Happy Birthday, Robert Mulligan! Born today in 1925 as Robert Patrick Mulligan, Jr., this American television and film director is best known as the director of humanistic American dramas.
Born in New York City, New York, Mulligan, years later, studied at Fordham University before serving with the United States Marine Corps during World War II.
At war's end, he obtained work in the editorial department of The New York Times, but left to pursue a career in television.
Mulligan began his television career as a messenger boy for CBS television. He worked diligently, and by 1948 was directing major dramatic television shows.
Nine years later, Mulligan directed his first motion picture. This was the 1957 American black and white biographical sport/drama film 'Fear Strikes Out'. It starred Anthony Perkins as tormented baseball player Jimmy Piersall.
This would be the first feature Mulligan would direct alongside American film director, writer, producer and longtime collaborator Alan J. Pakula ('Klute', 'All the President's Men'), then a big-time Hollywood producer.
Pakula once confessed that "working with Bob set me back in directing several years because I enjoyed working with him, and we were having a good time, and I enjoyed the work."
After the release of 'Fear Strikes Out', Mulligan briefly disbanded with Pakula and made two Tony Curtis vehicles. These were 1960 American Technicolor drama/comedy film 'The Rat Race' and the 1961 American black and white romantic comedy/drama film 'The Great Imposter'.
After these, Mulligan made two Rock Hudson vehicles. These were the 1961 American Technicolor romance/comedy film 'Come September' and the 1962 American black and white drama/adventure film 'The Spiral Road'.
In the early 1960s, Pakula returned to Mulligan with the proposition of directing the film of which he is best known. This was the 1962 American black and white drama/mystery film 'To Kill a Mockingbird'.
The film marked the film debuts of Robert Duvall (Arthur "Boo" Radley), William Windom (Mr. Gilmer), and Alice Ghostley (Aunt Stephanie Crawford).
The script by American playwright and screenwriter Horton Foote is based on American novelist Harper Lee's titular 1960 Pulitzer Prize-winning novel.
The following year, 'To Kill a Mockingbird' won three Oscars for Best Actor in a Leading Role (Gregory Peck), Best Writing (Adapted Screenplay), and Best Art Direction. This occurred at the 35th Academy Awards in early April 1963.
In 1995, 'To Kill a Mockingbird' was listed in the National Film Registry in the Library of Congress.
In 2003, the American Film Institute named Atticus Finch the greatest movie hero of the 20th century.
In 2005, the British Film Institute included it in their list of the 50 films you should see by the age of 14.
In 2007, the film ranked twenty-fifth on the AFI's 10 anniversary list of the greatest American movies of all time.
In 2012, the film was restored and released on Blu-ray and DVD as part of the 100th anniversary of Universal pictures.
Among his other credits, Mulligan is known for directing 'Summer of '42' (1971), 'The Other' (1972), 'Same Time, Next Year' (1978) and 'The Man in the Moon' (1991).
According to Mulligan's personal life, he was the elder brother of American television, film and character actor Richard Mulligan.
He was known for his role as Burt Campbell, the loving, protective husband of Cathryn Lee Damon's character in ABC's American sitcom television series Soap (1977–1981).
Although his films do not bear a personal stamp, Mulligan was noted for his craftsmanship and ability to elicit strong performances from his cast.
Mulligan had been active from 1948–1992.
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