Robert Stack
Robert Langford Modini Stack was a multilingual American actor and television host. In addition to acting in more than 40 films, he also appeared on the television series The Untouchables and later served as the host of Unsolved Mysteries.
Born in Los Angeles, California, Stack spent his early childhood growing up in Europe. Becoming fluent in French and Italian at an early age, and he did not learn English until returning to Los Angeles. Stack achieved minor fame in sporting, winning multiple championships including setting two world records and winning multiple honors in skeet shooting
Stack studied drama at Bridgewater State College, earning his first hollywood role at the age of 20 and continuing to star in numerous roles throughout the early 1940s.
After serving in the military, Stack returned to Hollywood to star in numerous films including stand out roles in The High and the Mighty (opposite John Wayne) and Written on the Wind (1957), for which he was awarded an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Stack later moved on to televised dramatic series, depicting the crime-fighting Eliot Ness in The Untouchables (1959–1963), which earned him a best actor Emmy Award in 1960. Stack also starred in multiple drama series, before returning to film, this time in comedies to satirize his famed stoic and humorless demeanor.
He began hosting Unsolved Mysteries in 1987, and served as the show's host throughout it's entire original run from 1987 to 2002.
Acted in
Unsolved Mysteries: Behind the Legacy
2023
as Self (archive footage)
Yellowface: Asian Whitewashing and Racism in Hollywood
2019
as (archive footage)
These Dead Souls
2018
as (archive footage)
Acting for Douglas Sirk
2008
as Self (archive footage)
Unsolved Mysteries Volume 1: UFOs
2004
as Host
Butt-Ugly Martians
2002
as Stoat Muldoon (voice)
Lana Turner... a Daughter's Memoir
2001
as Self
Killer Bud
2001
as The Gooch
Recess: School's Out
2001
as Superintendent (voice)
Mumford
1999
as Himself
Sealed with a Kiss
1999
as Sumner Ethridge
Hercules: Zero to Hero
1999
as Narrator (voice) (archive sound)
The Y2K Crisis
1999
as Host
Hercules
1998
as Bob (voice)
BASEketball
1998
as Robert Stack
Barbara Stanwyck: Straight Down The Line
1997
as Self
The Angry Beavers
1997
as Narrator (voice)
King of the Hill
1997
as Reynolds Penland (voice) (uncredited)
Beavis and Butt-Head Do America
1996
as Agent Flemming (voice)
Suddenly Susan
1996
as Robert Stack
The Making of '1941'
1996
as (archive)
Diagnosis: Murder
1993
as Peter McReynolds
The Return of Eliot Ness
1991
as Eliot Ness
The Real Story of Baa Baa Black Sheep
1991
as Lt. Littleboy (voice)
The Fanelli Boys
1990
as Robert Stack (uncredited)
The Fanelli Boys
1990
as Kyle Hadley
Blossom
1990
Joe Versus the Volcano
1990
as Dr. Ellison
Unsolved Mysteries
1988
as Host
Dangerous Curves
1988
as Louis Faciano
Caddyshack II
1988
as Chandler Young
Plain Clothes
1988
as Mr. Gardner
Perry Mason: The Case of the Sinister Spirit
1987
as Jordan White
The Transformers: The Movie
1986
as Ultra Magnus (voice)
Big Trouble
1986
as Winslow
Midas Valley
1985
as Drew Hammond
Hollywood Wives
1985
as George Lancaster
Murder, She Wrote
1984
as Chester Harrison
Brothers
1984
George Washington
1984
as General Stark
Uncommon Valor
1983
as MacGregor
Barry Norman in Celebrity City
1982
as Self
Hotel
1982
as Lewis Blackwood
Hotel
1982
as Charles Vandoor
Falcon Crest
1981
as Roland Saunders
Strike Force
1981
as Captain Frank Murphy
Airplane!
1980
as Captain Rex Kramer
Douglas Sirk: Über Stars
1980
as Self
1941
1979
as Maj. Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell
Undercover with the KKK
1979
as Host - Narrator
The Muppets Go Hollywood
1979
as Self
Un Second Souffle
1978
as François Davis
The Love Boat
1977
as Bret Garrett
Most Wanted
1976
as Captain Linc Evers
Murder on Flight 502
1975
as Captain Larkin
Adventures of the Queen
1975
as Capt. James Morgan
Dinah!
1974
as Self
The Strange and Deadly Occurrence
1974
as Michael Rhodes
The Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
1973
as Self
Police Story
1973
The Grand Opening of Walt Disney World
1971
as Self
The Selling of the Pentagon
1971
as Self (archive footage)
Story of a Woman
1970
as David Frasier
The Name of the Game
1968
as Dan Farrell
Laura
1968
as Mark McPherson
The Danny Thomas Hour
1967
as Angelo (Businessman)
Action Man
1967
as Jim Beckley
The Corrupt Ones
1967
as Cliff Wilder
Is Paris Burning?
1966
as General Sibert
Asylum for a Spy
1965
as James Andrew Congers
The Caretakers
1963
as Dr. Donovan MacLeod
The Lucy Show
1962
as Agent Briggs
The Last Voyage
1960
as Cliff Henderson
The Untouchables
1959
as Eliot Ness
John Paul Jones
1959
as John Paul Jones
The Scarface Mob
1959
as Eliot Ness
The Gift of Love
1958
as William 'Bill' Beck
The Tarnished Angels
1957
as Roger Shumann
Written on the Wind
1956
as Kyle Hadley
Great Day in the Morning
1956
as Owen Pentecost
Good Morning, Miss Dove
1955
as Dr. Tommy Baker
Laura
1955
as Mark Macpherson
The 20th Century Fox Hour
1955
as Mark MacPherson
House of Bamboo
1955
as Eddie Kenner
The High and the Mighty
1954
as John Sullivan
The Iron Glove
1954
as Captain Charles Wogan
Sabre Jet
1953
as Col. Gil Manton
Conquest of Cochise
1953
as Maj. Tom Burke
War Paint
1953
as Lt. Billings
The Oscars
1953
as Self
The Ford Television Theatre
1952
as Ralph Saunders
The Ford Television Theatre
1952
as Ben Barton
Bwana Devil
1952
as Bob Hayward
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951
as Vic Flint
My Outlaw Brother
1951
as Patrick O´Moore
Bullfighter and the Lady
1951
as John Regan
Mr. Music
1950
as Jeff Blake
Lux Video Theatre
1950
as First Man
Lux Video Theatre
1950
as Self - Intermission Guest
Riviera Dream
1950
Lights Out
1949
Fighter Squadron
1948
as Capt. Stuart L. Hamilton
Miss Tatlock's Millions
1948
as Nickey Van Alen
A Date with Judy
1948
as Stephen Andrews
Screen Snapshots (Series 23, No. 1): Hollywood in Uniform
1943
as Himself
Keeping Fit
1942
as Bob - Factory worker
Men of Texas
1942
as Barry Conovan
Eagle Squadron
1942
as Chuck S. Brewer
To Be or Not to Be
1942
as Lieut. Stanislav Sobinski
Badlands Of Dakota
1941
as Jim Holliday
Screen Snapshots Series 21 No. 1
1941
as Self
Nice Girl?
1941
as Don Webb
A Little Bit of Heaven
1940
as Bob Terry
The Mortal Storm
1940
as Otto Von Rohn
First Love
1939
as Ted Drake