Acting · Los Angeles, California, USA · Born January 13, 1919
Robert Langford Modini Stack (January 13, 1919 – May 14, 2003) was a multilingual American actor and television host. In addition to acting in more than 40 films, he also appeared on the television series The Untouchables and later served as the host of Unsolved Mysteries. Born in Los Angeles, California, Stack spent his early childhood growing up in Europe. Becoming fluent in French and Italian at an early age, and he did not learn English until returning to Los Angeles. Stack achieved minor fame in sporting, winning multiple championships including setting two world records and winning multiple honors in skeet shooting Stack studied drama at Bridgewater State College, earning his first Hollywood role at the age of 20 and continuing to star in numerous roles throughout the early 1940s. After serving in the military, Stack returned to Hollywood to star in numerous films including stand out roles in The High and the Mighty (opposite John Wayne) and Written on the Wind (1957), for which he was awarded an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Stack later moved on to televised dramatic series, depicting the crime-fighting Eliot Ness in The Untouchables (1959–1963), which earned him a best actor Emmy Award in 1960. Stack also starred in multiple drama series, before returning to film, this time in comedies to satirize his famed stoic and humorless demeanor. He began hosting Unsolved Mysteries in 1987, and served as the show's host throughout it's entire original run from 1987 to 2002.
MovieUnsolved Mysteries: Behind the Legacy
2023
as Self (archive footage)
MovieJacques Tati, tombé de la lune
2021
MovieYellowface: Asian Whitewashing and Racism in Hollywood
2019
as (archive footage)
MovieThese Dead Souls
2018
as (archive footage)
Acting for Douglas Sirk
2008
as Self (archive footage)
MovieUnsolved Mysteries Volume 1: UFOs
2004
as Host
TVButt-Ugly Martians
2002
as Stoat Muldoon (voice)
MovieLana Turner... a Daughter's Memoir
2001
as Self
MovieKiller Bud
2001
as The Gooch
MovieRecess: School's Out
2001
as Superintendent (voice)
TVLords of the Mafia
1999
as Self - Narrator
MovieMumford
1999
as Himself
MovieSealed with a Kiss
1999
as Sumner Ethridge
MovieHercules: Zero to Hero
1999
as Narrator (voice) (archive sound)
MovieThe Y2K Crisis
1999
as Host
TVHercules
1998
as Bob (voice)
MovieBASEketball
1998
as Robert Stack
MovieBarbara Stanwyck: Straight Down the Line
1997
as Self
TVThe Angry Beavers
1997
as Narrator (voice)
TVKing of the Hill
1997
as Reynolds Penland (voice) (uncredited)
MovieBeavis and Butt-Head Do America
1996
as Agent Flemming (voice)
TVSuddenly Susan
1996
as Robert Stack
MovieClark Gable: Tall, Dark, and Handsome
1996
as Self
TVDiagnosis: Murder
1993
as Peter McReynolds
Vicki!
1992
as Self
MovieThe Return of Eliot Ness
1991
as Eliot Ness
TVUnsolved Mysteries: UFOS
1991
The Real Story of Baa Baa Black Sheep
1991
as Lt. Littleboy (voice)
TVUnsolved Mysteries: Ghosts
1990
The Fanelli Boys
1990
as Robert Stack (uncredited)
TVBlossom
1990
as Robert Stack
MovieJoe Versus the Volcano
1990
as Dr. Ellison
TVUnsolved Mysteries
1988
as Host
MovieDangerous Curves
1988
as Louis Faciano
MovieCaddyshack II
1988
as Chandler Young
MoviePlain Clothes
1988
as Mr. Gardner
MoviePerry Mason: The Case of the Sinister Spirit
1987
as Jordan White
MovieHappy 100th Birthday, Hollywood
1987
as Self
MovieThe Transformers: The Movie
1986
as Ultra Magnus (voice)
MovieBig Trouble
1986
as Winslow
MovieMidas Valley
1985
as Drew Hammond
TVHollywood Wives
1985
as George Lancaster
My Kingdom For...
1985
TVMurder, She Wrote
1984
as Chester Harrison
TVBrothers
1984
TVGeorge Washington
1984
as General Stark
MovieUncommon Valor
1983
as MacGregor
MovieBarry Norman in Celebrity City
1982
as Self
TVHotel
1982
as Lewis Blackwood
TVFalcon Crest
1981
as Roland Saunders
TVStrike Force
1981
as Captain Frank Murphy
TVEntertainment Tonight
1981
as Self
MovieAirplane!
1980
as Captain Rex Kramer
Douglas Sirk: Über Stars
1980
as Self
Movie1941
1979
as Maj. Gen. Joseph W. Stilwell
MovieUndercover with the KKK
1979
as Host - Narrator
MovieThe Muppets Go Hollywood
1979
as Self
MovieSecond Wind
1978
as François Davis
TVThe Love Boat
1977
as Bret Garrett
TVMost Wanted
1976
as Captain Linc Evers
MovieMurder on Flight 502
1975
as Captain Larkin
MovieAdventures of the Queen
1975
as Capt. James Morgan
TVLes Rendez-vous du dimanche
1975
as Self
TVDinah!
1974
as Self
MovieThe Strange and Deadly Occurrence
1974
as Michael Rhodes
TVThe Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
1973
as Self
TVPolice Story
1973
MovieThe Grand Opening of Walt Disney World
1971
as Self
MovieThe Selling of the Pentagon
1971
as Self (archive footage)
MovieStory of a Woman
1970
as David Frasier
TVThe Name of the Game
1968
as Dan Farrell
MovieLaura
1968
as Mark McPherson
TVThe Danny Thomas Hour
1967
as Angelo (Businessman)
MovieAction Man
1967
as Jim Beckley
MovieThe Corrupt Ones
1967
as Cliff Wilder
MovieIs Paris Burning?
1966
as General Sibert
Asylum for a Spy
1965
as James Andrew Congers
Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre
1963
as Major Morgan
MovieThe Caretakers
1963
as Dr. Donovan MacLeod
TVThe Lucy Show
1962
as Agent Briggs
TVThe Merv Griffin Show
1962
as Self
TVThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self
TVThe Mike Douglas Show
1961
as Self - Co-Host
Alcatraz Express
1961
as Eliot Ness
The Gun of Zangara
1960
as Eliot Ness
MovieThe Last Voyage
1960
as Cliff Henderson
TVThe Untouchables
1959
as Eliot Ness
MovieJohn Paul Jones
1959
as John Paul Jones
MovieThe Scarface Mob
1959
as Eliot Ness
TVWestinghouse Desilu Playhouse
1958
as Eliot Ness
MovieThe Gift of Love
1958
as William 'Bill' Beck
MovieThe Tarnished Angels
1957
as Roger Shumann
MovieWritten on the Wind
1956
as Kyle Hadley
MovieGreat Day in the Morning
1956
as Owen Pentecost
MovieGood Morning, Miss Dove
1955
as Dr. Tommy Baker
MovieLaura
1955
as Mark Macpherson
TVThe 20th Century Fox Hour
1955
as Mark MacPherson
MovieHouse of Bamboo
1955
as Eddie Kenner
MovieThe High and the Mighty
1954
as John Sullivan
MovieThe Iron Glove
1954
as Captain Charles Wogan
MovieSabre Jet
1953
as Col. Gil Manton
MovieConquest of Cochise
1953
as Maj. Tom Burke
MovieWar Paint
1953
as Lt. Billings
TVThe Oscars
1953
as Self
TVThe Ford Television Theatre
1952
as Ralph Saunders
MovieBwana Devil
1952
as Bob Hayward
TVSchlitz Playhouse of Stars
1951
as Vic Flint
TVThe Red Skelton Show
1951
as Bo Bo McGoon
MovieMy Outlaw Brother
1951
as Patrick O´Moore
MovieBullfighter and the Lady
1951
as John Regan
MovieMr. Music
1950
as Jeff Blake
Lux Video Theatre
1950
as First Man
TVThe Bob Hope Show
1950
as Self - Cameo
MovieRiviera Dream
1950
TVLights Out
1949
MovieFighter Squadron
1948
as Capt. Stuart L. Hamilton
MovieMiss Tatlock's Millions
1948
as Nickey Van Alen
MovieA Date with Judy
1948
as Stephen Andrews
TVThe Ed Sullivan Show
1948
as Self
TVGolden Globe Awards
1944
as Self
MovieScreen Snapshots (Series 23, No. 1): Hollywood in Uniform
1943
as Himself
MovieKeeping Fit
1942
as Bob - Factory worker
MovieMen of Texas
1942
as Barry Conovan
MovieEagle Squadron
1942
as Chuck S. Brewer
MovieTo Be or Not to Be
1942
as Lieut. Stanislav Sobinski
MovieBadlands of Dakota
1941
as Jim Holliday
MovieScreen Snapshots Series 21 No. 1
1941
as Self
MovieNice Girl?
1941
as Don Webb
MovieA Little Bit of Heaven
1940
as Bob Terry
MovieThe Mortal Storm
1940
as Otto Von Rohn
MovieFirst Love
1939
as Ted Drake
