Robert Hays
Robert Blakely Hays (born July 24, 1947) is an American actor,[2] best known for his roles in film as pilot Ted Striker in Airplane! (also known as Flying High)[3] and its sequel, and for his role as Robert Seaver in Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993).[2] In television, he starred as the title character in 22 episodes of the science fiction series Starman (1986–1987)[4] and as the voice of Tony Stark on Iron Man (1994) and as Bud Hyde on That 70s Show (2000).[5]
Robert Hays | |
|---|---|
 Hays at GalaxyCon Richmond in 2019 | |
| Born | July 24, 1947 Bethesda, Maryland, U.S. |
| Other names | Robert Blakely Hays |
| Occupation | Actor, producer, director |
| Years active | 1975–present |
| Spouse(s) | Cherie Currie (1990–1997; divorced) |
| Children | Jake Hays[1] |
Life and career
Hays was born in Bethesda, Maryland. Before relocating to Hollywood, where he found quick success, Hays lived in San Diego, and picked up acting roles in San Diego's local theater scene. He worked in several productions at the famous Old Globe Theatre, including the role of Petruchio in a touring production of William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew.
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 series Angie; Starman, and FM. He played "Bud", the man thought to be Hyde's dad, in several episodes of That '70s Show. Hays also directed and produced for films and television.
He has performed in many television movies and done voice work, such as the title character in the Marvel Comics adaptation of Iron Man. In 2013, Hays appeared in a slapstick-laden TV spot promoting tourism in Wisconsin, which also reunited him with Airplane! co-director David Zucker.[6]
Filmography
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Airplane! | Ted Striker | Alternative title: Flying High! |
| 1981 | Take This Job and Shove It | Frank Macklin | |
| 1982 | Airplane II: The Sequel | Ted Striker | Alternative title: Flying High II: The Sequel |
| 1983 | Trenchcoat | Terry Leonard | |
| 1983 | Utilities | Bob Hunt | |
| 1983 | Touched | Daniel | |
| 1984 | Scandalous | Frank Swedlin | |
| 1985 | Cat's Eye | Johnny Norris | Alternative title: Stephen King's Cat's Eye |
| 1989 | Honeymoon Academy | Sean Mcdonald | Alternative title: For Better or For Worse |
| 1992 | Fifty/Fifty | Sam French | |
| 1993 | Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey | Bob Seaver | |
| 1993 | Partners | Grave Squad Lawyer | Short film |
| 1994 | Raw Justice | Mitch McCullum | Alternative titles: Good Cop, Bad Cop and Strip Girl |
| 1994 | No Dessert, Dad, till You Mow the Lawn | Ken Cochran | |
| 1995 | Cyber Bandits | Morgan | |
| 1996 | Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco | Bob Seaver | |
| 1999 | An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster | Reed Daley (voice) | |
| 2000 | Dr. T & the Women | Harlan | |
| 2001 | Sex and a Girl | Dan | Alternative title: Alex in Wonder |
| 2004 | The Nutcracker and the Mouse King | Squeak (voice) | English dub |
| 2005 | Freezerburn | Michael Reed the Talent | |
| 2007 | Universal Remote | Dr. Anderson | |
| 2007 | Nicky's Birthday Camera | Bob | |
| 2008 | Superhero Movie | Blaine Riker | |
| 2013 | Paranormal Movie | Director | |
| 2016 | Boonville Redemption | Pastor Reign |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | The Rockford Files | Darren Weeks | Episode: "The Deep Blue Sleep" |
| 1975 | Marcus Welby, M.D. | Officer Gilpin / Officer Hanson | 3 episodes |
| 1976 | The Streets of San Francisco | Lester | Episode: "Judgment Day" |
| 1976 | Cannon | Michael Narak | Episode: "Bloodlines" |
| 1976 | Young Pioneers | Dan Gray | TV movie |
| 1976 | Laverne & Shirley | Tom | Episode: "Dating Slump" |
| 1976 | The Blue Knight | Officer Wells | 4 episodes |
| 1976 | Spencer's Pilots | Jack | Episode: "The Hitchhiker" |
| 1976 | Most Wanted | Bruce Collins | Episode: "The Heisman Killer" |
| 1976 | Young Pioneers' Christmas | Dan Gray | TV movie |
| 1977 | Wonder Woman | Corporal Jim Ames | Episode: "Wonder Woman in Hollywood" |
| 1977 | Delta County, U.S.A. | Bo | TV movie |
| 1978 | The Love Boat | Sam Bradley | Episode: "Family Reunion" |
| 1978 | The Initiation of Sarah | Scott Rafferty | TV movie |
| 1978 | The Young Pioneers | Dan Gray | Miniseries |
| 1978 | Almost Heaven | Dave Leland | TV movie |
| 1978 | Will Rogers: Champion of the People | Will Rogers | TV special |
| 1979 | The Fall of the House of Usher | Jonathan Cresswell | TV movie |
| 1979–80 | Angie | Brad Benson | 36 episodes |
| 1979 | Battle of the Network Stars VII | Himself | TV special |
| 1980 | Battle of the Network Stars VIII | Himself | TV special |
| 1980 | The Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything | Kirby Winter | TV movie |
| 1981 | Saturday Night Live | Himself / Host | Episode: "Robert Hays/14 Karat Soul/Joe 'King' Carrasco & The Crowns" |
| 1981 | California Gold Rush | Bret Harte / Narrator | TV movie |
| 1982 | The Day the Bubble Burst | Gregory Winslow | TV movie |
| 1984 | Mister Roberts | Lieutenant Douglas Roberts | TV movie |
| 1986–87 | Starman | Paul Forrester | 22 episodes |
| 1987 | Murder by the Book | D.H. Mercer / Biff Deegan | TV movie |
| 1989–90 | FM | Ted Costas | 13 episodes |
| 1990 | Running Against Time | David Rhodes | TV movie |
| 1992 | The Larry Sanders Show | Himself | Episode: "The Garden Weasel" |
| 1992 | Hot Chocolate | Eric Ferrier | TV movie |
| 1993 | Cutters | Joe Polachek | 5 episodes |
| 1993 | Sex, Shock and Censorship in the '90s | Martin Day | TV special |
| 1994–96 | Iron Man | Tony Stark / Iron Man (voice) | 26 episodes |
| 1995 | Deadly Invasion: The Killer Bee Nightmare | Chad Ingram | TV movie |
| 1995 | Vanished | John Taylor | TV movie |
| 1996 | Guys Like Us | Mike Hanson | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 1996 | The Abduction | Paul Olavsky | TV movie |
| 1996 | Unabomber: The True Story | David Kaczynski | TV movie |
| 1996 | The Incredible Hulk | Tony Stark / Iron Man (voice) | Episode: "Helping Hands, Iron Fist" |
| 1996 | Touched by an Angel | Scott Walden | Episode: "Groundrush" |
| 1996–97 | Spider-Man | Tony Stark / Iron Man (voice) | 6 episodes |
| 1996 | Christmas Every Day | Henry Jackson | TV movie |
| 1997 | Superman: The Animated Series | Edward Lytener / Luminus (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 1997 | Promised Land | Mark Gerhart | Episode: "Mr. Muscles" |
| 1997 | I'll Be Home for Christmas | Michael Greiser | TV movie |
| 1998 | Kelly Kelly | Doug Kelly | 7 episodes |
| 1998 | 30 Years to Life | Vincent Dawson | TV movie |
| 1999 | The Outer Limits | Dr. Peter Halstead | Episode: "Donor" |
| 2000 | Deadly Appearances | Andy Boychuk | TV movie |
| 2000 | That '70s Show | Bud Hyde | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | Bette | Roy | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | The Retrievers | Tom Lowry | TV movie |
| 2002 | Spin City | Los Angeles Mayor Stone Taylor | Episode: "A Tale of Four Cities" |
| 2002 | The Santa Trap | Bill Emerson | TV movie |
| 2003 | Robbery Homicide Division | Eddie | Episode: "Hellbound Train" |
| 2012 | Shooting Gallery | Himself | Episode: "Survival Trail" |
| 2014 | Sharknado 2: The Second One | Captain Bob Wilson | TV movie |
Producer and director
| Year | Title | Credit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Starman | Director | Episode: "The Test" |
| 1998 | Kelly Kelly | Co-producer | |
| 2001 | Sex and a Girl | Producer | |
| 2007 | Nicky's Birthday Camera | Producer |
References
- Strauss, Bob (March 19, 2010). "Cherie Currie rocks with biopic". Los Angeles Daily News. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
- "Robert Hays-biography". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2013-11-23.
- Maslin, Janet (July 2, 1980). "Screen: Airplane!, Disaster-Film Spoof". The New York Times. p. C17. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
- "Hays ready to assume role of 'Starman' for television". The Daily News. Bowling Green, KY. Associated Press. August 15, 1986. p. TV4. Retrieved 2010-03-24.
- Rabin, Nathan (October 4, 2011). "Robert Hays". The A.V. Club. Retrieved June 13, 2020.
- Davis, Stacy Vogel (March 18, 2013). "Zucker, Hays poke fun at summer in Wisconsin in latest tourism ad". Milwaukee Business Journal. Retrieved October 9, 2017.
External links
- Robert Hays on IMDb
