Robert Stack
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- January 13, 1919
- Died
- May 14, 2003
- Birthplace
- Los Angeles, California, USA
Robert Langford Modini Stack (January 13, 1919 – May 14, 2003) was a multilingual American actor and television host. In addition to acting in more than 40 films, he also appeared on the television series The Untouchables and later served as the host of Unsolved Mysteries. Born in Los Angeles, California, Stack spent his early childhood growing up in Europe. Becoming fluent in French and Italian at an early age, and he did not learn English until returning to Los Angeles. Stack achieved minor fame in sporting, winning multiple championships including setting two world records and winning multiple honors in skeet shooting Stack studied drama at Bridgewater State College, earning his first Hollywood role at the age of 20 and continuing to star in numerous roles throughout the early 1940s. After serving in the military, Stack returned to Hollywood to star in numerous films including stand out roles in The High and the Mighty (opposite John Wayne) and Written on the Wind (1957), for which he was awarded an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Stack later moved on to televised dramatic series, depicting the crime-fighting Eliot Ness in The Untouchables (1959–1963), which earned him a best actor Emmy Award in 1960. Stack also starred in multiple drama series, before returning to film, this time in comedies to satirize his famed stoic and humorless demeanor. He began hosting Unsolved Mysteries in 1987, and served as the show's host throughout it's entire original run from 1987 to 2002.
Filmography
Optimus Prime Awakening 2026
as Ultra Magnus (archived audio)
Unsolved Mysteries: Behind the Legacy 2023
as Self (archive footage)
Jacques Tati, tombé de la lune 2021
Actor
Yellowface: Asian Whitewashing and Racism in Hollywood 2019
as (archive footage)
These Dead Souls 2018
as (archive footage)
- Acting for Douglas Sirk
Acting for Douglas Sirk 2008
as Self (archive footage)
Unsolved Mysteries Volume 1: UFOs 2004
as Host
Lana Turner... a Daughter's Memoir 2001
as Self
Killer Bud 2001
as The Gooch
Recess: School's Out 2001
as Superintendent (voice)
Mumford 1999
as Robert Stack
Sealed with a Kiss 1999
as Sumner Ethridge
Hercules: Zero to Hero 1999
as Narrator (voice) (archive sound)
The Y2K Crisis 1999
as Host
BASEketball 1998
as Robert Stack
Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down the Line 1997
as Self
Beavis and Butt-Head Do America 1996
as Agent Flemming (voice)
Clark Gable: Tall, Dark, and Handsome 1996
as Self
The Return of Eliot Ness 1991
as Eliot Ness
- The Real Story of Baa Baa Black Sheep
The Real Story of Baa Baa Black Sheep 1991
as Lt. Littleboy (voice)
Joe Versus the Volcano 1990
as Dr. Ellison
Dangerous Curves 1988
as Louis Faciano
Caddyshack II 1988
as Chandler Young
Plain Clothes 1988
as Mr. Gardner
Perry Mason: The Case of the Sinister Spirit 1987
as Jordan White
Happy 100th Birthday, Hollywood 1987
as Self
The Transformers: The Movie 1986
as Ultra Magnus (voice)
Big Trouble 1986
as Winslow
Midas Valley 1985
as Drew Hammond
- My Kingdom For...
My Kingdom For... 1985
Actor
Uncommon Valor 1983
as MacGregor
Barry Norman in Celebrity City 1982
as Self
Airplane! 1980
as Captain Rex Kramer
- Douglas Sirk: Über Stars
Douglas Sirk: Über Stars 1980
as Self
1941 1979
as Maj. Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell
Undercover with the KKK 1979
as Host - Narrator
The Muppets Go Hollywood 1979
as Self (uncredited)
Second Wind 1978
as François Davis
Murder on Flight 502 1975
as Captain Larkin
Adventures of the Queen 1975
as Capt. James Morgan
The Strange and Deadly Occurrence 1974
as Michael Rhodes
The Grand Opening of Walt Disney World 1971
as Self
The Selling of the Pentagon 1971
as Self (archive footage)
Story of a Woman 1970
as David Frasier
Laura 1968
as Mark McPherson
Action Man 1967
as Jim Beckley
The Corrupt Ones 1967
as Cliff Wilder
Is Paris Burning? 1966
as General Sibert
- Asylum for a Spy
Asylum for a Spy 1965
as James Andrew Congers
The Caretakers 1963
as Dr. Donovan MacLeod
- Alcatraz Express
Alcatraz Express 1961
as Eliot Ness
- The Gun of Zangara
The Gun of Zangara 1960
as Eliot Ness
The Last Voyage 1960
as Cliff Henderson
The Scarface Mob 1959
as Eliot Ness
John Paul Jones 1959
as John Paul Jones
The Gift of Love 1958
as William 'Bill' Beck
- Panic Button
Panic Button 1957
as Jerry Cook
The Tarnished Angels 1957
as Roger Shumann
Written on the Wind 1956
as Kyle Hadley
Great Day in the Morning 1956
as Owen Pentecost
Good Morning, Miss Dove 1955
as Dr. Tommy Baker
Laura 1955
as Mark Macpherson
House of Bamboo 1955
as Eddie Kenner
The High and the Mighty 1954
as John Sullivan
The Iron Glove 1954
as Captain Charles Wogan
Sabre Jet 1953
as Col. Gil Manton
Conquest of Cochise 1953
as Maj. Tom Burke
War Paint 1953
as Lt. Billings
Bwana Devil 1952
as Bob Hayward
My Outlaw Brother 1951
as Patrick O´Moore
Bullfighter and the Lady 1951
as John Regan
Mr. Music 1950
as Jeff Blake
Riviera Dream 1950
Actor
Fighter Squadron 1948
as Capt. Stuart L. Hamilton
Miss Tatlock's Millions 1948
as Nickey Van Alen
A Date with Judy 1948
as Stephen Andrews
Screen Snapshots (Series 23, No. 1): Hollywood in Uniform 1943
as Himself
Keeping Fit 1942
as Bob - Factory worker
Men of Texas 1942
as Barry Conovan
Eagle Squadron 1942
as Chuck S. Brewer
To Be or Not to Be 1942
as Lieut. Stanislav Sobinski
Badlands of Dakota 1941
as Jim Holliday
Screen Snapshots Series 21 No. 1 1941
as Self
Nice Girl? 1941
as Don Webb
A Little Bit of Heaven 1940
as Bob Terry
The Mortal Storm 1940
as Otto Von Rohn
First Love 1939
as Ted Drake
Credits from TMDB.