Cliff Robertson
ActingAbout Cliff Robertson
Clifford Parker Robertson III (September 9, 1923 – September 10, 2011) was an American actor whose career in film and television spanned half a century. Robertson portrayed a young John F. Kennedy in the 1963 film PT 109, and won the 1968 Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the film Charly. On television, he portrayed retired astronaut Buzz Aldrin in the 1976 adaptation of Aldrin's autobiographic Return to Earth, played a fictional character based on Director of Central Intelligence Richard Helms in the 1977 miniseries Washington: Behind Closed Doors, and portrayed Henry Ford in Ford: The Man and the Machine (1987). His last well-known film appearances were as Uncle Ben in the 2002–2007 Spider-Man film trilogy.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of Cliff Robertson reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of Cliff Robertson's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 50% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), Cliff Robertson remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Race, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best Cliff Robertson Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Cliff Robertson's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of Cliff Robertson.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Spider-Man 3 | Ben Parker | Average | Similar → |
| 2004 | Los Angeles Plays Itself | President in Escape From L.A. (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2004 | Spider-Man 2 | Ben Parker | Hit | Similar → |
| 2002 | Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star | Self - Actor | Hit | Similar → |
| 2002 | Spider-Man | Ben Parker | Hit | Similar → |
| 2001 | 'Obsession' Revisited | Self | Average | Similar → |
| 1999 | Family Tree | Larry | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1998 | Race | Jack Durmann | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1996 | Joan Crawford: Always the Star | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1996 | Escape from L.A. | President | Average | Similar → |
| 1995 | The Sunset Boys | Ted Roth | Average | Similar → |
| 1994 | Renaissance Man | Colonel James | Average | Similar → |
| 1992 | Lincoln | Noah Brooks (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1992 | Wind | Morgan Weld | Average | Similar → |
| 1991 | Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken | Dr. W.F. Carver | Hit | Similar → |
| 1987 | Ford: The Man and the Machine | Henry Ford | Average | Similar → |
| 1987 | Malone | Charles Delaney | Average | Similar → |
| 1986 | Dreams of Gold: The Mel Fisher Story | Mel Fisher | Hit | Similar → |
| 1983 | Star 80 | Hugh Hefner | Average | Similar → |
| 1983 | Brainstorm | Alex Terson | Average | Similar → |
| 1983 | Class | Mr. Burroughs | Average | Similar → |
| 1982 | Night of 100 Stars | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1980 | The Pilot | Mike Hagan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1979 | The Little Prince | Narrator / Pilot | Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | Obsession | Michael Courtland | Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | Midway | Cmdr. Jessop | Hit | Similar → |
| 1975 | Three Days of the Condor | J. Higgins | Hit | Similar → |
| 1974 | Man on a Swing | Lee Tucker | Average | Similar → |
| 1973 | The Man Without a Country | Philip Nolan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1973 | The Men Who Made the Movies: Raoul Walsh | Narrator | Hit | Similar → |
| 1973 | The Men Who Made the Movies: Alfred Hitchcock | Narrator | Average | Similar → |
| 1970 | Too Late the Hero | Lt. Sam Lawson | Average | Similar → |
| 1968 | The Sunshine Patriot | Christopher Ross / Arthur Selby | Average | Similar → |
| 1968 | Charly | Charlie Gordon | Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | The Devil's Brigade | Major Alan Crown | Average | Similar → |
| 1967 | The Honey Pot | William McFly | Average | Similar → |
| 1965 | Up from the Beach | Sgt. Edward Baxter | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1964 | 633 Squadron | Wing Commander Roy Grant | Average | Similar → |
| 1964 | The Best Man | Joe Cantwell | Hit | Similar → |
| 1963 | Sunday in New York | Adam Tyler | Hit | Similar → |
| 1963 | PT 109 | Lt. John F, Kennedy | Average | Similar → |
| 1961 | All in a Night's Work | Warren Kingsley, Jr. | Average | Similar → |
| 1961 | Underworld U.S.A. | Tolly Devlin | Hit | Similar → |
| 1959 | Battle of the Coral Sea | Lt. Cmdr. Jeff Conway | Average | Similar → |
| 1959 | Gidget | The Big Kahuna | Average | Similar → |
| 1958 | Days of Wine and Roses | Joe Clay | Hit | Similar → |
| 1958 | The Naked and the Dead | Robert Hearn | Average | Similar → |
| 1956 | Autumn Leaves | Burt Hanson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1955 | Picnic | Alan Benson | Average | Similar → |
| 1943 | Corvette K-225 | Lookout | Average | Similar → |
Cliff Robertson - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Cliff Robertson?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Cliff Robertson is "Race" with a rating of 8.0/10.
How many movies has Cliff Robertson acted in?
Cliff Robertson has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Cliff Robertson?
Other notable films include "Up from the Beach", "Family Tree", and "Los Angeles Plays Itself".