Dayle Lymoine "Dale" Robertson
U.S. Army
World War II

Dayle Lymoine Robertson was born in Harrah, OK, on 14 July 1923, the son of Melvin and Vervel Robertson. He attended Oklahoma Military College at 17 and boxed in professional prize fights to earn money.

He joined the U.S. Army and fought in North Africa and Europe during World War II. Robertson was wounded twice and his major medal awards included the Silver Star Medal, Bronze Star Medal, and the Purple Heart. While stationed at San Luis Obispo, CA, he had a photograph taken for his mother. A copy of the photo displayed in the photo shop window attracted movie scouts, and the 6-foot-tall, 180-pound Robertson was soon on his way to Hollywood.

Robertson had bit parts in films including "The Boy with the Green Hair" and the Joan Crawford vehicle "Flamingo Road" before landing more high-profile roles such as Jesse James in "Fighting Man of the Plains."

In the 1950s, he moved into television, starring in series such as "Tales of Wells Fargo" (1957-62), "Iron Horse" (1966) and "Death Valley Days" (1968-70). Robertson continued to work in TV in the 1970s, and in the 1980s he landed roles in the popular night-time soap operas "Dallas" and "Dynasty."

He took what would be his final role, in 1993, as Zeke in the show "Harts of the West," before retiring from acting to spend more time at his ranch in Yukon, OK, where he lived until moving to the San Diego area just months before his death. "He came back a lot when he was in Hollywood, and he came back (to Oklahoma) after retiring," said his niece, Nancy Robertson.

Will Rogers Jr., son of fellow Oklahoma-born actor and writer Will Rogers, once told Robertson to avoid formal training and keep his own persona.

Honors

Robertson received the Golden Boot Award in 1985, and was inducted into the Hall of Great Western Performers and the Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City, OK.

Personal

Dale Robertson would want to be remembered as a father, a grandfather and an Oklahoman, his niece said. "I remember him as a larger-than-life fellow," she said. "When he was in town it was always very exciting. It always meant something magical was going to happen," such as another actor or performing artist accompanying him on his visits.

He was married several times, most recently in 1980 to Susan Robbins, who survives him along with two children.

Death

Dayle Lymoine "Dale" Robertson died Tuesday, 26 February 2013, at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, CA, following a brief illness. He was 89. Dale Robertson was cremated and his ashes given to his niece, Nancy Robertson.