- Born
- Died
- Birth nameRobert Rosen
- Nickname
- Bob
- Height5′ 6½″ (1.69 m)
- Robert Rossen was born on March 16, 1908 in New York City, New York, USA. He was a writer and director, known for The Hustler (1961), All the King's Men (1949) and Alexander the Great (1956). He was married to Sarah (Sue) Siegel. He died on February 18, 1966 in New York City, New York, USA.
- SpouseSarah (Sue) Siegel(July 4, 1935 - February 18, 1966) (his death, 3 children)
- Children
- Was a member of the Communist Party from 1937 to 1945. He was blacklisted by HUAC, 1951-53, after refusing to name names, after being subpoenaed. In 1953, he relented to save his career and implicated 57 people as having had communist affiliations. As a result of his cooperation, he was permitted to work again, though he did not return to Hollywood.
- Had a long-standing problem with alcoholism.
- Originally refused to testify at the HUAC hearings (regarding the blacklist), but then admitted to being a member of the Communist Party in May, 1953, and named 57 others as well.
- Directed 8 actors in Oscar-nominated performances: Paul Newman, Jackie Gleason, Piper Laurie, George C. Scott, Broderick Crawford, Mercedes McCambridge, John Ireland, and John Garfield. Crawford and McCambridge won for All the King's Men (1949).
- His work on All the King's Men (1949) has been compared to that of the Italian post-war neo-realists, in its almost documentary-style approach, editing methods, location shooting in all types of weather (with whatever lighting was available) and a cast which included many non-professional actors, often caught unawares by the camera.
- [on his break with communism and his decision to name names] I didn't think, after two years of thinking, that any one individual can indulge himself in the luxury of individual morality or pit it against what I feel today very strongly is the security and safety of this nation.
- Real life is ugly, but we can't make good pictures until we're ready to tell about it.
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