Born in Los Angeles, California, Robert Horton survived several surgeries in childhood and went on to play football at California Military Institute in Perris. Following his graduation at age 19, he enlisted with the Coast Guard, was medically discharged, and returned to enroll and graduate summa cum laude from UCLA. A chance encounter in 1945 led to his debut in an uncredited part in the film A Walk in the Sun. He made his stage debut at age 23 and was featured in thirty four musicals.
Robert Horton died of natural causes at age 91.
