R.G. Armstrong Biography

Fast Facts

• Became interested in acting while a student at Howard College and would eventually transfer to the University of North Carolina where he would act alongside classmate Andy Griffith with the Carolina Playmakers
• In 2012, he passed away at 95-years-old in California from natural causes
• Quote: "Acting is not acting․ It's being․ If you have the kind of personality makeup where you can transform into being the character in that situation, it brings about authenticity․ You get a feel of the situation, the line in a scene and where your hearts goes to in a scene and you always keep that in mind․"
• Best known for working with director Sam Peckinpah on numerous occasions over the course of his four-decade career after the two met on the set of "The Westerner"
• Although he launched his film career in 1954, it was not until he began appearing on television in series as well as made-for-television movies that he would become a household name
• Officially retired from on-screen roles by the late '90s, but would continue to act in off-Broadway stage productions until 2005 when he was finally forced to end his career due to cataracts
• Relocated to New York City after college and quickly began training at the Actors Studio while pursuing a career on Broadway