Biography
This page uses content from the Robert Picardo biography page on the English version of Wikipedia and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. This list of authors can be seen in the page history. Rotten Tomatoes disclaims any and all warranties as to the accuracy or reliability of the content.
Robert Picardo (born October 27, 1953 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) is an American actor. Picardo graduated from William Penn Charter School in 1971 and originally entered Yale University as a pre-med student, but opted to act instead.
He is probably best known for his portrayals of Dr. Dick Richards on ABC's China Beach and the Emergency Medical Hologram, one version of which became known as The Doctor, on UPN's Star Trek: Voyager, and lends his voice to portray his role as the Doctor on Activision's Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force and the related expansion pack. He also played Lewis Zimmerman, the Doctor's creator, and another EMH in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode Doctor Bashir, I Presume? as well as a brief appearance in "Star Trek: First Contact." He also played Coach Cutlip on The Wonder Years.
He starred in the 1981 hit film, The Howling, as Eddie Quist, his screen debut after being discovered on Broadway. His is the longest werewolf transformation scene. He played a number of roles in the 1985 childrens sci-fi film Explorers. In the 1998 movie Small Soldiers, he had a minor role as Ralph, the scientist responsible for the creation of the X-1000 series munitions microprocessor that was central to the story. Both this and the film The Howling were directed by Joe Dante, and he has made appearances in almost all of Dante's films.
In 2002, 2004 and 2005, Picardo provided the voice of Amazo on the cartoon series Justice League and Justice League Unlimited. This is only the most prominent of the characters he has done for the DCAU, having also voiced a tough small-time gangster in one episode of Batman: The Animated Series and Blackhawk on Justice League.
In 2004, he began playing the recurring role of NID Agent Richard Woolsey in Stargate SG-1. His first appearance in the series was "Heroes (Part 2)". Since then, his portrayal of Woolsey has made appearances in Stargate Atlantis as well.
Picardo has also appeared on "E-Ring" as a media rep in the Pentagon – assumptions lead one to believe this is a recurring role.
Away from the theatre, Picardo is a member of the Board of Directors' Advisory Council of The Planetary Society, where he has served since the late 1990's. In 2002, Picardo authored the book The Hologram's Handbook, published by Pocket Books.
Other career highlights include performing in Leonard Bernstein's Mass in D during its European debut tour, performing with the Yale University Society of Orpheus & Bacchus a cappella singing group as an undergraduate, and appearing in dozens of other television and film roles. He is also a keen hobbyist; his most notable achievements include placing fifth in the SOCAL Hula Dance Championships in both 1982 and 1993.
Trivia
- He received the role of the EMH due to an ad-lib during the audition. The line the prospective actors were asked to read was a complaint about having been left "switched on." After reading the line, Picardo, an admitted Star Trek fan, added "I'm a Doctor, not a lightbulb."
External links
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