Robert Arden was a multifaceted American film, television, and radio actor born in London on December 11, 1922. He spent most of his life and career in the United Kingdom, despite having an American father and an English mother. His father, a professional boxer, had a successful career after World War I.
Arden's early life was marked by a unique educational experience, attending a combination of English and American schools. This blend of cultures would later influence his acting career, as he worked extensively in the UK.
One of Arden's most notable film appearances was as Guy Van Stratten in the 1955 film Mr. Arkadin, written and directed by the renowned Orson Welles. Welles had previously collaborated with Arden on the popular Harry Lime radio series, produced in London, and subsequently cast him in the central role of the investigator who uncovers Arkadin's past.
Arden was reportedly taken aback when Welles initially contacted him about the role, thinking it was a prank call. Despite his initial hesitation, he went on to star in the film, which received mixed reviews from critics. Some, like The New York Times, panned his performance, calling it "hopelessly inadequate." However, film historian Jonathan Rosenbaum defended Arden's work, attributing the criticism to the unsavory nature of the character, rather than the actor's abilities.
The film's poor box-office performance led to Arden playing fewer lead roles, instead working mostly as a character actor in film, television, and stage productions. Despite this, he continued to appear in a variety of projects, including The Depraved (1957) and The Child and the Killer (1959).
