Dayle Lymoine "Dale" Robertson (born July 14, 1923, Harrah, Oklahoma) is an American actor best known for his starring roles on television. He played the role of Jim Hardie in the TV series, Tales of Wells Fargo, and the owner of an incomplete railroad line in ABC's The Iron Horse, often appearing as the deceptively thoughtful but modest western hero. Born in Harrah, Oklahoma in 1923, Robertson worked as a professional boxer briefly before enrolling in Oklahoma Military Academy in Claremore, Oklahoma.[1] He also served in the military before his professional acting career began.[2] He served in a tank crew and in the combat engineers in North Africa during World War II and was wounded twice. Robertson began his acting career by chance during World War II, when he was in the United States Army. Stationed at San Luis Obispo, California, Robertson decided to have a photograph taken for his mother; so he and several other soldiers went to Hollywood to find a photographer. A large copy of his photo was later displayed in the photographer's shop window.[1] Eventually serving in the South Pacific, he found himself receiving letters from film agents who wished to represent him. After the war, Robertson stayed in California. Hollywood actor Will Rogers, Jr., gave him this advice: "Don't ever take a dramatic lesson. They will try to put your voice in a dinner jacket, and people like their hominy and grits in everyday clothes." Robertson thereafter avoided formal acting lessons.[1] For most of his career, Robertson played in Western movies and TV shows. His best remembered series were the NBC series Tales of Wells Fargo, later moved to ABC, in which he played a roving company 'trouble-shooter' named "Jim Hardie", and ABC's The Iron Horse, in which his character won an incomplete railroad line in a poker game and took the challenge of running it. He appeared in 63 films.[1] In its March 30, 1959, cover story on TV westerns, Time magazine reported Robertson was 6 feet tall, weighed 180 pounds, and measured 42-34-34. He sometimes made use of his physique in "beefcake" scenes, such as one in 1952's Return of the Texan where he is seen bare-chested and sweaty, repairing a fence.(Wikipedia)
Photo measures 9.25 x 7 in.
