Robert V. Barron (December 26, 1932 – December 1, 2000) was an American TV and film director, producer, screenwriter and actor.[1] He was best known for his role as the voice of Admiral Donald Hayes in 1980s animated TV series Robotech, of which he also served as the producer. He is also well known for playing Abraham Lincoln in the 1989 comedy film Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure.

Robert V. Barron
Robert V. Barron in Mannix 1968
Born
Robert V. Barron

(1932-12-26)December 26, 1932
DiedDecember 1, 2000(2000-12-01) (aged 67)
Occupation(s)Actor, screenwriter, producer, director
Years active1954–1995

Career

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Barron attended Morris Harvey College in Charleston, West Virginia, and UCLA.[1] He subsequently trained at American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, and at Max Reinhardt Workshop in Los Angeles.

He got his entertainment start in radio, co-producing a two-hour Saturday morning radio program, the "Bop Shop," which aired for two years on radio station WGKV-AM (later WHMS and WXIT, now WSWW (AM)) in his hometown of Charleston, West Virginia.

Before permanently moving to California and beginning his Hollywood work, he spent several years in regional theater across the U.S. He built an impressive resumé of glowing reviews of his performances in such roles as Cyrano de Bergerac, Abe Lincoln In Illinois, Sir Thomas More in A Man for All Seasons, Henry Drummond in Inherit the Wind, Richard III, but was never offered major roles in films or television.

In Hollywood, he made acting appearances in television shows such as Quantum Leap, Get a Life, Father Dowling Mysteries, and movies such as The Spring and A Dangerous Place. He also wrote episodes of the NBC television western series Bonanza and the CBS-TV western/spy series Wild, Wild West. Perhaps his best-remembered television script was his first, a lighthearted comedy episode of Bonanza, "Hoss and the Leprechauns".

As a writer, Barron drifted into adapting English dubbing scripts of foreign films. American producers began buying successful Japanese animated series and dubbing them in English, and Barron was a pioneer in that industry, which grew rapidly and enormously. He became executive director and story editor for Saban Productions,[1] which in five years became one of the world's largest producers of children's programming, with such shows as X-Men (1992) and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (1993).

He also made appearances on TV series such as Bonanza, Mannix, Love American Style and Night Court, and played a pool player in an episode of CBS-TV's The Dukes of Hazzard.[2]

Death

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Barron died in December 1, 2000 at age 67 in Salinas, California, and was interred in Salinas's Garden of Memories Memorial Park.[3]

Filmography

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Anime

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Year Title Role Notes
1980 Don de la mancha Doctor / Dream Quixote / Villager 1 2 episodes; uncredited
1980 Tomb of Dracula Al / Narrator / Stud / Tomo / Walla Uncredited
1981 Dr. Slump Bear / Coach / Frank Episode: "Arale-chan Tanjou/Ossu! Otomodachi"; uncredited
1981 Dogtanian and the Three Muskehounds Treville
1984 Macross: Boobytrap Airshow Announcement
1985 Time Patrol TV movie; credited as Merle Pearson
1985 Robotech Admiral / Detroit Mayor / MC 85 episodes
1985 Qing bao long hu men Kramer Credited as Robert Barron
1985 Captain Harlock and the Queen of a Thousand Years Bully / Devlin / General / Major / Walla 65 episodes; uncredited
1986 Robotech: The Movie Prof. Embry Credited as Merle Pearson
1986 Macron 1 Narrator / Geraldan / Computer Uncredited
1987 Wicked City President (USA dub)
1987 Twilight of the Cockroaches Elder Credited as Robert Barron

Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1966 The Las Vegas Hillbillys Donald Credited as Christian Anderson
1967 Cottonpickin' Chickenpickers Cousin Elwood Credited as Christian Anderson
1968 The Road Hustlers Luke Reedy Credited as Christian Anderson
1977 MacArthur POW Uncredited
1980 The Private Eyes Gas Station Attendant
1982 Eating Raoul Butler at Swingers Party
1982 Rocket to Stardom Farmer Short Film
1982 Honkytonk Man Undertaker
1983 A Minor Miracle Drunk #1 Credited as Robert Barron
1986 The Supernaturals Old Vet Credited as Robert Barron
1987 Disorderlies Funeral Home Director
1988 Daddy's Boys Axelrod
1989 Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure Abraham Lincoln
1989 The Horror Show Death-a-Thon Announcer
1989 The Spring Old Indian
1989 The Brave Frog Goliath / Narrator (voice)
1994 A Dangerous Place Homeless Man Final Film Role

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1964 The Virginian Chuck Episode: "The Girl from Yesterday"; credited as Christian Anderson
1964 Valentine's Day Angry Patron / Club Member 2 episodes
1965–1969 The Wild Wild West Servant #2 / Mark Dawson 2 episodes; credited as Christian Anderson
1966–1969 Bonanza Cavalry Trooper / Stagecoach Driver / Hunter 3 episodes; credited as Christian Anderson
1967 The Red Skelton Hour Minor Role Episode: "Where There's Smoke, There's a Dragon"
1967 The Beverly Hillbillies Harold Episode: "Robin Hood and the Sheriff"; credited as Christian Anderson
1967 Judd, for the Defense George Flowers Episode: "Firebrand"; credited as Christian Anderson
1968 Mannix Car Rental Manager Episode: "A View of Nowhere"; uncredited
1972 Love, American Style Abraham Lincoln Episode: "Love and the Ghost"
1978 The Next Step Beyond Peter Combs Episode: "The Haunted Inn"
1979 Detective School Burt Episode: "The Bank Job"
1980 Young Maverick Undertaker 2 episodes
1982 The Dukes of Hazzard Chickasaw Thins Episode: "A Little Game of Pool"
1983 Ace Diamond Private Eye The Organist TV movie
1985 Wildside Cook Episode: "Well Known Secret"
1985 Amazing Stories Curator Episode: "Alamo Jobe"
1985 Night Court Ray Muntz Season 3, episode 10 "The Wheels of Justice (Part 2)"
1987 Night Court Jeff Prescott / The Red Ranger Season 5, episode 7 "Who Was That Mashed Man?"
1987 The Magical World of Disney Mortician Episode: "Bride of Boogedy"
1987 Falcon Crest Hippie Episode: "Hunter's Moon"
1987–1989 L.A. Law Leonard / Wino 2 episodes
1989 Out of This World Abraham Lincoln Episode: "Honest Evie"
1989 Alien Nation Celinite Priest Episode: "Fountain of Youth"
1990 Father Dowling Mysteries Tony Episode: "The Medical Mystery"
1990 Thanksgiving Day Father Joe TV movie
1991 Get a Life Abe Lincoln Episode: "Psychic 2000"
1991 Frankenstein: The College Years Prof. Lippzieg TV movie
1991 Quantum Leap Old Convict Episode: "Unchained - November 2, 1956"
1993–1994 Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Additional Voices 39 episodes

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes
1992 Star Trek: 25th Anniversary Brother Stephen Credited as Robert Barron

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Obituary for Robert V. Barron (Aged 67)". The Californian. December 20, 2000. p. 18. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
  2. ^ "Bob Lilley's contributions to the Robert V Barron site". bemorehealthy.com. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
  3. ^ admin (December 19, 2000). "Robert Barron Obituary - Death Notice and Service Information". Legacy.com. Retrieved January 22, 2023.
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