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Robert Stack (January 13, 1919 – May 14,
2003), born Robert Langford Modini, was an United
States|American actor famous for his film acting
as well as his role in the television series The
Untouchables and as host of Unsolved Mysteries.

Stack was born in Los Angeles, California but
spent his early childhood growing up in Europe. He
became fluent in French language|French and
Italian language|Italian at an early age, but he
did not learn English until returning to Los
Angeles. Stack's father died at an early age and
his mother raised him and younger brother. Stack
always spoke of his mother with the greatest
respect and love. When he wrote his autobiography
Straight Shooting, he included a picture of he and
his mother. He captioned it "Me and my best girl".




Stack took drama courses at the University of
Southern California.  His deep voice and good
looks attracted producers in Hollywood.  When
Stack visited the set of Universal Studios at age
20, producer Joe Pasternak offered him an
opportunity to enter the business.  Recalled
Stack, "He said 'How'd you like to be in pictures?
We'll make a test with Helen Parrish, a little
love scene.' Helen Parrish was a beautiful girl.
'Gee, that sounds keen,' I told him. I got the
part." Stack's first film teamed him with popular
starlet Deanna Durbin. He was the first actor to
give Durbin an on screen kiss. As hard to believe
today, this film was considered controversial at
the time! Stack won acclaim for his next role, the
1940 film The Mortal Storm. He played a young man
who joins the Nazi party. This film was one of the
first to speak out against Hitler. As a youth,
Stack admitted that he had a crush on Carole
Lombard and in 1942 he appeared with her in To Be
Or Not To Be. He admitted he was terrified going
into this role! He credits Lombard with giving him
many tips on acting and with being his mentor.
Sadly, Lombard was killed in a plane crash shortly
after this film was released. 

During World War II, Stack served as gunnery
instructor in the United States Navy. He continued
his movie career and appeared in such films as
Fighter Squadron (1948), A Date With Judy (1948)
and The Bullfighter And The Lady (1951). In 1954,
Stack was given his most important movie role. He
appeared opposite John Wayne in The High And The
Mighty. Stack played the pilot of an airliner that
develops engine trouble and comes apart under the
stress. 

In 1957, Stack was nominated for an Academy Award
for Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best
Supporting Actor for Written on the Wind.  He
starred in more than 40 films, including The Iron
Glove (1954); Good Morning Miss Dove (1955) and Is
Paris Burning? (1966). Known for his steadfast,
humorless demeanor, he made fun of his own persona
in comedies such as 1941 (1979), Airplane! (1980),
Caddyshack II (1988), the animated Beavis and
Butthead Do America (1996), and Baseketball
(1998).

Stack depicted the crimefighting Eliot Ness in the
television drama The Untouchables from 1959 to
1963.  The show portrayed the ongoing battle
between gangsters and federal agents in a
Prohibition-era Chicago.  His role on the show
brought Stack a best actor Emmy Award in 1960. The
Untouchables was one of the first "realistic" cop
shows much like Dragnet. Stack also starred in
three other series, The Name Of The Game
(1968-1971), Most Wanted (1976) and Strike Force
(1981).

He began hosting Unsolved Mysteries in 1988, where
his deep, ominous voice and expressionless face
lent an authentic seriousness to the show's dark
subject matter.

Stack had undergone radiation therapy for prostate
cancer in October 2002.  He died of heart failure
at his home in Los Angeles in May 2003. He is
interred in the Westwood Village Memorial Park
Cemetery in Westwood, Los Angeles,
California|Westwood, California.







 

	Web Quotableonline.com Frasescelebres.org Greatbookscollection.org

Robert Stack (January 13, 1919 – May 14,
2003), born Robert Langford Modini, was an United
States|American actor famous for his film acting
as well as his role in the television series The
Untouchables and as host of Unsolved Mysteries.

Stack was born in Los Angeles, California but
spent his early childhood growing up in Europe. He
became fluent in French language|French and
Italian language|Italian at an early age, but he
did not learn English until returning to Los
Angeles. Stack's father died at an early age and
his mother raised him and younger brother. Stack
always spoke of his mother with the greatest
respect and love. When he wrote his autobiography
Straight Shooting, he included a picture of he and
his mother. He captioned it "Me and my best girl".




Stack took drama courses at the University of
Southern California.  His deep voice and good
looks attracted producers in Hollywood.  When
Stack visited the set of Universal Studios at age
20, producer Joe Pasternak offered him an
opportunity to enter the business.  Recalled
Stack, "He said 'How'd you like to be in pictures?
We'll make a test with Helen Parrish, a little
love scene.' Helen Parrish was a beautiful girl.
'Gee, that sounds keen,' I told him. I got the
part." Stack's first film teamed him with popular
starlet Deanna Durbin. He was the first actor to
give Durbin an on screen kiss. As hard to believe
today, this film was considered controversial at
the time! Stack won acclaim for his next role, the
1940 film The Mortal Storm. He played a young man
who joins the Nazi party. This film was one of the
first to speak out against Hitler. As a youth,
Stack admitted that he had a crush on Carole
Lombard and in 1942 he appeared with her in To Be
Or Not To Be. He admitted he was terrified going
into this role! He credits Lombard with giving him
many tips on acting and with being his mentor.
Sadly, Lombard was killed in a plane crash shortly
after this film was released. 

During World War II, Stack served as gunnery
instructor in the United States Navy. He continued
his movie career and appeared in such films as
Fighter Squadron (1948), A Date With Judy (1948)
and The Bullfighter And The Lady (1951). In 1954,
Stack was given his most important movie role. He
appeared opposite John Wayne in The High And The
Mighty. Stack played the pilot of an airliner that
develops engine trouble and comes apart under the
stress. 

In 1957, Stack was nominated for an Academy Award
for Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor|Best
Supporting Actor for Written on the Wind.  He
starred in more than 40 films, including The Iron
Glove (1954); Good Morning Miss Dove (1955) and Is
Paris Burning? (1966). Known for his steadfast,
humorless demeanor, he made fun of his own persona
in comedies such as 1941 (1979), Airplane! (1980),
Caddyshack II (1988), the animated Beavis and
Butthead Do America (1996), and Baseketball
(1998).

Stack depicted the crimefighting Eliot Ness in the
television drama The Untouchables from 1959 to
1963.  The show portrayed the ongoing battle
between gangsters and federal agents in a
Prohibition-era Chicago.  His role on the show
brought Stack a best actor Emmy Award in 1960. The
Untouchables was one of the first "realistic" cop
shows much like Dragnet. Stack also starred in
three other series, The Name Of The Game
(1968-1971), Most Wanted (1976) and Strike Force
(1981).

He began hosting Unsolved Mysteries in 1988, where
his deep, ominous voice and expressionless face
lent an authentic seriousness to the show's dark
subject matter.

Stack had undergone radiation therapy for prostate
cancer in October 2002.  He died of heart failure
at his home in Los Angeles in May 2003. He is
interred in the Westwood Village Memorial Park
Cemetery in Westwood, Los Angeles,
California|Westwood, California.