American actor nominated for seven Emmys, winning one in 1960 for his series “The Untouchables.” He received an Oscar nomination for his performance in the film “Written On The Wind,” 1956. Always an avid sportsman, he set two world skeet-shooting records by age 19 and was the top speedboat racer on the west coast in 1940 and 1941. As the son of a millionaire father, he “majored in polo” before acting; his first film was in 1939. Up until his Oscar nomination, he held mediocre roles in 30 different films over a span of 20 years.
Born into a wealthy and socially well-connected family, Robert, a fourth generation Californian, was taken to Europe at age three by his mom after his parents divorced. He spent summers on the Adriatic coast next door to Bruno Mussolini, son of Benito. Schooled in Italy and France he returned to the U.S. at seven years old speaking no English, only Italian and French and he had no passport. He was held by immigration until his grandfather came to the customs office with proper papers. His parents later remarried. As a teen he learned to shoot skeet, becoming a champion and learning to be a team player. A member of five all-American skeet-shooting teams, Stack was a good sportsman and athlete. He played on the University of Southern California polo team in the late 1930’s and although he was a top player, he was forced to quit after fracturing his right wrist three times.
In 1939 he visited the film set of “First Love” to hear Deanna Durbin sing. He was seen by the director and asked if he would like to be in the film. He got the part and gave Deanna her first screen kiss. Commissioned as an ensign after he enlisted in the Navy in 1942, he was determined to make the world safe for democracy. Five Stack family members were in the Navy including an admiral who served as an aide to President Roosevelt and a seaman second class. Stack was discharged in 1945 as a full lieutenant.
Always a supporter of what he terms “the good guys,” Stack feels a deep respect for uniformed men and women who serve in the armed forces and in state or local police. He has starred in five TV series, often as a lawman; “Strike Force,” “The Name of the Game,” “The Untouchables,” 1959-63 for which he won his Emmy and “”Unsolved Mysteries” which began in 1987 and for which he received six Emmy nominations. He is proud of this show because of the criminals he helped bring to justice.
More comfortable as a comedian than a tough guy, his favorite film role was a playboy in “Written on the Wind” which won him an Oscar nomination as best supporting actor in 1956. With a resonant voice, erect posture, obvious vigor and looks that belie his age, Stack doesn’t binge. The habits that were formed when he was an athlete are still with him. By age 83, he was still trim and good looking, going to the gym three times a week and playing golf for sport.
Remaining a bachelor until relatively late in life, Stack met Rosemarie Bowe in 1955. They dated a full year before he proposed and they were married in 1956. They have two children, Elizabeth a singer, born 1957 and Charley who plays guitar with a small band in Los Angeles, born 1959. It is believed their musical talent comes from Robert’s maternal grandparents who were both opera stars.
In November 2002, Stack was undergoing radiation therapy for prostate cancer, with a prognosis that was very good. He died in Beverly Hills, CA, however, at age 84, on May 14, 2003 of a heart attack
Link to Wikipedia biography