Robert Drivas

Actor-turned-director 'Robert Drivas' (qv) showed dark, brooding power and strong potential on the 60s stage, film and TV but, in the long run, did not achieve the kind of success he deserved. Born on November 21, 1935, the Coral Gables, Florida native initially studied his craft at the Universities of Chicago and Miami. He also trained at the Greek Playhouse in Athens and the Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami. Making a potent New York debut as Ramses in the play "The Firstborn" (1958) starring 'Anthony Quayle' (qv) as Moses and producer 'Katharine Cornell' (qv) in the role of Bithiah, Drivas continued to be impressive on stage with "One More River" (1960), "The Wall" (1960), "The Irregular Verb to Love" (1963), "And Things That Go Bump in the Night" (1965) and "Where Has Tommy Flowers Gone?" (1971). In 1963 he won a Theatre World Award for his performance in "Mrs. Dally Has a Lover" alongside another TWA winner 'Estelle Parsons' (qv).The attention he received on the theater boards eventually led to TV. Drivas showed great intensity and lasting power in episodic guest parts on such 60s crime shows as _N.Y.P.D. (1967)_ (qv) and _Preston & Preston (1961)_ (qv), and was a popular and frequent guest on _The F.B.I. (1965)_ (qv). He also appeared as a guest star in episodes of _Route 66 (1960)_ (qv) and _12 O'Clock High (1964)_ (qv). His first film appearance was long in coming but drew noticeable attention with the featured role of Loudmouth Steve in the classic prison drama, _Cool Hand Luke (1967)_ (qv). This auspicious debut led to a couple of "generation gap" movies in which he was bumped up to co-star billing. Sharing the screen with 'Rod Steiger' (qv) and 'Claire Bloom' (qv) in the controversial LSD-influenced _The Illustrated Man (1969)_ (qv), Drivas was intoxicating in his role but the film itself was deemed too "far out" and was considered a failure. Drivas was also quite impressive as the ultra-cool but idealistic son of 'David Janssen' (qv) in _Where It's At (1969)_ (qv). Again, the film was dismissed and Drivas did not advance. He went on to make only four more movies, all independent and/or foreign-made features and all overlooked.Drivas turned successfully to stage directing in the 1970s, which included a number of Broadway projects. He gained progressive respect with his directing of such plays as "Bad Habits," for which he won an Obie award, the uproarious farce "The Ritz," "Legend," "Cheaters," "It Had to Be You," which starred the writing husband-and-wife team of 'Joseph Bologna' (qv) and 'Renée Taylor' (qv), a revival of the musical "Little Me," and, his last, "Peg" in 1983 a short-lived reenactment of the life of songstress 'Peggy Lee' (qv) with lyrics and book by the star herself. A few years later Drivas tragically died of AIDS-related cancer at the age of 50.::Gary Brumburgh / gr-home@pacbell.net