Robert Totten

Robert Totten
Born
Robert Charles Totten

(1937-02-05)February 5, 1937
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
DiedJanuary 27, 1995(1995-01-27) (aged 57)
Sherman Oaks, California, U.S.
Years active1961–1990
Organizations

Robert Charles Totten (February 5, 1937 – January 27, 1995) was an American television director, writer, and actor, best known for directing 25 Gunsmoke episodes, Henry Fonda's adaptation of The Red Pony, and Louis L'Amour's The Sacketts miniseries.

Career

In addition to directing, Totten also co-starred in Gunsmoke playing the role of Corley, opposite of Nehemiah Persoff, in the 1969 episode "The Mark of Cain." He also played Cleavus Lukens, the childhood friend of Festus in an episode named for his role.

As director, writer, and actor, Totten is a member all three guilds; the Directors Guild of America, the Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild.

Awards

Totten was nominated at the 25th Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing in Drama - Adaptation for his work on the 1973 television film, The Red Pony.

Death

Totten died at the age of 57 on January 27, 1995, from a heart attack at his home in Sherman Oaks, California.

Filmography

A partial filmography follows.

Film

Director

Year Title Role
1963 The Quick and the Dead
1969 Death of a Gunfighter Credited as Alan Smithee
1970 The Wild Country
1976 Pony Express Rider Also writer

Actor

Year Title Role
1979 The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again Blainey

Television

Writer
Director

Gunsmoke (1966–71)

  • "My Father's Guitar" (S11E21)
  • "My Father, My Son" (S11E30)
  • "Prime of Life" (S11E32)
  • "The Good People" (S12E5)
  • "The Wrong Man" (S12E7)
  • "The Newcomers" (S12E11)
  • "Saturday Night" (S12E16)
  • "Mail Drop" (S12E19)
  • "Mistaken Identity" (S12E26)
  • "Nitro!" (S12E28 & S12E29)
  • "The Wreckers" (S13E1)
  • "A Hat" (S13E6)
  • "Major Glory" (S13E8)
  • "Blood Money" (S13E19)
  • "Hill Girl" (S13E20)
  • "The First People" (S13E23)
  • "Waco" (S14E11)
  • "Stryker" (S15E2)
  • "A Matter of Honor" (S15E9)
  • "Stark" (S16E3)
  • "The Scavengers" (S16E10)
  • "Jenny" (S16E15)
  • "Murdoch" (S16E20)
  • "The Lost" (S17E1)

Other shows (1962–90)

Actor

Year Title Role Episode
1969-1974 Gunsmoke Corley "The Mark of Cain"
Ben Miller "The Long Night"
Tully "Hackett"
Abner "Gentry's Law"
Blacksmith "Captain Sligo"
Cleavus Lukens "Cleavus"
Josh Walker "Alias Festus Haggen"
Eli Snider "Talbot"
1970 Cutter's Trail Thatcher TV movie
1974 Dirty Sally Cave "My Fair Laddie"
1983-1987 Simon & Simon Mechanic Feltzer "The Secret of the Chrome Eagle"
Man #1 "Lost Lady"

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Dan Cox (February 12, 1995). "Robert Totten". Variety.com. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  2. ↑ Lentz, Harris (1996). Western and Frontier Film and Television Credits 1903-1995: Section I. Actors and actresses. Section II. Directors, producers, and writers. McFarland. p. 994. ISBN 9780786402175 – via Google Books.
  3. ↑ Fagen, Herb (1998). Duke, We're Glad We Knew You: John Wayne's Friends and Colleagues Remember His Remarkable Life. Kensington Publishing Corporation. p. 115. ISBN 9780806520568 – via Google Books.
  4. ↑ Andreychuk, Ed (March 2010). Louis L'Amour on Film and Television. McFarland. p. 140. ISBN 9780786457175 – via Google Books.
  5. ↑ "Nominees/Winners | Television Academy". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  6. ↑ Lentz, Harris (July 1996). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 1995. McFarland. p. 192. ISBN 9780786402533 – via Google Books.