Robert Armstrong (actor)

Robert Armstrong (actor)

Robert Armstrong (November 20, 1890 – April 20, 1973) was an American film actor best remembered for his role as Carl Denham in the 1933 version of King Kong by RKO Pictures. He uttered the famous exit quote, "'Twas beauty killed the beast," at the film's end. Months later, he starred as Carl Denham again in the sequel, Son of Kong, released the same year. Sixteen years later, in 1949, Armstrong played a similar role as showman Max O'Hara in another giant ape movie, "Mighty Joe Young."

In the 1950s, Armstrong appeared as Sheriff Andy Anderson on Rod Cameron's syndicated western-themed television series, State Trooper. Cameron played the role of Rod Blake, chief investigator for the Nevada Department of Public Safety. Armstrong made four guest appearances on Perry Mason during its nine-year run on CBS: in 1961 he played the title character and murder victim Capt. Bancroft in "The Case of the Malicious Mariner;" in 1962 he played defendant Jimmy West in "The Case of the Playboy Pugilist;" and in 1964 he played murderer Phil Jenks in "The Case of the Accousted Accountant."