Robert D. Webb

Robert D. Webb (January 8, 1903 – April 18, 1990) was an American film director. He directed 16 films between 1945 and 1968. He won the Academy Award for Best Assistant Director for In Old Chicago, the last time that category was offered. Biography Webb was born in Clay City, Kentucky in 1904 and moved to San Francisco with his family when he was five. His older brother Millard went to work in the film industry, creating the sets for Rin Tin Tin films, which sparked Webb's own interest. Webb's son Jim later said his father "worked as a gofer and did just about everything (for the studios). He did lighting, grip, was a property man, even some makeup work. He worked his way up and became second assistant director. Then he became assistant director under Henry King. That's where he really learned the directing business." Assistant director Webb's first film as assistant director under Henry King was The Country Doctor (1936). It was made at 20th Century Fox where Webb would work for most of his career.