Andrew Robinson
Robinson at GalaxyCon Raleigh in 2022
Born
Andrew Jordt Robinson

(1942-02-14) February 14, 1942
Other namesAndy Robinson
Alma materUniversity of New Hampshire
The New School for Social Research (BA)
London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
Occupations
Years active1969–present
Spouse
Irene Robinson
(m. 1970)
Children1

Andrew Jordt Robinson (born February 14, 1942) is an American actor and the former director of the Master of Fine Arts acting program at the University of Southern California.[1] Originally a stage actor, he works predominantly in supporting roles on television and in low-budget films. He is known for his portrayals of the psychotic serial killer Scorpio in Dirty Harry (1971), Larry Cotton in the horror film Hellraiser (1987), and Elim Garak in the television series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993–1999). He and his wife Irene have a daughter, actress Rachel Robinson, who appeared in Deep Space Nine episode "The Visitor".

Early life

Robinson was born in New York City.[2] His middle name, Jordt, was given to honor his grandfather, though he did not begin using it in his professional credits until the 1996 Deep Space Nine episode, "Body Parts".[3] His father was a soldier in World War II and was killed when Robinson was three years old. After his death, he and his mother moved to Hartford, Connecticut, where he was raised with her family. In his later childhood, Robinson became a juvenile delinquent and was eventually sent to St. Andrew's School, a boarding school in Rhode Island.[2]

After graduating from high school, Robinson attended the University of New Hampshire. After he picketed the school's Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) program his degree was withheld by the university, so he transferred to The New School for Social Research in New York City and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English. He originally intended to become a journalist but went into acting after earning a Fulbright Scholarship. After graduating, he went to the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art on the scholarship.[4]

Robinson began acting in high school and college theatre. While attending the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA), he studied Shakespeare and voice training.

Career

Robinson's first professional roles were as a stage actor and playwright in New York. His first role in New York was in the play MacBird! He went on to appear in productions in North America and Europe, including Woyzeck, Futz, Werner Liepolt's "The Young Master Dante" and The Cannibals.[2] In 1969, he had his first television role with a guest part on N.Y.P.D. at the age of 26. In 1971, he began acting in feature films.

Dirty Harry

Robinson's first feature film role was in 1971's Dirty Harry. Don Siegel, the film's director, and Clint Eastwood picked Robinson for the role after seeing him in a production of Fyodor Dostoevsky's The Idiot.[5] Robinson was cast as the Scorpio Killer, the antagonist of the film. The Scorpio Killer was largely based on the contemporary real life Zodiac Killer, and Robinson integrated many known aspects of that serial killer's personality into his acting, such as a disturbed sense of humour and a sadistic inclination to taunt his pursuers. In the film, his character murders a young woman, a 10-year old boy, a teenage girl and a police officer and takes a school bus full of young children hostage. His portrayal was so convincing that he received death threats after the film's release.[6] Director Don Siegel noted that he cast Robinson because he had the face of "a choir boy."[5]

Critical reactions to Robinson were generally positive. Box Office Magazine wrote: "Andy Robinson is the maniacal Scorpio ... a good blending of cunning and savagery."[7] His role as Scorpio gave him widespread exposure, but Robinson also found himself typecast as "psycho" characters. He claimed the role severely limited his casting options, as film producers were reluctant to cast him in any "good guy" roles.[8] Some of his notable "psycho" roles include a demented and ill-fated military barber in Child's Play 3 (1991) and the character Frank Cotton (in the skin of Larry Cotton, Robinson's actual character) in the horror film Hellraiser (1987), in which Robinson had his first lead role in a feature film.

Film and television, 1971–1992

Robinson starred in Charley Varrick, a 1973 film that starred Walter Matthau and was directed by Don Siegel. Robinson played Frank Ryan on the soap opera Ryan's Hope from 1976–78, for which he received a Daytime Emmy nomination. Robinson has had many one-time and recurring roles on a wide variety of television shows, in including the miniseries Once an Eagle. His filmography includes guest roles on Bonanza, Marcus Welby, M.D., Kung Fu, Ironside, The Rookies, S.W.A.T., The Streets of San Francisco, Kojak, The Incredible Hulk, CHiPs, Mrs. Columbo, Barnaby Jones, Vega$, Falcon Crest, The Greatest American Hero, The Dukes of Hazzard, Hart to Hart, The A-Team, Matt Houston, Moonlighting, L.A. Law, Matlock, Law & Order, Walker, Texas Ranger, Murder, She Wrote, The X-Files, The Practice, and Without a Trace.

He met his wife Irene after wrapping a production of Springvoices and the two married in 1970. He has two stepsons from his wife's previous marriage and one daughter named Rachel, who became an actress as well.[9]

In 1975 he co-starred as the sleazy, ill-fated chauffeur in the detective drama The Drowning Pool, starring Paul Newman.

In 1978 Robinson left acting professionally for five years and concentrated on raising his family in the small mountain community of Idyllwild, California, located about 150 miles (240 km) from Los Angeles. During that time he taught community theatre for middle and high school students and also worked as a carpenter to bring in a regular salary. He returned to acting professionally in the mid-1980s.[2]

In 1986, he played President John F. Kennedy in an episode of the 1980s revival of The Twilight Zone, "Profile in Silver". In 1988 he portrayed Liberace in a television biopic. Robinson had described it as one of his favorite roles and that "The most fun was wearing his furs and jewelry and singing 'I'll be Seeing You.'"[10] The New York Times reviewer noted that "Robinson does rather well in the leading role."[11] He returned to the stage in 1993 with a Broadway production of Frank Gilroy's Any Given Day, but the play closed after only six weeks.

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine

In 1993, Robinson was cast in his first regular television role since Ryan's Hope in 1978. He played Elim Garak on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, a Cardassian tailor, and a former operative of the Obsidian Order. The character was intended to be an enigmatic darkly comedic foil for the character of Julian Bashir (played by Alexander Siddig), and the two were often paired together onscreen. Prior to being cast in the role, Robinson knew little of the Star Trek franchise and had never seen an episode of any of the television series.[12]

Robinson was offered the role of Garak after he originally auditioned for the role of Odo, which eventually went to René Auberjonois. He almost did not accept the role but was pressured into accepting for financial reasons.[13]

Other works

After working on Deep Space Nine for several years, Robinson began a career in television directing after directing the 1996 episode "Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places". He went on to direct two episodes of Star Trek: Voyager and seven episodes of the courtroom drama Judging Amy, in which his real-life daughter, Rachel Robinson, was appearing.

In 2000, he wrote the novel A Stitch in Time, based on his character on Deep Space Nine. Robinson has stated that one of the reasons he wrote the novel was to get "total closure" of the character.[13] He starred opposite DS9 costar Michael Dorn on an episode of Martial Law.

In 1993, Robinson was a founding member of The Matrix Theatre Company in Los Angeles, California.[14][15]

Filmography

Film

YearFilmRoleNotes
1971Dirty HarryThe Scorpio Killer(as Andy Robinson)
1973Charley VarrickHarman Sullivan
1975The Drowning PoolPat Reavis
A Woman for All MenSteve McCoy
Mackintosh and T.J.Coley
1985MaskDr. Vinton
1986CobraDetective Monte
1987HellraiserLarry Cotton / Frank Cotton
The Verne Miller StoryCharles "Pretty Boy" Floyd
1988Shoot to KillHarvey
1990Fatal CharmSheriff Harry Childs
1991Child's Play 3Sergeant Botnick
Prime TargetCommissioner
1992Trancers IIIColonel Daddy Muthuh
1994Pumpkinhead II: Blood WingsSheriff Sean Braddock
There Goes My BabyFrank
The Puppet MastersHawthorne
1998Running WomanCaptain Don Gibbs
Archibald the Rainbow PainterThe Super Super
2003The Making of Daniel BooneTimothy Flint
2004Homeland SecuritySenator
2005A Question of LoyaltyDr. Albert KrentzShorty

Television

YearShowRoleNotes
1972BonanzaJohn HarperEpisode: "Forever" (as Andy Robinson)
1972The RookiesLee BordenEpisode: "To Taste of Terror" (as Andy Robinson)
1974Marcus Welby, M.D.Chris BakewellEpisode: "Each Day a Miracle"
1974IronsideDavid CutterEpisode: "Come Eleven, Come Twelve"
1974Kung FuJohnny WalkerEpisode: "Crossties"
1974The Family KovackButch KovackTV film
1975KojakLeonEpisode: "I Want To Report a Dream"
1975The Streets of San FranciscoArchie KimbroEpisode: "Spooks for Sale"
1976S.W.A.T.Edward StillmanEpisode: "Any Second Now"
1976Once an EagleReb RayburneTV miniseries
1976–1978Ryan's HopeFrank Ryan #2Daytime Emmy Award nomination
1976–1980Barnaby JonesVarious charactersRecurring
1977The Streets of San FranciscoRon MaguireEpisode: "The Cannibals"
1978The Incredible HulkDr. Stan RhodesEpisode: "Life and Death"
1978The Eddie Capra MysteriesGreg ChandlerEpisode: "Murder on the Flip Side"
1979From Here to EternitySergeant Maylon StarkTV miniseries
1979ChipsBill ClaytonEpisode: "Hot Wheels"
1980Vega$Derek RazzioRecurring
1980The Dukes of HazzardBilly Joe Billings
1980–1983Hart to HartMikeSeason 2 Episode 3 & Season 4 Episode 12
1983The A-TeamJacksonEpisode: "The Beast from the Belly of a Boeing"
1983The A-TeamDeputy RanceEpisode: "The White Ballot"
1985Not My KidDr. RoyceTV film
1985The Atlanta Child MurdersJack MallardTelevision miniseries
1985Cagney & LaceyFrank KellyEpisode: "Filial Duty"
1986The Twilight ZoneJohn F. KennedyEpisode: "Profile in Silver"
1987Mr. WilliamsEpisode: "Private Channel"
1988LiberaceLiberaceTV film
1989MoonlightingLeslie HunzigerEpisode: "Plastic Fantastic Lovers"
1990MatlockStanley HaydenEpisode: "The Broker"
1991Rock HudsonHenry WillsonTV film
1991MatlockFrank HayesEpisode: "The Defense"
1992Law & OrderPhillip MariiettaEpisode: "Consultation"
1993Murder, She WroteAmbrosseEpisode: "A Killing in Cork"
1993Walker, Texas RangerCongressman Leo CabeEpisode: "A Shadow in the Night"
1993–1999Star Trek: Deep Space NineGarak37 episodes
1994M.A.N.T.I.S.Solomon BoxRecurring
1994WingsMichael FosterEpisode: "The Person Formerly Known as Lowell Mather"
1994Murder, She WroteJames HarrisEpisode: "An Egg to Die For"
1996Days of Our LivesYuri
1999, 2004JAGAdmiral Thomas KlyRecurring
1997–1998Star Trek: VoyagerDirected two episodes
1999The X-FilesDr. Ian DetweilerEpisode: "Alpha"
1999–2005Judging AmyDaniel McGillDirected seven episodes
2002Presidio MedJesseRecurring
2004Without a TraceCarl MonroeEpisode: "Upstairs Downstairs"
2004The PracticeEdmond SolomonEpisode: "The Firm"
2016The Metropolitan Opera HD LiveThree MasksEpisode: "Puccini: Turandot"
2021Dota: Dragon's BloodIndrakEpisode: "The Fire Sermon"

References

  1. Allison Engel (October 21, 2015). "Andy Robinson makes our day with a raw look at the performer's craft". USC School of Dramatic Arts. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Reeves, Vicki (April 1999). "Biography of Andy Robinson". plain-and-simple.net. Archived from the original on February 14, 2004. Retrieved July 29, 2008.
  3. Erdmann, Terry J. and Block, Paula M. Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Companion. Pocket Books. 2000; p. 352
  4. "Andrew J. Robinson biography". theatre.usc.edu. University of Southern California. Archived from the original on May 28, 2006. Retrieved February 8, 2006.
  5. 1 2 Dirty Harry DVD bonus featurette.
  6. Hays, Matthew (December 10, 2021). "Andrew Robinson Looks Back At His Days As The Scorpio Killer". Rue Morgue. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
  7. "Dirty Harry review". Box Office Magazine. December 20, 1971. Archived from the original on June 3, 2000. Retrieved August 4, 2010.
  8. "First Person: Andrew Robinson". StarTrek.com. Archived from the original on May 30, 2008. Retrieved February 8, 2006.
  9. "Robinson". Star Trek. Retrieved February 8, 2023.
  10. "Andrew Robinson chat transcript". StarTrek.com. May 30, 2002. Archived from the original on May 28, 2008. Retrieved February 8, 2006.
  11. "Review of Andy Robinson as Liberace". The New York Times. Retrieved February 28, 2006.
  12. "Andrew Robinson Interview". SciFi Online. Archived from the original on April 4, 2006. Retrieved February 8, 2006.
  13. 1 2 Sastrowardoyo, Hartriono B. (March 20, 2002). "Andrew J. Robinson (Garak, DS9)". thegreatlink.org. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007.
  14. Arkatov, Janice (January 21, 1996). "THEATER : He Knows How to Handle Evil : Andrew J. Robinson has gone from 'Dirty Harry' villain to directing a revival of Pinter's mean-spirited 'The Homecoming.'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 28, 2015.
  15. Buckley, Michael (July 8, 1996). "Double Casting Coups". TheaterWeek. Retrieved October 28, 2015 via The Matrix Theatre Company.

Further reading

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