, but abroad as well. He had 5 Golden Globe nominations, 2 BAFTA's, and he won at CANNES in 1962 for A LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT. He was further honored for his stage and TV work by The Tonys and The Emmys. Whatever he did be it comedy, drama, western, war film, crime, or epic; whether he played the good guy, or the bad Jason Robards could be counted on for a fine and professional performance. Just Click Here for a list of his many motion picture and television appearances. All of us at Geek Headquarters in Austin will miss him in future films. Here's what the AP wire had to say about his passing...
Actor Jason Robards Dies of Cancer
By RON ZAPATA
Associated Press Writer
By RON ZAPATA
Associated Press Writer
BRIDGEPORT, Conn. (AP) — Jason
Robards, the veteran stage and screen
actor who won back-to-back Oscars for
``All the President's Men'' and ``Julia,''
died Tuesday after battling cancer. He
was 78.
Robards, who lived in nearby Fairfield,
died at Bridgeport Hospital, nursing
supervisor Sally Dalton said.
He started out as a stage actor in the
1950s, gaining critical acclaim for his
performances in Eugene O'Neill plays,
including ``The Iceman Cometh'' and
``Long Day's Journey Into Night.'' He won a Tony award for
his performance in ``The Disenchanted.''
Actress Debbie Reynolds said Robards, who usually played
solemn roles, had a secret ambition to be a song-and-dance
man.
``He always wanted to do
musicals,'' she told KCBS-TV
in Los Angeles. ``This great
actor wanted to just kick it
up.''
``We'll all miss him a lot,'' she
said.
After his film debut in 1959,
as a Hungarian freedom
fighter in ``The Journey,''
Robards said he preferred
theater work.
Yet he went on to make more than 50 feature films, winning
best supporting actor Academy Awards for his gruff portrayal
of Washington Post Executive Editor Ben Bradlee in ``All the
President's Men'' in 1976 and novelist Dashiell Hammett in
``Julia'' the following year.
He was nominated for another Oscar in
1980 for his portrayal of Howard
Hughes in ``Melvin and Howard.''
But modern movie audiences were most
familiar with Robards for his role as
Bradlee in the story of the Watergate
scandal.
In his book, ``A Good Life:
Newspapering and Other Adventures,''
Bradlee recalled meeting Robards after
the actor got the part for $50,000. He
said there were stories about Robards'
drinking, but the two had a 45-minute,
boozeless lunch, toured the Post and
then had dinner.
``Again no booze, and damn little small talk,'' Bradlee wrote.
``We found we were the same age, had fought pretty much the
same war in the Pacific Navy and had the same gravelly voice.
Robards and I became friends much later, but that first
encounter was short and sweet.''
Robards' other films included
``Divorce American Style,''
1967; ``Johnny Got His
Gun,'' 1971; ``Comes a
Horseman,'' 1978: and
``Philadelphia,'' 1994.
He also appeared in last
year's Oscar dark horse
``Magnolia,'' portraying a
cancer-stricken father, and
played the tyrannical land
baron father in ``A Thousand
Acres,'' the 1997 film
adaptation of Jane Smiley's
Pulitzer-prize winning novel.
Last year, Robards was one of five performers selected to
receive the Kennedy Center Honors.
(Father Geeknote: an honor also presented at that same ceremony to the great comic pianist Victor Borge, who died
Saturday, December 23rd.)
Despite his prolific film work, Robards stayed loyal to the
theater.
``The theater has kept me alive and it's allowed me to work at
my craft,'' he said in 1997.
Robards, who was known as a classical actor, shunned the
notion of ``method'' acting and actors who look for motivation
for their stage work.
``I look at the words,'' he said in a 1993 interview with The
Providence Journal-Bulletin. ``All I know is, I don't do a lot of
analysis. I know those words have to move me. I rely on the
author.''
``I don't want actors reasoning with me about `motivation' and
all that bull. All I want 'em to do is learn the goddamn lines and
don't bump into each other.'''
Robards was born Jason Nelson Robards Jr. on July 26, 1922,
in Chicago, the son of Jason Nelson Robards Sr., a prominent
actor.
Despite his father's work in more than 170 movies, the young
Robards had no interest in acting while he was growing up.
At Hollywood High School in Los Angeles, Robards was on the
baseball, football, basketball and track teams. After graduating
in 1939, he went on active duty with the U.S. Naval Reserve as
an apprentice seaman.
(Father Geeknote: Robards was a well decorated war
veteran. He was a Pearl Harbor survivor and he earned the Navy
Cross (second-highest Navy honor) for his combat
service during World War II.)
While serving in the Pacific, Robards read some plays by O'Neill
and told his father he wanted to try his hand at acting. At his
father's urging, Robards enrolled in the American Academy of
Dramatic Arts in 1946.
In 1953, director Jose Quintero gave him the male lead in
Victor Wolfson's ``American Gothic.''
He earned his first critical acclaim in May 1956, when he
appeared in ``The Iceman Cometh'' at the Circle in the Square,
again under Quintero's direction. Robards played Hickey, the
salesman who forces the characters to accept death.
Director Lanny Cotler worked with Robards in the 1998 Family
Channel film ``Heartwood'' about the upheaval in northern
California's redwood region. He said the actor inspired his
young stars, including Hilary Swank, who won an Oscar for best
actress the next year in ``Boys Don't Cry.''
``He was the most experienced actor on our cast and was by
far the most flexible and the most willing to just give of himself
beyond the call of the duty,'' Cotler said. ``It was just amazing
to watch that man work.''
Robards said that he had had bouts of depression during his life
and was once a heavy drinker. He said he gave up alcohol in
1974. After a bad car accident in 1972, Robard's face had to be
surgically reconstructed.
Robards was married four times — including once to Lauren
Bacall
(Father GeekNote: AMERICAN BEAUTY's Sam Robards is the son of that 8 year union)
— and had six children. In his later years, he lived with
his wife of more than 30 years, Lois, in what he once called ``a
quiet life on the water'' in Fairfield.
``He was very warm and generous to allow his presence and
name in charities around town,'' said Fairfield Selectman
Kenneth Flatto. ``People knew him as a consummate
gentleman who cared a lot about the community. He was pretty
active in environmental causes.''
Robards sometimes rejected characterizations of him as
America's leading actor, saying in 1993: ``All I know about
acting is that I just have to keep on doing it.''
-
+ Expand All
-
Crap. This blows.
-
I remember catching alot of his later work, even if the movie was crap he aways put in top notch work. What a fantastic actor.
-
it's a damn shame.
-
Seems like the only time I post here is when someone posts a death notice. Sigh. Well, Robards was an incredible movie star and a fine actor. He was the type of actor whose scenes you remember in films you long ago forgot about. His painted face in the elegiac Boy and his Dog, his electric, daffy performance in a Thousand Clowns, his sad, sad, SAD portrayal of a lost old man in Something Wicked This Way Comes. And of course them flicks for which he won oscars. He was always reliable, I always sat up straight when he walked into a scene, because I knew it was going to be rich with his wide and deep charisma. Thanks, Mr. Robards. Peace.
-
At least I have my "Philadelphia" action figure.
-
Jeez, first Billy now Jason, guess it does come in three's.. Damnit! I really remember him from the classic fatherhood. I if you are not a father you cannot relate..:)
A loss that I felt greatly..
Semper FI!
-
Dec 26, 2000 11:27:56 PM CST
Let us see...Sam Robards, Victor Borge, and Billy Barty all in t
by 0007
-
At least his last performnce was a great one. Few actors get to go out on such a high note.
-
Dec 27, 2000 12:37:19 AM CST
Man he was excellent as Ben Bradlee, great in all of his roles.
by regis travolta
Sad news. A classic method actor who became his parts totally. RIP
-
Thanks, Mr. Robards.
-
The man clearly had many great roles, but for me, he will always be "Cheyenne"... I'm going to go chill and listen to some Morricone now.
-
Bye Bye Cable Hogue
-
Just noticing, no one has yet mentioned Robards wonderful turn in Bill Murray's oft-forgotten 1990 gem "Quick Change."
Robards was the Chief of Police chasing around Murray and his crew. A great little performance in a funny movie...check it out...He'll be missed.
And, like that, I'm gone... -
I simply cannot find words for how I feel about Jason Robards. He was one of the greatest performers ever.
-
And Victor Borge....Even at 91, he could still make me laugh my ass off. So long, we
-
Bad year for cinema, and ending badly. * Hey, Harmonica, when your time will come, pray that you'll be shot by a good gunslinger.
RIP -
So yesterday I rent Magnolia and watch Jason Robards dying of cancer. Then four hours later ... Jason Robards dies of cancer. I'm not going to be watching any home movies for a while....
-
Last year, one of the biggest disappointment's about the Oscars was that Robbards was passed over for Best Supporting actor. Now all he'll get is a brief clip in one of those "In Memorial" collages. Fortunately, we film lovers will keep him and honor him in our hearts. My thouhgts go out to his family and friends. . .
-
...and thank you AICN, for posting yet another respectful, informative and touching obit.
-
He's done a ton of great highbrow work, but I absolutely loved him in Quick Change, classic quotable lines from everyone in that film, include Jake...
"Perfect if you're looking for Paul Bunyan..."
-
Dec 27, 2000 7:23:34 AM CST
Truly regrettable, a phenomenal talent and human being...
by roguewriter
Favorite performances: the gruff grandfather in PARENTHOOD, the grim doctor in THE DAY AFTER, the fearsome executive in PHILADELPHIA, the old man dying more from regret than from cancer in MAGNOLIA... Rarely has there been a presences like his in the entertainment business. He will be missed.
-
I was looking around and Roguewriter mentioned this film. I was gonna mention it either way. I saw it for the first time over the weekend on the scifi channel. Granted the threat has died down (of a nuclear war) but that movie still freaked me out like no movie other than Dawn of the Dead. The scene with Robards at the end reached through the screen and touched me and that rare. So for that moment he did what few actors do and I thank him. I will miss him. He was an incredible talent and no matter what he played I always liked him. Also his role in Quick Change was great and it was a great little film. He was hilarious and showed his great range. Its a sad day cause we lost a great man but he will always be remembered.
-
my personal favorite...
-
"Max Dugan Returns", as Al Capone in Roger Corman's "St. Valentine's Day Massacre", "A Boy And His Dog" and as Doc Holiday in "Hour Of the Gun" with James Garner. A class act in every performance.
-
Farewell to the man who never did the role he tought was the role of his life: John Mallory. Goodbye, Cheyenne.
-
I was deeply struck when I first heard about Mr Robards-I was talking with my wife about "who do you think we'll lose this year"it always seems to happen during the holidays.The saddest blow of all is that as a film geek I see no up and coming young actors of his awesome caliber.Goodnight Jason-thanks for the smiles...
-
He was always such a great actor that even no matter how small the film, he stood above the rest of the cast..my personal favorite roles of his: Parenthood, Johnny Got His Gun, (hehehe, does the "One" video from Metallica count? ;))), Quick Change, Magnolia and A Boy and His Dog...
when I was a kid, I always had this great fantasy about being an actor and would write little scripts and come up with a cast of characters and Jason Robards always had a role...
he will be missed... -
DOP said it perfectly. Farewell.
-
DOP said it perfectly. Farewell.
-
His damn fine work in everything he appeared in will be missed. This guy pulled a hHanks in the 70's and won best supporting actor two years in a row. WOW. Watch out heaven, things are gonna get loud.
-
...when he said Robards was always good, even when his movies weren't. That comment alone is a tribute to the man; a fine actor whom I'll always remember for PARENTHOOD, as well as (uncredited?) turns in the best of the Scott/Bruckheimer flicks, CRIMSON TIDE and ENEMY OF THE STATE. He'll be missed.
-
Truly great stuff there, especially the closing scenes of that movie. Yeah, this is really, really, really sad news. The guy always seemed a bit underrated to me. He definitely should've been around longer. He's one of those famous people who you always wanted to meet, and now it's too late. He'll be missed.
-
...I just wanted to say how sad I am one of my favorite actors has passed. He always brought a bottomless depth to whatver role he was in. And I always enjoyed seeing him in any movie he was in. Adios cheyenne.
-
A turely gifted actor. His entrance in ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST is second only to Harry Lime in The Third Man. He will be missed. And not forgotten. On a personal note, a girl I knew had mother that did make-up for movies. She said while visiting her mom,Jason Robards bought her birthday dinner. Gonna miss that guy
-
I remember when a very grand project began while I was in high school, of bringing great stage works to the screen. We took a field trip one day to a local theater and there before me was the most amazing performance I have ever seen. Jason Robards brought "The Iceman Cometh" to life for me. It was no longer words on a page, but a tense, complex, ultimately heartwrenching performance which I will never forget.
Readers Talkback
User Login
Top Talkbacks
- To Commemorate The 3D Release Of STAR WARS EPISODE I: THE PHANTOM MENACE, George Lucas Wants You To Know...Greedo Shoots First!! -- 339 total posts 339 posts
- SPACE 2099!! -- 141 total posts 141 posts
- Quint travels to Barsoom and visits the John Carter set!!! -- 116 total posts 116 posts
- Crom! Grant The Behind the Scenes Pics of the Day revenge! And if you do not listen, den to Hell witchu! -- 67 total posts 67 posts
- The Sensorties Revisit The Friday Docback (And Still Smell)!! DOCTOR WHO Story #7 Again, The Coming Of Season/Series 7, And More!! -- 51 total posts 51 posts
- Friday Brings SWEEPS DAY NINE!! Gab Here About Tonight’s FRINGE!! Plus Einstein on TIM, Wiig On PORTLANDIA, MAHER, CLONE, GIFTED, GRIMM, SPARTACUS, SUPERNATURAL, GOLD RUSH And More!! -- 65 total posts 50 posts
- Rest In Peace Bethesda’s Adam Adamowicz -- 45 total posts 45 posts
- SEEKING A FRIEND FOR THE END OF THE WORLD is something I'm very anxious to see! -- 43 total posts 43 posts
- Capone found nothing mysterious or good about JOURNEY 2: THE MYSTERIOUS ISLAND!!! -- 40 total posts 40 posts
- OK. So Harrison Ford Isn't In Talks For The New BLADE RUNNER. But... -- 145 total posts 39 posts