Robert Donner (April 27, 1931 – June 8, 2006) was an American television and film actor.

Early life and career

Donner was born in New York City and raised in

New Jersey New Jersey is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York; on the east, southeast, and south by the Atlantic Ocean; on the west by the Delawa ...

Michigan Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and t ...

and

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2020, it is the second-largest U.S. state by ...

. He spent four years in the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...

and was stationed in California. After he completed his military service, he settled in the Los Angeles area.

Career

Donner's first role was an uncredited part in the 1959

John Wayne Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne and nicknamed The Duke or Duke Wayne, was an American actor who became a popular icon through his starring roles in films made during Hollywood's Go ...

Western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

'' Rio Bravo''; he also appeared in the sequels (which formed a loose trilogy), ''

El Dorado El Dorado (, ; Spanish for "the golden"), originally ''El Hombre Dorado'' ("The Golden Man") or ''El Rey Dorado'' ("The Golden King"), was the term used by the Spanish in the 16th century to describe a mythical tribal chief (''zipa'') or king ...

'' and '' Rio Lobo''. He also appeared in ''

Chisum ''Chisum'' is a 1970 American Western film directed by Andrew McLaglen, starring John Wayne in the titular role, and adapted for the screen by Andrew J. Fenady from his short story "Chisum and the Lincoln County War." The supporting cast featu ...

'', '' The Undefeated'', and ''

The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance ''The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance'' () is a 1962 American Western film directed by John Ford and starring John Wayne and James Stewart. The screenplay by James Warner Bellah and Willis Goldbeck was adapted from a 1953 short story written by ...

''. His best-known television roles were as the ex-convict/informant T.J. on ''

Adam-12 ''Adam-12'' is an American television police procedural crime drama television series created by Robert A. Cinader and Jack Webb. The series follows Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers Pete Malloy and Jim Reed as they patrol the st ...

'', Yancy Tucker on ''

The Waltons ''The Waltons'' is an American historical drama television series about a family in rural Virginia during the Great Depression and World War II. It was created by Earl Hamner Jr., based on his 1961 book '' Spencer's Mountain'' and the 1963 fil ...

'' and as Exidor on ''

Mork & Mindy ''Mork & Mindy'' is an American television sitcom that aired on ABC from September 14, 1978, to May 27, 1982. A spin-off after a highly successful episode of ''Happy Days'', "My Favorite Orkan", it starred Robin Williams as Mork, an extraterrest ...

''.

Personal life

Donner married producer/writer Jill Sherman in 1982. He died on June 8, 2006, of a

cardiac arrhythmia Arrhythmias, also known as cardiac arrhythmias, heart arrhythmias, or dysrhythmias, are irregularities in the heartbeat, including when it is too fast or too slow. A resting heart rate that is too fast – above 100 beats per minute in adult ...

Selected filmography

Films

*1959: '' Rio Bravo'' as (uncredited) *1963: '' The Nutty Professor'' as College Student (uncredited) *1964: '' The Disorderly Orderly'' as Interne (uncredited) *1965: ''

Red Line 7000 ''Red Line 7000'' is a 1965 American action sports film released by Paramount Pictures. It was directed by Howard Hawks, who also wrote the story. It stars James Caan, Laura Devon and Marianna Hill in a story about young stock-car racers trying ...

'' as Leroy Agers (uncredited) *1966: ''

Agent for H.A.R.M. ''Agent for H.A.R.M.'' is a 1966 science fiction spy thriller directed by Gerd Oswald and starring Mark Richman, one of a number of spy thrillers of the era having conspicuous sci-fi elements. Here it is the deadly spores which turn human flesh ...

'' as Morgue Attendant *1967: ''

Catalina Caper ''Catalina Caper'', also known as ''Never Steal Anything Wet'', is a 1967 comedy musical mystery film starring Tommy Kirk. It blends the beach party format with a standard crime-caper comedy. It was shot on and around Santa Catalina Island, Calif ...

'' as Fingers O'Toole *1967: ''

'' as Milt *1967: ''

The Spirit Is Willing ''The Spirit Is Willing'' is a 1967 American horror/comedy film directed by William Castle, written by Ben Starr, and starring Sid Caesar, Vera Miles, Barry Gordon, John McGiver, Cass Daley, Ricky Cordell and Mary Wickes. Based on ''The Visito ...

'' as Ebenezer Twitchell *1967: ''

Cool Hand Luke ''Cool Hand Luke'' is a 1967 American prison drama film directed by Stuart Rosenberg, starring Paul Newman and featuring George Kennedy in an Oscar-winning performance. Newman stars in the title role as Luke, a prisoner in a Florida prison ca ...

'' as Boss Shorty *1968: ''

The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell ''The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell'' is a 1968 American comedy film directed by Frank Tashlin and starring Bob Hope, Phyllis Diller, and Jeffrey Hunter. It was the final film for Tashlin, who died in 1972. Plot Master Sergeant Dan O'Farrell i ...

'' as Marine Pvt. Ogg *1968: '' Skidoo'' as Another Switchboard Operator *1969: '' The Undefeated'' as Judd Mailer *1970: '' Mrs. Pollifax-Spy'' as Larrabee *1970: ''

Zig Zag A zigzag is a pattern made up of small corners at variable angles, though constant within the zigzag, tracing a path between two parallel lines; it can be described as both jagged and fairly regular. In geometry, this pattern is described as a ...

'' as Sgt. Mason Weber *1970: ''

'' as Bradley Morton *1970: '' Rio Lobo'' as Whitey Carter *1971: ''

Vanishing Point A vanishing point is a point on the image plane of a perspective drawing where the two-dimensional perspective projections of mutually parallel lines in three-dimensional space appear to converge. When the set of parallel lines is perpendicul ...

'' as Deputy Collins *1971: ''

One More Train to Rob ''One More Train to Rob'' is a 1971 American comedy western film directed by Andrew McLaglen, starring George Peppard, and featuring Diana Muldaur, John Vernon and France Nuyen. The shooting title for the film was ''Hark''. Plot Set in the O ...

'' as Sheriff Adams *1971: '' Fools' Parade'' as Willis Hubbard *1971: '' Something Big'' as Angel Moon *1972: ''

Pickup on 101 ''Pickup on 101'' is a 1972 American drama film directed by John Florea and written by Anthony Blake. The film stars Jack Albertson, Lesley Ann Warren, Martin Sheen, Hal Baylor, George Chandler and Robert Donner. The film was released in May 1972 ...

'' as Jesse (1st Farmer) *1973: '' High Plains Drifter'' as Preacher *1973: ''

The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing ''The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing'' is a novel written by Marilyn Durham first published in 1972. Plot The novel is set in the American West in the 1880s, but is not written in a genre style. It is the story of Jay, a man of the West, and his offbe ...

'' as Dub *1973: '' Santee'' as J.C. *1975: ''

Bite the Bullet To "bite the bullet" is to “accept the inevitable impending hardship and endure the resulting pain with fortitude”.

'' as Reporter *1975: ''

The Boy Who Talked to Badgers ''The Boy Who Talked to Badgers'' is a 1975 American made-for-television adventure film directed by Gary Nelson, starring Christian Juttner and Carl Betz. It was produced by Walt Disney Productions and based on the novel '' Incident at Hawk's H ...

'' as Burton *1975: ''

Take a Hard Ride ''Take a Hard Ride'' is a 1975 Italian-American Spaghetti Western film directed by Anthony Dawson and starring Jim Brown, Lee Van Cleef, Fred Williamson and Jim Kelly. This was the second of three films Brown, Williamson, and Kelly would star in ...

'' as Skave *1976: '' The Last Hard Men'' as Lee Roy *1977: ''

Damnation Alley ''Damnation Alley'' is a 1969 science fiction novel by American writer Roger Zelazny, based on a novella published in 1967. A film adaptation of the novel was released in 1977. Plot introduction The story opens in a post-apocalyptic Southern ...

'' as Man / Guard *1979: '' Five Days from Home'' as Karl Baldwin *1981: ''

Under the Rainbow ''Under the Rainbow'' is a 1981 American comedy film directed by Steve Rash and starring Chevy Chase, Carrie Fisher, Eve Arden, and Billy Barty. Set in 1938, the film's plot is loosely based on the gathering of little people in a Hollywood hot ...

'' as The Assassin *1983: '' Hysterical'' as Ralph *1986: ''

Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold ''Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold'' is a 1986 American adventure comedy film directed by Gary Nelson and released in West Germany on December 18, 1986, and in the United States on January 30, 1987. It is loosely based on the 1887 novel ...

'' as Swarma *1998: '' Leslie Nielsen's Stupid Little Golf Video'' as Himself, Leslie Nielsen's Trusted Caddie *2006: ''

Hoot Hoot may refer to: Publications * ''Hoot'' (novel), a young adult novel by Carl Hiaasen * ''Hoot'', a 1996 children's novel by Jane Hissey * ''Hoot'' (comics), a British magazine published from 1985 to 1986 * ''The Brandeis Hoot'', a student ne ...

'' as Kalo

Television

*1961–67: '' Rawhide'' – 4 episodes *1965: ''

Combat! ''Combat!'' is an American television drama series that originally aired on ABC from 1962 until 1967. The exclamation point in ''Combat!'' was depicted on-screen as a stylized bayonet. The show covered the grim lives of a squad of American so ...

'' – episode: "Odyssey" as American GI *1965: ''

I Spy I spy is a guessing game where one player (the ''spy'' or ''it'') chooses an object within sight and announces to the other players that "I spy with my little eye something beginning with...", naming the first letter of the object. Other players a ...

'' – episode: "Dragon's Teeth" as Dr. Bustard *1966/67: ''

Daniel Boone Daniel Boone (September 26, 1820) was an American pioneer and frontiersman whose exploits made him one of the first folk heroes of the United States. He became famous for his exploration and settlement of Kentucky, which was then beyond the we ...

'' – episodes: "The Trap", "Take the Southbound Stage" *1967: '' Laredo'' – episode: "A Question of Guilt" as Patrick Clancy *1967: '' Garrison's Gorillas'' – episodes: "The Great Crime Wave", "The Great Theft *1968: ''

'' – episode: "Home to Judgment" as Mailman *1968: ''

Death Valley Days ''Death Valley Days'' is an American old-time radio and television anthology series featuring true accounts of the American Old West, particularly the Death Valley country of southeastern California. Created in 1930 by Ruth Woodman, the program ...

'' – episode: "Ten Day Millionaires" as Tom *1968: ''

The Guns of Will Sonnett ''The Guns of Will Sonnett'' is a Western television series set in the 1870s that was broadcast in color on the ABC television network from 1967 to 1969. The series, which began with the working title, "Two Rode West", was the first production c ...

'' – episodes: "Guilt", "Look for the Hound Dog" *1968: ''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centers on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central chara ...

'' – episode: "A Noose for Dobie Price" as Gil Boylan *1968: '' Good Morning World'' – First Down and 200 Miles to Go" as Justice of the Peace *1968: ''

'' – episode: as Lou Parkin *1968: '' The Virginian'' – episode: "Ride to Misadventure" as Matt Dooley *1968–73: ''

'' – 6 episodes as T.J. *1969: ''

Bonanza ''Bonanza'' is an American Western television series that ran on NBC from September 13, 1959, to January 16, 1973. Lasting 14 seasons and 432 episodes, ''Bonanza'' is NBC's longest-running western, the second-longest-running western series on ...

'' – episode: "Meena" as Owen *1969: ''

The Big Valley ''The Big Valley'' is an American Western drama television series that originally aired from September 15, 1965, to May 19, 1969 on ABC. The series is set on the fictional Barkley Ranch in Stockton, California, from 1884 to 1888. The one-hour ...

'' – episode: "Town of No Exit" as Pete Haunch *1969: '' Ironside'' – episode: "A Bullet for Mark" as Gas Station Owner *1970: ''

The High Chaparral ''The High Chaparral'' television series, which was broadcast on NBC from 1967 to 1971, is an American Western action adventure drama set in the 1870s. It stars Leif Erickson and Cameron Mitchell. The series was made by Xanadu Productions ...

'' – episode: "A Matter of Vengeance" as Wilby *1970: ''

'' – episode: "The Horse Traders" as Owen Potter *1970: ''

'' – episode: "The Reluctant Deputy" as Sam Pelletier *1971: ''

Alias Smith and Jones ''Alias Smith and Jones'' is an American Western series that originally aired on ABC from January 1971 to January 1973. The show initially starred Pete Duel as Hannibal Heyes and Ben Murphy as Jedediah "Kid" Curry, outlaw cousins who are tryin ...

'' – episode: "Never Trust an Honest Man" as Preacher *1971: '' Mod Squad'' – episodes: "Feet of Clay", "The Hot, Hot Car" *1971: ''

'' – episode: "The Bounty Hunter" as Nate *1971: '' The Bold Ones: The Senator'' – episode: "George Washington Told a Lie" as Matlock *1973: ''

Columbo ''Columbo'' () is an American crime drama television series starring Peter Falk as Lieutenant Columbo, a homicide detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. After two pilot episodes in 1968 and 1971, the show originally aired on NBC fr ...

'' – episode: "Any Old Port in a Storm" as The Drunk *1973: ''

McMillan & Wife ''McMillan & Wife'' (known simply as ''McMillan'' from 1976–77) is an American police procedural television series that aired on NBC from September 17, 1971, to April 24, 1977. Starring Rock Hudson and Susan Saint James in the title roles, the ...

'' – episode: "Two Dollars on Trouble to Win" as Price *1973: ''

Cannon A cannon is a large- caliber gun classified as a type of artillery, which usually launches a projectile using explosive chemical propellant. Gunpowder ("black powder") was the primary propellant before the invention of smokeless powder ...

'' – episode: "The Seventh Grave" as Chief *1973: ''

Kung Fu Chinese martial arts, often called by the umbrella terms kung fu (; ), kuoshu () or wushu (), are multiple fighting styles that have developed over the centuries in Greater China. These fighting styles are often classified according to commo ...

'' – episode: "The Tide" as Amos Houlton *1973: ''

Griff Griff may refer to: People * Griff (name), a list of people with the given name or surname * Griff (singer), stage name of English singer and songwriter Sarah Faith Griffiths (born 2001) * Nickname of Guy Griffiths (1915–1999), British Second ...

'' – episode: "Isolate and Destroy" as Roscoe *1973: ''

Mannix ''Mannix'' is an American detective television series that ran from 1967 to 1975 on CBS. It was created by Richard Levinson and William Link, and developed by executive producer Bruce Geller. The title character, Joe Mannix, is a private in ...

'' – episode: "Climb a Deadly Mountain" as Rizo *1974/75: ''

The Six Million Dollar Man ''The Six Million Dollar Man'' is an American science fiction and action television series, running from 1973 to 1978, about a former astronaut, USAF Colonel Steve Austin, portrayed by Lee Majors. After a NASA test flight accident, Austin ...

'' – episodes: "Stranger in Broken Fork", "The White Lightning War" *1974: '' McCloud'' – episode: "The Concrete Jungle Caper" as Val *1975: ''

S.W.A.T. In the United States, a SWAT team (special weapons and tactics, originally special weapons assault team) is a police tactical unit that uses specialized or military equipment and tactics. Although they were first created in the 1960s to ...

'' – episode: "Time Bomb" as Sarge *1975: ''

'' – episode: "The Hiders" as Belnap *1975: ''

'' – episode: "Perfect Fit for a Frame" as Sheriff *1975: '' Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color'' – episode: "The Boy Who Talked to Badgers: Parts 1 & 2" as Burton *1976: ''

Sara Sara may refer to: Arts, media and entertainment Film and television * ''Sara'' (1992 film), 1992 Iranian film by Dariush Merhjui * ''Sara'' (1997 film), 1997 Polish film starring Bogusław Linda * ''Sara'' (2010 film), 2010 Sri Lankan Sinhal ...

'' – episode: "When Gentlemen Agree" as Harrington *1976: ''

Captains and the Kings ''Captains and the Kings'' is a 1972 historical novel by Taylor Caldwell chronicling the rise to wealth and power of an Irish immigrant, Joseph Francis Xavier Armagh, who emigrates as a penniless teenager to the United States, along with his you ...

'' – miniseries – episode: "Chapter VII" as Wounded Texan *1976: ''

Territorial Men ''Sara'' is a 1976 American Western television series starring Brenda Vaccaro centering around a schoolteacher in Colorado in the 1870s. It aired from February 13 to May 7, 1976 on CBS.McNeil, Alex, ''Total Television: The Comprehensive Guide to ...

'' – movie as Harrington as *1976: ''

Young Pioneers' Christmas ''Young Pioneers' Christmas'' is a 1976 American made-for-television Western drama film which was broadcast by ABC in December 1976 as a Christmas special starring Linda Purl and Roger Kern. It was a sequel to the made-for-television movie '' Young ...

'' – movie as Mr. Peters *1976: ''

Charlie's Angels ''Charlie's Angels'' is an American crime drama television series that aired on ABC from September 22, 1976, to June 24, 1981, producing five seasons and 115 episodes. The series was created by Ivan Goff and Ben Roberts and was produced by ...

'' – episode: "To Kill an Angel" as Korbin / Frank Evans *1976: '' The Quest'' – episode: "Incident at Drucker's Tavern" as Mr. Drucker *1976: '' City of Angels'' – episode: "The Bloodshot Eye" *1977: ''

The Feather and Father Gang ''The Feather and Father Gang'' is a 1976–1977 American crime-drama television series starring Stefanie Powers and Harold Gould, which centers on an attorney who enlists her con-man father and his team of bunco artists to help her solve crime ...

'' – episode: "Flight to Mexico" *1972–78: ''

'' – 19 episodes as Yancy Tucker *1978–82: ''

'' – 22 episodes as Exidor *1978: '' How the West Was Won'' – episode: "Brothers" as Mr. Evans *1978: '' Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color'' – episode: "Trail of Danger: Parts 1 & 2" as The Sheep Boss *1979: ''

The MacKenzies of Paradise Cove ''The MacKenzies of Paradise Cove'' (also known as ''Wonderland Cove'') is an American six-episode drama miniseries which aired on ABC during the 1978–79 season from March 27 to May 18, 1979, following a television film pilot titled ''Stickin ...

'' – episode: "Last of the Red Hot Luaus" as Insbrocker *1979: '' B.J. and the Bear'' – episode: "Lobo" *1980/81: ''

The Incredible Hulk The Hulk is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, the character first appeared in the debut issue of '' The Incredible Hulk'' (May 1962). In his comic book a ...

'' – episodes: "Sideshow", "The Phenom" *1981: ''

Match Game ''Match Game'' is an American television panel game show that premiered on NBC in 1962 and has been revived several times over the course of the last six decades. The game features contestants trying to match answers given by celebrity panelis ...

'' – episode: "261" as himself *1983: '' Voyagers!'' – episode: "Buffalo Bill and Annie Play the Palace" as Buffalo Bill Cody *1983: ''

Little House on the Prairie The ''Little House on the Prairie'' books is a series of American children's novels written by Laura Ingalls Wilder (b. Laura Elizabeth Ingalls). The stories are based on her childhood and adolescence in the American Midwest (Wisconsin, Kansas, ...

'' – episode: "The Older Brothers" as Bart Younger *1983: ''

The Mississippi The Mississippi River is the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system in North America, second only to the Hudson Bay drainage system. From its traditional source of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, it ...

'' – episode: "Crisis of Identity" as Bates *1984: ''

The A-Team ''The A-Team'' is an American action-adventure television series that ran on NBC from January 1983 to March 1987 about former members of a fictitious United States Army Special Forces unit. The four members of the team were tried by court ma ...

'' – episode: "Breakout!" as Sheriff J.C. Bickford *1984: ''

Simon & Simon ''Simon & Simon'' is an American crime drama television series that originally ran from November 24, 1981, to September 16, 1989. The series was broadcast on CBS, and starred Gerald McRaney and Jameson Parker as two disparate brothers who oper ...

'' – episode: "A Little Wine with Murder?" as Cody Dexter *1984: '' Oh Madeline'' – episode: "Ladies' Night Out" as Gambler *1984: ''

Blue Thunder ''Blue Thunder'' is a 1983 American action thriller film from Columbia Pictures, produced by Gordon Carroll, Phil Feldman, and Andrew Fogelson and directed by John Badham. The Blue Thunder helicopter itself did exist as two copies of modifie ...

'' – episode: "Revenge in the Sky" as Neil Gerrard *1986/88: '' Matlock'' – episodes: "The Cop", "The Fisherman" *1986: ''

Murder, She Wrote ''Murder, She Wrote'' is an American crime drama television series, created by Peter S. Fischer, Richard Levinson and William Link, starring Angela Lansbury, and produced and distributed by Universal Television for the CBS network. The seri ...

'' – episode: "If a Body Meet a Body" as Silas Pike *1987/89: ''

MacGyver Angus "Mac" MacGyver is the title character and the protagonist in the TV series ''MacGyver''. He is played by Richard Dean Anderson in the 1985 original series. Lucas Till portrays a younger version of MacGyver in the 2016 reboot. In both p ...

'' – episodes: "Soft Touch", "Cleo Rocks" *1987: '' Fame'' – episode: "That Was the Weekend That Was" as Exalted Muskrat *1987–88: ''

Falcon Crest ''Falcon Crest'' is an American prime time television soap opera that aired for nine seasons on CBS from December 4, 1981, to May 17, 1990. The series revolves around the feuding factions of the wealthy Gioberti/Channing family in the California ...

'' – 5 episodes as Tucker Fixx *1988: ''

Webster Webster may refer to: People *Webster (surname), including a list of people with the surname *Webster (given name), including a list of people with the given name Places Canada *Webster, Alberta * Webster's Falls, Hamilton, Ontario United Stat ...

'' – episode: "The Cuckoo's Nest" as Tiger *1989: '' Good Morning, Miss Bliss'' – episode: "The Mentor" as James Lyman *1990: ''

'' – episode: "Serenity, and MacGyver's Women" as Milt Bozer *1991/94: ''

'' – episodes: "Caution: Murder Can Be Hazardous to Your Health", "Undercover" *1991: ''

'' – episode: "From the Horse's Mouth" as Sheriff Tyrone McKenna *1992: '' In the Heat of the Night'' – episode: "Family Reunion" as Roy Paxton *1995: ''

Legend A legend is a genre of folklore that consists of a narrative featuring human actions, believed or perceived, both by teller and listeners, to have taken place in human history. Narratives in this genre may demonstrate human values, and possess ...

'' – 5 episodes as Mayor Chamberlain Brown *1998: '' Pacific Blue'' – episode: "Heat of the Moment" as Luther *1999/2000 '' Early Edition'' - 2 episodes "Time" and "Fate" as Lucius Snow

References

External links

* *
Profile
movies.nytimes.com * {{DEFAULTSORT:Donner, Robert 1931 births 2006 deaths American male film actors American male television actors Male actors from New York City 20th-century American male actors