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Robert Sterling

Robert Sterling

Actor · Died May 30, 2006, aged 88 · New Castle, Pennsylvania, USA

Robert Sterling, born William Sterling Hart (November 13, 1917 – May 30, 2006) was an American film and television actor. The son of baseball player and umpire Bill Hart, he was born in New Castle, Pennsylvania. He attended the University of Pittsburgh and worked as a clothing salesman before pursuing an acting career. After signing with Columbia Pictures in 1939, he changed his name to Robert Sterling to avoid confusion with silent western star William S. Hart. In 1941, Sterling went to MGM. He worked steadily as a supporting player for several years. After serving in World War II as an Army Air Force flight instructor, he returned to Hollywood, but by the end of the decade, his film career had faltered. He did, however, play the non-singing role of Steve Baker, opposite Ava Gardner as Julie, in the hit MGM 1951 film version of Show Boat. Sterling later revived his acting career on the small screen with numerous appearances on Television.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
November 13, 1917
Died
May 30, 2006 (aged 88)
From
New Castle, Pennsylvania, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
25 on MovieCove · 71 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 38 days to Oct 27Down 31% in 30 days

What are Robert Sterling's films like?

Across their 13 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Drama8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 49th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
43%
Morality
27%
Self
12%
Survival
11%
Society
7%
Romantic love6 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this themeDuty2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief2 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 13 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Serious: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their serious movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

A split, not a type: Light 7 · Serious 3 · Dark 3

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 9 · Stylized 4 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 3 · Charged 9 · Intense 1

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 6 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 7 · Some laughs 5 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 4 · Even-paced 9 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 9 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

6 analyzed roles

Usually the Shadow: 2 of 6 analyzed roles.

Shadow
2 of 6
Hero
1 of 6
Ally
1 of 6
Shapeshifter
1 of 6
Mentor
1 of 6

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
8
Melancholic
5
Warm
5
Romantic
4
Joyful
3
Other
10

How their films linger

Hopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end

  • Happy8
  • Bittersweet4
  • Tragic1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Robert Sterling's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 5 of their 25 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service.

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Robert Sterling's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

71 credits, 25 with a MovieCove page; 3 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Blood Car (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Couple in horror

  • Murder, She Wrote(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Ben Shipley

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all shows

  • Masquerade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 1 episode · as Jacques Marchand

  • Hotel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Mr. Jenks

  • Simon & Simon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Beggarman, Thief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    Show 2 episodes · as Colonel Day

  • Letters from Three Lovers(1973)

    as Bob

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • The Brian Keith Show (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Nanny and the Professor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • A Global Affair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Randy Sterling

  • The Alfred Hitchcock Hour(1962)

    Show 1 episode · as Ray Roscoe

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Ichabod and Me (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 36 episodes · Actor

  • Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea(1961)

    as Captain Lee Crane

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • Return to Peyton Place(1961)

    as Mike Rossi

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The Twilight Zone(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Douglas Winter

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Naked City(1958)

    Show 1 episode · as Jason Colwell

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all shows

  • Love That Jill (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    Show 13 episodes · Actor

  • Dearest Enemy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as John Copeland

  • The 20th Century Fox Hour (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Steve Buchanan

  • Climax! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as Husband

  • Topper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 78 episodes · Actor

  • The Loretta Young Show(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Markle

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Column South(1953)

    as Lee Whitlock

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • General Electric Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Robert Major (uncredited)

  • The Ford Television Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Hank Holloway

  • Cavalcade of America (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Charles Jerrold

  • Show Boat(1951)

    as Steven Baker

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Lux Video Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Alan · as David · as Lew Davis · as Pete · as Theodore Drew III

  • Bunco Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Det. Sgt. Steve Johnson

  • The Man Who Had Influence (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as David Grant

  • The Sundowners(1950)

    as Tom Cloud

    Midcredits score: 21st percentile of all films

  • Robert Montgomery Presents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 2 episodes · as Peter Putnam · as Richard Clyde

  • Lights Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Roughshod (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Clay Phillips

  • Suspense (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Studio One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    Show 1 episode · as David Grant · as Jeff Troy

  • The Secret Heart(1946)

    as Chase N. Addams

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • A-26 Flying Tips (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Captain

  • Front Row Center (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    Show 27 episodes · Actor

  • Somewhere I'll Find You(1942)

    as Kirk 'Junior' Davis

    Midcredits score: 44th percentile of all films

  • This Time for Keeps (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Lee White

  • Dr. Kildare's Victory(1942)

    as Dr. Donald 'Don' Winthrop

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Personalities (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as (uncredited)

  • Two-Faced Woman(1941)

    as Dick 'Dickie' Williams

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Johnny Eager (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Jimmy Courtney

  • Ringside Maisie(1941)

    as Terry Dolan, aka Young O'Hara

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Get-Away (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Jeff Crane

  • I'll Wait for You(1941)

    as 'Lucky' Wilson

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • The Penalty (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Edward McCormick

  • The Gay Caballero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Billy Brewster

  • Yesterday's Heroes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Duke Wyman

  • Manhattan Heartbeat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Johnny Farrell

  • The Heckler (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Trophy Presenter

  • Nothing But Pleasure (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Gangster at Cozy Auto Court

  • Mandrake the Magician (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Henchman

  • Glove Slingers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Warehouseman Taking Fight Pool Money (uncredited)

  • The Amazing Mr. Williams(1939)

    as Elevator Boy (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Blondie Brings Up Baby (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Dithers' Employee (uncredited)

  • Beware Spooks!(1939)

    as Bellboy (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Mr. Smith Goes to Washington(1939)

    as Senate Reporter (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • A Woman Is the Judge(1939)

    as Reporter (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Those High Grey Walls(1939)

    as Convict (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Golden Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Elevator Boy

  • The Man They Could Not Hang(1939)

    as First Reporter (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Good Girls Go to Paris(1939)

    as Student (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Pest from the West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Cigarette Customer at Adjacent Table (uncredited)

  • Only Angels Have Wings(1939)

    as (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Mandrake the Magician (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Henchman

  • Sorority House (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Soda Shop Extra (uncredited)

  • Outside These Walls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Reporter (uncredited)

  • Blondie Meets the Boss (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Office Worker / Man Dancing with Millie (uncredited)

Career shape

Star power in the 84th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 71 titles from 1939 to 2007.

Biggest box office

Show Boat (1951)

$236 worldwide

Highest rated

Show Boat (1951)

Midcredits 71st

Most popular right now

The Sundowners (1950)

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting71 of 71: 71 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score58th

By decade

1930s16 · acting1940s23 · acting1950s18 · acting1960s5 · acting1970s4 · acting1980s4 · acting2000s1 · acting

Billing

usually 5th · top billed in 0% of 6 roles

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30.

How do Robert Sterling's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 55th percentile, the median of all 20; across their 13 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 52nd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

52ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Approval · how many liked their films

46thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Reach · how many have seen their films

43rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 13

Midcredits score across 25 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up5
  • 50th to 74th13
  • 25th to 49th6
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

12 of their 25 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved4
  • Crowd Pleaser12
  • Broadly Agreed5
  • Mixed4

Most divisive · actor

A Woman Is the Judge (1939)

65th percentile spread · 23% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (1939)

Midcredits 97th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 67/100 in their films, across 12 reviewed titles; fans 77, detractors 47. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Robert Sterling work with?

People who share at least 2 of Robert Sterling's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Bronislau Kaper shares the most, 4.

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers