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 U.S. state, state in the Mid-Atlantic States, Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, Northeastern regions of the United States. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York (state), New York; on the ea ...

Michigan Michigan () is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest, upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the List of U.S. states and ...

and

Texas Texas (, ; Spanish language, Spanish: ''Texas'', ''Tejas'') is a state in the South Central United States, South Central region of the United States. At 268,596 square miles (695,662 km2), and with more than 29.1 million residents in 2 ...

. 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

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 i ...

Rio Bravo Rio or Río is the Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, and Maltese word for "river". When spoken on its own, the word often means Rio de Janeiro, a major city in Brazil. Rio or Río may also refer to: Geography Brazil * Rio de Janeiro * Rio do Sul, a ...

''; 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 kin ...

'' and ''

Rio Lobo Rio or Río is the Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, and Maltese word for "river". When spoken on its own, the word often means Rio de Janeiro, a major city in Brazil. Rio or Río may also refer to: Geography Brazil * Rio de Janeiro * Rio do Sul, a ...

''. He also appeared in '' Chisum'', '' The Undefeated'', and '' The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance''. 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 stre ...

'', 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 extraterrestr ...

''.

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 Cardiac cycle, heartbeat, including when it is too fast or too slow. A resting heart rate that is too fast – above 100 beats per mi ...

Selected filmography

Films

*1959: ''

'' as (uncredited) *1963: '' The Nutty Professor'' as College Student (uncredited) *1964: '' The Disorderly Orderly'' as Interne (uncredited) *1965: '' Red Line 7000'' 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'' as Fingers O'Toole *1967: ''

'' as Milt *1967: '' The Spirit Is Willing'' 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 ...

'' as Marine Pvt. Ogg *1968: '' Skidoo'' as Another Switchboard Operator *1969: '' The Undefeated'' as Judd Mailer *1970: ''

Mrs. Pollifax-Spy ''Mrs. Pollifax–Spy'' is a 1971 American comedy film directed by Leslie H. Martinson, starring Rosalind Russell, Darren McGavin, and Nehemiah Persoff. It was released by United Artists. Russell wrote the screenplay for the film, which she adapte ...

'' as Larrabee *1970: '' Zig Zag'' as Sgt. Mason Weber *1970: '' Chisum'' as Bradley Morton *1970: ''

'' 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 perpen ...

'' 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 th ...

'' as Sheriff Adams *1971: ''

Fools' Parade ''Fools' Parade'' is a 1971 American crime-drama period film directed by Andrew McLaglen, with top-billed stars James Stewart and George Kennedy, and second-tier stars Strother Martin, Kurt Russell, William Windom (actor), William Windom, Mike Kel ...

'' as Willis Hubbard *1971: '' Something Big'' as Angel Moon *1972: '' Pickup on 101'' as Jesse (1st Farmer) *1973: ''

High Plains Drifter ''High Plains Drifter'' is a 1973 American Western film directed by Clint Eastwood, written by Ernest Tidyman, and produced by Robert Daley for The Malpaso Company and Universal Pictures. The film stars Eastwood as a mysterious stranger wh ...

'' as Preacher *1973: '' The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing'' 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'' as Burton *1975: '' Take a Hard Ride'' 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 C ...

'' 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 hotel ...

'' as The Assassin *1983: '' Hysterical'' as Ralph *1986: '' Allan Quatermain and the Lost City of Gold'' as Swarma *1998: ''

Leslie Nielsen's Stupid Little Golf Video ''Stupid Little Golf Video'' (released as ''Leslie Nielsen's Stupid Little Golf Video'' in the United States) is the third and last of the how-to-golf-badly trilogy, following ''Bad Golf Made Easier'' and '' Bad Golf My Way''. it is the only on ...

'' 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 n ...

'' as Kalo

Television

*1961–67: '' Rawhide'' – 4 episodes *1965: '' Combat!'' – episode: "Odyssey" as American GI *1965: '' I Spy'' – 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 w ...

'' – episodes: "The Trap", "Take the Southbound Stage" *1967: '' Laredo'' – episode: "A Question of Guilt" as Patrick Clancy *1967: ''

Garrison's Gorillas ''Garrison's Gorillas'' is an ABC TV series originally broadcast from 1967 to 1968; a total of 26 hour-long episodes were produced. It was inspired by the 1967 film '' The Dirty Dozen'', which featured a similar scenario of training Allied priso ...

'' – episodes: "The Great Crime Wave", "The Great Theft *1968: '' I Spy'' – 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 progra ...

'' – episode: "Ten Day Millionaires" as Tom *1968: '' The Guns of Will Sonnett'' – 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: '' The Guns of Will Sonnett'' – 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'' – episode: "Town of No Exit" as Pete Haunch *1969: '' Ironside'' – episode: "A Bullet for Mark" as Gas Station Owner *1970: '' The High Chaparral'' – episode: "A Matter of Vengeance" as Wilby *1970: ''

'' – episode: "The Horse Traders" as Owen Potter *1970: '' The High Chaparral'' – 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 tr ...

'' – 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'' – episode: "Any Old Port in a Storm" as The Drunk *1973: '' McMillan & Wife'' – 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 duri ...

'' – 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'' – 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'' – 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'' – 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'' – movie as Harrington as *1976: '' Young Pioneers' Christmas'' – 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'' – 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'' – 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 ...

'' – episodes: "Sideshow", "The Phenom" *1981: '' Match Game'' – episode: "261" as himself *1983: '' Voyagers!'' – episode: "Buffalo Bill and Annie Play the Palace" as Buffalo Bill Cody *1983: '' Little House on the Prairie'' – 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 f ...

'' – episode: "Crisis of Identity" as Bates *1984: '' The A-Team'' – episode: "Breakout!" as Sheriff J.C. Bickford *1984: '' Simon & Simon'' – episode: "A Little Wine with Murder?" as Cody Dexter *1984: '' Oh Madeline'' – episode: "Ladies' Night Out" as Gambler *1984: '' Blue Thunder'' – 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 ser ...

'' – episode: "If a Body Meet a Body" as Silas Pike *1987/89: '' MacGyver'' – 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'' – episode: "The Cuckoo's Nest" as Tiger *1989: '' Good Morning, Miss Bliss'' – episode: "The Mentor" as James Lyman *1990: '' MacGyver'' – episode: "Serenity, and MacGyver's Women" as Milt Bozer *1991/94: '' Columbo'' – 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 ''Early Edition'' is an American fantasy comedy-drama television series that aired on CBS from September 28, 1996, to May 27, 2000. Set in Chicago, Illinois, it follows the adventures of a man who mysteriously receives each ''Chicago Sun-Times ...

'' - 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