Robert V. Barron Explained

Robert V. Barron
Occupation:Actor, screenwriter, producer, director
Yearsactive:1954–1995
Birth Name:Robert V. Barron
Birth Date:26 December 1932
Birth Place:Charleston, West Virginia, U.S.
Death Place:Salinas, California, U.S.

Robert V. Barron (December 26, 1932 – December 1, 2000) was an American TV and film director, producer, screenwriter and actor.[1] 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 theater across the U.S. He built an impressive resumé of glowing reviews of 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, Richard III, but 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.[2]

Death

Barron died in December 1, 2000 at age 67 in Salinas, California, and was interred in Salinas's Garden of Memories Memorial Park.[3]

Filmography

Anime

YearTitleRoleNotes
1980Don de la manchaDoctor / Dream Quixote / Villager 12 episodes; uncredited
1980Tomb of DraculaAl / Narrator / Stud / Tomo / WallaUncredited
1981Dr. SlumpBear / Coach / FrankEpisode: "Arale-chan Tanjou/Ossu! Otomodachi"; uncredited
1981Dogtanian and the Three MuskehoundsTreville
1984Macross: BoobytrapAirshow Announcement
1985Time PatrolTV movie; credited as Merle Pearson
1985RobotechAdmiral / Detroit Mayor / MC85 episodes
1985Qing bao long hu menKramerCredited as Robert Barron
1985Captain Harlock and the Queen of a Thousand YearsBully / Devlin / General / Major / Walla65 episodes; uncredited
1986Prof. EmbryCredited as Merle Pearson
1986Macron 1Narrator / Geraldan / ComputerUncredited
1987Wicked CityPresident (USA dub)
1987Twilight of the CockroachesElderCredited as Robert Barron

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1966The Las Vegas HillbillysDonaldCredited as Christian Anderson
1967Cottonpickin' ChickenpickersCousin ElwoodCredited as Christian Anderson
1968The Road HustlersLuke ReedyCredited as Christian Anderson
1977MacArthurPOWUncredited
1980The Private EyesGas Station Attendant
1982Eating RaoulButler at Swingers Party
1982Rocket to StardomFarmerShort Film
1982Honkytonk ManUndertaker
1983A Minor MiracleDrunk #1Credited as Robert Barron
1986The SupernaturalsOld VetCredited as Robert Barron
1987DisorderliesFuneral Home Director
1988Daddy's BoysAxelrod
1989Bill & Ted's Excellent AdventureAbraham Lincoln
1989The Horror ShowDeath-a-Thon Announcer
1989The SpringOld Indian
1989The Brave FrogGoliath / Narrator (voice)
1994A Dangerous PlaceHomeless ManFinal Film Role

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1964The VirginianChuckEpisode: "The Girl from Yesterday"; credited as Christian Anderson
1964Valentine's DayAngry Patron / Club Member2 episodes
1965–1969The Wild Wild WestServant #2 / Mark Dawson2 episodes; credited as Christian Anderson
1966–1969BonanzaCavalry Trooper / Stagecoach Driver / Hunter3 episodes; credited as Christian Anderson
1967The Red Skelton HourMinor RoleEpisode: "Where There's Smoke, There's a Dragon"
1967The Beverly HillbilliesHaroldEpisode: "Robin Hood and the Sheriff"; credited as Christian Anderson
1967Judd, for the DefenseGeorge FlowersEpisode: "Firebrand"; credited as Christian Anderson
1968MannixCar Rental ManagerEpisode: "A View of Nowhere"; uncredited
1972Love, American StyleAbraham LincolnEpisode: "Love and the Ghost"
1978The Next Step BeyondPeter CombsEpisode: "The Haunted Inn"
1979Detective SchoolBurtEpisode: "The Bank Job"
1980Young MaverickUndertaker2 episodes
1982The Dukes of HazzardChickasaw ThinsEpisode: "A Little Game of Pool"
1983Ace Diamond Private EyeThe OrganistTV movie
1985WildsideCookEpisode: "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 episodes
1989Out of This WorldAbraham LincolnEpisode: "Honest Evie"
1989Alien NationCelinite PriestEpisode: "Fountain of Youth"
1990Father Dowling MysteriesTonyEpisode: "The Medical Mystery"
1990Thanksgiving DayFather JoeTV movie
1991Get a LifeAbe LincolnEpisode: "Psychic 2000"
1991Frankenstein: The College YearsProf. LippziegTV movie
1991Quantum LeapOld ConvictEpisode: "Unchained - November 2, 1956"
1993–1994Mighty Morphin Power RangersAdditional Voices39 episodes

Video games

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: 2000-12-20 . Obituary for Robert V. Barron (Aged 67) . 18 . The Californian . 2023-01-22.
  2. Web site: Bob Lilley's contributions to the Robert V Barron site. bemorehealthy.com. August 2, 2015.
  3. Web site: admin . 2000-12-19 . Robert Barron Obituary - Death Notice and Service Information . 2023-01-22 . Legacy.com . en.