Robert Shayne was an actor mostly known for his work as Inspector Bill
Henderson in the television series Adventures of Superman. Shayne’s father was
one of the founders of the United States Chamber of Commerce.
According to Phyllis Coates,
who played Lois Lane on Superman said, "Bob at one time had been a
card-carrying communist. “ and may have been interviewed by the FBI on the set.
When
Shayne was called before the HUAC in September of 1951, he told reporters that
he was “utterly puzzled” by the subpoena and that for the hour that he was
questioned he answered every question he
was asked. The executive hearing was informal and conducted in a Hollywood
hotel room
Interviewed again under
more formal settings in 1952, Shayne said that he "must have signed a card
or an application" with the Communist party in New York in 1935, but
"I have never been interested or at all active in any Communist party
activity since the spring of 1936." He said he had never participated in
communist affairs since he moved to California. Other questioned that day supplied
the committee with the names of others known to be members of the communist party in
LA.
Stephanie Shayne, the actors
daughter, said “The fact is that Dad was
turned into the House Un-American Activities Committee as a result of
accusations made by his jealous ex-wife. That was precipitated by Dad's leaving
her for a woman twenty-one years her junior (my mother, Bette).”
The rumor persists that
Shayne was blacklisted in Hollywood and unable to find work because he appeared
before the HUAC but the record shows otherwise. From 1934 through 1959, Shayne
made 83 films and/or television appearances. Thirty three of those were between
1934 and 1949. Fifty were made from 1950 through 1959, during the time when he
was supposedly secretly blacklisted
1950
Dynamite Pass (1950) - Jay Wingate
Customs Agent (1950) - West Coast Chief Agent J.G. Goff
Rider from Tucson (1950) - John Avery
State Penitentiary (1950) - Stanley Brown
Federal Man (1950) - Chief Agent Charles Stuart
When You're Smiling (1950) - Jack Lacey
Big Timber (1950) - Dixon
Experiment Alcatraz (1950) - Barry Morgan
1951
Missing Women (1951) - Cincotta
The Dakota Kid (1951) - Ace Crandall
Criminal Lawyer (1951) - Clark P. Sommers
1952
Indian Uprising (1952) - Maj. Nathan Stark
Without Warning! (1952) - Dr. Werner, Police Psychiatrist
And Now Tomorrow (1952)
The Ring (1952) - Jimmy - Aragon's Manager
Mr. Walkie Talkie (1952) - Capt. Burke
Adventures of Superman (1952-1958, TV Series) - Inspector
Launay / Police Inspector Bill Henderson
1953
Marshal of Cedar Rock (1953) - Paul Jackson / Fake John Harper
Prince of Pirates (1953) - Prime Minister Treeg
The Blue Gardenia (1953) - Doctor (uncredited)
The Lady Wants Mink (1953) - Cecil
Invaders from Mars (1953) - Dr. Bill Wilson (uncredited)
The Neanderthal Man (1953) - Prof. Clifford Groves
Sea of Lost Ships (1953) - Executive Officer (uncredited)
Flight Nurse (1953) - Surgeon (uncredited)
1954
Trader Tom of the China Seas (1954) - Maj. Conroy
The Desperado (1954) - Prosecutor (uncredited)
Tobor the Great (1954) - General #1 (uncredited)
1955
Murder Is My Beat (1955) - Police Captain Bert Rawley
The Eternal Sea (1955) - Cmdr. Dean (uncredited)
Double Jeopardy (1955) - Mr. Ross (uncredited)
King of the Carnival (1955) - Jess Carter
1956
Indestructible Man (1956) - Prof. Bradshaw
Rumble on the Docks (1956) - Judge (uncredited)
Accused of Murder (1956) - Doctor (uncredited)
Dance with Me, Henry (1956) - Proctor
Hot Shots (1956) - Pierre M. Morley
1957
Kronos (1957) -Air Force General
Footsteps in the Night (1957) - Fred Horner
The Giant Claw (1957) - Gen. Van Buskirk
Spook Chasers (1957) - Police Lt. Harris
Death in Small Doses (1957) - FDA Chief Insp. Frank Ainsley
(uncredited)
1958
War of the Satellites (1958) - Cole Hotchkiss
Teenage Cave Man (1958) - The Fire Maker
How to Make a Monster (1958) - Gary Droz
The Lost Missile (1958) - Air Force General (uncredited)
Revolt in the Big House (1958) - Mickey (uncredited)
I Mobster (1958) – Senator
1959
The Rebel Set (1959) - Lt. Cassidy
North by Northwest (1959) - Larry Wade (uncredited)
Battle Flame (1959) - Lt. Norris