Robert Cummings
Actor
About Robert Cummings
Robert Cummings was a silent film actor who appeared during the earliest years of American cinema. His only known film credit is the 1915 production 'Alias Jimmy Valentine,' which was an adaptation of a popular stage play. Like many actors of this period, Cummings was likely recruited from theater or was part of the emerging film industry talent pool in New York or New Jersey, where many early films were produced. His extremely brief film career, consisting of just one known appearance, suggests he may have been a stage actor who dabbled in film or someone who left the industry almost immediately after entering it. The lack of any other documented film work indicates he either returned to theater, pursued another career entirely, or possibly used a different name for subsequent work. Very little concrete information survives about this particular Robert Cummings, as he was overshadowed in film history by the later, much more famous actor of the same name.
The Craft
Milestones
- Appeared in 'Alias Jimmy Valentine' (1915)
Best Known For
Must-See Films
Why They Matter
Impact on Culture
Due to his extremely brief and limited film career, Robert Cummings had minimal cultural impact on cinema history. His single known appearance in 'Alias Jimmy Valentine' represents a typical example of the many anonymous or little-known actors who populated early silent films during cinema's formative years.
Lasting Legacy
Robert Cummings' legacy is primarily that of an example of the vast number of early film performers whose contributions to cinema were minimal or lost to history. He represents the transient nature of early film careers, when many actors appeared in only one or two films before disappearing from the record entirely.
Who They Inspired
Given his brief career and single known film appearance, Robert Cummings had no discernible influence on subsequent actors or filmmakers.
Off Screen
Virtually no personal information is available about this Robert Cummings, as his film career was extremely brief and occurred during the earliest documented period of American cinema.
Did You Know?
- Robert Cummings should not be confused with the much more famous actor Robert Cummings (1910-1990) who starred in numerous films from the 1930s through the 1960s
- His only known film 'Alias Jimmy Valentine' was based on a popular play by Paul Armstrong
- The 1915 version of 'Alias Jimmy Valentine' was one of several film adaptations of this story
- Many early silent film actors like Cummings have been lost to history due to poor record-keeping
- His entire known film career lasted for a single year
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Robert Cummings?
Robert Cummings was a silent film actor from the earliest days of American cinema, known only for his appearance in the 1915 film 'Alias Jimmy Valentine'. His career was extremely brief, consisting of just this single documented film role.
What films is Robert Cummings best known for?
Robert Cummings is known for only one film: 'Alias Jimmy Valentine' (1915), an adaptation of a popular stage play about a reformed safe-cracker.
When was Robert Cummings born and when did he die?
The birth and death dates of this Robert Cummings are unknown, as he was a minor actor from the silent era who left no significant biographical record.
What awards did Robert Cummings win?
Robert Cummings received no known awards or nominations during his extremely brief film career in 1915.
What was Robert Cummings' acting style?
There is no documented information about Robert Cummings' acting style, as only one of his performances survives in the historical record, and detailed reviews from that period are scarce.
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Films
1 film
