Robert V. Barron (December 26, 1932 – December 1, 2000) was an American TV and film director, producer, screenwriter and actor. 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.
Career Barron attended Morris Harvey College in Charleston, West Virginia, and UCLA. 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 theatre across the U.S. Though he received positive reviews for 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, and Richard III, he 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, 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.
Death Barron died on December 1, 2000, at age 67 in Salinas, California, and was interred in Salinas's Garden of Memories Memorial Park.
Filmography
Anime YearTitleRoleNotes1980Don de la manchaDoctor / Dream Quixote / Villager 12 episodes; uncredited1980Tomb of DraculaAl / Narrator / Stud / Tomo / WallaUncredited1981Dr. SlumpBear / Coach / FrankEpisode: "Arale-chan Tanjou/Ossu! Otomodachi"; uncredited1981Dogtanian and the Three MuskehoundsTreville1984Macross: BoobytrapAirshow Announcement1985Time PatrolTV movie; credited as Merle Pearson1985RobotechAdmiral / Detroit Mayor / MC85 episodes1985Qing bao long hu menKramerCredited as Robert Barron1985Captain Harlock and the Queen of a Thousand YearsBully / Devlin / General / Major / Walla65 episodes; uncredited1986Robotech: The MovieProf. EmbryCredited as Merle Pearson1986Macron 1Narrator / Geraldan / ComputerUncredited1987Wicked CityPresident (USA dub)1987Twilight of the CockroachesElderCredited as Robert Barron
Film YearTitleRoleNotes1966The Las Vegas HillbillysDonaldCredited as Christian Anderson1967Cottonpickin' ChickenpickersCousin ElwoodCredited as Christian Anderson1968The Road HustlersLuke ReedyCredited as Christian Anderson1977MacArthurPOWUncredited1980The Private EyesGas Station Attendant1982Eating RaoulButler at Swingers Party1982Rocket to StardomFarmerShort Film1982Honkytonk ManUndertaker1983A Minor MiracleDrunk #1Credited as Robert Barron1986The SupernaturalsOld VetCredited as Robert Barron1987DisorderliesFuneral Home Director1988Daddy's BoysAxelrod1989Bill & Ted's Excellent AdventureAbraham Lincoln1989The Horror ShowDeath-a-Thon Announcer1989The SpringOld Indian1989The Brave FrogGoliath / Narrator (voice)1994A Dangerous PlaceHomeless ManFinal Film Role
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1964The VirginianChuckEpisode: "The Girl from Yesterday"; credited as Christian Anderson1964Valentine's DayAngry Patron / Club Member2 episodes1965–1969The Wild Wild WestServant #2 / Mark Dawson2 episodes; credited as Christian Anderson1966–1969BonanzaCavalry Trooper / Stagecoach Driver / Hunter3 episodes; credited as Christian Anderson1967The Red Skelton HourMinor RoleEpisode: "Where There's Smoke, There's a Dragon"1967The Beverly HillbilliesHaroldEpisode: "Robin Hood and the Sheriff"; credited as Christian Anderson1967Judd, for the DefenseGeorge FlowersEpisode: "Firebrand"; credited as Christian Anderson1968MannixCar Rental ManagerEpisode: "A View of Nowhere"; uncredited1972Love, American StyleAbraham LincolnEpisode: "Love and the Ghost"1978The Next Step BeyondPeter CombsEpisode: "The Haunted Inn"1979Detective SchoolBurtEpisode: "The Bank Job"1980Young MaverickUndertaker2 episodes1982The Dukes of HazzardChickasaw ThinsEpisode: "A Little Game of Pool"1983Ace Diamond Private EyeThe OrganistTV movie1985WildsideCookEpisode: "Well Known Secret"1985Amazing StoriesCuratorEpisode: "Alamo Jobe"1985Night CourtRay MuntzSeason 3, episode 10 "The Wheels of Justice (Part 2)"1987Night CourtJeff Prescott / The Red RangerSeason 5, episode 7 "Who Was That Mashed Man?"1987The Magical World of DisneyMorticianEpisode: "Bride of Boogedy"1987Falcon CrestHippieEpisode: "Hunter's Moon"1987–1989L.A. LawLeonard / Wino2 episodes1989Out of This WorldAbraham LincolnEpisode: "Honest Evie"1989Alien NationCelinite PriestEpisode: "Fountain of Youth"1990Father Dowling MysteriesTonyEpisode: "The Medical Mystery"1990Thanksgiving DayFather JoeTV movie1991Get a LifeAbe LincolnEpisode: "Psychic 2000"1991Frankenstein: The College YearsProf. LippziegTV movie1991Quantum LeapOld ConvictEpisode: "Unchained - November 2, 1956"1993–1994Mighty Morphin Power RangersAdditional Voices39 episodes
Video games YearTitleRoleNotes1992Star Trek: 25th AnniversaryBrother StephenCredited as Robert Barron
References
External links
Robert V. Barron - a personal appreciation from a friend tribute page at Bill and Ted website