Chuck Roberson

Acting

🎂 1919-05-10

Charles Hugh Roberson (May 10, 1919 – June 8, 1988) was an American actor and stuntman. Roberson was born near Shannon, Texas, the son of farmer Ollie W. Roberson and Jannie Hamm Roberson. Raised on cattle ranches in Shannon, Texas, and Roswell, New Mexico, he left school at 13 to become a cowhand and oilfield roughneck. He married and took his wife and daughter to California, where he joined the Culver City Police Department and guarded the gate at MGM Studios. Following army service in World War II, he returned to the police force. During duty at Warner Bros. studios during a labor strike, he met stuntman Guy Teague, who alerted him to a stunt job at Republic Pictures. Teague had been John Wayne's stunt double for many years and was able to show him the ropes. Chuck also resembled John Carrol whom Roberson doubled in his first picture, Wyoming (1947). He played small roles and stunted in other roles in the same film. He graduated to larger supporting roles in Westerns for Wayne and John Ford, and to a parallel career as a second-unit director. His television appearances include The Lone Ranger, The Adventures of Kit Carson, Lawman, Death Valley Days, Have Gun – Will Travel, Laramie, Gunsmoke, The Virginian, Laredo, Bonanza, Daniel Boone, and The Big Valley. Roberson also appeared in Disney's television Westerns The Swamp Fox and Texas John Slaughter. They were part of The Wonderful World of Color. Before that, he portrayed a Confederate Prison Captain in The Great Locomotive Chase. In 1980 he published an autobiography, The Fall Guy: 30 Years as the Duke's Double. Roberson died of cancer on June 8, 1988, in Bakersfield, California, and is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery, Hollywood Hills, California, next to his brother, actor Lou Roberson. Bob Dylan drew him as Long Tom in his Beaten Path series, the drawing is entitled "Untitled 1" and is based on a frame from the film Winchester '73 (1950). Roberson and Wayne Burson, another stuntman, were partners in breeding and training racehorses, with Roberson furnishing the horses from his Bakersfield, California, ranch and Burson training them.

Cast credits(136)

1957

Pike

1957

Rancher

1957

Man

1957

Junior

1957

Wagon Driver

1962

Baxter

1959

Stage Driver

1965

Dark Panther

1964

Dutch

1964

Shawnee Leader

1964

Lige Henry

1964

Todd Gunder

1949

Fireman #1

1962

Brenner

1956

Sgt. Keller

1955

Driver

1955

Joe

1955

Alien Fighter

1965

Henchman about to be Sawn in Half

1958

1971

1965

Slave (uncredited)

1960

Deputy (uncredited)

1966

1968

Gunman (uncredited)

1959

Man at Bar (uncredited)

1954

Sheriff Jeff Lord

1963

Trail Herder (uncredited)

1970

Tennesseean

1960

Comanche

1961

Comanche (uncredited)

1961

Ranger at Wedding (uncredited)

1956

Ranger

1948

Jason's Gunman

1966

Henchman (uncredited)

1962

Yankee Sergeant at River (uncredited)

1969

Officer (uncredited)

1962

Armed Guard (uncredited)

1965

Leader of Bunch

1973

Kloori / Cavalry Sergeant Killed in Indian Attack (uncredited)

1953

Brown / Mustachioed guard at blown bridge

1967

1957

Officer / Indian Fires Arrow Into Col. York's Chest (uncredited)

1950

Brawler (uncredited)

1965

Terrill Cowboy

1958

Corporal in Baggage Car (uncredited)

1970

Scalphunter

1968

Texas Ranger (uncredited)

1971

Rifleman-Guard on Train (uncredited)

1958

Sam - Ranger #1

1954

Militiaman (uncredited)

1949

Court-Martial Board Member (uncredited)

1960

Dawson

1967

Townsman (uncredited)

1965

Sgt. Griffin

1968

Manuel

1966

Chuck - a Ranch Hand

1966

Barfly (uncredited)

1953

Henshaw's Man

1956

Firefighter in Plane (uncredited)

1968

Oliver

1953

Employee (uncredited)

1950

Jessie (uncredited)

1964

Confederate Prison Captain (uncredited)

1956

Festus

1963

Roan

1957

Luke (uncredited)

1954

Long Tom (uncredited)

1950

Officer

1957

Norton - Prisoner

1965

Joe - Policeman

1948

Alva Jenkin (uncredited)

1955

Rebel Commander with Mustache

1965

Council Member (uncredited)

1973

Indian (uncredited)

1956

Santiago's Bodyguard (uncredited)

1974

Officer

1962

Trooper (uncredited)

1952

Latigo (uncredited)

1954

Tennessean

1992

Lumberjack (uncredited)

1955

Wilkes

1963

Mounted Soldier

1952

Howard Swain

1957

Posseman

1956

Johnny (uncredited)

1956

Cook (uncredited)

1967

Cowboy

1953

Taggart Man

1952

Pirate (uncredited)

1952

Miner Fighting Bert (uncredited)

1967

Lumberjack (uncredited)

1952

Spanish Officer (uncredited)

1953

Chieftain

1955

Lafe

1947

Groper (uncredited)

1949

Rider

1952

Henchman (uncredited)

1948

Gunman

1974

Deputy (uncredited)

1949

Barton

1959

Fitzpatrick's Henchman

1966

Sergeant

1957

Seaman

1948

Townsman (uncredited)

1949

Mike Grady - Henchman (as Charles Roberson)

1950

Mason

1956

Cowboy

1952

Monk (uncredited)

1964

Sandy (uncredited)

1949

Bob - Henchman (uncredited)

1950

Man at Gambling Table (uncredited)

1948

Midshipman (uncredited)

1947

Midshipman

1947

Gunfighter (uncredited)

1955

Swedish Tug of War Man

1947

Gaucho

1952

Policeman on Road (uncredited)

1950

Soldier

1955

Frank Cooper - Conroy Ranch Wrangler

1957

Saloon Brawler (uncredited)

1964

Mirrai

1954

Stubby (as Brett Houston)

1953

Deputy (uncredited)

1946

Deputy Chuck (uncredited)

1948

Police Officer (uncredited)

1950

Gunman

1948

Kramer - Henchman (as Charles 'Chuck' Roberson)

1950

Wagon Driver (uncredited)

1949

Brawler (uncredited)

1955

Cowhand (uncredited)

1950

Jones (uncredited)

1949

Ed - Ranch Hand (uncredited)

1949

Policeman (uncredited)

1947

Self

1958

Directing (2)

Second Unit Director

1970

Second Unit Director

1969

Cast credits(136)

Directing (2)

Crew (48)