- He was the first actor ever to play Jor-El, the father of DC Comics hero Superman. The role would later be played by Marlon Brando and Russell Crowe.
- He took his most identifiable role of the handsomely awkward biology teacher Philip Boynton from "Our Miss Brooks" from radio to TV.
- Appeared in more than 200 commercials and voiceovers, most notably as the grandfather treating his grandson to a piece of candy in the Werthers Original Candy" spot.
- Played Loretta Young's husband a few times on her anthology program "The Loretta Young Show" in the 60s.
- He replaced Jeff Chandler in the role of Mr. Phillip Boynton in the OUR MISS BROOKS radio series; a part which he continued on the television version of that Eve Arden sitcom.
- Studied at the Pasadena Playhouse where he received a Master's degree.
- Founding member of the California Artists Radio Theatre.
- His portrayal of Jor-el, Kryptonian biological father of Superman was the first on television, second to Nelson Leigh; who had a brief appearance in the first serial of the Man of Steel, SUPERMAN (Columbia, 1948).
- Every Summer during the 1960s, he and wife, Betts, would host an ice cream sundae social for friends and family at their home on Toyopa Drive in Pacific Palisades.
- He was one of the coaches of the Redbirds little league baseball team at Palisades Rec. Center in the 1960s. One of the lads on the team was a boy named Barry Blenkhorn, otherwise known as Barry Williams.
- Played a few standard leads in a couple of 'Cold War' era "B" propaganda films, including the cult film The Red Menace (1949) wherein he played a war vet who is duped by the Reds.
- Children: daughters Susan and Alison; sons Robert Jr., Jeffrey and Gregory.
- Grandfather of Taylor W. Rockwell.
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