Charlie Robinson (actor)
Charles "Charlie" Robinson (born November 9, 1945) is an American theater, film and television actor. He is best known for his role on the NBC sitcom Night Court as Macintosh "Mac" Robinson (Seasons 2–9), the clerk of the court and a Vietnam War veteran. Although his most frequent on-screen billing has been Charlie Robinson, Night Court had credited him as Charles Robinson throughout his 1984–1992 stint as Mac. In two of his earliest film appearances, 1974's Sugar Hill and 1975's The Black Gestapo, he was credited as Charles P. Robinson. Some of his credits have been occasionally commingled with those of Charles Knox Robinson who, billed as Charles Robinson, was featured in numerous films and TV episodes between 1958 and 1971.
Charlie Robinson | |
|---|---|
| Born | November 9, 1945 Houston, Texas, United States |
| Other names | Charles Robinson Charles P. Robinson |
| Occupation | Actor, director |
| Years active | 1971–present |
| Spouse(s) | Venus Duran (m. 19??; div. 19??) ?? (m. 19??; div. 19??) Dolorita Noonan-Robinson
( m. after 1996) |
| Children | 4 |
Early career
A native of Houston, Robinson has been performing since the 1960s, is a member of the Actors Studio, and is considered by playwright Lyle Kessler to be "one of the great American Actors". In his early career, he was a singer; as a teenager with the group Archie Bell and the Drells, and later with a group called Southern Clouds of Joy.[1] In the late 1960s, Charlie attended, and was enrolled in, Studio 7, an acting school operated by Chris Wilson at the Houston Music Theatre. He stayed with Chris when the school was moved to another location in Southwest Houston where mainly children's theatre was presented. Charlie was cast in a made for TV production and soon moved to the Hollywood area where his career took off.
Later career
Robinson's acting credits include appearances in Black Gestapo, Emergency!, The White Shadow, Flamingo Road, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, The Game, Touched by an Angel, and Antwone Fisher. Robinson was cast in the role of Newdell in the NBC comedy Buffalo Bill. Not the show it was expected to be, Buffalo Bill was canceled after one season and replaced by Night Court. Robinson was cast as court clerk Mac Robinson, after the first season in 1984, when Karen Austin, who played the original court clerk, left the cast. Robinson played the role on Night Court from 1984 until the show ended in 1992. He also directed three episodes of the series.
From 1992 to 1995, Robinson co-starred on the sitcom Love & War, replacing John Hancock who died a few episodes into the series run.[2] Robinson played character Bud Harper in Home Improvement, and has appeared in many other television shows including House, The Bernie Mac Show, My Wife and Kids, Soul Food, Charmed, Hart of Dixie,[3][4] How I Met Your Mother and My Name Is Earl.
He has done commercial work for NEXTEL in which he is asking a worker if he's "agitating my dots" after he walks in on two other dispatchers staring at the dots, which represented delivery workers, on a computer screen. He also has done commercials for Old Spice, where he plays the head coach of the NFL's Denver Broncos, where he appears with perennial All-Pro Bronco linebacker Von Miller.
2000–2016
In 2010, Robinson worked at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and co-starred in the film Jackson which was directed by J.F. Lawton. Robinson appeared as "Troy" in August Wilson's Fences at Southern California's South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa from January 22, 2010 until February 21, 2010.[5] In September 2013, he returned to the theater to portray Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman.[6][7] In 2015, he played Mr. Munson, the blind tenant on Mom whom Bonnie avoids helping out with apartment issues.
Awards and nominations
Robinson received the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Series.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | Sugar Hill | Bernie Simmons | |
| 1975 | The Black Gestapo | Colonel Kojah | |
| 1975 | Caribe | Kishara, the Assassin | |
| 1976 | Emergency! | Alan Benedict | (Season 5, episode 16) |
| 1977 | A Killing Affair | Buck Fryman | |
| 1977 | The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald | Melvin Johnson | |
| 1978 | Gray Lady Down | McAllister | |
| 1978 | The White Shadow | Jackie Solomon | |
| 1979 | Lou Grant | Don Vet | TV series |
| 1979 | Roots: The Next Generations | Luke Bettiger | TV miniseries |
| 1979 | Buffalo Soldiers | Private Wright | TV movie |
| 1981 | Flamingo Road | Phil | TV series |
| 1982 | Hill Street Blues | Roy | TV series (1 episode) |
| 1982 | Rehearsal for Murder | The Second Officer | |
| 1982 | St. Elsewhere | Bill Austin | TV series (1 episode) |
| 1983–1984 | Buffalo Bill | Newdell | TV series |
| 1984 | The River | Truck | |
| 1984–1992 | Night Court | Macintosh "Mac" Robinson | Main role (seasons 2–9) |
| 1986 | Hotel | TV series (1 episode) | |
| 1988 | Crash Course | Larry Pearle | TV movie |
| 1990 | Murder C.O.D. | Lieutenant Silk | TV movie |
| 1992–1995 | Love & War | Abe Johnson | TV series |
| 1993 | CBS Schoolbreak Special | Sam Raynor | TV series (1 episode) |
| 1995 | The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air | Ernest | TV series (1 episode) |
| 1995–1999 | Home Improvement | Bud Harper | TV series (9 episodes) |
| 1996 | Ink | Ernie Trainor | TV series |
| 1996 | The John Larroquette Show | Norm | TV series (1 episode) |
| 1996 | Project ALF | Dr. Stanley | TV movie |
| 1996 | In the House | Major | TV series (1 episode) |
| 1996 | The Crew | Reverend Edwards | TV series (1 episode) |
| 1996 | Set It Off | Nate Andrews | |
| 1997–1998 | Malcolm & Eddie | Marcus McGee | TV series (2 episodes) |
| 1998 | Buddy Faro | El Jefe | TV series |
| 1998 | Land of the Free | Matt McCaster (McCuster) | |
| 1999 | Beowulf | Weaponsmaster | Film |
| 2001 | The Trouble with Normal | Mr. Lindquist | TV series (1 episode) |
| 2002 | Miss Lettie and Me | Isiah Griffin | TV movie |
| 2003 | Yes, Dear | Goodwill Guy | Episode: "Space Jam" |
| 2005 | House | Robert | Humpty Dumpty |
| 2006 | How I Met Your Mother | Bank President | Aldrin Justice |
| 2007–2014 | The Game | Mr. Pitts | TV series (4 episodes) |
| 2008 | 30 Rock | Himself | Episode: "The One with the Cast of Night Court" |
| 2008 | Natural Disasters | Charlie | |
| 2009 | Big Love | Baptist | Episode: "Come, ye Saints" |
| 2009 | Hank | Reuben | Episode: "Relax, Don't Do It" |
| 2009 | Alligator Point | ||
| 2009 | Ronna & Beverly | Leron | |
| 2010 | The Secret Life of an American Teenager | Episode: "Ben There, Done That" | |
| 2010 | Krews | Mr. Davis | |
| 2010 | $#*! My Dad Says | Mr. Campbell | Episode: "You Can't Handle the Truce" |
| 2011 | Harry's Law | Judge Marvin Baum | Episode: "Bangers in the House" |
| 2011 | Light, Streets of Redemption | Store Clerk | |
| 2012 | Falling Away | Mr. King | |
| 2012 | The Soul Man | Ike | Episode: "Lost in the Move" |
| 2012 | Swerve | Charlie | |
| 2012 | Rosita Lopez for President | Thomas Hamilton | |
| 2012-2015 | Hart of Dixie | Sergeant Jeffries | 16 episodes |
| 2013-2015 | Key and Peele | Dying Father/Pawn Shop Owner | 2 episodes |
| 2015–2017 | K.C. Undercover | Pops | TV series (3 episodes) |
| 2015–2019 | Mom | Mr. Munson | TV series (7 episodes) |
| 2015 | Hoovey | Coach Wilson | |
| 2015 | Russell Madness | Mike | |
| 2015 | Sweet Kandy | Eddie Morehouse | |
| 2015 | Come Away with Me | Michael Blake | |
| 2015 | How Sarah Got Her Wings | Max | |
| 2016 | Pee-wee's Big Holiday | Police Captain | |
| 2016 | Grey's Anatomy | Leo Polson | Episode: "You're Gonna Need Someone on Your Side" |
| 2017 | Maybe Somebody | Edgar | |
| 2017 | The Quad | Bradford | TV series (1 episode) |
| 2017-2018 | The Guest Book | Wilfred | 11 episodes |
| 2017 | Disjointed | Scooter Boots | TV series (1 episode) |
| 2018 | This Is Us | Donald Robinson | 2 episodes |
| 2018 | NCIS | Ray Jennings | Episode: "Fragments" |
| 2019 | Better Things | Sylvester | Episode: "Holding" |
| 2020 | Raven's Home | Mr. Arthur | 2 episodes |
References
- "Celebrity Mailbag". Toledo Blade. 1998-11-05. Retrieved 2012-12-08.
- The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows 1946-Present Ballantine Books. 2003 p.705. ISBN 0-345-45542-8
- Goldberg, Lesley. "'Hart of Dixie' Taps 'Night Court' Funnyman for Recurring Gig (Exclusive) (The Hollywood Reporter, July 31, 2012)"
- Gennis, Sadie. "Hart of Dixie Books Night Court's Charlie Robinson" (TVGuide, August 1, 2012; includes photograph)
- South Coast Repertory 2009-2010 Winter Season Playbill
- Donloe, Darlene. "Charlie Robinson and SCR’s Masterson Pay Attention to Willy Loman" (This Stage Magazine, September 6, 2013)
- Boehm, Mike. "Charlie Robinson has no delusions playing Willy Loman" (Los Angeles Times, September 7, 2013)
External links
- Charles Robinson on IMDb
- Charlie Robinson at the TCM Movie Database
- Charlie Robinson at AllMovie
- Charlie Robinson at the American Film Institute Catalog
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