Robert Francis was a rising young actor, known as California's "Golden Boy", who was on the verge of stardom in the 1950s. Born on February 26, 1930, in Glendale, California, he grew up with a passion for art and sports, particularly skiing. After completing his junior college degree, he was spotted by a Hollywood talent scout and began taking acting classes.
Francis's early career was interrupted by a three-year stint in the U.S. Army, but after his discharge, he attended the Batomi Schneider Drama Workshop. He was soon signed to a contract with Columbia Pictures and made his film debut in The Caine Mutiny (1954) alongside Humphrey Bogart, José Ferrer, and Van Johnson. His performance earned him a contract with Columbia and he went on to star in three more films, including They Rode West (1954),The Bamboo Prison (1954),and The Long Gray Line (1955).
Francis was also an avid pilot and had a passion for aviation. He was friends with eccentric producer/director/aviator billionaire Howard Hughes and the two men frequently went flying together. Tragically, Francis's love of flying led to his death on July 31, 1955, when he piloted a Beechcraft Bonanza that crashed shortly after takeoff from Lockheed Air Terminal in Burbank, California. He was 25 years old at the time of his death.
Despite his short career, Francis left a lasting impression on the film industry and is still remembered today as a talented and promising young actor.
