 | The 'brains' and 'action' heavies who had meaty roles and lots of dialog ... and the players who were fathers, ranch owners, lawman, mayors, judges, lawyers, storekeepers, newspaper editors, wardens, etc. |
Craggy faced Bob Kortman was another early arrival in Hollywood, and his film credits begin around 1915 and continue through the silent era where he often appeared in westerns starring William S. Hart. However, it was in the sound era that he found his niche as a baddie, often portraying Indians, Mexicans and other nationalities. In addition to cowboy films, Kortman would also play convicts, crooks, etc. in non-westerns - for example, he had bits in several of the Laurel and Hardy films of the early 1930s.
The 1930s were his best years. He was a frequent performer in chapterplays for Nat Levine's Mascot serial factory, but also worked for most of the major and minor film companies and production outfits. In westerns, he was most often a member of the gang, and on occasion, wound up as the second-in-command or helper to the chief baddie/brains heavy.
Kortman was still performing in the early 1940s, often in Republic westerns. But by that time, he had lost a lot of his menace due to advancing age.
Kortman's best role was as "Magua", the bad Indian in THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS (Mascot, 1932) chapterplay. My favorite later Kortman portrayals are as "Trigger Benton" in the Johnny Mack Brown cliffhanger, WILD WEST DAYS (Universal, 1937), and as "One-Eye" (with an eye patch) in THE ADVENTURES OF RED RYDER (Republic, 1940) serial.
Les Adams has Kortman identified in about 185 sound era films --- of that number, 123 are westerns and 29 are serials.
Go to the In Search Of ... page on the Old Corral and check the California Death Records database. There you will find a record for: Robert F. Kortman, birthdate of 12/24/1887, and he passed away on 3/13/1967. There is a corresponding record in the Social Security Death Index (SSDI).
Rick Albright checked the 1930 online census database and found the following info on Kortman. Rick's comments/questions added in ( ):
11 April 1930, 1717 N. Normandie Ave., Los Angeles; Line 35, Sheet 4A.
Robert F. KORTMAN, renting/$65 per month, age 42, married at age 25, born New York, parents ditto, actor/motion pictures.
Gonda (?) L. KORTMAN, wife (#2, it seems), age 27, married at age 21, born Kentucky, parents born Illinois and Missouri.
The census-taker crossed out Hollywood and wrote in Los Angeles City.
Although some of the data is incomplete or inaccurate, the Internet Movie Database (IMDB) has information on Bob Kortman: http://us.imdb.com/name/nm0466773/
 Above, Bob Kortman in Indian guise and carrying a tomahawk in the role of Magua, the bad Indian in THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS (Mascot, 1932). Kortman was in his mid-forties when he did this early sound serial. Star Harry Carey is wearing the coonskin cap and buckskins. On the far left with the 'X straps' is Hobart Bosworth (as The Sagamore / Chingachgook), and on the far right is Walter McGrail (as Dulac).  (Courtesy of Les Adams) Above from L-to-R on horseback are Artie Ortego, unidentified player, Bob Kortman and Nick Thompson. Tom Mix and leading lady/heroine Joan Gale are standing. Kortman has the role of 'Longboat'. Lobby card from the serial THE MIRACLE RIDER (Mascot, 1935), Tom Mix's screen hurrah.  (From Old Corral image collection) Above, Buck Jones sneaking up on, from L-to-R, Ward Bond and Bob Kortman in THE CRIMSON TRAIL (Universal, 1935).  Above, Bob Kortman on the stage wheel converses with Douglas Cosgrove, and a young John Wayne has the drop on both in WINDS OF THE WASTELAND (Republic, 1936).  (Courtesy of Randy Laing) Above, Johnny Mack Brown and Kortman are hanging by their fingernails in this scene from the 13 chapter cliffhanger, WILD WEST DAYS (Universal, 1937). |