Character actor Jay Robinson owned a pair of the narrowest, cruelest-looking eyes in 1950s Hollywood. To complement them was an evil-looking sneer, crisp and biting diction and a nefarious-sounding cackle. These were all draped upon a lean, bony physique that could slither about menacingly like a ready-to-pounce cobra. With that in mind, he made an auspicious film debut as Caligula in _The Robe . Jay Robinson died at age 83 of congestive heart failure in his home in Sherman Oaks, California on September 27, 2013.
His trademark "scary voice", which he developed in his elder years, became a mainstay of his post-retirement career. His voice is sometimes mistaken for that of the late Tony Jay , a brilliant British voice-actor. Jay has not been in the public light since his retirement from acting in 1994, aside from a brief stint as the host of "Beyond Bizarre" . It was during this time that Tony Jays voice talents became well-known in American media, as well as Jay Robinsons television series "Beyond Bizarre" , hence the confusion that sometimes resulted when Tony Jays voice was heard in video games or animated series.
In 1958, Robinson was arrested on a narcotics violation. His conviction was overturned, but he later served 15 months in prison after unknowingly missing a date for retrial.
Best remembered for his role as Emperor Calugula in The Robe and Demetrius and the Gladiators .
Retired from acting in 2000 after less than 50 years in the motion picture industry. Resided in Sherman Oaks, California until his death.
Following his death, he was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills) in Los Angeles, California.
1968 - Star Trek Season 3 Episode 13 played Lord Petri in Elaan of Troyius.
Bette Davis provided the introduction to his autobiography when she wrote: "The Comeback" is a book about a very talented actor, Jay Robinson. This talent was ever present during those years that were black. "The Comeback," even if you never heard of Jay Robinson, is a powerful story of a man who survived those years and finally, by getting to know God, found a new life. Let us hail him and let us hail his wife Pauline, who, because she really loved him, stuck with him through those black years and never gave up trying to prove to him his way to salvation was through God who, she devoutly believed, was always available for help to those who asked for his help. This belief finally made Jays comeback possible. Congratulations Jay, for an inspirational book for one and all who "fall by the wayside." January 20, 1979 Bette Davis.
