Robert Blakely Hays (born July 24, 1947) is an American actor, known for a variety of television and film roles since the 1970s. He came to prominence around 1980, co-starring in the two-season domestic sitcom '' Angie'', and playing the central role of pilot Ted Striker in the comedy film ''

Airplane! ''Airplane!'' (alternatively titled ''Flying High!'') is a 1980 American disaster film, disaster comedy film written and directed by Jim Abrahams and brothers David Zucker, David and Jerry Zucker in their List of directorial debuts, directoria ...

'' and its sequel. Other film roles include the lead role in the comedy ''

Take This Job and Shove It "Take This Job and Shove It" is a 1977 country music song written by David Allan Coe and popularized by Johnny Paycheck, about the bitterness of a man who has worked long and hard with no apparent reward. The song was first recorded by Paycheck o ...

'' (1981), and Bob Seaver, one of the main human characters in '' Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey'' (1993). On television, he starred in the science fiction series '' Starman'' (1986–1987) and the short-lived workplace sitcom '' FM'' (1989–1990), voiced

Iron Man Iron Man is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by Marvel Comics. Co-created by writer and editor Stan Lee, developed by scripter Larry Lieber, and designed by artists Don Heck and Jack Kirby, the character first appearan ...

in ''

'' (1994), and had a guest role as Bud Hyde on ''

That '70s Show ''That '70s Show'' is an American television teen sitcom that aired on Fox from August 23, 1998, to May 18, 2006. The series focuses on the lives of a group of six teenage friends living in the fictional town of Point Place, Wisconsin, from 197 ...

'' (2000).

Career

In 1977, Hays played a military corporal in an episode of the television series ''Wonder Woman''. He starred in several short-lived television series, including the 1978 production '' The Young Pioneers'' on ABC; the 1979–1980 series ''Angie''; ''Starman'', and '' FM''. He was cast as Ted Striker, the washed up pilot who needs to save the day in ''

'' (1980), a spoof of disaster films such as the ''Airport'' series, and returned for '' Airplane II: The Sequel''. In 1981, he hosted the

sketch comedy Sketch comedy comprises a series of short, amusing scenes or vignettes, called "sketches" or, "skits", commonly between one and ten minutes long, performed by a group of comic actors or comedians. While the form developed and became popular in ...

television series ''

Saturday Night Live ''Saturday Night Live'' (''SNL'') is an American Late night television in the United States, late-night live television, live sketch comedy variety show created by Lorne Michaels and developed by Michaels and Dick Ebersol that airs on NBC. The ...

''. He played a man thought to be Hyde's dad in several episodes of ''

''. He has performed in many television films and done voice work, such as the title character in the

Marvel Comics Marvel Comics is a New York City–based comic book publishing, publisher, a property of the Walt Disney Company since December 31, 2009, and a subsidiary of Disney Publishing Worldwide since March 2023. Marvel was founded in 1939 by Martin G ...

adaptation of ''

''. In 2013, Hays appeared in a slapstick-laden TV spot promoting tourism in

Wisconsin Wisconsin ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest of the United States. It borders Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michig ...

, which also reunited him with ''Airplane!'' co-director

David Zucker David Samuel Zucker (born October 16, 1947) is an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. Associated mostly with parody comedies, Zucker is recognized for collaborating with Jim Abrahams and his brother Jerry as part of Zucker, Ab ...

. Hays and Zucker also reunited for the 2008 superhero parody ''

Superhero Movie ''Superhero Movie'' is a 2008 American superhero parody film written and directed by Craig Mazin, produced by Robert K. Weiss and David Zucker, and starring Drake Bell, Sara Paxton, Christopher McDonald, Kevin Hart, Brent Spiner, Jeffrey Ta ...

'', which also featured Hays' ''

'' co-star

Leslie Nielsen Leslie William Nielsen (February 11, 1926November 28, 2010) was a Canadian actor and comedian. With a career spanning 60 years, he appeared in more than 100 films and 150 television programs, portraying more than 220 characters. He made his a ...

Personal life

Hays married musician and singer

Cherie Currie Cherie Ann Currie (born November 30, 1959) is an American singer, musician, actress, and artist. Currie was the lead vocalist of the Runaways, a rock band from Los Angeles, in the mid-to-late 1970s. She later became a solo artist. Currie and h ...

on May 12, 1990. The couple has a son, Jake. Hays and Currie divorced in 1997 after seven years of marriage.

Filmography

Film

Television

Production credits

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Hays, Robert 1947 births Living people 20th-century American male actors 21st-century American male actors Actors from Bethesda, Maryland American male film actors American male television actors American male voice actors Male actors from Maryland People from Bellevue, Nebraska People from Pacific Beach, San Diego People from Sarpy County, Nebraska