Cliff Robertson
ActingAbout Cliff Robertson
Clifford Parker Robertson III (September 9, 1923 – September 10, 2011) was an American actor whose career in film and television spanned half a century. Robertson portrayed a young John F. Kennedy in the 1963 film PT 109, and won the 1968 Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in the film Charly. On television, he portrayed retired astronaut Buzz Aldrin in the 1976 adaptation of Aldrin's autobiographic Return to Earth, played a fictional character based on Director of Central Intelligence Richard Helms in the 1977 miniseries Washington: Behind Closed Doors, and portrayed Henry Ford in Ford: The Man and the Machine (1987). His last well-known film appearances were as Uncle Ben in the 2002–2007 Spider-Man film trilogy.
Cliff Robertson Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of Cliff Robertson reflects exceptional commercial consistency. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of Cliff Robertson's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 84% of Cliff Robertson's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains Return to Earth, which stands out as a key performance.
Best Cliff Robertson Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from Cliff Robertson's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie Cliff Robertson has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse | Uncle Ben (archive footage) (uncredited) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2007 | Spider-Man 3 | Ben Parker | Hit | Similar → |
| 2004 | Los Angeles Plays Itself | President in Escape From L.A. (archive footage) | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2004 | Spider-Man 2 | Ben Parker | Hit | Similar → |
| 2002 | Joan Crawford: The Ultimate Movie Star | Self - Actor | Hit | Similar → |
| 2002 | Spider-Man | Ben Parker | Hit | Similar → |
| 2001 | 'Obsession' Revisited | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1999 | Family Tree | Larry | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1998 | Race | Jack Durmann | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1998 | Lusitania | Narrator | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1996 | Joan Crawford: Always the Star | Self | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1995 | Sonja Henie: Queen of the Ice | Narrator | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1995 | The Sunset Boys | Ted Roth | Hit | Similar → |
| 1992 | Lincoln | Noah Brooks (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1992 | Wind | Morgan Weld | Average | Similar → |
| 1991 | Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken | Dr. W.F. Carver | Hit | Similar → |
| 1987 | Ford: The Man and the Machine | Henry Ford | Hit | Similar → |
| 1986 | Dreams of Gold: The Mel Fisher Story | Mel Fisher | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1983 | Star 80 | Hugh Hefner | Hit | Similar → |
| 1983 | Brainstorm | Alex Terson | Average | Similar → |
| 1983 | Spaces: The Architecture of Paul Rudolph | Narrator | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1982 | Night of 100 Stars | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 1980 | The Pilot | Mike Hagan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1979 | The Little Prince | Narrator / Pilot | Hit | Similar → |
| 1977 | Fraternity Row | Narrator (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | Obsession | Michael Courtland | Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | Midway | Cmdr. Jessop | Hit | Similar → |
| 1976 | Return to Earth | Col. Edwin A. 'Buzz' Aldrin Jr. | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1975 | Three Days of the Condor | J. Higgins | Hit | Similar → |
| 1975 | My Father's House | Tom Lindholm Jr. | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1974 | A Tree Grows in Brooklyn | Johnny Nolan | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1973 | The Man Without a Country | Philip Nolan | Hit | Similar → |
| 1973 | The Men Who Made the Movies: Raoul Walsh | Narrator | Hit | Similar → |
| 1973 | The Men Who Made the Movies: Vincente Minnelli | Narrator (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 1973 | The Men Who Made the Movies: Alfred Hitchcock | Narrator | Hit | Similar → |
| 1970 | Too Late the Hero | Lt. Sam Lawson | Average | Similar → |
| 1968 | The Sunshine Patriot | Christopher Ross / Arthur Selby | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1968 | Charly | Charlie Gordon | Average | Similar → |
| 1968 | The Devil's Brigade | Major Alan Crown | Average | Similar → |
| 1967 | The Honey Pot | William McFly | Average | Similar → |
| 1965 | Up from the Beach | Sgt. Edward Baxter | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1964 | 633 Squadron | Wing Commander Roy Grant | Average | Similar → |
| 1964 | The Best Man | Joe Cantwell | Hit | Similar → |
| 1963 | Sunday in New York | Adam Tyler | Hit | Similar → |
| 1961 | Underworld U.S.A. | Tolly Devlin | Hit | Similar → |
| 1959 | As the Sea Rages | Clements | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1958 | Days of Wine and Roses | Joe Clay | Hit | Similar → |
| 1956 | Autumn Leaves | Burt Hanson | Hit | Similar → |
| 1955 | Picnic | Alan Benson | Average | Similar → |
| 1943 | We've Never Been Licked | Adams (uncredited) | Hit | Similar → |
Cliff Robertson - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of Cliff Robertson?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring Cliff Robertson is "Return to Earth" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has Cliff Robertson acted in?
Cliff Robertson has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by Cliff Robertson?
Other notable films include "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn", "Spaces: The Architecture of Paul Rudolph", and "Family Tree".