Tom McNeely (Canadian, B. 1935) "Edward G. Robinson; Legends of Hollywood Series" Signed lower right. Original Watercolor painting on Paper.

Provenance: Collection of James A. Helzer (1946-2008), Founder of Unicover Corporation.

This painting was originally published on the Fleetwood First Day Cover for the U.S. 33c Edward G. Robinson stamp issued October 24, 2000.

The Warner Brothers gangster triumvirate of the 1930s included Edward G. Robinson, James Cagney and Humphrey Bogart. Edward G. Robinson was born in Rumania in 1893 with the birth name of Emanuel Goldenberg. To escape persecution, his family managed to scrape together enough fare for steerage passage to America. "At Ellis Island I was born again." Robinson wrote. "Life for me began when I was 10 years old." Growing up on New York City's jam-packed Lower East Side, he learned English and began reciting speeches to family and friends. He planned to become a criminal lawyer and defend the abused and exploited, but his love of performance drew him into acting. In 1913 Robinson made his professional debut in a career that spanned 50 years of silent films, "talkies," theater, radio and TV. A versatile actor who played a wide range of roles in 40 Broadway plays and more than 100 films, he is best remembered as the curled-lip, cigar-chomping gangster, Enrico Bandello, in Little Caesar (1931). In Depression America, anyone who could quickly scale the ladder of success became a hero, even cold-blooded killers. Robinson's prototypical performance as "Rico" was so convincing that real gangsters affected his screen persona. Typecast as a hood, Robinson actually was a gentle, cultured man who spoke eight languages, had a world-famous Impressionist art collection, and contributed generously to many philanthropic and humanitarian causes. Edward G. Robinson died of cancer in 1973.

Image Size: 17.75 x 15.25 in.
Overall Size: 24.25 x 21.25 in.
Unframed.
(B16870)

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24.25 x 21.25 in