CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

Background:

“If you support diversity and think shows should give a portrayal of what America truly looks like, then performers with disabilities must be included in that equation. People have been very good at being politically correct. They say the right things but there has been an assumption that disabled actors could slow down production, can't do this or that, or that people won't want to see them on screen.” Robert David Hall

Actor and musician Robert David Hall is famous among television audiences thanks to his portrayal of Dr. Al Robbins on the popular CBS series “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (2000-current), from which he has shared a 2005 Screen Actors Guild Award. He also played recurring roles on “Life Goes On” (1991-1993), “Beverly Hills, 90210” (1992-1994) and “The Practice” (1999- 2001). His film credits include “Dream Lover” (1993), “Starship Troopers” (1997) and “The Negotiator” (1998). In addition, Hall has done extensive voice work on cartoons and television commercials.

Hall lives in Los Angeles with his wife Judy Stearns. He was previously married to Susan Petroni (1969 to 1974) and Connie Cole (1979 to 1987). He has a son named Andrew from his second marriage. Hall is a lifelong supporter of disabled people and has spoken in front of the U.S. Senate on behalf of the National Organization on Disability (NOD).

UCLA

Childhood and Family:

Robert David Hall was born on November 9, 1947, in East Orange, New Jersey. He was educated at Tustin High School in California and went on to pursue an English Literature degree at UCLA, where he graduated from in 1971. Robert began acting when he was a student at UCLA.

On March 8, 1969, Robert married Susan Petroni, but the couple divorced in 1974. In 1978, a then-31 year old Robert had a car accident during which time his car was crushed by an 18-wheeler truck. The gasoline tank of his car exploded and he suffered burns that covered 65% of his body. He also had to have both of his legs amputated. He now uses prosthetic limbs. About a year after the accident, he married Connie Cole on August 14, 1979. Their son, Andrew, was born in 1981, but they divorced in 1987. Robert is currently married to Judy Stearns, whom he met in the music business a year after his tragic accident.

The Practice

Career:

“Just because I'm a person with a disability, that shouldn't limit me.” Robert David Hall

Robert David Hall made his professional acting debut in 1983 when he landed an unaccredited part in the comedy “Deal of the Century,” starring Chevy Chase, Sigourney Weaver and Gregory Hines. The same year, he also began voice roles on the ABC animated TV series “The Littles” and voiced the character of Dinky Little in the animated movie version “Here Come the Littles” in 1985 and its TV movie follow-up, “Liberty and the Littles,” which aired on ABC in 1986 as part of its “Weekend Special” anthology series. In the late 1980s, Hall landed a guest starring role on an episode of “Highway to Heaven” called “The Squeaky Wheel.”

In 1991, Hall was cast as Steven Kellen in the thriller “Class Action,” which was directed by Michael Apted and starred Gene Hackman, Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio and Colin Friels. Still in 1991, he joined the cast of the ABC dramatic series “Life Goes On” in the recurring role of Mr. Mott. He would appear in six episodes until February 1993. 1991 also found the actor in three episodes of the NBC series “L.A. Law.”

Beginning in 1992, Hall was featured on three episodes of “Beverly Hills, 90210.” He then provided the voiced of a truck driver on the commercially unsuccessful animated film “Once Upon a Forest” (1993) and appeared as Dr. Sheen in the Nicholas Kazan film “Dream Lover” (1993), starring James Spader and Mädchen Amick. He also made guest appearances in television shows like “Mann & Machine” (1992), “Batman” (1992, provided additional voices) and “Love & War” (1994). Hall next played the role of Samson on the Emmy Award winning TV film “Andersonville” (1996), which was directed by John Frankenheimer and starred Jarrod Emick, Frederic Forrest and Ted Marcoux, worked with Stephanie Zimbalist, Finola Hughes and Gary Frank on the Lifetime movie “Prison of Secrets” (1997), and appeared in the Paul Verhoeven film “Starship Troopers” (1997), starring Casper Van Dien, Denise Richards, Dina Meyer, Jake Busey, Neil Patrick Harris, Clancy Brown and Michael Ironside. He was next cast as Sargent Cale Wangro on the well received movie “The Negotiator” (1998), which starred Samuel L. Jackson and Kevin Spacey and was directed by F. Gary Gray. In addition, he appeared in episodes of “High Incident” (1996), “Brooklyn South” (1997), “Party of Five” (1997), “Promised Land” (1998), “The New Batman Adventures” (1998, as the voice of the reporter) and “Touched by an Angel” (1999). He also voiced various characters for the series “Superman” between 1997 and 2000 and played the recurring role of Judge Bradley Michaelson on “The Practice” from 1999 to 2001.

Hall's big breakthrough came when he received the role of Coroner Dr. Albert Robbins on the series “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show, which was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, went on to become a hit and he received Screen Actors Guild nominations for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series three times before eventually winning the award in 2005, which he shared with costars like Gary Dourdan, George Eads, Jorja Fox, Paul Guilfoyle, Marg Helgenberger, William Petersen and Eric Szmanda. He also voiced Al Robbins in a string of “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” video games.

In the early 2000s, Hall also guest starred in TV shows like “The West Wing” (2000, as David Nessler), “Batman Beyond” (2000, as the voice of Fulton), “Family Law” (2 episodes, 2001) and “The Zeta Project” (2002, as the voice of Thad). In addition, he portrayed characters in the short film “The Burkittsville 7” (2000, TV), “Shattering Images” (2001), a ten minute film directed by Wendy Wolverton, “My Father's House” (2002), the directorial debut of Larry Holden, and the thriller “The Eavesdropper” (2004), which was written and directed by Andrew Bakalar and starred Lucy Jenner, Costas Mandylor and John J. York.

In 2006, Hall narrated an episode of “North Mission Road” called “From the Ashes” and contributed additional voices to an episode of “Appa's Lost Days” of “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” He went on to provide voices in a 2007 episode of “The Batman” and the TV movie “Ben 10: Secret of the Omnitrix.” 2007 also saw roles in the short “Legs” and the action film “The Gene Generation,” opposite Ling Bai, Alec Newman and Parry Shen. He then appeared in the short film “The Roymann Closure” (2008) and provided the voice of Highbreed Guard in two episodes of “Ben 10: Alien Force” (2009).

Awards:

• Screen Actors Guild: Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series, “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” 2005