Charles Robinson (actor)
| Charles Robinson | |
|---|---|
| Born |
November 9, 1945 Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Other names | Charlie Robinson |
| Occupation | Actor, director |
| Years active | 1971–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Venus Duran (divorced; 3 children) Dolorita Noonan-Robinson (3rd wife; 1996–present; 3 children) |
| Children | 6 |
Charles "Charlie" Robinson (born November 9, 1945) is an American theater and television actor. He is best known for his role on the NBC sitcom Night Court as Macintosh "Mac" Robinson (Seasons 2–9), a Vietnam War veteran.
Early career
Robinson has been performing since the 1960s, is a member of the Actors Studio, and is considered by playwright Lyle Kessler to be "one of the great American Actors." In his early career, he was a singer; as a teenager with the group Archie Bell and the Drells, and later with a group called Southern Clouds of Joy.[1] In the late 1960s, Charlie attended, and was enrolled in, Studio 7, an acting school operated by Chris Wilson at the Houston Music Theatre. He stayed with Chris when the school was moved to another location in Southwest Houston where mainly children's theatre was presented. Charlie was cast in a made for TV production and soon moved to the Hollywood area where his career took off.
Later career
Robinson's acting credits include appearances in Black Gestapo, The White Shadow, Flamingo Road, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, "The Game, "Touched by an Angel, and Antwone Fisher. Robinson was cast in the role on Newdell in the NBC comedy Buffalo Bill. Not the show it was expected to be, Buffalo Bill was canceled after one season and replaced by Night Court. Robinson was cast as court clerk Mac Robinson, after the first season in 1984, when Karen Austin, who played the original court clerk, left the cast. Robinson played the role on Night Court from 1984 until the show ended in 1992.
He also directed three episodes of the series. From 1992 to 1995, Robinson co-starred on the sitcom Love & War, replacing John Hancock who died a few episodes into the series run.[2] Robinson played character Bud Harper in Home Improvement, and has appeared in many other television shows including House, The Bernie Mac Show, My Wife and Kids, Soul Food, Charmed, How I Met Your Mother and My Name Is Earl.
He has done commercial work for NEXTEL. He was asking a worker if he's "agitating my dots" after he walks in on two other dispatchers staring at the dots, which represented delivery workers, on a computer screen.
2000–2016
In 2010, Robinson worked at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and co-starred in the film Jackson which was directed by J.F. Lawton. Robinson appeared as "Troy" in August Wilson's Fences at South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa, California from January 22, 2010 until February 21, 2010.[3]
He appeared in an Aspen Dental commercial in 2015 as the customer who coined the phrase, "I am not doin' that." This is in response to the receptionist telling him that he would have to drink his meals through a straw until his dentures were ready.
Awards and nominations
Robinson received the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Drive, He Said | Jollop | |
| 1971 | Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law | Cal Morgan | |
| 1971 | Ironside | Bernie Simmons | |
| 1975 | The Black Gestapo | Colonel Kojah | |
| 1975 | Caribe | Kishara, the Assassin | |
| 1977 | A Killing Affair | Buck Fryman | |
| 1977 | The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald | Melvin Johnson | |
| 1978 | Gray Lady Down | McAllister | |
| 1978 | The White Shadow | Jackie Solomon | |
| 1979 | Lou Grant | Don Vet | TV Series |
| 1979 | Roots: The Next Generations | Luke Bettiger | TV Mini-Series |
| 1979 | Buffalo Soldiers | Private Wright | TV Movie |
| 1981 | Flamingo Road | Phil | TV Series |
| 1982 | Hill Street Blues | Roy | TV Series (1 Episode) |
| 1982 | Rehearsal for Murder | The Second Officer | |
| 1982 | St. Elsewhere | Bill Austin | TV Series (1 Episode) |
| 1983-1984 | Buffalo Bill | Newdell | TV Series |
| 1984 | The River | Truck | |
| 1986 | Hotel | TV Series (1 Episode) | |
| 1988 | Crash Course | Larry Pearle | TV Movie |
| 1990 | Murder C.O.D. | Lieutenant Silk | TV Movie |
| 1984 - 1992 | Night Court | Mac Robinson | TV Series (Seasons 2-9) |
| 1993 | CBS Schoolbreak Special | Sam Raynor | TV Series (1 Episode) |
| 1995 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Ernest | TV Series (1 Episode) |
| 1992 - 1995 | Love & War | Abe Johnson | TV Series |
| 1996 | Ink | Ernie Trainor | TV Series |
| 1996 | The John Larroquette Show | Norm | TV Series (1 Episode) |
| 1996 | Project: ALF | Dr. Stanley | TV Movie |
| 1996 | In the House | Major | TV Series (1 Episode) |
| 1996 | The Crew | Reverend Edwards | TV Series (1 Episode) |
| 1996 | Set It Off | Nate Andrews | |
| 1997-1998 | Malcolm & Eddie | Marcus McGee | TV Series (2 Episodes) |
| 1998 | Buddy Faro | El Jefe | TV Series |
| 1998 | Land of the Free | Matt McCaster (McCuster) | |
| 1999 | Beowulf | Weaponsmaster | Movie |
| 1995-1999 | Home Improvement | Bud Harper | TV Series (9 Episodes) |
| 2001 | The Trouble with Normal | Mr. Lindquist | TV Series (1 Episode) |
| 2008 | 30 Rock | Himself | "The One with the Cast of Night Court" |
References
- ↑ "Celebrity Mailbag". Toledo Blade. 1998-11-05. Retrieved 2012-12-08.
- ↑ The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present Ballantine Books. 2003 p.705. ISBN 0-345-45542-8
- ↑ South Coast Repertory 2009-2010 Winter Season Playbill