Curiosidades

Died 24 days after the death of his best friend, Andy Griffith.

Armstrong was semi-retired from films, continuing to be active in off-Broadway theater, until retiring because of near-blindness.

Has a masters' degree in English from the University of North Carolina, and trained at the famed Actors Studio in New York.

Frequently cast by directors Sam Peckinpah and Warren Beatty.

Profiled in "Names You Never Remember, With Faces You Never Forget", by Justin Humphreys (BearManor Media).

Armstrong initially enrolled at Samford University. While there he became interested in acting, and transferred to the University of North Carolina. While there (along with classmate Andy Griffith) he began acting on stage with the Carolina Playmakers. Upon graduating he attended the Actors Studio.

He won considerable acclaim for his role in "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" on stage. He also began writing his own plays, which were performed off-Broadway.

Has four daughters - Robbie Armstrong-Dunham, Laurie Nell, Daryl Armstrong and Betty and one son - Wynn Armstrong.

After meeting writer / director Sam Peckinpah on the set of his 1960 series The Westerner (1960), Armstrong became a regular in his films--playing an outspoken Christian fundamentalist in Pistoleiro do Entardecer (1962), with Randolph Scott and Joel McCrea; a minister in Juramento de Vingança (1965) with Charlton Heston in the title role; and a vicious deputy sheriff alongside Kris Kristofferson and Bob Dylan (in a small role) in Pat Garrett e Billy the Kid (1973).

Attended Lee Strasberg's Actors Studio in the mid-1950s.

Was hunting buddy with high school classmate A.M. Leonard. Their fathers also hunted together--in Birmingham in those days hunting was the only way to put meat on the table.

Was in two movies with Arnold Schwarzenegger; O Guarda-Costas (1976) and O Predador (1987).

Was credited as R. K. Armstrong in the English-language version of Meu Nome é Ninguém (1973).

Became unlikely but close friends with Robert Beck, AKA Iceberg Slim, the infamous pimp turned author, according to a documentary regarding the life of Beck.