Matty Roubert

Matthew Roubert was born in New York in 1907 was a child star from about 1910-1921, and his father William L. Roubert was involved with "Little Matty Roubert" and his silent screen adventures. Matty's earliest film appearances were at Vitagraph and Biograph. He was one of the kids in "John Barleycorn" (Bosworth, 1914) which was produced by actor Hobart Bosworth's Los Angeles based film company (and Matty's father was the general manager). Matty was one of the "Powers Kids" for Pat Powers' Powers Picture Plays company. And then came his starring role as "The Universal Boy" for Carl Laemmle's IMP (Independent Motion Picture Company). By late 1915, his father was Vice President and general manager of the new Aurora Film Plays Corporation and his son starred in "The Waif" (Aurora, 1915) ... which was directed by the senior Roubert. Circa 1920, Matty was doing two-reel comedies for Reelcraft. And later that year, Matty Roubert Productions, Inc. was formed (with assist from Matty's dad), and they released "Heritage" (1920) ... which naturally, had young Matty in the lead. By the 1930s Matty discovered that significant film roles were no longer being offered. Reasons may have been his youngish face and a mop of curly hair ... and he was short. Matty was typecast as a newsboy, bellhop, messenger or elevator operator. In his mid twenties, he returned to his former Universal home for an uncredited role as a a Culver Military Academy cadet in "Tom Brown of Culver" (Universal, 1932). By the late 1930s, he learned how to ride a horse and do screen fisticuffs, and transformed himself into a B-western henchman as well as a stunt man who occasionally doubled several of the shorter cowboy heroes. He seemed to find a friend in Don 'Red' Barry, and Matty's first with Barry was "The Adventures of Red Ryder" (Republic, 1940) serial. This was followed by eleven of Barry's Republic films and three of his later Lippert and Screen Guild productions. A January, 1941 newspaper article had Barry and Roubert stopping in Abilene, Texas while touring and promoting the serial. Excerpt from that article: "... Barry and Matty Roubert, another western player, were en route east for personal appearances in Tennessee, Virginia and Pennsylvania." In addition to Barry, Matty was similar in height to Bob Steele and Lash LaRue ... and p doubled both. He worked in nine Metropolitan, Republic and PRC westerns with Battlin' Bob and five with Lash. There were other westerns: nine with Eddie Dean, ten Durango Kids with Charles Starrett, three with Autry, and three with Roy Rogers. He appeared in a few late 1930s Universal westerns and serials with Johnny Mack Brown. Roubert did military duty during World War II and continued working uncredited roles in films and on television. He married Mary L. Bowman in Los Angeles in 1955.He passed away on May 17, 1973 in Honolulu, Hawaii.