(25 Oct 2000) English/Nat

TITLE: Charlton Heston unveils Edward G Robinson stamp
LOCATION Hollywood, California
date: USA 24 October 2000

An acting legend was honoured in Hollywood (Tuesday) when the US postal service and American Film Institute dedicated a tribute stamp to EDWARD G. ROBINSON.

Known in the industry as the "best actor never to win an Oscar", Robinson is the sixth honouree in the 'Legends of Hollywood' series.

Relatives, friends and former colleagues, including KARL MALDEN and comedian RICH LITTLE, gathered at a theatre in Hollywood for the unveiling of the stamp. He joins other movie icons such as Marilyn Monroe and Humphrey Bogart who have been portrayed on commemorative stamps.

Although he might not be quite so well-known as his predecessors, Edward G Robinson appeared in over 100 films during his life-time, including 'The Cincinatti Kid' and 'The Ten Commandments' with CHARLTON HESTON.

But it was as a sinister gangster in the black-and- white movies of the 1930's for which he is best remembered. He virtually singlehandedly created the gangster genre when he stepped on screen in 1930 as the demonic Cesare Enrico "Rico," in the classic film, 'Little Caesar'.

Robinson became renowned for his tough-guy image and gangster roles, but friends say he was really one of the good guys - a real gentleman.

But despite his fame and fortune the actor became the victim of the witchhunt against left-wingers that gripped the USA in the aftermath in World War II. In the 1950s, he was caught up in the anti-communist purge of Hollywood and called to testify before the House of Un-American Activities Committee when his name was linked with Communist organisations. He was subsequently blacklisted by the Hollywood studios for several years.

Meanwhile, as part of a bitter divorce settlement, the actor was forced to sell his famed art collection. He was a passionate art lover and it's reported that he had one of the largest privately-owned collections.

Born Emanuel Goldenberg, Robinson was a poor Jewish-Romanian immigrant who arrived in the United States aged ten. He orignally planned to become a lawyer or a rabbi unitl he get the acting bug. He died of cancer in 1973 .

The US commemorative stamp programme generates between $250-$350 million dollars in revenue for the Postal Service. The most popular stamp in history is the Elvis stamp issued in 1993.

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