Robert’s Background and Education
Robert, born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, went to William Penn Charter School, graduating in 1971. He continued his education at Yale University, initially aiming towards a doctor career path. However, during his time at the university, he discovered his love for acting after partaking in several productions. In 1975, he graduated from Yale with a BA in Drama.
Robert Picardo’s Acting Career
In 1977, Robert made his Broadway debut, starring in a production of Gemini. Since then, he has had a long and successful career in stage, film, and television. Interestingly, although he pursued a different career path, he has played a doctor in a variety of projects.
Robert’s Varied Talents
While Robert is well-known for his acting career, he has also established himself as a singer and author in recent years. His talents aren’t only limited to acting, but extend to multiple artistic fields.
On stage
Picardo's Journey in the Performing Arts
Picardo's passion for the arts started during his days at Penn Charter, where he played the role of Box and Cox. His talent was undeniable, and he continued to hone his craft by performing in various productions in high school and college, including the iconic play by William Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew. He eventually found his way to Off-Broadway, where he wowed audiences in Sexual Perversity in Chicago and Visions of Kerouac by Martin Duberman.
Broadway Success
Picardo's first Broadway play, Gemini, showcased his acting chops as Francis Geminiani, alongside Danny Aiello's Fran Geminiani. The play's success was undeniable, playing to packed audiences for four years. He also starred in Tribute from June to December 1978, co-starring with Hollywood legend Jack Lemmon and Star Trek IV's Catherine Hicks.
Recent Work
Picardo's talent and passion for the arts have never waned, and his recent performances have proved that. He performed in Lend Me a Tenor and A Class Act, both of which were performed at the renowned Pasadena Playhouse in California. His most recent success was in Gemini, which was revived as a musical at the Prince Music Theater.
Picardo's journey in the performing arts is a testament to his dedication and passion for his craft. He has proven that he has what it takes to succeed in the competitive and ever-changing world of theater. His diverse range of performances and success on and off Broadway make him a true force to be reckoned with in the industry.
Feature films
Joe Dante's Filmography and Collaborators
Joe Dante has directed several films featuring Star Trek alumni, including Robert Picardo, Henry Gibson, Dick Miller, Wendy Schaal, William Schallert, and Kenneth Tobey. This group of actors has become known as the informal Dante troupe due to their frequent collaborations with the director.
Picardo made his feature film debut in Dante's horror classic, The Howling, in 1981. He portrayed Eddie Quist, the film's antagonist who was involved in the iconic werewolf transformation scene. Miller and Tobey also appeared in the film, along with Noble Willingham, who had a guest role on Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Picardo went on to appear in almost all of Dante's subsequent films, as did Miller. They both had roles in Explorers, Innerspace, The 'burbs, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Matinee, and Small Soldiers. They also appeared together in Dante's Looney Tunes: Back in Action, alongside Ron Perlman, George Murdock, and Marc Lawrence, who all had roles in Star Trek.
Dante's collaborations with these Star Trek actors have resulted in a unique and recognizable style in his films. By working with a consistent group of talented performers, Dante has been able to create a cohesive and entertaining body of work that is beloved by audiences.
Robert Picardo's Early Film Career
Robert Picardo is a versatile actor with a filmography that boasts of some unique and interesting projects. One of his earlier films was the 1983 musical comedy Get Crazy where he portrayed a hilarious firefighter who had an interesting run-in with "magic water". The film also featured a cameo by Dick Miller and starred Star Trek Generations actor Malcolm McDowell. Ed Begley Jr. and Clint Howard were part of the cast too.
The next year, Picardo appeared in Oh God! You Devil with James Cromwell. In 1985, he played the wicked Meg Mucklebones, a female creature, in Ridley Scott's fantasy film Legend that had a score by Jerry Goldsmith. The following year, Picardo made a brief but memorable appearance as a man having an affair with Rodney Dangerfield's on-screen wife, played by DS9 guest actress Adrienne Barbeau, in Back to School. This film also starred Terry Farrell and Sally Kellerman and had actors like Michael McGrady and Phil Rubenstein in smaller roles.
In 1987, Robert Picardo and Wendy Schaal played a married couple in the film Munchies. They reunited for a project called Runaway Daughters later. In 1988, he played a psychiatrist in the thriller Jack's Back and the same year, appeared as an angry cop in the action horror film Dead Heat that starred Joe Piscopo and had Keye Luke and Dick Miller in supporting roles. The following year, Picardo played the role of "Mark Dark" aka Satan, opposite Jim Metzler, in the cult horror film 976-EVIL.
Picardo's Versatile Acting Career
Robert Picardo is a versatile actor who has appeared in a diverse range of films and television shows. In 1991, he played a pivotal role in the little-known film Frame Up, portraying a man on the run for a murder he didn't commit. Picardo also appeared in the surreal comedy Motorama that same year in dual roles. In 1994, he starred in the comedy Wagons East!, alongside Ethan Phillips. In 1996, he played a corrupt politician in the science fiction film Menno's Mind, co-starring with Corbin Bernsen.
Picardo has portrayed many doctors in his acting career, including a role in the 1998 film Archibald the Rainbow Painter, co-starring Michael McKean and directed by Les Landau. In 2000, he had a brief appearance as a doctor in The Amati Girls, starring Paul Sorvino. In Love, American Style (2006), Picardo acted alongside his "Message in a Bottle" co-star Andy Dick.
Although Picardo has done notable work in mainstream productions, he has also been a part of several independent films. He had a supporting role in the 2008 drama Universal Signs, which was presented in American Sign Language with English subtitles. Picardo also played the lead in the horror thrillers Sensored and The Awakened (2009). Additionally, he starred in the comedic short film Chad & The Alien Toupee, teaming up with his Voyager co-star Tim Russ. Picardo was also cast in the Coen Brothers' period piece "Hail, Ceaser!"(2016), sharing the screen with Clancy Brown, Dennis Cockrum, Patrick Fischler, Alison Pill and Clement von Franckenstein.
Television
Picardo's Career Highlights
Robert Picardo is a highly respected actor, famous for his roles on various television series. Before he became the iconic Holographic Doctor on Star Trek: Voyager, he made a name for himself as Dr. Dick Richard in the critically acclaimed, Emmy-winning series China Beach. This show featured a star-studded cast that included Jeff Kober, Megan Gallagher, and Concetta Tomei, all of whom reunited with Picardo when they appeared on Star Trek: Voyager.
Another of Picardo's memorable roles was as the much-feared Coach Ed Cutlip on the beloved TV series The Wonder Years. He played this character from 1988 through 1993, alongside regular cast member Olivia d'Abo. The show also featured David Huddleston as Grandpa Arnold.
Picardo's talents are not limited to drama, as he has also made a name for himself in science fiction. From 2004 through 2007, he played the recurring role of Richard Woolsey on the popular series Stargate SG-1. On this show, he worked with acclaimed actors Ronny Cox and Saul Rubinek. Picardo also appeared on the spin-off series, Stargate Atlantis, where he shared the screen with Star Trek: Enterprise star Connor Trinneer. Picardo made history as the only former Trek star to become a full-time cast member on Atlantis, as his character took command of the Atlantis expedition in the fifth and final season, which aired from July 2008 through January 2009. In 2011, Picardo reprised his role as Woolsey in the Stargate Universe episode "Seizure".
Picardo's Early TV Appearances
Throughout his career, Robert Picardo has made several appearances on popular television shows. One of his earliest appearances was in a memorable episode of Taxi, a series starring Christopher Lloyd. Following this, he made several appearances as Officer Maxwell on the sitcom Alice, which starred Vic Tayback, who later co-starred with Picardo in the film Loverboy.
In 1983, Picardo became a regular on the Showtime series Steambath. Unfortunately, the series only lasted for six episodes. Despite this setback, Picardo continued to make guest appearances on other popular shows, including Frasier and The Dead Zone. He even appeared in an episode of The Golden Girls alongside Anne Haney and Bill Quinn. In 1993, he made two appearances as Joe "The Meat Man" Morton on Home Improvement, a popular sitcom starring Tim Allen.
More recently, Picardo had a recurring role as Detective Nick Traub on the short-lived drama The Lyon's Den. Interestingly, his Voyager co-star, Roxann Dawson, also made several appearances on this series. Overall, Picardo has had a successful career in television, making lasting impressions on fans of all types of shows.
Picardo's Guest Appearances in Popular Shows
Robert Picardo has an extensive list of guest-starring roles in popular television shows throughout his career. In 1985, he played a role in Amazing Stories, with Wendy Schaal appearing as his wife in an episode that also featured Bruce Davison. He later made an appearance in Hardcastle and McCormick in 1986, alongside Brian Keith and Daniel Hugh Kelly, and also featuring Leslie Bevis, Kenneth Mars, and Phil Rubenstein.
In 1987, Picardo guest-starred in St. Elsewhere, where he acted alongside renowned actors such as Ed Begley Jr., Ronny Cox, and Norman Lloyd, among others. He also made appearances in L.A. Law in 1987 and again in 1991, working alongside Corbin Bernsen and Larry Drake. Furthermore, Picardo appeared in Newhart in 1989, featuring Tony Papenfuss.
The talented actor has also appeared in other popular shows, including ER in 1995, Ally McBeal in 1999, Seven Days in 2001, The Practice in 2002, The West Wing in 2004, and The O.C. in 2005, alongside Michael Nouri. Picardo's notable recurring role as Larry Kincaid in the NBC series E-Ring spanned four episodes in 2005.
The same year, he played the role of "returnee" Trent Appelbaum in the "Weight Of The World" episode of the sci-fi series The 4400, co-created by René Echevarria. The episode also featured TNG guest star Billy Campbell in his recurring role as Jordan Collier and ENT guest star Noa Tishby. Picardo's impressive guest appearances in a wide range of television shows demonstrate his versatility and talent as an actor.
Picardo's TV Appearances
In 2005, he worked with director Joe Dante once again for the TV horror project Homecoming, which was part of Showtime's Masters of Horror series. Two years later, he appeared in an episode of Cold Case as a murder suspect, and in the Halloween episode of CSI: NY, which was directed by Dante and featured Robert Joy.
In 2007, Picardo also made an appearance on Women's Murder Club, an ABC series starring former Star Trek: Enterprise actress Linda Park. However, Park did not appear in Picardo's episode. The following year, he guest-starred on two episodes of the popular WB series Smallville, one of which was directed by Kenneth Biller.
Picardo continued to make TV appearances in 2009, including a guest spot on NBC's Chuck, an episode of Bryan Fuller's critically acclaimed series Pushing Daisies, and the first season finale of the drama Castle. He also made a second appearance on Castle in 2010, and guest-starred on the FX drama series Justified and the NBC series Persons Unknown.
In 2012, Picardo appeared on the medical/police procedural series Body of Proof, starring two of his former co-stars, Dana Delany (China Beach) and Jeri Ryan (Star Trek: Voyager) as medical examiners. He also had a cameo as himself on the 1990s-set sitcom "Schooled" in which he played a money hungry landlord.
Most recently, Picardo appeared on The Orville in November 2017 as the father of chief security officer Lieutenant Alara Kitan. With his diverse acting experience and talent, Picardo has become a familiar face on TV, and is highly respected among his peers in the industry.
TV movies
Picardo's diverse acting career includes appearances in numerous made-for-TV movies, showcasing his talent and versatility. One of his earliest roles was in the star-studded ensemble cast of 1980's The Dream Merchants. He went on to work with his future Voyager co-star Kate Mulgrew in Rose Are for the Rich, as well as featuring in The Man Who Fell to Earth alongside Wil Wheaton and Bruce McGill in 1987.
Picardo also worked on several Joe Dante-directed TV movies, including Runaway Daughters in 1994 with Wendy Schaal, and The Second Civil War in 1997, which boasted an impressive Trek actor lineup. He also appeared in a range of other TV movies, such as Lois Gibbs and the Love Canal in 1982 and Fatal Deception: Mrs. Lee Harvey Oswald in 1993.
His impressive list of roles also includes uncredited cameos, as in Out There in 1995, which starred Wendy Schaal, Bill Cobbs, Paul Dooley, and Carel Struycken. In 2006, he worked alongside Michael Dorn, Bill Mumy, George Takei, and Terrell Tilford in A.I. Assault.
Picardo's ability to adapt to different genres and roles is a testament to his talent and dedication to the craft, making him a valuable asset to any project.
The Journey of Robert Picardo in Star Trek
Robert Picardo initially auditioned for the character of Neelix in Star Trek: Voyager in 1994, but Ethan Phillips was chosen instead. However, the producers offered him the role of the EMH, which he was skeptical about at first. Nonetheless, after reading the script, he was convinced to take on the role.
During his audition, Picardo ad-libbed the line "I'm a doctor, not a night light", which got a laugh from the casting directors and may have been a factor in him landing the part of The Doctor.
Picardo also got to direct two episodes of Voyager, "Alter Ego" and "One Small Step", and even became the first regular in a Star Trek series to write an episode with "Life Line".
While filming DS9's "What You Leave Behind", Picardo was present on the sound stages and attended the filming of the scene at Vic's lounge. He had also starred with the DS9 cast in "Doctor Bashir, I Presume", making him one of the few actors who have worked with all three Star Trek incarnations made in the 1990s.
Picardo's journey on Star Trek showcases the opportunities for actors to explore different roles and take on additional responsibilities, such as directing and writing, while also building relationships across different series within the franchise.
Voice-Over Work of Robert Picardo
Robert Picardo is a versatile actor who has also demonstrated his talent in the field of voice-over work. His voice roles have spanned across films and TV shows, including science fiction thrillers and fantasy films.
One of his notable voice roles was providing the voice for Johnnycab in the 1990 science fiction thriller Total Recall. The film featured a talented cast, including Ronny Cox, Roy Brocksmith, Marc Alaimo, and Michael Champion.
Another film that featured Picardo's voice talents was the 1994 fantasy film The Pagemaster, where he voiced a pirate character. The film also starred Patrick Stewart, Whoopi Goldberg, Frank Welker, Leonard Nimoy, and Christopher Lloyd, who also starred in the film's live-action sequences.
Picardo has also lent his voice to various animated series, including Justice League. In the series, he voiced the characters of Blackhawk and Amazo. He has also provided his voice to episodes of Dinosaurs and Batman: The Animated Series, where he voiced in the episode "The Man Who Killed Batman", alongside TNG guest star Matt Frewer.
In 2014, he reprised his role as The Doctor in the Star Trek Online expansion Delta Rising, which was set 32 years after the Voyager returned back home.
Finally, in 2015, Picardo voiced Alan Binet and several generic Institute doctors or staff in Fallout 4. The game also featured the voice talents of Keith Szarabajka, Tim Russ, Alan Oppenheimer, Dwight Schultz, and Ron Perlman.
Picardo's Ventures in the Literary and Entertainment Industry
Robert Picardo, notable for his role as The Doctor in Star Trek: Voyager, has showcased his versatile talents in various forms of media. In 2002, he released a book titled The Hologram's Handbook, written in his character's voice, where he delves into his experiences while aboard Voyager and offers valuable insights for holograms struggling to fit in with "organics". Accompanied by illustrations from his co-star Jeff Yagher, an audio version of the book was released the same year, featuring a bonus song, Song of the Hologram, also sung by Picardo.
Apart from his literary endeavors, Picardo has also ventured into the world of music, releasing two parody CDs titled Basic Bob and Extreme Bob in 2001 and 2003 respectively. Most of the songs in the albums are based on Star Trek, with Extreme Bob featuring guest vocals from fellow Voyager stars Tim Russ and Ethan Phillips.
In 1998, Picardo lent his voice to the audio version of the novel Pathways, giving life to the pre-Voyager lives of the crew. His talents extended to the Borg Invasion 4D ride at Star Trek: The Experience, where he reprised his role as The Doctor, studying people immune to Borg nanoprobes.
Despite his successes, Picardo was critical of the decision to close down the Star Trek: The Experience right before the release of the new Star Trek film, which he believed would have revitalized the franchise. Nonetheless, his contributions to the Star Trek universe in various forms of media have cemented his legacy as a multi-talented performer.
Picardo has also served in The Planetary Society since the late 1990s. He is currently a member of the society's Board of Directors' Advisory Council.
The Acting Journey of Robert Picardo: From Sci-Fi Films to Web Series
Robert Picardo was supposed to star in a science fiction film titled Illegal Alien in 2003, which was written and executive produced by Walter Koenig, a star from The Original Series. However, that film evolved into InAlienable by 2007, which was later revealed by Koenig himself during a Star Trek convention in Las Vegas. It turned out that Picardo had to drop out of the film due to other commitments, including filling in for Koenig on a Trek cruise when Koenig backed out to work on the film. As a result, John de Lancie also dropped out of the project.
In 2008 and 2010, Picardo teamed up with John de Lancie to co-host "Star Trek: The Music," a concert that covered the songs from all the Star Trek eras. This endeavor showcased Picardo's musical talents and his love for the Star Trek franchise.
Recently, Picardo was seen co-starring with Tim Russ in a web series pilot titled Chad and the Alien Toupee, produced by Funny or Die. This web series pilot showcased Picardo's versatility and ability to adapt to new and innovative formats of entertainment.
From his early beginnings in the science fiction genre to his recent forays into web series comedy, Robert Picardo has consistently showcased his acting prowess and staying power in the entertainment industry. His passion and commitment to his craft have made him a beloved figure among fans of all ages and genres.