Robles was born in Tacloban, in the Eastern Visayas region of the Philippines, where he began his schooling before emigrating to the United States.

Producer Samuel Goldwyn reportedly discovered and gave him the screen name Rudy Robles whilst he was working as a bellhop at The Beverly Hills Hotel in Hollywood.

[1] His credits include pre- and post-World War II films, such as Lt. Yabo in The Real Glory (1939) starring Gary Cooper and David Niven.

His uncredited roles include appearances in The Adventures of Martin Eden (1942), Wake Island (1942), Manila Calling (1942), and he played a Filipino assassin in the 1942 film Across the Pacific.

During World War II, Robles entered the U.S. Army and served in Australia, New Guinea and the Philippines with the 1st Filipino Infantry Regiment, rising to the rank of first sergeant.