Jason Robards

Jason Nelson Robards was an Academy, Emmy, and Tony Award winning American actor whose wizened, iconic quality kept him in the forefront of the acting profession for nearly fifty years. He made his name playing in the works of American dramatist Eugene O'Neill, and would regularly return to O'Neill's works throughout his career. Robards' versatility was such that he was cast to equal effect in common-man roles and as well-known historical figures.
Robards was born in Chicago. His father, who regularly appeared on the stage and in such early films as The Gamblers (1929), was among the better-known actors of the first half of the twentieth century. The family moved to New York City when young Jason was still a toddler, and then moved to Los Angeles when he was six years old.
Hollywood High School 1939
The teenaged Robards excelled in athletics, running a 4:18 mile during his junior year at Hollywood High School. Although his prowess in sports attracted overtures from several universities, upon his graduation in 1940 Robards decided to join the U.S. Navy
With Dad, 1958
When he was finally discharged after five and a half years he had been in thirteen major engagements.But it was in the Navy that he first started reading stage plays and thinking seriously about being an actor. He had also emceed a Navy band in Pearl Harbor, gotten a few laughs and decided he liked it. His father suggested he enroll in the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. After a few months the director told him, “You don’t need anything else here. Get out and start working.”
Robards decided to get into acting after the war. His career started out slowly. He moved to New York City and found small parts there, first in radio and then on the stage. His big break was landing the starring role in the 1956 off-Broadway production and 1960 television film of The Iceman Cometh, as the philosophical salesman Hickey.
Robards received eight Tony Award nominations, more than any other male actor, and won in 1959 as Best Actor for his work in The Disenchanted. He received the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in consecutive years for All the President's Men (1976) and Julia (1977).
With Jose Quintero
He was also nominated for another Oscar for his role in Melvin and Howard (1980) and received the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Special for the 1988 production of Inherit the Wind. He was among the recipients at the Kennedy Center Honors in 1999.
With Lauren Bacall
With Sam Peckinpah
Personal Quotes
"An actor doesn't change thought, theme, or mood unless the character does, and the character only does it within the words of the play."
"Once you're on [stage], nobody can say 'cut it.' You're out there on your own, and there's always that thrill of a real live audience."
"All I know is, I don't do a lot of analysis. I know those words have to move me. I rely on the author. I don't want actors reasoning with me about 'motivation' and all that bull. All I want 'em to do is learn the goddamn lines and don't bump into each other."
"The theatre has kept me alive, and it's allowed me to work at my craft."
"All I know about acting is that I just have to keep on doing it."
"I've always played disintegrated characters. I don't know much about acting, but I can play those kinds of characters."