Robert Walker

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Robert Hudson Walker (1918-1951) was an American actor best known for his chilling portrayal of the antagonist in Alfred Hitchcock’s Strangers on a Train (1951).

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Born in Salt Lake City, Utah, Walker’s early life was marked by his parents’ divorce, which deeply affected him. His maternal aunt, Hortense McQuarrie Odlum, recognized his interest in acting and funded his studies at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.

 

Walker’s career began with minor roles in films like Winter Carnival (1939) and These Glamour Girls (1939). His breakout role came in See Here, Private Hargrove (1944) which was followed by with Since You Went Away (1944), where he starred alongside his first wife, Jennifer Jones.

 

His boyish charm and acting prowess quickly made him a Hollywood favorite, leading to notable roles in The Clock (1945) and Till the Clouds Roll By (1946).

Despite his success on screen, Walker’s personal life was fraught with difficulties. He battled alcoholism and mental health issues, struggles that were intensified by his divorce from Jones.

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Tragically, Walker’s life ended prematurely at age 32, several months after the release of Strangers on a Train, due to an adverse reaction to prescription drugs administered by his physiatrist. His road to stardom was brief but it still left its mark on Hollywood.