Earl Robie
by Fred T. Beeman

Earl H. Settlemyer, a 1950s child actor in movies and on TV, died Friday, May 14, 2010, at his Sudden Valley, Washington home, at 63.

His entire acting life was as a child, working under the stage name of "Earl Robie," then leaving show business to pursue a banking career after earning a college degree in Economics. He was a lifelong Rotarian who served on boards and committees for various local colleges and universities in Washington state, and had retired to Whatcom County, Washington in 2005.

He was born in Michigan and reared in Southern California, where he appeared on stage, screen and in print ads, beginning at age 4, with credits that included "My Cousin Rachel" (1952) with Olivia de Havilland and Richard Burton, plus supporting roles in many 1950s TV series, including "Letter to Loretta" (Loretta Young), "Death Valley Days" and "Lassie."

His surviving sister, Louise Settlemyer Lott, has noted that memorial gifts may be made to the Earl Settlemyer Trust at the Western Washington University Foundation, reachable at this link: http://www.foundation.wwu.edu/.

We are grateful for his many contributions to the Entertainment industry (particularly during TV’s “Golden Age”) and extend our deepest condolences to his family and friends.