Roberts Blossom

Retired, living in Berkeley, writing poetry. [April 2003]

As of the early 1990s Blossom has released some of his dramatic poems on video.

Roberts gave a truly remarkable and unforgettable performance as demented middle-aged backwoods lunatic Ezra Cobb in the creepy horror cult favorite "Deranged" (1974).

Other memorable film roles include an ill-fated elderly patient in "The Hospital" (1971), a sickly soldier in "Slaughterhouse Five" (1972), Paul Le Mat's ornery father in "Citizen's Band" (1977), a farmer who saw Bigfoot once in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" (1977), a venerable old felon in "Escape from Alcatraz" (1979), a kindly next door neighbor in "Home Alone" (1990), and a grumpy small town judge in "Doc Hollywood" (1991). Blossom did guest spots on such TV shows as "Northern Exposure," "The Twilight Zone," "The Equalizer," "Moonlighting," "Amazing Stories," and "Naked City. " Moreover, Blossom was also a poet (he released some of his dramatic poems on video) and a playwright who won four Obies and a Show Business Award. After retiring from acting, Roberts settled in Berkeley, California and wrote poetry.

He made his film debut in the bizarre and little seen independent feature "The Sin of Jesus" (1961). It wasn't until he was in his late forties and early fifties that Blossom really hit his stride acting in motion pictures.

Was named a "Distinguished Performance" for his appearance in "A Village Wooing" a the first Obie Awards for the 1955-1956 season. The Obies are presented in recognition for achievement in the Off-Broadway theater.

He and his first wife, dancer/choreographer Beverly Schmidt, both participated in the Filmstage theater movement of the 1950s and '60s, which involved the simultaneous presentation of live actors with film and/or slides.

Graduated from the prestigious Asheville School in North Carolina, 1941.

According to one published report, in the 1940s, Blossom was sent to an Army mental ward when he claimed conscientious objector status.

Roberts Blossom was a marvelously quirky, talented, and versatile character actor who was especially adept at portraying cantankerous old oddballs. Born in 1924 in New Haven, Connecticutt, Blossom graduated from the prestigious Asheville School in 1941 and attended Harvard. Roberts initially planned on being a therapist, but eventually changed his mind and decided to become an actor instead.