Charles Hugh Roberson (May 10, 1919 – June 8, 1988) was an American actor and stuntman. Roberson was born near Shannon, Texas, the son of farmer Ollie W. Roberson and Jannie Hamm Roberson. Raised on cattle ranches in Shannon, Texas, and Roswell, New Mexico, he left school at 13 to become a cowhand and oilfield roughneck. He married and took his wife and daughter to California, where he joined the Culver City Police Department and guarded the gate at MGM Studios. Following army service in World War II, he returned to the police force. During duty at Warner Bros. studios during a labor strike, he met stuntman Guy Teague, who alerted him to a stunt job at Republic Pictures. Teague had been John Wayne's stunt double for many years and was able to show him the ropes. Chuck also resembled John Carrol whom Roberson doubled in his first picture, Wyoming (1947). He played small roles and stunted in other roles in the same film. He graduated to larger supporting roles in Westerns for Wayne and John Ford, and to a parallel career as a second-unit director. His television appearances include The Lone Ranger, The Adventures of Kit Carson, Lawman, Death Valley Days, Have Gun – Will Travel, Laramie, Gunsmoke, The Virginian, Laredo, Bonanza, Daniel Boone, and The Big Valley. Roberson also appeared in Disney's television Westerns The Swamp Fox and Texas John Slaughter. They were part of The Wonderful World of Color. Before that, he portrayed a Confederate Prison Captain in The Great Locomotive Chase. In 1980 he published an autobiography, The Fall Guy: 30 Years as the Duke's Double. Roberson died of cancer on June 8, 1988, in Bakersfield, California, and is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Hollywood Hills, California, next to his brother, actor Lou Roberson. Bob Dylan drew him as Long Tom in his Beaten Path series, the drawing is entitled "Untitled 1" and is based on a frame from the film Winchester '73 (1950). Roberson and Wayne Burson, another stuntman, were partners in breeding and training racehorses, with Roberson furnishing the horses from his Bakersfield, California, ranch and Burson training them.
Movie | John Wayne's 'The Alamo' | Tennessean | 1992-06-06 |
Movie | McQ | Santiago's Bodyguard (uncredited) | 1974-01-04 |
Movie | 99 and 44/100% Dead | Gunman | 1974-08-29 |
Movie | Cahill: United States Marshal | Leader of Bunch | 1973-07-11 |
Movie | The Stone Killer | Council Member (uncredited) | 1973-08-08 |
Movie | Big Jake | Texas Ranger (uncredited) | 1971-05-26 |
Series | Alias Smith and Jones | Unknown | 1971-01-05 |
Movie | Rio Lobo | Corporal in Baggage Car | 1970-04-01 |
Movie | Chisum | Trail Herder (uncredited) | 1970-07-23 |
Movie | The Undefeated | Yankee Sergeant at River (uncredited) | 1969-10-04 |
Movie | The Scalphunters | Scalphunter | 1968-02-29 |
Movie | The Green Berets | Sgt. Griffin | 1968-07-04 |
Series | The Mod Squad | Unknown | 1968-09-24 |
Movie | Hellfighters | Firefighter in Plane (uncredited) | 1968-11-27 |
Series | Mr. Terrific | Dawson | 1967-01-09 |
Movie | The Adventures of Bullwhip Griffin | Cook (uncredited) | 1967-03-08 |
Movie | Welcome to Hard Times | Miner Fighting Bert (uncredited) | 1967-04-30 |
Movie | The War Wagon | Brown / Mustachioed guard at blown bridge | 1967-05-26 |
Movie | Nevada Smith | Deputy (uncredited) | 1966-06-10 |
Movie | Blindfold | Fitzpatrick's Henchman | 1966-05-23 |
Movie | Smoky | Chuck - a Ranch Hand | 1966-08-03 |
Movie | El Dorado | Jason's Gunman | 1966-12-17 |
Movie | Shenandoah | Rebel Commander with Mustache | 1965-06-03 |
Movie | Black Spurs | Norton - Prisoner | 1965-05-28 |
Movie | The Rounders | Brawler (uncredited) | 1965-01-08 |
Movie | The Sons of Katie Elder | Townsman (uncredited) | 1965-06-23 |
Series | Lost in Space | Alien Fighter | 1965-09-15 |
Series | Laredo | Unknown | 1965-09-16 |
Movie | Cat Ballou | Armed Guard (uncredited) | 1965-06-24 |
Series | The Big Valley | Stage Driver | 1965-09-15 |
Movie | Mail Order Bride | Saloon Brawler (uncredited) | 1964-03-10 |
Movie | Advance to the Rear | Monk (uncredited) | 1964-06-10 |
Series | Daniel Boone | Shawnee Leader | 1964-09-24 |
Movie | Cheyenne Autumn | Jessie (uncredited) | 1964-10-15 |
Movie | Donovan's Reef | Festus | 1963-06-12 |
Movie | Shock Corridor | Wilkes | 1963-09-25 |
Movie | McLintock! | Sheriff Jeff Lord | 1963-11-12 |
Movie | Merrill's Marauders | Officer | 1962-03-16 |
Movie | The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance | Henchman (uncredited) | 1962-04-13 |
Movie | How the West Was Won | Officer (uncredited) | 1962-11-02 |
Series | The Lucy Show | Fireman #1 | 1962-10-01 |
Movie | Two Rode Together | Comanche (uncredited) | 1961-05-24 |
Movie | Sergeant Rutledge | Court-Martial Board Member (uncredited) | 1960-05-25 |
Movie | The Alamo | Tennesseean | 1960-10-23 |
Movie | Spartacus | Slave (uncredited) | 1960-10-13 |
Movie | Rio Bravo | Gunman (uncredited) | 1959-03-18 |
Series | Rawhide | Baxter | 1959-01-09 |
Movie | The Wonderful Country | Barton | 1959-10-21 |
Movie | The Big Country | Terrill Cowboy | 1958-09-30 |
Movie | Man of the West | Rifleman-Guard on Train (uncredited) | 1958-06-20 |
Series | Bat Masterson | Henchman about to be Sawn in Half | 1958-10-08 |
Movie | Night Passage | Roan | 1957-07-24 |
Series | Panic! | Unknown | 1957-03-05 |
Movie | The Wings of Eagles | Officer | 1957-01-31 |
Movie | Run of the Arrow | Sergeant | 1957-09-05 |
Movie | Forty Guns | Howard Swain | 1957-09-10 |
Movie | The Hired Gun | Frank Cooper - Conroy Ranch Wrangler | 1957-09-20 |
Series | Wagon Train | Junior | 1957-09-18 |
Series | Have Gun, Will Travel | Unknown | 1957-09-14 |
Movie | The Great Locomotive Chase | Confederate Prison Captain (uncredited) | 1956-06-08 |
Movie | The Searchers | Ranger at Wedding (uncredited) | 1956-05-16 |
Movie | Red Sundown | Henshaw's Man | 1956-03-01 |
Movie | Kentucky Rifle | Indian (uncredited) | 1956-07-01 |
Series | Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre | Brenner | 1956-10-05 |
Movie | The Rawhide Years | Johnny (uncredited) | 1956-07-01 |
Movie | The King and Four Queens | Posseman | 1956-12-21 |
Movie | 7 Men from Now | Mason | 1956-08-04 |
Movie | The Prodigal | Chieftain | 1955-05-06 |
Movie | Ten Wanted Men | Gunfighter (uncredited) | 1955-02-01 |
Series | Gunsmoke | Joe | 1955-09-10 |
Movie | Timberjack | Lumberjack (uncredited) | 1955-02-18 |
Movie | The Tall Men | Alva Jenkin (uncredited) | 1955-09-22 |
Movie | The Second Greatest Sex | Brawler (uncredited) | 1955-09-30 |
Movie | Lady Godiva of Coventry | Soldier | 1955-11-02 |
Movie | The Far Country | Latigo (uncredited) | 1954-02-12 |
Movie | The Lone Gun | Luke (uncredited) | 1954-04-25 |
Movie | Jubilee Trail | Man at Bar (uncredited) | 1954-05-15 |
Movie | Sign of the Pagan | Mirrai | 1954-11-24 |
Movie | Raiders of the Seven Seas | Spanish Officer (uncredited) | 1953-05-27 |
Movie | Hannah Lee: An American Primitive | Cowboy | 1953-07-13 |
Movie | Cow Country | Stubby (as Brett Houston) | 1953-04-25 |
Movie | Calamity Jane | Barfly (uncredited) | 1953-11-04 |
Movie | Gun Belt | Oliver | 1953-07-24 |
Movie | Hondo | Otawanga | 1953-11-26 |
Movie | Cattle Town | Rider | 1952-09-06 |
Movie | Indian Uprising | Taggart Man | 1952-01-02 |
Movie | Buffalo Bill in Tomahawk Territory | Trooper (uncredited) | 1952-02-08 |
Movie | Way of a Gaucho | Gaucho | 1952-10-16 |
Movie | The Lusty Men | Cowboy | 1952-10-24 |
Movie | Blackbeard, the Pirate | Mounted Soldier | 1952-12-24 |
Movie | Abbott and Costello Meet Captain Kidd | Pirate (uncredited) | 1952-12-27 |
Movie | The Blazing Forest | Lumberjack (uncredited) | 1952-12-01 |
Movie | Outcasts of Black Mesa | Kramer - Henchman (as Charles 'Chuck' Roberson) | 1950-04-13 |
Movie | The Capture | Employee (uncredited) | 1950-04-08 |
Movie | Trail of the Rustlers | Bob - Henchman (uncredited) | 1950-02-02 |
Movie | Cow Town | Mike Grady - Henchman (as Charles Roberson) | 1950-05-19 |
Movie | Rio Grande | Officer/Indian Fires Arrow Into Col. York's Chest (uncredited) | 1950-11-15 |
Movie | Hills of Oklahoma | Cowhand (uncredited) | 1950-06-01 |
Movie | Winchester '73 | Long Tom (uncredited) | 1950-07-12 |
Movie | Atom Man vs. Superman | Policeman on Road (uncredited) | 1950-07-20 |
Movie | Hi-Jacked | Police Officer (uncredited) | 1950-07-07 |
Movie | Hellfire | Groper (uncredited) | 1949-05-29 |
Movie | Law of the Golden West | Wagon Driver (uncredited) | 1949-05-23 |
Movie | Roughshod | Deputy (uncredited) | 1949-05-11 |
Movie | Haunted Trails | Ed - Ranch Hand (uncredited) | 1949-08-21 |
Movie | Stampede | Sandy (uncredited) | 1949-05-01 |
Movie | The James Brothers of Missouri | Townsman (uncredited) | 1949-08-31 |
Movie | The Fighting Kentuckian | Militiaman (uncredited) | 1949-09-15 |
Movie | Western Renegades | Jones (uncredited) | 1949-10-08 |
Series | The Lone Ranger | Todd Gunder | 1949-09-15 |
Movie | The Arizona Ranger | Henchman (uncredited) | 1948-05-14 |
Movie | Albuquerque | Man at Gambling Table (uncredited) | 1948-02-20 |
Movie | California Firebrand | Gunman | 1948-04-01 |
Movie | The Gallant Legion | Ranger | 1948-05-24 |
Movie | Homicide for Three | Joe - Policeman | 1948-12-08 |
Movie | Wake of the Red Witch | Seaman | 1948-12-30 |
Movie | Last of the Wild Horses | Deputy Chuck (uncredited) | 1948-12-27 |
Movie | Calendar Girl | Swedish Tug of War Man | 1947-01-31 |
Movie | Song of Scheherazade | Midshipman (uncredited) | 1947-02-26 |
Movie | The Flame | Policeman (uncredited) | 1947-11-24 |
Movie | Jesse James Rides Again | Lafe | 1947-08-02 |
Movie | The Plainsman and the Lady | Deputy (uncredited) | 1946-11-11 |