R. G. Armstrong

1. Overview

Robert Golden Armstrong Jr. (April 7, 1917 - July 27, 2012), known professionally as R. G. Armstrong, was a prolific American character actor and playwright. Over a career spanning more than four decades, he became widely recognized for his extensive work in the Western genre, both in film and television, and for his impactful collaborations with acclaimed director Sam Peckinpah. Armstrong's versatility allowed him to portray a wide range of characters, from unhinged fundamentalists to sympathetic figures, leaving a significant mark on Hollywood.

2. Early Life

Armstrong's formative years were spent in Alabama, where he developed an early interest in both writing and acting, laying the groundwork for his future career.

3. Acting Career

R. G. Armstrong's career spanned decades, showcasing his remarkable versatility across theater, film, and television, establishing him as a recognizable and impactful presence in the entertainment industry.

3.3. Television Career

Armstrong had a prolific career in television, making guest appearances and holding recurring roles in numerous series across various genres. It was on television that he first gained significant recognition.

3.3.1. Television Westerns

Armstrong was a ubiquitous presence in television Westerns throughout the 1950s and 1960s, guest-starring in virtually every series produced during that era. His appearances included Have Gun - Will Travel (playing Sheriff Jaffey in "Killer's Widow"), The Californians, Jefferson Drum, The Tall Man, Riverboat, The Rifleman, Zane Grey Theater, Wanted: Dead or Alive (as Asa Winter), The Westerner, The Big Valley (as Wallace Miles), Bonanza (as Keith Jarrell, Nathan Clay, and Andrew Holloway), Maverick (as Louise Fletcher's character's father in "The Saga of Waco Williams"), Gunsmoke (as Union soldier Capt. Benter and Jed Briar), Rawhide (as Gantry Hobson), Wagon Train, Lawman, and Bat Masterson.

3.3.2. Other Television Work

Beyond Westerns, Armstrong's television work encompassed a wide variety of dramas and miniseries. He appeared in The Twilight Zone in the episode "Nothing in the Dark" alongside Robert Redford, playing a construction contractor. He also made three appearances on Perry Mason, twice in the role of the defendant; he played Matthew Bartlett in "The Case of the Black-Eyed Blonde" (1958), Harry Bright in "The Case of the Petulant Partner" (1959), and John Gregory in "The Case of the Stand-in Sister" (1962). Other notable television credits include Alfred Hitchcock Presents (as Captain Bone and Fred Riordan), The Everglades, The Andy Griffith Show, The Fugitive (as Matt Peters, Tully, and Bradley), Daniel Boone, T.H.E. Cat (as Captain McAllister in a recurring role), Hawaii Five-O, Starsky and Hutch, The Dukes of Hazzard, and Dynasty (as Alfred Grimes). He also appeared in the miniseries War and Remembrance as "Moose" Fitzgerald. In the late 1980s, he had a recurring role as the demonic character "Uncle Lewis Vendredi" in the Canadian horror series Friday the 13th: The Series. Armstrong also played a reclusive visionary known as the Old Man in the second season of Millennium.

4. Personal Life

R. G. Armstrong was married three times during his life. His first marriage was to Ann Neale, with whom he had four children; this marriage ended in divorce in 1972. He then married Susan Guthrie in 1973, and they divorced in 1976. His third marriage was to Mary Craven in 1993, and they remained together until her death in November 2003.

5. Death

R. G. Armstrong died of natural causes at the age of 95 on July 27, 2012. He passed away at his home in Studio City, California.

6. Filmography

7. Television Appearances