Robert Lansing was a talented and versatile actor who had a long and successful career in stage, film, and television. He is best remembered for his role as Brigadier General Frank Savage in the TV series 12 O’Clock High, which depicted the lives of American bomber pilots during World War II. But what was the cause of death of this charismatic and rugged star?
Early Life and Career
Robert Lansing was born Robert Howell Brown on June 5, 1928, in San Diego, California. He attended University High School in Los Angeles, where he developed an interest in acting and directing. He also played drums with various dance bands and considered pursuing a career in jazz.
After serving two years in the US Army in Japan, where he worked at the Armed Forces Radio Service, he moved to New York City to pursue his acting dream. He joined the Actors’ Equity Association and adopted the surname Lansing, after the city in Michigan where he was hired to join a stock company.
He made his Broadway debut in 1951, replacing Mark Roberts in the role of Dunbar in Stalag 17. He gained more experience and recognition by appearing in several prestigious plays, such as Cyrano de Bergerac, Richard III, Suddenly Last Summer, and The Great God Brown.
He also started to appear in TV anthology dramas and films, such as 4D Man (1959), a sci-fi thriller about a scientist who can penetrate solid matter. He landed his first TV series lead role in 1961, playing detective Steve Carella in 87th Precinct, based on the novels by Ed McBain.
The Role of a Lifetime
In 1964, Lansing achieved his greatest fame when he was cast as Brigadier General Frank Savage in 12 O’Clock High, a TV adaptation of the 1949 film starring Gregory Peck. The show followed the exploits of the 918th Bomb Group of the US Eighth Air Force stationed in England during World War II.
Lansing’s portrayal of Savage was compelling and nuanced, showing the character’s struggle to balance duty, discipline, and compassion. He also had a distinctive voice and appearance that conveyed authority and charisma. The show was a critical and commercial success, earning Lansing an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Series.
However, his tenure on the show was cut short when he was unexpectedly killed off at the end of the first season. The reason for this decision was that the sponsors wanted a younger actor to appeal to the teenage audience, since the show’s time slot was changed to 7:30 P.M. Lansing was replaced by Paul Burke, who played Colonel Joseph Gallagher.
Later Years and Death
Lansing continued to work steadily in TV and film after leaving 12 O’Clock High. He starred in another TV series, The Man Who Never Was (1966-67), as a secret agent living a double life in Cold War Europe. He also guest-starred on many popular shows, such as The Twilight Zone, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, Simon & Simon, Murder She Wrote, and Star Trek.
He also returned to the stage periodically, appearing in plays such as The Father, Finishing Touches, and a one-man show as labor leader John L. Lewis. His last Broadway appearance was in 1991, in The Crucible.
Lansing died of cancer on October 23, 1994, at a hospital in New York City. He was 66 years old. He was survived by his third wife Anne Pivar and two children from his first marriage to actress Emily McLaughlin. He was buried at Union Field Cemetery in Queens.
Robert Lansing was a talented actor who left behind a legacy of memorable performances. His cause of death was cancer, but his fans will always remember him as the brave and charismatic General Savage who led his men into battle against all odds. According to IMDb, he appeared in 245 episodes of 73 television series, 11 TV movies, and 19 motion pictures during his career. He will always be one of the greats of American television history.
