Edward G. Robinson, precisely 5ft 4 ½ (163.8 cm) tall, embodied Hollywood's Golden Age tough guys with a commanding presence that overshadowed his compact stature. His exact 163.8 cm height intensified the ferocity of iconic gangster roles, making diminutive frame a perfect counterpoint to his explosive energy.
Born Emanuel Goldenberg in Bucharest, he skyrocketed to fame as Rico Bandello in Little Caesar (1931), redefining screen menace. Robinson stretched to his full height before scenes to dominate taller co-stars, delivering unforgettable performances in Double Indemnity (1944), Key Largo (1948), Scarlet Street (1945), and The Ten Commandments (1956).
- Little Caesar: Defined the snarling mobster archetype
- Key Largo: Stole scenes from Bogart and Bacall
- Double Indemnity: Masterful noir villainy