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Wikipedia / Robert Lyden

Robert Marinus Lyden (May 28, 1942 – January 17, 1986) was a child actor in the 1950s.

Robert Lyden made his film debut in 1949 with Holiday Affair and also played with Doris Day in the musical film I'll See You in My Dreams (1951). The child actor is probably best-known for his role as the young space cadet "Bobby" on the 1954 science fiction television show Rocky Jones, Space Ranger. After Rocky Jones (which lasted only two seasons), he made a few more television appearances, and had roles in some feature films. He had a short role in The Searchers (1956), in which he played John Wayne's nephew Ben. Also notable was his performance as a young Creighton Chaney in Man of a Thousand Faces, the 1957 biopic about Lon Chaney starring James Cagney. This turned out to be Lyden's last role; he left show business and pursued a career in finance.

Filmography

Year

Title

Role

Notes

1949

Holiday Affair

Boy

Uncredited

1950

Emergency Wedding

Robert - Boy in Department Store

1951

I'll See You in My Dreams

Donald, at age 8

1956

The Searchers

Ben Edwards

Uncredited

Written on the Wind

Kyle as a Boy

Voice, Uncredited

1957

Man of a Thousand Faces

Creighton Chaney at 13

(final film role)

Television

Year

Title

Role

Notes

1950–1951

Fireside Theatre

2 episodes

1954

Rocky Jones, Space Ranger

Bobby

31 episodes. Three of these were combined as the non-theatrical film 'Menace from Outer Space' (1956).

1955

Captain Midnight

Billy Griffiths

Episode: "The Human Bomb"

Screen Directors Playhouse

Willie

Episode: "Rookie of the Year"

References