Louis B. Mayer signed him up at MGM, but the management suddenly changed and he instead Quarry sat around for two years without working.
A brief bout with cancer in 1965 gave him time to learn how to play bridge, and became an expert.
A fine chef, he studied the art of cooking at the Cardon Bleu School in Manhattan under the supervision of Dione Lucas.
Appeared with Paul Newman in Winning (1969). Cut from the film, Newman gave him a part in WUSA (1970). He remained friends with Newman and wife Joanne Woodward for over 20 years.
Director/producer/writer Fred Olen Ray, director of many lowbudget independent films, contacted Robert in 1987 while he was recuperating in a wheelchair and used him in over a dozen films.
Encouraged to pursue acting by his grandmother, a frustrated actress.
Formed a theatre group while enlisted in the Army. President and Mrs. Roosevelt attended a performance of one of his productions, "The Hasty Heart".
Had an IQ of 165 and graduated from high school at age 14.
Has an IQ of 168.
He and Cloris Leachman teamed up for a production of "Design for Living" at the Stage Society in Los Angeles that ran eight months.
He completed high school at age 14.
His personal life was fraught with life-threatening incidents. He had a cancer scare in 1965. In the 1970s he was the victim, as a pedestrian, of a drunken driver and suffered severe facial injuries which required a long recovery period. In 1982, outside his North Hollywood apartment, he was beaten and robbed. The muggers broke his knees, ribs and cheekbone. He suffered his first heart attack as a result.
In 1950, he made his Broadway debut as Silvius in "As You Like It" at the Cort Theatre. He was handpicked for the role by the star Katharine Hepburn who played Rosalind. They became lifelong friends.
In 1988, he authored the cookbook "Wonderfully Simple Recipes for Simply Wonderful Food." It sold over 60,000 copies.
Joined the Army Combat Engineers at age 18 and formed his own theatrical troupe while in the Army. He acted in and helped produce a hit production, "The Hasty Heart" in which President and Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt were attendees.
Once won a scholarship to the Pasadena Playhouse and was discovered by Alfred Hitchcock while filming Shadow of a Doubt (1943) in Robert's home town.
Won an acting scholarship to the Pasadena Playhouse.
Won the role of Teresa Wright's boyfriend in the 1943 Hitchcock classic Shadow of a Doubt (1943). His glimpse of a role, however, was all but cut out, but it did lead to an eventual Hollywood career, as well as lifelong friendships with Wright and Joseph Cotten.