Robert Ridgely
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| Born | December 24, 1931
Teaneck, New Jersey, U.S.
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| Died | February 8, 1997(1997-02-08) (aged 65)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
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| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1960–1997 |
Robert Ridgely (December 24, 1931 – February 8, 1997)[1] was an American actor, known for both on-camera roles and extensive voice-over work.
Ridgely was born in Teaneck, New Jersey.[2] Before becoming an actor, he worked as a cabaret entertainer.[3]
He served as a talk show host with Woody Woodbury. Ridgely appeared in commercials, including a classic McDonald's commercial, staged as a Broadway production number, where he sings "there is nothin' so clean – as my burger machine". He guest starred on TV series such as Sea Hunt and the Warner Bros. Television series Maverick, Lawman, and Surfside 6. He landed a regular role as Lieutenant Kimbro in the short-lived World War II Warner Bros./ABC series The Gallant Men. After the series was cancelled, he made guest appearances on shows, including Bonanza, WKRP in Cincinnati, Coach, Night Court, Wings, and Designing Women.
He appeared in various films, including two productions directed by Robert Altman early in his career, Nightmare in Chicago and Countdown. He also appeared in several Mel Brooks productions, including Blazing Saddles (1974), High Anxiety (1977), Life Stinks (1991) and Robin Hood: Men in Tights (1993). Ridgley starred in other films, including Something Wild (1986), Beverly Hills Cop II (1987), Philadelphia (1993), and Boogie Nights (1997). He put his strong voice to use in voice-over roles in movies like Down and Dirty Duck (1974) and television specials such as Thanksgiving in the Land of Oz (aka Dorothy in the Land of Oz) (1980). He did a great deal of voice work on animated series as well, including the titular heroes in Tarzan, Lord of the Jungle, The New Adventures of Flash Gordon, and Thundarr the Barbarian. From 1985 to 1996, Ridgely was one of ABC's main primetime promo announcers. He also voiced the Peculiar Purple Pieman in the 1980s Strawberry Shortcake specials, Rex Charger in The Centurions, General "Thunderbolt" RossonThe Incredible Hulk, Finch on Daisy-Head Mayzie, and Commander Chief in Dexter's Laboratory.[4]
Ridgely died of cancer on February 8, 1997,[3] at his home in the Toluca Lake neighborhood of Los Angeles.[5]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | Nightmare in Chicago | Dan McVeay | |
| 1971 | Chrome and Hot Leather | Sergeant Mack | |
| 1974 | Blazing Saddles | Boris, the hangman | |
| 1974 | The Nine Lives of Fritz the Cat | The Devil, Additional Voices | Voice |
| 1977 | High Anxiety | Flasher | |
| 1977 | American Raspberry | Celebrity Sportsman Host | |
| 1980 | Melvin and Howard | Wally 'Mr. Love' Williams | |
| 1983 | Heart Like a Wheel | Bob Morton, 'Sportsline' | |
| 1984 | The Wild Life | Craig Davis | |
| 1986 | Something Wild | Richard Graves | |
| 1987 | Beverly Hills Cop II | Mayor Ted Egan | |
| 1988 | The Dirk Diggler Story | Jack Horner | Short Film |
| 1993 | Philadelphia | Walter Kenton | |
| 1993 | Robin Hood: Men in Tights | Hangman | |
| 1994 | The Ref | Bob Burley | |
| 1996 | Hard Eight | Keno Bar Manager | |
| 1996 | Multiplicity | Laura's Father | |
| 1996 | That Thing You Do! | Hollywood Showcase Announcer | |
| 1997 | Fire Down Below | Simon | Posthumous release |
| 1997 | Boogie Nights | Colonel James | Posthumous release; final film role |
Mr. Ridgely, a native of Teaneck, N.J., began as a cabaret artist.
| Preceded by | Actors to portray Tarzan 1976-1981 |
Succeeded by |
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| National |
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