Robert Stack

American actor nominated for seven Emmys, winning one in 1960 for his series The Untouchables. He received an Oscar nomination for his performance in the film Written On The Wind (1956). Always an avid sportsman, he set two world skeet-shooting records by age 19 and was the top speedboat racer on the west coast in 1940 and 1941. As the son of a millionaire father, he "majored in polo" before acting; his first film was in 1939. Up until his Oscar nomination, he held mediocre roles in 30 different films over a span of 20 years.

Born into a wealthy and socially well-connected family, Robert Stack, a fourth generation Californian, was taken to Europe at age three by his mother after his parents divorced. He spent summers on the Adriatic coast next door to Bruno Mussolini, son of Benito. Schooled in Italy and France he returned to the U.S. at seven years old speaking no English, only Italian and French and he had no passport. He was held by immigration until his grandfather came to the customs office with proper papers. His parents later remarried.

As a teen he learned to shoot skeet, becoming a champion and learning to be a team player. A member of five all-American skeet-shooting teams, Stack was a good sportsman and athlete. He played on the University of Southern California polo team in the late 1930s and although he was a top player, he was forced to quit after fracturing his right wrist three times.

In 1939 he visited the film set of First Love to hear Deanna Durbin sing. He was seen by the director and asked if he would like to be in the film. He got the part and gave Deanna her first screen kiss. Commissioned as an ensign after he enlisted in the Navy in 1942, he was determined to make the world safe for democracy. Five Stack family members were in the Navy including an admiral who served as an aide to President Roosevelt and a seaman second class. Stack was discharged in 1945 as a full lieutenant.