Actor

Robert Easton

1930–2011 · Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S.

Robert Easton was a legendary figure in the entertainment industry, renowned for his extraordinary ability to master and teach dialects, and for his prolific career as an actor, voice artist, and dialect coach. His journey from a stuttering child in Milwaukee to Hollywood's most respected voice expert is a testament to his remarkable talent and determination.

Early Life and Radio Beginnings

Born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1930, Robert Easton overcame a significant childhood stuttering problem that would ultimately shape his extraordinary career. His early struggles with speech led him to develop an incredibly keen ear for linguistic nuances. As he later explained, "When you have a big problem like that you overcompensate" - a philosophy that drove him to become a master of voices. At just 14 years old, Easton's vocal talents emerged when he was selected to join the cast of the popular radio program "Quiz Kids". This early success launched his radio career, where he performed on numerous iconic shows like Gunsmoke, Fibber McGee and Molly, and Suspense. His radio work continued for decades, with his final radio performance coming in 2008 at the age of 77, playing Bart Rathbone in Adventures in Odyssey.

Hollywood Acting Career

Easton's film career began in 1949 with an uncredited role in Undertow. Standing 6'4" tall, he quickly became a recognizable character actor. His first credited role came in the 1951 Civil War classic The Red Badge of Courage, after which he legally changed his surname from Burke to Easton. Throughout his career, Easton appeared in over 75 films, often playing memorable character roles. Some notable appearances include Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961), Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) where he portrayed a Klingon judge, and Gods and Generals (2003).

Dialect Coaching: A Legendary Career

By the early 1960s, Easton transformed his passion for language into a groundbreaking career as a dialect coach. He mastered over 200 ethnic, regional, and historical accents. His reputation earned him the nickname "The Henry Higgins of Hollywood". Easton coached numerous Academy Award-winning actors, helping them perfect their character's speech. Some of his most famous clients included:

Ben Kingsley (Indian accent for Gandhi)
Al Pacino (Cuban dialect in Scarface)
Forest Whitaker (Ugandan accent in The Last King of Scotland)
Robert Duvall (Virginia accent for Gods and Generals)

His expertise was so refined that when Duvall asked him to teach a Virginian accent, Easton reportedly responded, "Which one? There are twelve distinct accents."

Legacy and Personal Life

Beyond acting and coaching, Easton was a passionate book collector, amassing a library of over 100,000 volumes. He was married to June Bettine Grimstead for 44 years until her death in 2005. Robert Easton passed away on December 16, 2011, in Toluca Lake, California, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most versatile and respected voice professionals in entertainment history.