Robert Alphonse Picardo (born October 27, 1953) is an American actor. He is best known for playing the Cowboy in Innerspace, Coach Cutlip on The Wonder Years, Captain Dick Richard on the ABC series China Beach, the Doctor on Star Trek: Voyager and Richard Woolsey in the Stargate franchise. He is a frequent collaborator of Joe Dante and is a member of The Planetary Society's Board of Directors.

Robert Picardo
Picardo at the 2011 San Diego Comic Con
Born
Robert Alphonse Picardo

(1953-10-27) October 27, 1953 (age 70)
EducationYale University (BA)
Occupation(s)Actor, singer
Years active1975–present
Spouse
Linda Pawlik
(m. 1984; div. 2014)
Children2

Early life edit

Picardo was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Joe Picardo. Robert is of Italian heritage, with his father's family originating from Montecorvino Rovella, Salerno, and his mother's parents originally from Bomba in Abruzzo. He graduated from William Penn Charter School in 1971 and originally entered Yale University as a pre-medical student, but opted to act instead. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in drama from Yale University.

Picardo is an accomplished singer. While he was at Yale University, he was a member of the Society of Orpheus and Bacchus, the second longest running undergraduate a cappella group in the United States. Also while at Yale, he had a major role in the 1973 European premiere production of Leonard Bernstein's "Mass" in Vienna, conducted by John Mauceri. The production was televised by ORF and broadcast on PBS during the 1970s. His singing was also incorporated into his role in Star Trek: Voyager.

After earning his degree, he enrolled at the Circle in the Square Professional Theater Workshop. He waited tables for a few years until his theatrical work started to take off around 1976. His first breaks were appearing in the David Mamet play Sexual Perversity in Chicago, and with Diane Keaton in The Primary English Class.[1]

Career edit

 
Picardo at ComicCon, 2008.

In 1977, Picardo made his Broadway debut. He appeared in Gemini (1977) and Tribute (1978).[2]

On television, Picardo appeared on Kojak in a 1977 episode and Taxi in a 1979 episode. He made his feature film debut as Eddie Quist, the serial killer werewolf in the Joe Dante film The Howling (1981). He also had a recurring role in the sitcom Alice and played a doctor on an episode of The Golden Girls.

He played a number of roles in Dante's family science fiction film Explorers (1985), and later appeared in Dante's Innerspace (1987), The 'Burbs (1989), Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990), Matinee (1993), Small Soldiers (1998) and Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003). Picardo often plays roles under layers of prosthetic latex, having also played the swamp-dwelling Meg Mucklebones in Ridley Scott's film Legend. He also had a small role as a funeral director in John Landis's Amazon Women on the Moon. Picardo also portrayed the voice and face of the robotic Johnny Cab in Total Recall.

During the 1988–1991 television seasons, Picardo was simultaneously seen on the ABC Vietnam series China Beach in the role of Dr. Dick Richard, and the ABC series The Wonder Years in the role of Coach Cutlip. He is among a small group of television actors to achieve notice on two television series at the same time.

In 1993, Picardo had a brief role as Joe "The Meat Man" Morton, a butcher and neighbor to Tim Allen's character on the sitcom Home Improvement. He also appeared in one episode of ER in 1995 as Abraham Zimble (Season 2 - Episode 6, "Days Like This"). That same year, he voiced Pfish in two Pfish & Chip shorts as seen on Cartoon Network's What-A-Cartoon! Show.

Star Trek edit

From 1995 to 2001, he played the role of the Emergency Medical Hologram (EMH) in the television series Star Trek: Voyager. Before being accepted for this role, Picardo initially auditioned for the role of Neelix. He later also directed two episodes. In the series, his character finally chose the name "Joe", after both the name of his wife's grandfather and Picardo's own father.

He played additional copies of the role of the EMH in the 1996 film Star Trek: First Contact[3] and the 1997 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Doctor Bashir, I Presume?" He also played Dr. Lewis Zimmerman, the creator of the EMH, in episodes of Deep Space Nine and Voyager.[citation needed]

In 2002, Picardo authored The Hologram's Handbook, published by Pocket Books.[4]

In 2007 and 2008, Star Trek: The Music was a multi-city tour with John de Lancie.[5] Picardo and de Lancie narrated around the orchestral performance, explaining the history of the music in Star Trek.

In 2015, Picardo reprised the role of Dr. Lewis Zimmerman in the pilot episode of the fan series Star Trek: Renegades.[6]

Stargate edit

In 2004, he began playing the recurring role of International Oversight Advisory (IOA) member Richard Woolsey in both Stargate SG-1 and Stargate Atlantis. His first appearance in those series was in the Stargate SG-1 episode "Heroes (Part 2)".

On February 5, 2008, it was announced that Picardo would be joining the regular cast of Stargate Atlantis full-time for the series' fifth and final season. He took over the role of mission commander of the Atlantis Expedition.[7]

Later career edit

 
Picardo in 2019

In 2001, Picardo guest starred in the 7 Days episode "Revelation", purporting to be a time traveler from seven years in the future.

In 2007, he played Principal White in Ben 10: Race Against Time, and starred in the independent feature film by director Russ Emanuel, P.J., alongside John Heard and Vincent Pastore.[8] He also starred in Russ Emanuel's Chasing the Green in 2008, with William Devane, Jeremy London and Ryan Hurst.

Picardo appeared on four episodes of E-Ring, as an enraged father in Cold Case, and as a police officer in CSI: NY. He was a recurring guest star in two episodes of Season 7 of Smallville, and appeared on a season 6 episode of Supernatural titled "Clap Your Hands if You Believe", as a leprechaun.

Outside of acting, Picardo was a member of the Board of Directors' Advisory Council of The Planetary Society from 1999 through 2015. Beginning in 2015, he was elected to serve on the Board itself.[9]

Picardo's other career highlights include performing in Leonard Bernstein's Mass during its European debut tour, performing with the Yale University Society of Orpheus & Bacchus a cappella singing group as an undergraduate, and dozens of other television and film roles, including the film Our Last Days as Children.

Picardo provided the voice of Loki in the Xbox 360 video game Too Human. In 2009, he appeared in Pushing Daisies, Chuck and Castle, and had the lead role in the independent psychological thriller film Sensored. In 2010, he had a cameo in the final episode of Persons Unknown, as a member of "the program"'s governing board. He also voiced Robert McNamara in the video game Call of Duty: Black Ops. He appeared in four episodes of The Mentalist from 2012 through 2013 as Jason Cooper, a lieutenant of cult leader Bret Styles.

In May 2014, Cartoon Hangover announced Picardo as a guest voice actor in the second season of Bravest Warriors, in the episode "The Parasox Pub".

In 2017, Picardo played Lt. Kitan's father Prof. Ildis Kitan in the first season episode of The Orville titled "Firestorm", and reprised the role in the 2019 episode "Home" together with John Billingsley who played Doctor Phlox in Star Trek: Enterprise.

Picardo appeared as himself in an episode of Schooled.[10]

Filmography edit

Film edit

Year Title Role Notes
1981 The Howling Eddie Quist
1983 Star 80 Interviewer
1983 Get Crazy O'Connell
1984 Oh, God! You Devil Joe Ortiz
1985 Explorers Starkiller / Wak / Wak and Neek's Father
1985 Legend Meg Mucklebones
1986 Back to School Giorgio
1987 Munchies Bob Marvalle
1987 Innerspace The Cowboy
1987 Amazon Women on the Moon Rick Raddnitz (segment "Roast Your Loved One")
1988 Jack's Back Dr. Carlos Battera
1988 Dead Heat Lieutenant Herzog
1988 976-EVIL Mark Dark
1989 The 'Burbs Garbageman
1989 Loverboy Dr. Reed Palmer
1990 Total Recall Johnnycab Voice and likeness[11]
1990 Gremlins 2: The New Batch Forster Nominated–Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor
1991 L.A. Story Voicephone Voice, uncredited
1991 Frame Up Frank Govers
1991 Samantha Neil Otto / Mr. Samantha
1991 Motorama Jerry
1993 Matinee Howard
1994 Wagons East Ben Wheeler
1994 The Pagemaster Pirate Voice[11]
1996 Star Trek: First Contact Holographic Doctor
1997 Menno's Mind Senator Taylor
1998 Small Soldiers Ralph
2000 The Amati Girls Grace's Doctor
2002 Until Morning Brad Scott
2003 Looney Tunes: Back in Action Acme VP, Rhetorical Questions
2008 Universal Signs Father Joe
2009 Chasing the Green Dave Foxx
2010 Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey Milton Voice[11]
2010 Mega Shark Versus Crocosaurus Admiral Calvin Direct-to-video
2011 Beethoven's Christmas Adventure Smirch
2012 Camilla Dickinson Mr. Stephanowski
2012 Atlas Shrugged: Part II Dr. Robert Stadler
2014 Don't Blink Man in Black
2015 Star Trek: Renegades Dr. Lewis Zimmerman
2015 The Meddler Cos
2016 Hail, Caesar! Rabbi
2016 Unbelievable!!!!! Boris, Dr. Nontu Soon, Award Show Presenter
2018 Buttons: A Christmas Tale Mr. Wentworth
2022 MEAD[12] Admiral Gillette
2022 Confess, Fletch Count Clementi Arbogastes De Grassi
TBA Werewolf Game TBA

Television edit

Year Title Role Notes
1977 Kojak Thomas Rindone 2 episodes
1979 Taxi Philip Polevoy Episode: "Nardo Loses Her Marbles"
1980 The Dream Merchants Mark Kessler 2 episodes
1982 Silver Spoons Louis Morgan Episode: "Pilot"
1982–84 Alice Freddie, Officer Maxwell 8 episodes
1983 Archie Bunker's Place Larry Burnett Episode: "Captain Video"
1983 It Takes Two Chad Hunter Episode: "Looks Bad, Feels Good"
1983 The Other Woman Chuchi Television film
1984 Steambath Rod Tandy 6 episodes
1986 The Golden Girls Doctor Revell Episode: "The Operation"
1986 Benson Richard Alan Tracy Episode: "Reel Murder: Part 1"
1986 Hardcastle and McCormick Manny Episode: "Brother, Can You Spare a Crime?"
1986 Amazing Stories Tony Sepulveda Episode: "Boo!"
1986 Scarecrow and Mrs. King Randall Skylar Episode: "Three Little Spies"
1986 Throb Todd Episode: "Pilot"
1987 Roses Are for the Rich Durant Television film
1987 21 Jump Street Ralph Buckley Episode: "Gotta Finish the Riff"
1987 The Man Who Fell to Earth Agent Richard Morse Television film
1987 Bates Motel Dr. Goodman
1987 Private Eye Eddie Rosen Episode: "Pilot"
1987 Mr. President Reinbeck Episode: "Armageddon Kinda Sore"
1987 St. Elsewhere Eli Muzzy Episode: "Weigh In, Way Out"
1987, 1991 L.A. Law John Dunphy 2 episodes
1988–91 The Wonder Years Coach Cutlip 15 episodes
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Nominated—Viewers for Quality Television Award for Best Specialty Player
1988–91 China Beach Dr. Dick Richard 54 episodes
Nominated—Viewers for Quality Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Quality Drama Series (1990–91)
1989 The Cover Girl and the Cop Denise's Date Television film
1989 Newhart Terry Episode: "The Little Match Girl"
1992 CBS Schoolbreak Special Paul Lance Episode: "Two Teens and a Baby"
1992 Capitol Critters Additional voices Episode: "The KiloWatts Riots"
1992 The Witches of Eastwick Raymond Gentry Television film
1992 The Powers That Be Larry Yablonsky Episode: "Sophie's Big Decision"
1992–93 Dinosaurs Ted, Muse, Clerk Voice, 3 episodes
1993 Batman: The Animated Series Eddie G. Voice, episode: "The Man Who Killed Batman"[11]
1993 The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. Puel Episode: "The Orb Scholar"
1993 Home Improvement Joe Morton 2 episodes
1993 Fatal Deception: Mrs. Lee Harvey Oswald David Lifton Television film
1993 Tales from the Crypt Frank Bobo Episode: "Till Death Do We Part"
1994 Revenge of the Nerds IV: Nerds in Love Chad Penrod Television film
1994 White Mile Tom Horton
1994 Rebel Highway Mr. Ed Cahn Episode: "Runaway Daughters"
1995 ER Abraham Zimble Episode: "Days Like This"
1995 Dumb and Dumber Colonel Drab, Control Tower Voice, Chief, Cook Voice, 2 episodes[11]
1995, 1997 What a Cartoon! Pfish Voice, 2 episodes
1995–2001 Star Trek: Voyager The Doctor, Dr. Lewis Zimmerman 166 episodes
Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor on Television
1996 The Savage Dragon Additional voices 13 episodes
1997 Star Trek: Deep Space Nine Dr. Lewis Zimmerman Episode: "Doctor Bashir, I Presume?"
1997 The Second Civil War Godfrey Television film
1997 Early Edition Doctor Episode: "Faith"
1998 The Outer Limits Emmet Harley Episode: "Sarcophagus"
1998 Cow and Chicken President, Narrator Voice, episode: "101 Uses for Cow and Chicken"[11]
1999 Ally McBeal Barry Philbrick Episode: "Love's Illusions"
2000 Buzz Lightyear of Star Command Professor Reddschift Voice, episode: "First Missions"[11]
2001 Seven Days Maj. Michael McGrath Episode: "Revelation"
2001 Frasier Charlie Koechner Episode: "Bully for Martin"
2002 Crossing Jordan Father Bruno Casnelli Episode: "Miracles & Wonders"
2002 The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy Cod Commando Voice, episode: "The Pie Who Loved Me"
2002 The Practice Dr. Edmunds Episode: "Neighboring Species"
2002–03 Justice League Blackhawk, Amazo Voice, 4 episodes[11]
2003 Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Bob Jacobs 2 episodes
2003 The Dead Zone Mitch McMurty Episode: "The Storm"
2003 The Lyon's Den Det. Nick Traub 7 episodes
2004 The West Wing E. Bradford Shelton Episode: "The Supremes"
2004 Justice League Unlimited Amazo Voice, 2 episodes[11]
2004–07 Stargate SG-1 Richard Woolsey 7 episodes
2005 The 4400 Trent Appelbaum Episode: "Weight of the World"
2005 Masters of Horror Kurt Rand Episode: "Homecoming"
2005–06 E-Ring Larry Kincaid 4 episodes
2006 The O.C. Bill Merriam Episode: "The Pot Stirrer"
2006 Eve Professor Dunson Episode: "To Sir, with Mom"
2006 Ben 10 Leader Alien Voice, episode: "The Big Tick"[11]
2006–09 Stargate: Atlantis Richard Woolsey 26 episodes
2007 Cold Case Arthur Lennox Episode: "Knuckle Up"
2007 The Closer Mr. Sheffield Episode: "Saving Face"
2007 CSI: NY Sheriff Benson Episode "Boo"
2007 Women's Murder Club Allen Douglas Episode: "Grannies, Guns and Love Mints"
2007 Ben 10: Race Against Time Principal White Television film
2008 Smallville Edward Teague 2 episodes
2009 Chuck Dr. Howard Busgang Episode: "Chuck Versus the Lethal Weapon"
2009 Pushing Daisies Detective Puget 2 episodes
2009–10 Castle Dr. Clark Murray 2 episodes
2010 Justified Karl Hanselman Episode: "The Collection"
2010 Persons Unknown Silver-Haired Man Episode: "Shadows in the Cave"
2010 Monsterwolf Stark Television film
2010 Supernatural Wayne Whittaker Jr. Episode: "Clap Your Hands If You Believe"
2011 No Ordinary Family Vice Principal Nance Episode: "No Ordinary Animal"
2011 Stargate Universe Richard Woolsey Episode: "Seizure"
2011 United States of Tara Dr. Smolow Episode: "Bryce Will Play"
2011 NTSF:SD:SUV Damian Episode: "Twistin' the Night Away"
2012 Harry's Law Annie's Psychiatrist Episode: "Gorilla My Dreams"
2012 Body of Proof Henry Pedroni Episode: "Cold Blooded"
2012 Femme Fatales Hieronymus Hawks Episode: "Bad Science"
2012 Austin & Ally Dr. Grant Episode: "Successes & Setbacks"
2012–13 The Mentalist Jason Cooper 4 episodes
2013 Happy Endings Mr. Logan Episode: "The Marry Prankster"
2013 The Client List Judge Hughes Episode: "My Main Trial Is Yet to Come"
2013 Jessie Cyril Lipton Episode: "To Be or Not to Be Me"
2013 Hawaii Five-0 CIA Agent Episode: "Olelo Pa'a"
2013 Perception A. Z. Weyland Episode: "Alienation"
2014 Bones Dr. Lawrence Rozran Episode: "The Heiress in the Hill"
2015 Aquarius Neil Jacobs Episode: "A Whiter Shade of Pale"
2015 Significant Mother Dr. Robert Richter Episode: "Who's Your Daddy?"
2016 Suspense Arnold Keene Episode: "The Shadow on the Screen"
2016 Lucifer Yuri Episode: "Lady Parts"
2016 Salem Mr. Stoughton Episode: "Night's Black Agents"
2017 The Good Fight Alan Mannheim Episode: "First Week"
2017 Justice League Action Harvey Dent / Two-Face Voice, episode: "Double Cross"[11]
2017 The Last Tycoon Leopold Ferber Episode: "Eine Kleine Reichmusik"
2017–18 Grey's Anatomy Mr. Nelligan 2 episodes
2017, 2019 The Orville Ildis Kitan 2 episodes
2019 Schooled Himself Episode: "Money for RENT"[10]
2019 Hot Streets The Concierge Voice, episode: "The Moon Masters"
2019 The Flash Dexter Myles 2 episodes
2019 The Code Col. Zugler 2 episodes
2019–21 Dickinson Ithamar Conkey 10 episodes
2020 Space Command Yusef Sekander 3 episodes
2020 Station 19 Mr. Nelligan Episode: "Nothing Seems the Same"
2020 The Family Business Bernie 2 episodes
2022 CSI: Vegas Carlo Rey Episode: "Burned"[13]
2023 NCIS Dale Harding Episode: "Too Many Cooks"
2023 Quantum Leap Dr. Edwin Woolsey Episode: "Leap. Die. Repeat."
2023 A Biltmore Christmas Harold Balaban Television film
2023 Star Trek: Prodigy The Doctor Season 2
2024 Young Sheldon Professor Salzman Episode: "A Roulette Wheel and a Piano Playing Dog"

Video games edit

Year Title Role Notes
2000 Star Trek: Voyager – Elite Force Emergency Medical Hologram
2007 Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End Singapore Townsfolk
2008 Too Human Loki
2010 Star Trek Online The Doctor [11]
2010 Call of Duty: Black Ops Robert McNamara Also motion capture[11]
2012 Call of Duty: Black Ops II Erik Breighner
2015 Call of Duty: Black Ops III Shadowman, Sebastian Krueger, Robert McNamara Also motion capture for Sebastian Krueger
2015 Fallout 4 Alan Binet, Vault-Tech Scientist [11]
2018 Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 Robert McNamara, Shadowman Appears in Blood of the Dead
TBA Hellraid Adon

Web series edit

Year Title Role Notes
2013 Untitled Web Series About a Space Traveler Who Can Also Travel Through Time Bernard Episode: "Second Season Prequel"
2014–18 Bravest Warriors Puddingtown, Eyeball Voice, 7 episodes

References edit

  1. ^ "Biography - robertpicardo.com". robertpicardo.com.
  2. ^ "Robert Picardo (Performer)". playbill.com. PLAYBILL INC. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
  3. ^ Hanson, Dana (March 25, 2021). "Why Voyager's Doctor Cameoed In Star Trek: First Contact". screenrant.com. Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  4. ^ Picardo, Robert (2002). The Hologram's Handbook. Pocket Books.
  5. ^ "John de Lancie". thomaspainememorial.org. Thomas Paine Memorial Association (TPMA). Retrieved May 8, 2022.
  6. ^ PINCHEFSKY, CAROL. "CHECK OUT THE PILOT FOR FAN SERIES STAR TREK: RENEGADES". syfy.com. Retrieved April 16, 2021.
  7. ^ Sumner, Darren (February 5, 2008). "Robert Picardo joins Atlantis cast". GateWorld. Retrieved November 25, 2020.
  8. ^ Russ Emanuel. "P.J.: A Journey of the Heart - A Russ Emanuel Film". pjthemovie.com.
  9. ^ "Robert Picardo". Retrieved October 27, 2016.
  10. ^ a b "Schooled: Money for RENT (1/23)". Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Robert Picardo (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved August 25, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its opening and/or closing credits and/or other reliable sources of information.
  12. ^ "Robert Picardo, Others Join 'To Meet the Faces You Meet' Film Cast". Creepy Kingdom. September 12, 2020. Retrieved September 12, 2020.
  13. ^ "(#207) "Burned"". The Futon Critic. Retrieved October 25, 2022.


External links edit