Robert Sorrells | |
|---|---|
 Sorrells in The Wonderful World of Disney, c. 1968 | |
| Born | June 29, 1930 Dallas, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | June 11, 2019 (aged 88)[1] Vacaville, California, U.S.[1] |
| Resting place | Cremated[1] |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1959–1990 |
| Conviction(s) | Murder, attempted murder |
| Criminal penalty | 32 years to life |
Robert D. Sorrells (June 29, 1930 – June 11, 2019)[1][2][3] was an American television actor. He died in prison while serving an indeterminate life sentence for murder.
As an actor, Sorrells is probably best known for his role as the baseball-pitching robot Casey in the Twilight Zone episode "The Mighty Casey". Additionally, he was in 26 episodes of Ensign O'Toole. He was also known for his appearances in Westerns such as Gunsmoke, Rawhide and Bonanza. He later appeared in films such as Fletch and Bound for Glory.[4][5]
On July 24, 2004, Sorrells was drinking in a bar in Simi Valley, California, when he became belligerent. Another patron, Arthur DeLong, forcibly escorted Sorrells from the bar. Sorrells went home, got his pistol,[6] and returned to the bar, where he shot DeLong in the back at point-blank range, killing him. Sorrells then shot a bystander named Edward Sanchez, with whom he had had no previous interaction.[7] He then fled the scene in a Volkswagen van, but was arrested a short distance away.[3]
Sorrells was charged with one count of premeditated murder and one count of attempted premeditated murder.[7] Sorrells initially pled not guilty by reason of insanity, but entered a guilty plea in May, 2005. In July, 2005 he was sentenced to 32 years to life.[7] Sorrells died in prison at Vacaville, California, on June 11, 2019, at the age of 88.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | The Twilight Zone | Casey | Episode: "The Mighty Casey" |
| 1961 | Gunsmoke | Augie | Episode: "Apprentice Doctor" |
| 1961 | All Hands on Deck | Jones | |
| 1962 | Ichabod and Me | Blake | Episode: "The Celebrity" |
| 1962 | All Fall Down | Waiter in Sweet Shop | (scenes deleted) |
| 1962-1963 | Ensign O'Toole | White | 26 episodes |
| 1963 | Gunsmoke | Cloudy | “The Glory & The Mud” (S9E14) |
| 1963-1969 | Bonanza | Charlie / Deputy Sheriff Cyril / John Swanson / Meredith Smith / Ferguson / Sid | 5 episodes |
| 1964 | The Outer Limits | Fred | Episode: "I Robot" |
| 1965 | Morituri | Koeniger | |
| 1965 | Gunsmoke | Sled Grady | Season 10, Episode 25: "Breckinridge" |
| 1966 | Gunsmoke | Outlaw Handley | Season 12, Episode 10: "The Newcomers" |
| 1966 | Bewitched | Gus Walters | Episode: "The Horse's Mouth" |
| 1966 | The Fugitive | Curly | Episode: "The Devil's Disciples" |
| 1967 | Gunfight in Abilene | Nelson | |
| 1967 | Mosby's Marauders | Pvt. Starkey | Television movie |
| 1967 | The Ride to Hangman's Tree | Blake | |
| 1967 | The Last Challenge | Harry Bell | |
| 1968 | A Man Called Gannon | Goff | |
| 1969 | Death of a Gunfighter | Chris Hogg | |
| 1970 | San Francisco International Airport | Dan | Minor role in a TV movie pilot |
| 1970 | Mannix | Clement North | episode One for the Lady |
| 1976 | Bound for Glory | Charlie Guthrie - Woody's Father | |
| 1978 | The Bad News Bears Go to Japan | Locke | |
| 1985 | Fletch | Marvin Stanwyk | |
| 1989 | Nowhere to Run | Mr. Kitchens |