We hope you will enjoy reading through Robert's biography, with pictures of Robert from some of his films and television work.  We will be extending the the biography in the future, so be sure to come back and visit.

Robert�s love of acting began on the stage of Scarsdale High School which is in Westchester County just north of New York City.  He enjoyed the spotlight in four or five productions before he graduated in 1959.  He went on to Ohio Wesleyan University where his acting talents were put on the back burner temporarily while he slogged away in the trenches of a pre-med education pursuing what he thought was his chosen career, that of a doctor.

After graduation in 1963, Robert spent part of the summer appearing in a dreadful production of some long forgotten play on Nantucket Island.  As luck would have it, playwright Robert Anderson (�I Never Sang for My Father,� �Tea and Sympathy,� �I Can�t Hear You When the Water�s Running�) happened to see him in this play and since Mr. Anderson was a family friend, mentioned he would be happy to lend his assistance should Robert want to pursue an acting career.  Goodbye medicine, hello show business.

In the spring of 1964, after phone calls, interviews and screen tests, Robert�s life had really taken a new path.  He had an agent, was under contract to Universal Studios and living in Beverly Hills.  Not a bad beginning.

Robert�s life at Universal lasted for three years where he guested on all their TV shows like �The Virginian,� �Wagon Train,� �Bob Hope Chrysler Theatre,� Kraft Suspense Theatre,� and numerous sit-coms.  He also appeared in five motion pictures, most notable of which was �Munster, Go Home,� based on the TV show which plays regularly around Halloween. 

After Universal, Robert went on to be one of the busiest working actors in Hollywood guesting on most of the TV shows, continuing to do movies including �The Graduate� and �Day of the Locust and appearing in many plays portraying such diverse roles as Trigorin in Chekov�s �The Seagull,� Cleante in Moliere�s �The Imaginary Invalid,� singing Curly in �Oklahoma and Marcelo in �La Boheme.�  Interspersed throughout this activity were many, many commercials.

In 1976 Robert landed the part of Paul Sorvino�s sidekick in �Bert D�Angelo/Superstar,� a Quinn Martin series for ABC.  Alas, it had a short life of only 12 episodes appearing opposite Carol Burnett on CBS.  However, in 1977 the �Genie of Success� shown her warm glow on Robert in the form of Sgt. Joe Getraer, that wry, no nonsense, by-the-book cop on the successful, long-running NBC series, �CHiPs.�  During this Robert was able to expand his experience by directing some episodes of the show.  Since it�s conclusion in 1983, �CHiPs� has continued to play non stop in syndication and presently is seen twice a day on cable�s TNT.  It has also played in over 100 countries worldwide.

After �CHiPs,� Robert has continued to remain active.  He has acted in plays all across the US and Canada and appeared on some of TV�s most successful shows, including multiple episodes of �Murder, She Wrote,� �Picket Fences,� L.A. Law� and �Magnum, P.I.� where he played Tom Selleck�s Father, believe it or not.  And more recently he�s been on �Big Love,� Curb Your Enthusiasm,� �Criminal Minds,� and �Without a Trace.�

As far as TV movies go �The Enola Gay,� �Prophet of Evil,� �Hoover vs. the Kennedy�s,� where he portrayed John F. Kennedy and �Blind Need� with Mike Farrell and Jill Clayburgh have enjoyed his presence. 

Robert has also been active in films both big and small: �Independence Day,� �But I�m a Cheerleader,� �All you Need,� �Confidence,� and �Red Eye.�  And yet to be released �Rodeo Girl,� and �Paved with Good Intentions.�

Robert enjoys playing tennis and is a regular participant in tournaments to raise money for various charities.  He admits to being a lousy golfer and takes part in only one tournament a year which helps to raise money for the 11-99 Foundation, a charity to benefit the families of slain or wounded officers of the California Highway Patrol, an organization for which he holds a great fondness and admiration.

Through the greater part of his career, Robert has had the good fortune of being married to Gwynne Gilford, a former actress and writer and now a psychotherapist.  The fans of �CHiPs� will remember her as Betty Getraer, Robert�s on-screen wife as well.  Although �CHiPs� only lasted six years, their marriage is now nearing the 41 year mark.  During those years they have been blessed with two wonderful children, Katie and Chris.  Katie has a Masters degree in Clinical Psychology and is now working with teenagers.   And Chris has followed his dad into acting where he has made numerous TV appearances and is now concentrating on films where he juststarred in STAR TREK and UNSTOPPABLE. Chris is actually third generation show biz since his grandmother, Gwynne�s mom, is Anne Gwynne, who was under contract to Universal back in the late 30�s and early 40�s where she appeared in over 60 pictures.