Jason Robards, Jr.
| Jason Robards | |
|---|---|
In Once Upon a Time in the West (1968)
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| Born |
Jason Nelson Robards, Jr. July 26, 1922 Chicago, Illinois, US |
| Died | December 26, 2000 (aged 78) Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Lung cancer |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1947–2000 |
| Known for | Playing historical figures, Eugene O'Neill |
| Spouse(s) | Eleanor Pittman (m. 1948–1958; divorced) (3 children) Rachel Taylor (m. 1959–1961; divorced) Lauren Bacall (m. 1961–1969; divorced) (1 child) Lois O'Connor (m. 1970–2000; his death) (2 children) |
| Children | Six, including Sam Robards |
| Parent(s) |
Jason Robards, Sr., Hope Maxine (née Glanville) (1895–1992) |
| Awards | See Awards |
Jason Nelson Robards, Jr. (July 26, 1922 – December 26, 2000) was an American stage, film, and television actor. He was a winner of the Tony Award, two Academy Awards and an Emmy Award. He was also a United States Navy combat veteran of World War II.
He became famous playing works of American playwright Eugene O'Neill and regularly performed in O'Neill's works throughout his career. Robards was cast both in common-man roles and as well-known historical figures.
Robards was born in Chicago, the son of Hope Maxine (née Glanville) Robards and Jason Robards, Sr., an actor who regularly appeared on the stage and in such early films as The Gamblers (1929). Robards was of German, English, Welsh, Irish, and Swedish descent.
The family moved to New York City when Jason Jr. was still a toddler, and then moved to Los Angeles when he was six years old. Later interviews with Robards suggested that the trauma of his parents' divorce, which occurred during his grade-school years, greatly affected his personality and world view.
As a youth, Robards also witnessed first-hand the decline of his father's acting career. The elder Robards had enjoyed considerable success during the era of silent films, but he fell out of favor after the advent of "talkies" (sound film), leaving the younger Robards soured on the Hollywood film industry.
The teenage Robards excelled in athletics, running a 4:18-mile during his junior year at Hollywood High School in Los Angeles. Although his prowess in sports attracted interest from several universities, Robards decided to enlist in the United States Navy upon his graduation in 1940.
Following the completion of recruit training and radio school, Robards was assigned to a heavy cruiser, the USS Northampton (CA-26) in 1941 as a radioman 3rd class. On December 7, 1941, the Northampton was at sea in the Pacific Ocean about 100 miles (160 km) off Hawaii. Contrary to some stories, he witnessed the devastation of the Japanese attack on Hawaii only afterwards, when the Northampton returned to Pearl Harbor two days later. The Northampton was later directed into the Guadalcanal campaign in World War II's Pacific theater, where she participated in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands.
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