{{short description|American film and television actor}} {{Infobox person | name = Robert Cabal | image = Robert Cabal in Forbidden Jungle (1950).jpg | caption = Cabal in ''Forbidden Jungle'' (1950) | birth_name = Harold Christopher McColgan | birth_date = {{birth date|1917|4|7}} | birth_place = Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|2004|5|11|1917|4|7}} | death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S. | occupation = Film and television actor | years_active = 1947–1967 | spouse = | children = }}
'''Robert Cabal''' (April 7, 1917 – May 11, 2004), born '''Harold Ching''' or '''Harold Christopher McColgan,''' was an American film and television actor whose work was featured in 46 films and television series from 1947 to 1967.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ltUkDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA75|title=Television Western Players, 1960-1975: A Biographical Dictionary|page=75|first=Everett|last=Aaker|date=25 May 2017|publisher=McFarland|isbn=978-1476662503|via=Google Books}}</ref>
Cabal's unique facial features enabled him to play a wide range of ethnic types<ref name=ethnic>{{cite news |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=January 9, 1955 |title=FROM HINDU TO IRISHMAN, CABAL PLAYS THEM ALL |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/258636286 |work=Eugene Register-Guard |location=Eugene, Oregon |access-date=}}</ref> during his career. His longest recurring role was portraying "Hey Soos" Patines, the horse wrangler of the cattle drive in the CBS TV series ''Rawhide''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/robert-cabal/bio/3030491717/|title=Robert Cabal Biography|website=tvguide.com|access-date=September 30, 2025}}</ref>
==Personal life== {{Original research|date=November 2025|reason=As presented, this is original research, primarily from Ancestry.com. It needs copy-editing to be presented in a way that complies with how we use primary sources.}} Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1917 Cabal is said to be the first of Clement Hiram and Nina (née Medeiros) McColgan’s two sons. Cabal’s recorded parents were unmarried at the time of his birth and were 16 and 18 years old, respectively.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/61692/records/117905|title=Hawaii, U.S., Birth Certificates and Indexes, 1841-1949 for Harold Christopher McColgan|website=Ancestry.com|access-date=September 30, 2025}}</ref> Cabal's purported parents married in 1933, 16 years after his birth.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=July 12, 1933 |title=Bride |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/258636286 |work=Honolulu Star-Advertiser |location=Honolulu, Hawaii |access-date=}}</ref> However, Cabal's mother had married William N. F. Ching on March 8, 1916.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=March 10, 1916 |title=Ching-Medeiros |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/258636286 |work=Honolulu Star-Bulletin |location=Honolulu, Hawaii |access-date=}}</ref> Ching's 1917 World War I US draft registration lists "a four month old infant". The date aligns with Cabal's birthdate.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6482/records/21350422|title=William N F Ching in the U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918|website=Ancestry.com|access-date=September 30, 2025}}</ref> Cabal is listed as three-year old "Harold Ching" in the 1920 US Census which also shows his parents "William" and "Nina Ching" as well as his brother "Grover".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ancestry.com/search/collections/6061/records/114565819|title=Lena Ching in the 1920 United States Federal Census|website=Ancestry.com|access-date=September 30, 2025}}</ref>
On July 3, 1935 Clement H. McColgan petitioned to adopt "Harold Christopher Ching, 18 (years old)" and "Grover Samuel Ching, 16 (years old)" and a petition to change the brothers' names was filed on on July 9, 1935.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=July 4, 1935 |title=Court Happnings |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/259176782/ |work=Honolulu Star-Advertiser |location=Honolulu, Hawaii |access-date=}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=July 23, 1935 |title=Bureau of Conveyances |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/275043931 |work=Honolulu Star-Advertiser |location=Honolulu, Hawaii |access-date=}}</ref> On July 25, 1935, Cabal's name was legally changed from "Harold C. Ching" to "Harold C. McColgan".<ref>{{cite news |date=July 25, 1935 |title=Record of Conveyances |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/259183799/ |work=Honolulu Star-Advertiser |location=Honolulu, Hawaii |access-date=}}</ref>
On April 6, 1963 Cabal's mother signed a Territory of Hawaii Certificate of Live Birth stating Clement Hiram McColgan and Nina Medeiros were his parents.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/274967681/|title=Territory of Hawaii Certificate of Live Birth|website=Ancestry.com|access-date=October 2, 2025}}</ref>
Cabal attended St. Louis College, a private, all-boys, Catholic high school in Honolulu, Hawaii. He graduated on June 17, 1935.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!-- not stated -->|date=June 18, 1935|title=131 Seniors Are Graduated At St. Louis College Commencement Program|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/274967681/|work=Honolulu Star-Advertiser|location=Honolulu, Hawaii|access-date=}}</ref>
Cabal died on May 11, 2004 and was buried in the Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles, California on May 26, 2004.<ref name=":0" />
==Acting career== While a junior attending St. Louis College in 1934, Cabal appeared in the high school play ''What A Night'', described as a "comedy drama of mystery".<ref>{{cite news |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=February 8, 1934 |title=Play Offers Many Laughs|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/275055967/ |work=Honolulu Star-Advertiser |location=Honolulu, Hawaii |access-date=}}</ref>
Cabal moved from Hawaii to California to pursue acting. Without money for drama school, he taught himself to type and earned his tuition typing scripts for the school.<ref name=starve>{{cite news |date=August 2, 1954 |title=Young Robert Cabal Won't Starve If He Fails To Hit Movie Heights|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1206521570/|work=The Blade|location=Toledo, Ohio |access-date=October 1, 2025}}</ref>
===Stage=== Cabal began his professional acting career on the stage. "I got a tip about a part in a road company of Jack Kirkland’s play, ''Suds In Your Eye''. We toured the country six months before returning to Hollywood".<ref name=starve/>
===Film and television=== Cabal appeared in 19 movies from 1947 through 1960. His uncredited acting debut was in Universal Studios' film noir movie ''Ride the Pink Horse''.
Cabal remembered his "jungle days" during the start of his movie career, saying "I played in ''Forbidden Jungle'' and lots of others. About the only dialogue I spoke was a series of grunts. It got so that today I can say almost anything by a grunt!"<ref name=starve/>
In 1952, after a wide search in the Los Angeles Hispanic community where 100 actors were auditioned and 9 were screen tested, Cabal was instead chosen to play the teenaged Mexican bandit Joaquin Murietta as a "very cheerful cutthroat"<ref>{{cite news |first=W. Harley|last=Rudkin |date=February 5, 1953 |title=Cavalry Comes In The Nick Of Time At The Capitol |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/598679806/|work=The Republican |location=Springfield, Massachusetts |access-date=October 1, 2025}}</ref> in the Randolph Scott movie ''The Man Behind the Gun''.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=March 15, 1952 |title=Cabal To Portray Famed Bandit |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/598679806/|work=The Salt Lake Tribune |location=Salt Lake City, Utah |access-date=October 1, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=January 9, 1952 |title=Cabal Awarded Murietta Role |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/693537027/|work=Los Angeles Mirror |location=Los Angeles, California |access-date=October 1, 2025}}</ref> After the film was released in 1952, he was invited to lecture about Murietta at the University of Mexico.<ref>{{cite news |author=<!-- not stated --> |date=September 7, 1952 |title=Is He An Expert Now? |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/973312119/|work=Buffalo Courier Express |location=Buffalo, New York |access-date=October 1, 2025}}</ref> A 1953 review said "Robert Cabal displays a lot of talent in a small role".<ref>{{cite news |first=Eleanor|last=Bell|date=February 5, 1953 |title=New Films At Palace And Guild |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/762643044/|work=The Cincinnati Post |location=Cincinnati, Ohio |access-date=October 1, 2025}}</ref> Another review said Cabal was "a standout among the actors".<ref>{{cite news |date=April 6, 1953 |title=Hooper's Movie Report |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/762643044/|work=Santa Cruz Sentinel|location=Santa Cruz, California |access-date=October 1, 2025}}</ref>
In 1953 Cabal was cast in his first romantic role in the film noir movie ''Hell's Island''. He said "I die in the end. Ah, but what a death!"<ref name=starve/>
In 1954 Cabal sought financing to produce a biographic film of Joaquin Murietta's life. He explained "I want to show the true story of the man. He was actually a very sensitive individual, but certain influences and pressures moulded him into a killer. The true Murietta story has never been told". Fellow actor and film producer John Payne, who had filmed ''Hell's Island'' with Cabal was said to be interested in the proposed production.<ref>{{cite news |date=July 7, 1954 |title=Life Of Bandit Joaquian Murietta May Be Filmed |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1040479687/|work=The Washington Daily News|location=Washington, D.C. |access-date=October 1, 2025}}</ref>
===Did own stunt work=== Cabal performed his own stunt work. In 1955 he discussed the repeated physical injuries he had suffered during filming. He claimed while filming ''Mara Maru'' Errol Flynn slapped him so hard he was sent sailing "clear across the room" 22 times. In another film he was to "drown in quicksand" (made from cork, dirt, grease and water). The crew missed a cue to stop and Cabal was completely submerged and had to be rescued and resuscitated. In the film ''Hell's Island'' he was thrown down a flight of stairs by hoodlums. The painful scene had to be filmed four times.
He thought the problem stemmed from his physical size, saying "Writers seem to think the idea of a little guy challenging a giant has dramatic potential. It's the old Goliath and David, except that I don't frequently win my fights as did David".<ref>{{cite news |date=June 12, 1955 |title=Making Films Not All Gravy, Actor Learns|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/995306396/|work=The Register|location=Santa Ana, California |access-date=October 1, 2025}}</ref>
===Able to play a wide-range of ethnic types=== A 1955 news article said "Robert Cabal is one actor who’s happy nobody ever recognizes him. His anonymity is his fortune... (he) owes his newly found affluence to the fact that without any makeup at all he can play any national type from Irish to Indian". Cabal explained "My eyes are very adaptable. They can look Oriental with no make-up. Yet they are not slanted, so I could play an Italian or Latin type with equal ease".
During the first 8 years of his career he portrayed "Mary Murphy's Mexican houseboy Miguel in ''Hell’s Island'', a Portuguese boy on ''The Ezio Pinza Show'', a Filipino in ''Mara Maru'', a Burmese man in ''Escape to Burma'', an Arab on the ''Biff Baker, U.S.A.'' TV series and an East Indian Hindu named "Hey-Joe" in an episode of the syndicated ''Passport to Danger'' TV show.<ref>{{cite news |date=March 17, 1955 |title=speakers and screens|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/1009363221/|work=Fort Mill Times|location=Fort Mill, South Carolina |access-date=October 1, 2025}}</ref>
Cabal also played a Polynesian in the ''Four Star Playhouse'' TV series, a gypsy on TV's ''Hopalong Cassidy'', an American Indian on ''The Cisco Kid'', and an Apache in the Burt Lancaster film ''Apache''.<ref name=ethnic/>
===Rawhide=== Cabal is best known for his multi-season role on the TV series ''Rawhide''. In 115 episodes from 1959 to 1965 he played "Hey Soos" Patines, the remuda wrangler who cared for the cattle drive's horses.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.westernclippings.com/remember/rawhide_doyouremember.shtml|title=Do You Remember... Rawhide|website=westernclippings.com|first=Boyd|last=Mayers|access-date=August 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210426025233/http://www.westernclippings.com/remember/rawhide_doyouremember.shtml|archive-date=April 26, 2021|url-status=live|via=Wayback Machine}}</ref>
==Selected filmography== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |- !scope="col"|Year !scope="col"|Title !scope="col"|Role !scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 1950 | ''Forbidden Jungle'' | Tawa | |- | 1952 | ''Mara Maru'' | Manuelo | |- | 1953 | ''The Man Behind the Gun'' | Joaquin Murietta | |- | 1956 | ''Around the World in 80 Days'' | Elephant Driver/Guide | |}
==Selected Television== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable" |- !scope="col"|Year !scope="col"|Title !scope="col"|Role !scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 1958 | ''Have Gun - Will Travel'' | Pvt. Espinosa | Episode "The Solid Gold Patrol" |- | 1959–1965 | ''Rawhide'' | "Hey Soos" Patines | 115 Episodes |- | 1965 | ''The Big Valley'' | Luis | Episode "Winner Lose All" |}
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category}} *{{IMDb name|0127408}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Cabal, Robert}} Category:1917 births Category:2004 deaths Category:American male film actors Category:American male television actors Category:Male actors from Hawaii Category:Male actors from Los Angeles Category:20th-century American male actors Category:Western (genre) television actors