Robert Stack

American actor (1919-2003)

Robert Stack was an American actor and television host known for his deep voice, commanding presence, and dramatic on-screen roles. He starred in the hit TV series “The Untouchables” and later hosted the true-crime series “Unsolved Mysteries.” Stack also had a successful film career, including an Academy Award nomination for his role in “Written on the Wind.”

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About the Robert Stack

Robert Stackwas an American actor and television host. Known for his deep voice and commanding presence, he appeared in over forty feature films. He starred in the ABC television series The Untouchables (1959-1963), for which he won the 1960 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Series, and later hosted/narrated the true-crime series Unsolved Mysteries (1987-2002). He was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film Written on the Wind (1956). Later in his career, Stack was known for his deadpan comedy roles that lampooned his dramatic on-screen persona, most notably as Captain Rex Kramer in Airplane! (1980).

Frequently Asked Questions

Robert Stack was an American actor and television host best known for his roles in the TV series ,The Untouchables, and ,Unsolved Mysteries,, as well as his dramatic on-screen presence and deep voice.

Robert Stack won the 1960 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Series for his role in ,The Untouchables., He was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film ,Written on the Wind.

Robert Stack starred in the hit ABC television series ,The Untouchables, from 1959 to 1963, and later hosted and narrated the true-crime series ,Unsolved Mysteries, from 1987 to 2002. He also appeared in over 40 feature films throughout his career.

In the later part of his career, Robert Stack was known for his deadpan comedy roles that parodied his dramatic on-screen persona, most notably as Captain Rex Kramer in the film ,Airplane!,.

Robert Stack was born Charles Langford Modini Stack on January 13, 1919, in Los Angeles, California. He was an American actor and television host who became known for his deep voice and commanding presence on screen.

29 Quotes by Robert Stack

  1. 1.

    They have a book of locations, and we would do a story about the Sahara Desert for instance, and in the California book you would find a comparable location, to match that location in California.

    Robert Stack

    American actor (1919-2003)

  2. 2.

    Thru the auspices of the viewers who become – I think this is an import – in a democracy, become a working unit with law enforcement against the criminals.

    Robert Stack

    American actor (1919-2003)

  3. 3.

    Someone once accused me of being like Eliot Ness. I sad no sir, I’m not E.N., but I can promise you that I’m not Al Capone!

    Robert Stack

    American actor (1919-2003)

  4. 4.

    Yes, and many times it’s frustrating, because I’m simply part of the show, and I’m not in the creative end of it, who goes out with detectives and tries to find these things out.

    Robert Stack

    American actor (1919-2003)

  5. 5.

    I think voiceover is an adjunct that actors have picked up that have given us some security.

    Robert Stack

    American actor (1919-2003)

  6. 6.

    If you don’t love it, you can’t suffer thru all the despair that comes with it. Keep doing it because you love it.

    Robert Stack

    American actor (1919-2003)

  7. 7.

    I don’t mind UFO’s and ghost stories, it’s just that I tend to give value to the storyteller rather than to the story itself.

    Robert Stack

    American actor (1919-2003)

  8. 8.

    In terms of segments, I think we’ve done 1,200.

    Robert Stack

    American actor (1919-2003)

  9. 9.

    I grew up in France, my first language was French, and I tend to gravitate towards French cooking.

    Robert Stack

    American actor (1919-2003)

  10. 10.

    It’s a word called symbiotic, you send the messages and it comes back in return. Together, it’s a wonderful thing, it’s why television is so great and film can never reach.

    Robert Stack

    American actor (1919-2003)

  11. 11.

    I am very pro law enforcement.

    Robert Stack

    American actor (1919-2003)

  12. 12.

    Our profession is very much like going to a cocktail party, you check out the guest list.

    Robert Stack

    American actor (1919-2003)

  13. 13.

    I grew up years ago doing something that unfortunately doesn’t hardly exist any more, a medium called Radio.

    Robert Stack

    American actor (1919-2003)

  14. 14.

    I learned early on, having known the most handsome, successful, Gary Cooper, Clark Gable, Robert Taylor, don’t ever spend too much time looking in the mirror.

    Robert Stack

    American actor (1919-2003)

  15. 15.

    We did a show called The Orphan Train, during the depression, when families didn’t have enough money to support their children, they’d put them on the train and hope someone would pick them up who had enough money to support their children.

    Robert Stack

    American actor (1919-2003)

  16. 16.

    You have to love the doing of what you’re doing and not wait for the phone to ring.

    Robert Stack

    American actor (1919-2003)

  17. 17.

    I’m very proud this show has been accepted for this length of time.

    Robert Stack

    American actor (1919-2003)

  18. 18.

    Whether it s the country or city, I never liked the bad guy.

    Robert Stack

    American actor (1919-2003)

  19. 19.

    Also the pictures themselves give a visual to the audience tuning in, that makes them a very important part of law enforcement, or pulling families together.

    Robert Stack

    American actor (1919-2003)

  20. 20.

    These are icons to be treasured.

    Robert Stack

    American actor (1919-2003)

  21. 21.

    Lucille was a darling lady. Probably the finest comedienne in the business.

    Robert Stack

    American actor (1919-2003)

  22. 22.

    I find these shows very touching sometimes.

    Robert Stack

    American actor (1919-2003)

  23. 23.

    I’m working 2 days a week right now, narration usually on Wed., and host on camera on Friday.

    Robert Stack

    American actor (1919-2003)

  24. 24.

    A great chef is an artist that I truly respect.

    Robert Stack

    American actor (1919-2003)

  25. 25.

    I play bad golf for good charities like the LA Police.

    Robert Stack

    American actor (1919-2003)

  26. 26.

    That’s why I never took this business too seriously, thinking I was something special, when I knew the truly great performers in motion pictures. pictures.

    Robert Stack

    American actor (1919-2003)

  27. 27.

    I never put my arms around John Gotti, Al Capone or Lucky Luciano.

    Robert Stack

    American actor (1919-2003)

  28. 28.

    Now on the other hand, if someone is selling a product, opening a dance studio, or has some other aim to help themselves, then I tend to look askance at some of these strange stories from outer space.

    Robert Stack

    American actor (1919-2003)

  29. 29.

    In the Belgian air force a general supposedly saw a UFO, tracked it with his plane, photographed it with his wing cameras. And I believe it because I said to myself why would this person, not getting paid for this, do it unless it actually happened or he thought it happened.

    Robert Stack

    American actor (1919-2003)