Very sad news to report, Cliff Robertson the man who brought Uncle Ben from the Spider-man comics to life for the first time on screen has died at the age of 88.
Robertson won the 1968 Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the movie Charly. His last film role was Uncle Ben in the Spider-Man film trilogy.
Robertson was born on September 9, 1923 in La Jolla, California, the son of Audrey (née Willingham) and Clifford Parker Robertson II. His father was described as "the idle heir to a tidy sum of ranching money." His parents divorced when he was one, and his mother died just a year later. Robertson was raised by his paternal grandmother and an aunt, and was close to his father. He graduated from La Jolla High School in 1941, where he was known as "The Walking Phoenix." [why?] He then served in the merchant marine in World War II before attending Antioch College in Ohio and dropping out to work as a journalist for a short time
Here's the scene in Spider-man where Uncle Ben gives Peter Parker the speech, "With great power comes great responsibility".
Robertson had a bit part in Mr. Roberts (1950) in Boston. Robertson played a future President of the United States in PT 109 (chosen personally by John F. Kennedy to portray the then-Lt. Kennedy) and a presidential candidate in The Best Man (1964). Later came Charly (an adaptation of Flowers for Algernon for which he won the 1968 Academy Award for Best Actor).
Other films included Picnic (1955), Autumn Leaves (1956), Gidget (1959), Sunday in New York (1963), Devil's Brigade (1968), Too Late the Hero (1970), J. W. Coop (1972), Three Days of the Condor (1975), Obsession (1976), Star 80 (1983) and Malone (1987). Late in his life Robertson's career had a resurgence. He appeared as Uncle Ben Parker in the first movie adaptation of Spider-Man (2002), as well as in the sequels Spider-Man 2 (2004) and Spider-Man 3 (2007). He commented on his website that "Since Spider-Man 1 and 2, I seem to have a whole new generation of fans. That in itself is a fine residual." He was also in the horror film Riding the Bullet (2004).
Robertson's television appearances included The Twilight Zone episodes "A Hundred Yards Over the Rim" (1961) and "The Dummy" (1962) followed by guest starring roles in such series as the NBC medical drama about psychiatry The Eleventh Hour (1963) in the role of Jeff Dillon, "The Man Who Came Home Late". In 1958, he portrayed Joe Clay in the very first broadcast of Playhouse 90's Days of Wine and Roses, in what some critics cite as the superior version of this story about alcoholism.
Other network appearances included The Greatest Show on Earth (1963) and ABC's Breaking Point (1964) and the ABC Stage 67 episode "The Trap of Gold" (1966).
He had a starring role in the live space opera Rod Brown of the Rocket Rangers (1953–54), as well as recurring roles on Hallmark Hall of Fame (1952), Alcoa Theatre (1959), and Playhouse 90 (1958, 1960), The Outlaws (three episodes as Chad Burns), Batman as the villainous gunfighter Shame (1966, 1968), Falcon Crest (1983–84) as Dr. Michael Ranson, and The Lyon's Den (2003). He had starring roles in episodes of both the 1960s and 1990s versions of The Outer Limits. He was awarded an Emmy for his leading role in an 1965 episode from Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre entitled "The Game". His second appearance on Batman featured his wife, Dina Merrill.
In 1989, he narrated an AT&T promotional video documenting some of its technological improvements at the time. Incidentally, Robertson, who for ten years was a national TV spokesman for AT&T (which won him the Advertising Age award for best commercial), was to be the keynote speaker at an AT&T stockholders' meeting during a strike by AT&T workers. Robertson refused to cross the picket line and did not speak at the meeting. In the same year he was a member of the jury at the 39th Berlin International Film Festival.
One of Robertson's main hobbies was flying and, among other aircraft, he owned several de Havilland Tiger Moths, a Messerschmitt Bf 108 and a genuine World War II era Mk.IX Supermarine Spitfire MK923. He even entered balloon races, including one in 1964 from the mainland to Catalina Island that ended with him being rescued from the Pacific Ocean. A certified private pilot, Robertson was a longtime member of the Experimental Aircraft Association, working his way through the ranks in prominence and eventually co-founding the EAA's Young Eagles program, on which he chaired from its 1992 inception to 1994 (succeeded by former test pilot Gen. Chuck Yeager).
Robertson was airborne and piloting a private Beechcraft Baron directly over New York City on the morning of September 11, 2001. He was directly over the World Trade Center, climbing through 7,500 feet, when the first Boeing 767 struck. He was ordered by air traffic control to land immediately at the nearest airport following a nationwide order to ground all civilian and commercial aircraft following the attacks.
Posted: 12 Sep 2011 20:20 Last Edited By: Rick Jones
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This is sad. I always liked Cliff Robertson. He was a good actor. I remember him in 633 Squadron and Escape from L.A.
You know, I don't think anybody could have been a better Uncle Ben. He helped make the first Spider-Man movie great.
Posted: 12 Sep 2011 23:03
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I'm not too familiar with his work other than as Uncle Ben but he really did help to make the first Spiderman movie the best it could be. __________________
He will be missed. He had a warmth to him onscreen which gave the perfect Uncle Ben vibe. I can only assume that this also extended to his personal life. __________________
All the bad things in life only help you appreciate the good even more.
Posted: 16 Sep 2011 04:14
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Great actor. Martin Sheen should erase his role as Uncle Ben in the upcoming Amazing Spider-Man film just out of respect for THE REAL Uncle Ben. If I were Martin I'd be ashamed of myself right now. He hasn't even taught Charlie Sheen responsibility yet. How is he gonna teach Peter Parker it? SHAME ON MARTIN!!!! SHAMEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! __________________
Don't you ever laugh as the hearse goes by,For you may be the next to die.
Posted: 16 Sep 2011 05:22
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I couldn't agree more, Floyd. Martin Sheen has no chance of coming anywhere close to Cliff Robertson's Uncle Ben.
