As heartthrob "Mr. Boynton" on "Our Miss Brooks", Robert Rockwell was so identified with the role that other, dramatic roles were often denied him. Still, after beginning his career as a contract player for Republic Studios he appeared in over 350 television shows over fifty years, and on stage opposite Jose Ferrer in the 1946 Broadway production of "Cyrano de Bergerac", and with Ginger Rogers during the 1960s in a San Diego production of "A More Perfect Union".
Children: daughters Susan and Alison; sons Robert Jr., Jeffrey and Gregory.
He took his most identifiable role of the handsomely awkward biology teacher Philip Boynton from "Our Miss Brooks" from radio to TV.
Played Loretta Youngs husband a few times on her anthology program "The Loretta Young Show" in the 60s.
Studied at the Pasadena Playhouse where he received a masters degree.
Appeared in more than 200 commercials and voiceovers, most notably as the grandfather treating his grandson to a piece of candy in the Werthers Original Candy" spot.
Founding member of the California Artists Radio Theatre.
Played a few standard leads in a couple of Cold War era "B" propaganda films, including the cult film The Red Menace wherein he played a war vet who is duped by the Reds.
Grandfather of Taylor W. Rockwell.
He was the first actor ever to play Jor-El, the father of DC Comics hero Superman. The role would later be played by Marlon Brando and Russell Crowe.
His portrayal of Jor-el, Kryptonian biological father of Superman was the first on television, second to Nelson Leigh; who had a brief appearance in the first serial of the Man of Steel, SUPERMAN (Columbia, 1948).
He replaced Jeff Chandler in the role of Mr. Phillip Boynton in the OUR MISS BROOKS radio series; a part which he continued on the television version of that Eve Arden sitcom.
