Ryan, Robert

1909 – An American Actor was born on the 11th day of November this year in Chicago, Illinois. He most often played hardened cops and ruthless villains throughout his career.

1932 – He graduated from Dartmouth College in this year, where he was also the school boxing champion. After graduation, not finding work to his liking, Ryan worked as a stoker on a ship, a laborer, and a ranch hand in Montana.

1939 – He married Jessica Cadwalader on the 11th of March this year.

1940 – During this year, he studied acting in Hollywood and appeared on stage in small film parts.

1944 – He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corp in January of this year. He was trained as a drill instructor, assigned to Camp Pendleton. His productive career commenced after his discharge from the military. He also became involved in many liberal causes.

1947 - His role that first put him on the map was as the anti-Semitic killer in Edward Dmytryk‘s film-noir “Crossfire”.

1949 – He played the over-the-hill boxer in The Set-Up.

1951 – He portrayed a burnt-out violent city-cop in the movie “On Dangerous Ground”.

1962 – He also appeared in several all-star war films, including The Longest Day in this year and Battle of the Bulge in 1965.

1972 – His wife died of cancer this year.

1973 – He died of lung cancer this year in New York City.