Rudy Robles Explained

Rudy Robles
Birth Date:29 April 1910
Birth Place:Tacloban, Philippine Islands
Death Place:Manila, Philippines
Other Names:Ruby Robles
Occupation:Actor
Years Active:1939 - 1956

Rudy Robles (born Pastor Lluviosa Robles, 29 April 1910  - 11 August 1970) was a Filipino film and television actor. He was one of the first Filipino actors to appear in Hollywood movies.

Career

Robles was born in Tacloban, in the Eastern Visayas region of the Philippines, where he began his schooling before emigrating to the United States. He completed high school and college in California, where he excelled in debating and acting. Producer Samuel Goldwyn reportedly discovered and gave him the screen name Rudy Robles whilst he was working as a bellhop at The Beverly Hills Hotel in Hollywood.[1]

His credits include pre- and post-World War II films, such as Lt. Yabo in The Real Glory (1939) starring Gary Cooper and David Niven. His uncredited roles include appearances in The Adventures of Martin Eden (1942), Wake Island (1942), Manila Calling (1942), and he played a Filipino assassin in the 1942 film Across the Pacific.

During World War II, Robles entered the U.S. Army and served in Australia, New Guinea and the Philippines with the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment, rising to the rank of first sergeant.[2] After the war Robles was commissioned a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Civil Affairs, where he contracted Filipino entertainers for the U.S. military. He returned to the U.S. and civilian life in February 1946.[3]

In addition to appearing in several Hollywood films such as Nocturne (1946), Singapore (1947) (which starred Ava Gardner and Fred MacMurray) and Omoo-Omoo, the Shark God (1949), Robles returned to the Philippines where he raised a family and started to produce, direct and star in his own films. One of his last on-screen appearances was in an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents in 1956.

Death

On 11 August 1970, Robles died in Manila at the age of 60.

Filmography

Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
1939The Real Glory Lt. Yabo Credited as Ruby Robles
1940South of Pago Pago Luna
1941The Blonde from Singapore Servant Uncredited
1941Honolulu LuElevator Boy Uncredited
1942Blue, White and PerfectKali - Chauffeur Uncredited
1942Song of the IslandsAkomi - Native Boy Uncredited
1942The Adventures of Martin EdenSan Uncredited
Alternative title: High Seas
1942Submarine RaiderSteward Seffi
1942Wake IslandTriunfo Uncredited
1942Across the PacificA Filipino Assassin
1942Manila CallingMoro Soldier Uncredited
1946NocturneEujemio Uncredited
1947The Son of RustyGono, Gibson's Valet
1947SingaporeDesk Clerk Uncredited
1948Jungle GoddessNugara
1949Rusty Saves a LifeGono Sandoval
1949Flaxy MartinButlerUncredited
1949Omoo-Omoo, the Shark GodTembo
1950Princesa sa Tawi-Tawi Director
1952OkinawaFelix
1955Double JeopardyFrankUncredited
1960Party Line(final film role)
Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1956Alfred Hitchcock PresentsHorace the Butler Season 1 Episode 26: "Whodunit"
1956Passport to DangerSteward2 episodes
1955-1956Soldiers of FortuneVarious roles2 episodes

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Rudy Robles: Hollywood actor. philstar.com. 5 January 2013.
  2. p. 167 Mañalac, Fernando J. Manila: Memories of World War II Giraffe Books, 1995
  3. Deocampo, Nick Film: American Influences on Philippine Cinema Anvil Publishing, Incorporated, 9 Nov 2017