Robert David Hall is an American actor, best known for his role as coroner Dr. Albert Robbins, M.D. on the television show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
Early life Hall attended Tustin High School in California and went on to graduate from UCLA in 1971 with a degree in English literature. Hall is a former professional musician and accomplished guitarist, and is also proficient on piano, percussion and mandolin. For several years he was a high-profile radio DJ in Los Angeles. His musical talent has been alluded to in CSI: Crime Scene Investigation several times, as his character Dr. Al Robbins would sometimes sing while performing the autopsy or with Gil Grissom when the latter came to the morgue to collect evidence. He has also done extensive voice work on television commercials and cartoons.
In 1978, Hall was critically injured after being involved in a car crash. An 18-wheeler truck struck and crushed his car. The crash also caused the gasoline tank of the car to explode, causing burns over 65% of his body. He almost died in the crash; both of his legs were amputated afterwards. Hall now comfortably uses prosthetic limbs, allowing for personal mobility. Several of his characters, including his CSI character, have openly shared this disability. He is a prominent advocate for disabled Americans.
Life and career In addition to starring on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Hall has appeared in such films as Starship Troopers and The Negotiator and has made guest appearances in a number of TV programs including The West Wing and L.A. Law. He also furnishes the narration on CourtTV's documentary series North Mission Road. Currently, Hall is working on the short thriller "The Roymann Closure in the Netherlands", written by writer/director David Grifhorst and executive producer Jop Douma.
Filmography
Film YearTitleRoleNotes1983Deal of the CenturyRick Penido1985Here Comes the LittlesDinky LittleVoice 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 credits or other reliable sources of information.1991Class ActionSteven Kellen1993Once Upon a ForestTruck DriverVoice1993Dream LoverDr. Sheen1997Starship TroopersRecruiting Sergeant1998The NegotiatorCale Wangro2001Shattering ImagesNicole's DadShort film2002My Father's HouseThe Man On Crutches2004The EavesdropperI.R.B. Board Chairman2007LegsRoosevelt GarlandShort film2007The Gene GenerationAbraham2008The Roymann ClosureunknownShort film2013The Wrong WomanJudge Wallace2015Rock StoryCongressman Connelly2016Diffability HollywoodHimselfDocumentary2018Major ArcanaGeneShort filmTBRAaah! Roach!President KozlowPost-production
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1983–1985The LittlesDinky Little, Mr. BiggVoice, 29 episodes1984G.I. Joe: The Revenge of CobraColonel SharpVoice, 2 episodes1985G.I. Joe: A Real American HeroColonel SharpVoice, 8 episodes1986ABC Weekend SpecialsDinky LittleVoice, episode: "Liberty and the Littles"1989Highway to HeavenWayne SecrestEpisode: "The Squeaky Wheel"1991–1993Life Goes OnMr. Mott6 episodes; recurring role1991–1993L.A. LawJudge Myron Swaybill3 episodes; recurring role1992Mann & MachineDave MurphyEpisode: "Prototype"1992Batman: The Animated SeriesAdditional voicesEpisode: "Heart of Ice"1992–1994Beverly Hills, 90210The Teacher/Beggar3 episodes; recurring role1994Love & WarDougEpisode: "The Squeaky Wheel"1996AndersonvilleSamsonTelevision film1996High IncidentDominic2 episodes1997Prison of SecretsJudgeTelevision film1997Brooklyn SouthJohn KeoughEpisode: "Clown Without Pity"1997Party of FiveBureaucratEpisode: "Adjustments"1997–1999The Sylvester & Tweety MysteriesDr. Kaytwo, AuctioneerVoice, 2 episodes1997–2000Superman: The Animated SeriesSpokesman, Reporter, News AnchorVoice, 3 episodes1998Promised LandEdward BroganEpisode: "Purple Heart"1998The New Batman AdventuresReporterVoice, episode: "Mean Seasons"1999Touched by an AngelHarryEpisode: "Fool of Love"1999–2001The PracticeJudge Bradley Michaelson4 episodes; recurring role2000The West WingDavid NesslerEpisode: "Celestial Navigation"2000The Burkittville 7David HooperTelevision Short2000Batman BeyondFultonVoice, episode: "Speak No Evil"2000–2015CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationChief Medical Examiner Dr. Albert "Al" RobbinsSeries regular; 287 episodes (season 3–15)Recurring role; 38 episodes (season 1–2)2001Family LawJudge2 episodes2002The Zeta ProjectThadVoice, episode: "Eye of the Storm"2003Static ShockPilotVoice, episode: "She-Bang"2006North Mission RoadNarratorEpisode: "From the Ashes"2006Avatar: The Last AirbenderAdditional voicesEpisode: "Appa's Lost Days"2007The BatmanPilotVoice, episode: "Artifacts"2007Ben 10: Secret of the OmnitrixAzmuthVoice, television film2008–2009Ben 10: Alien ForceHighbreed Guard, Forever Knight #3, CountermanVoice, 3 episodes2012Ben 10: Destroy All AliensAzmuthVoice, television film2013The Wrong WomanJudge WallaceTelevision film2015CSI: ImmortalityAl RobbinsTelevision film2017sunsaneLandMr. TulchinskyEpisode: "Mr. Tulchinsky"
Video games YearTitleRoleNotes2003CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationChief Medical Examiner Dr. Albert "Al" Robbins2004CSI: Crime Scene Investigation – Dark MotivesChief Medical Examiner Dr. Albert "Al" Robbins2005ER: The GameDr. VanDeer2006CSI: 3 Dimensions of MurderDr. Al Robbins2007CSI: Crime Scene Investigation – Hard EvidenceAl Robbins2009CSI: Crime Scene Investigation – Deadly IntentDr. Al Robbins2010CSI: Fatal ConspiracyDr. Al Robbins
Awards and nominations YearTitleAccoladeCategoryResults2002CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationScreen Actors Guild AwardOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series2003CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationScreen Actors Guild AwardOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series2004CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationScreen Actors Guild AwardOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series2005CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationScreen Actors Guild AwardOutstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
Discography 2010: Things they don't teach you in school, CD album: Kick It to the Side of the Road (Robert David Hall) Wondering Where You Are (Robert David Hall) Things They Don't Teach You in School (Robert David Hall) It Just Is (Robert David Hall) (Keep On) Pushin' It Through (Chris Wall/Robert David Hall) One Door Closes (Robert David Hall/Chris Wall) Wishes (Robert David Hall) For Judy (Robert David Hall) I Feel Like Hank Williams Tonight (Chris Wall) Sittin' on Top of the World (Lonnie Carter/Walter Jacobs) Ten O'Clock Train (Robert David Hall) Just Because (Bob Shelton, Joe Shelton, Sid Robin)
References
External links Robert David Hall Interview on NotableInterviews.com Robert David Hall Bio at CBS – CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Interview in Ability Magazine