Famous Veteran: Jason Robards Jr.

"He was 24 and had seen too much -- buddies being killed around him, the strain of prolonged attacks. You know what it does. It made him brittle."

Jason Robards Jr. began life in the household of actor Jason Robards Sr. and Hope Maxine Glanville. While still in grad school, his parents' divorce left an indelible mark on his worldview.

Robards also personally saw the effect film had on his father's career: When cinema with sound came into vogue, the elder Robards found himself on the outside looking in, and his experiences predisposed his son against Hollywood. That helped guide him toward stage acting. Robards was a fast runner in high school, and despite several offers from universities, he joined the Navy in 1940.

After enlisting, Robards became a radioman 3rd class and served on the heavy cruiser USS Northampton. Despite contrary reports, Robards' ship was miles away from Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked on Dec. 7. He witnessed the aftermath of the attack when the Northampton returned to Pearl Harbor two days afterward.

Robards' ship left for the Guadalcanal campaign in the Pacific theater and participated in the Battle of the Santa Cruz Islands. On Nov. 30, 1942, the Northampton was struck by two Japanese long-range torpedoes in the Battle of Tassafaronga. The ship was destroyed, and Robards survived by treading water near the wreckage for hours until a U.S. destroyer rescued him.

Robards went on to serve on the USS Nashville. Two years after the incident, the Nashville served as the flagship for the invasion of Mindoro in the Philippines. A kamikaze pilot struck the ship during the battle and hit one of the gun mounts and managed to drop two bombs, setting the midsection of the ship on fire. Despite 223 casualties, Robards survived, and the Nashville returned to Pearl Harbor for repairs.

During his time on the Nashville, Robards picked up "Strange Interlude," a stage play by Eugene O'Neill. This inspired him to think about acting as a career, and he pursued that goal after successfully emceeing for a Navy band at Pearl Harbor. He started out with bit parts in radio and stage, but landed a major break as the star for a television adaptation of "Iceman Cometh."  

Robards' career was prolific. He landed notable roles in film, television and theater, including classics such as "Long Day's Journey Into Night," "Once Upon a Time in the West" and "All the President's Men." Throughout his life, he struggled with alcoholism and a restless personal life, marrying four times.

He always had a preference for stage acting, having said: "It's the satisfaction of saying something about the human condition through the author, with the actors acting as the instrument, and then hearing the audience response."

Over his career, Robards received:

• Eight Tony Award nominations, winning for "The Disenchanted" (1958);
• Three Academy Award nominations -- winning twice for Best Supporting Actor for "All the President's Men" (1977) and "Julia" (1978); and
• Five Primetime Emmy nominations, including winning for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Special for "Inherit the Wind" (1988). 

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