Robert Hinkle

From the rodeo to the studio, Robert Hinkle's career has spanned the latter half of the 20th century. Whether acting, directing or producing. Texas Bob has touched the lives of many of the entertainment industry's marquis names. His own eclectic accomplishments can be attributed to a passion for living, a talent for entertaining others, and flair for the dramatic. In 1952 after 30 months in U. S. A. F. he left behind a rodeo future calf-roping/bull-dogging career to try his hand at acting in...See more

From the rodeo to the studio, Robert Hinkle's career has spanned the latter half of the 20th century. Whether acting, directing or producing. Texas Bob has touched the lives of many of the entertainment industry's marquis names. His own eclectic accomplishments can be attributed to a passion for living, a talent for entertaining others, and flair for the dramatic. In 1952 after 30 months in U. S. A. F. he left behind a rodeo future calf-roping/bull-dogging career to try his hand at acting in Hollywood. As forsaking rodeo lights for studio lights, Hinkle confesses: I didn't have that little extra something that it takes to be a world champion cowboy like my friend Larry Mahan. His acting debut came after crashing the Universal Pictures studio lot during the filming of Bronco Busters Bob's western appearance and demeanor caught the director's eye and landed him a role as a cowboy stuntman. Hinkle's authentic screen presence led to many other roles over the years, including these Hud with Paul Newman and Clint Eastwood in First Traveling Sales Lady. Starring Ginger Rogers in the last motion picture Howard Hughes produced. He had roles in well known TV westerns such as Wagon Train, Gunsmoke, Wyatt Earp, Wells Fargo, Tombstone Territory, Bonanza, Annie Oakley, Trackdown, 'Wichita Town, Walker Texas Ranger, and many more. The 1955 production of the classic movie Giant marked a turning point for Hinkle. Bob was the movie's dialogue director and technical director, and as such helped create the role of Jett Rink for James Dean. Bob's easy-going manner and down-home drawl made him the perfect candidate to coach Rock Hudson, Carroll Baker, Dennis Hopper, Mercedes McCambridge and Dean to talk Texan. Dean later presented his friend Hinkle with an Oscar for his contribution to the film's towering success. On the production end, Hinkle's most notable inspiration was director George Stevens and his ability to elicit extraordinary performances from the cast of Giant. Starring Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and James Dean. In 1960 Universal Pictures released the motion picture Old Rex a family movie about a boy and his dog which Hinkle wrote, directed and produced. Other notable productions included Born Hunters, a short subject which led to a contract with Paramount Studios. Hinkle also brought his experience from Giant along with his own productions to the set of Hud in 1962. Bob did for Paul Newman what he had done for James Dean by coaching Newman, Patricia Neal and Melvin Douglas to be Texans, Neal and Douglas won Academy Awards for their roles. Hinkle also received critical acclaim for creating and directing the pig scramble in Hud. At various times he wore the hats of technical advisor, second-unit director and associate producer, positions which he enjoyed as much if not more than acting. Beginning in the 1960s Hinkle's talents branched out to other facets of entertainment industry. In 1964 he signed an unknown singer named Glen Campbell to a series of country music specials with Jeannie Seely and Henson Cargill called Hollywood Jubilee. That same year he became the Personal Manager for character actor Chill Wills. In 1968 a young unknown stunt performer, named Robert Craig Knievel, asked Hinkle to help make him a household name on the magnitude of Elvis Presley. For the next 3 years Hinkle developed and promoted Evel Knievel as he became the world's best known showman-daredevil. In 1970 Hinkle became the Personal Manager for Marty Robbins, Bob and Marty stayed a team until Robbins's death in 1982. It was actually Robbins who first dubbed Hinkle as Texas Bob. In 1972 Hinkle combined his film productions roots... See less