Oscar-winning actor Cliff Robertson dies at 88

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Cliff Robertson, who starred as John F. Kennedy in a 1963 World War II drama and later won an Academy Award for his portrayal of a mentally disabled bakery janitor in the movie ‘Charly,’ died Saturday, one day after his 88th birthday.

Robertson, who also played a real-life role as the whistle-blower in the check-forging scandal of then-Columbia Pictures President David Begelman that rocked Hollywood in the late 1970s, died at Stony Brook University Medical Center on Long Island, according to Evelyn Christel, his longtime personal secretary. His family said he died of natural causes.

Cliff Robertson, who starred as John F. Kennedy in a 1963 World War II drama and later won an Academy Award for his portrayal of a mentally disabled bakery janitor in the movie ‘Charly’ died Saturday, one day after his 88th birthday.

In a more than 50-year career in films, Robertson appeared in some 60 movies, including ‘PT 109,’ ‘My Six Loves,’ ‘Sunday in New York,’ ‘The Best Man,’ ‘The Devil’s Brigade,’ ‘Three Days of the Condor,’ ‘Obsession’ and ‘Star 80.’

More recently, he played Uncle Ben Parker in the ‘Spider-Man’ films.

Throughout his career, Robertson worked regularly in television, including delivering an Emmy Award-winning performance in ‘The Game,’ a 1965 drama on ‘Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre.’

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Obituary: Cliff Robertson, 88, had a more than 50-year career in film

Photos: Notable deaths of 2011

-- Dennis McLellan