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Charlie Robinson (actor)

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Charlie Robinson
Robinson in 2009
Born
Charles P. Robinson

(1945-11-09)November 9, 1945
Houston, Texas, U.S.
DiedJuly 11, 2021(2021-07-11) (aged 75)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actor, director
Years active1971–2021
Spouse(s)Arvis Robinson
(m. 1968; div. 1978)
Venus Duran
(m. 19??; div. 19??)
Dolorita Noonan-Robinson
​
​
(m. 1996)​
Children4

Charlie Robinson (November 9, 1945 – July 11, 2021) was an American stage, film and television actor. He is best known for his role on the NBC sitcom Night Court as Macintosh "Mac" Robinson (Seasons 2–9), the clerk of the court and a Vietnam War veteran.

Although his most frequent on-screen billing was Charlie Robinson, Night Court had credited him as Charles Robinson throughout his 1984–1992 stint as Mac. In two of his earliest film appearances, 1974's Sugar Hill and 1975's The Black Gestapo, he was credited as Charles P. Robinson. Some of his credits have been occasionally commingled with those of older actor Charles Knox Robinson who, between 1958 and 1971, was featured in numerous films and television episodes under the stage name Charles Robinson.

Early life

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Robinson was born in Houston, to Planey and Ora (Barnes) Robinson. He served in the Army and briefly attended the University of Houston before his departure to pursue an acting career.[1]

Early career

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In Robinson's early career, he was a singer: as a teenager with the group Archie Bell and the Drells and later with a group called Southern Clouds of Joy.[2]

Later career

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Robinson's acting credits include appearances in Black Gestapo, Emergency!, The White Shadow, Flamingo Road, The Fresh Prince of Bel Air, The Game, Touched by an Angel, and Antwone Fisher. Robinson was cast in the role of Newdell in the NBC comedy Buffalo Bill. Not the success it was expected to be, Buffalo Bill was canceled after two seasons and replaced by Night Court. Robinson was cast as court clerk Mac Robinson, after the first season in 1984, when Karen Austin, who played the original court clerk, left the cast. Robinson played the role on Night Court from 1984 until the show ended in 1992. He also directed three episodes of the series. Also worked on Home Improvement.

From 1992 to 1995, Robinson co-starred on the sitcom Love & War, replacing John Hancock who died a few episodes into the series run.[3] Robinson played character Bud Harper in Home Improvement, and appeared in many other television shows including House, The Bernie Mac Show, My Wife and Kids, Soul Food, Charmed, Hart of Dixie,[4][5] How I Met Your Mother, and My Name Is Earl.

He did commercial work for NEXTEL in which he asks a worker if he's "agitating my dots" after he walks in on two other dispatchers staring at the dots, which represented delivery workers, on a computer screen. He also did commercials for Old Spice, where he played the head coach of the NFL's Denver Broncos, appearing with perennial All-Pro Bronco linebacker Von Miller.

In 2010, Robinson worked at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival and co-starred in the film Jackson which was directed by J.F. Lawton. Robinson appeared as "Troy" in August Wilson's Fences at Southern California's South Coast Repertory in Costa Mesa from January 22, 2010 until February 21, 2010.[6] In September 2013, he returned to the theater to portray Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman.[7][8] In 2015, he played Mr. Munson, the blind tenant on Mom whom Bonnie avoids helping with apartment issues.

Illness and death

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Robinson died on July 11, 2021, at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, from cardiac arrest with multisystem organ failure due to septic shock and metastatic adenocarcinoma, a type of glandular cancer. He was 75.[9][10][11][12]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Film Role Notes
1971 Drive, He Said Jollop
1973 Set This Town on Fire Brad Wells TV film
1974 Sugar Hill Fabulous
1975 The Black Gestapo Colonel Kojah
1977 Nowhere to Hide Deputy Ted Willoughby TV film
A Killing Affair Buck Fryman TV film
The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald Melvin Johnson TV film
1978 Gray Lady Down McAllister
1979 Apocalypse Now Soldier Uncredited
Buffalo Soldiers Private Wright TV film
1980 Haywire Male Nurse TV film
1982 Rehearsal for Murder The Second Officer TV film
1984 The River Truck
1988 Crash Course Larry Pearle TV film
1990 Murder C.O.D. Lieutenant Silk TV film
1996 Project: ALF Dr. Stanley TV film
Set It Off Nate
1998 Land of the Free Matt McCaster
1999 Malevolence Henry Wilson
Beowulf Weaponsmaster
2000 The Last Dance Ned TV film
The Playaz Court Ike
2001 Scam Larry the Lawyer Short film
2002 Antwone Fisher Howard
Santa Jr. Judge Wheeler TV film
Miss Lettie and Me Isaiah Griffin TV film
2003 Secret Santa Russell TV film
2004 Barbershop Blues TC Direct-to-video
The Passage of Mrs. Calabash The Professor Short film
2005 Break a Leg Captain Stevens
Taco! Detective Furlong Short film
Triple Cross Alex Direct-to-video
River's End Deputy 'Fetch' Brown
2006 Even Money Coach Washington
McBride: Requiem Judge Jeffries TV film
Mercy Street Mr. King
2007 McBride: Dogged Judge Jeffries TV film
King Baby Chuck Short film
Steam Reverend Patterson
2008 The House Bunny Francis
Jackson Sam
Natural Disasters Charlie
2009 Ronna and Beverly Leron TV film
Alligator Point TV film
2010 Krews Mr. Davis
2011 Light Store Clerk
2012 Falling Away Mr. King
Swerve Charlie Direct-to-video
Rosita Lopez for President Thomas Hamilton Short film
2015 Hoovey Coach Wilson
Russell Madness Mike
Sweet Kandy Eddie Morehouse
Come Away with Me Michael Blake Short film
How Sarah Got Her Wings Max
2016 Pee-wee's Big Holiday Police Captain
2017 Maybe Someday Edgar
2020 Blindfire Albert Hughes
2021 Senior Entourage Charlie
Sleepwalker Charlie Short film

Television

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Year Series Role Notes
1971 Owen Marshall, Counselor at Law Cal Morgan Episode: "The Forest and the Trees"
1974 Firehouse Episode: "Burst of Flame"
1975 Caribe Kishara Episode: "The Assassin"
Cannon Hank Colcutt Episode: "To Still the Voice"
1978 King Detective Ed Redditt Miniseries, 3 episodes
The White Shadow Jackie Solomon Episode: "Bonus Baby"
1979 Lou Grant Don Episode: "Vet"
Roots: The Next Generations Luke Bettiger Episode: "Part IV"
1981 Flamingo Road Phil Recurring role, 7 episodes
1982 Hill Street Blues Roy Episode: "Pestolozzi's Revenge"
St. Elsewhere Bill Austin Episode: "Tweety and Ralph"
1983-1984 Buffalo Bill Newdell Series regular, 18 episodes
1984-1992 Night Court Mac Robinson Series regular, 180 episodes
1986 Hotel Curtis Powell Episode: "Hidden Talents"
1992-1995 Love & War Abe Johnson Series regular, 57 episodes
1993 CBS Schoolbreak Special Sam Raynor Episode: "Other Mothers"
1995 The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Ernest Episode: "To Thine Own Self Be Blue... and Gold"
1995-1999 Home Improvement Bud Harper Recurring role, 9 episodes
1996 The John Larroquette Show Norm Jones Episode: "John's Lucky Day"
In the House Major Episode: "A Major Problem"
The Crew Reverend William Edwards Episode: "The Man We Love"
1996-1997 Ink Ernie Trainor Series regular, 22 episodes
1997 Malcolm & Eddie Marcus McGee Episodes: "The Courtship of Eddie's Mother" & "Mixed Nuts"
1998-2000 Buddy Faro El Jefe Series regular, 13 episodes
1999 Touched by an Angel Cyrus Episode: "Black Like Monica"
2001 Soul Food Reverend Pryor Episode: "Take Me to the Water"
First Years Judge Episode: "The First Thing You Do..."
Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place Officer Harris Episode: "Should I Stay or Should I Go?"
DAG Russell Daggett Episode: "Mr. Daggett Goes to Washington"
The Trouble with Normal Mr. Lindquist Episode: "Help Yourself"
2002 My Wife and Kids Joe Kyle Episode: "Failure to Communicate"
2003 Yes, Dear Goodwill Guy Episode: "Space Jam"
Abby Hank Newton Episode: "The Mama and the Papa"
Andy Richter Controls the Universe Warden Episode: "Charity Begins in Cellblock D"
Carnivàle Walter Episode: "Tipton"
2004 The Bernie Mac Show Earl Davis Episode: "Hair Jordan"
2005 Committed Marvin Episode: "The Mother Episode"
Charmed Mike Episode: "Show Ghouls"
House M.D. Robert Episode: "Humpty Dumpty"
Cold Case Anton Episode: "Committed"
2006 Still Standing Scully Episode: "Still Deceitful"
How I Met Your Mother Bank President Episode: "Aldrin Justice"
2007 The Riches Dr. Dibadeaux Episode: "The Big Floss"
My Name Is Earl Doctor Episode: "Two Balls, Two Strikes"
2007-2014 The Game Thomas Pitts Recurring role, 4 episodes
2008 30 Rock Charles Robinson Episode: "The One with the Cast of 'Night Court'"
2009 Big Love Baptist Episode: "Come, Ye Saints"
Hank Reuben Episode: "Relax, Don't Do It"
2010 The Secret Life of the American Teenager Episode: "Ben There, Done That"
$h*! My Dad Says Mr. Campbell Episode: "You Can't Handle the Truce"
2011 Harry's Law Judge Marvin Baum Episode: "Bangers in the House"
2012 The Soul Man Ike Episode: "Lost in the Move"
2012-2015 Hart of Dixie Sergeant Jeffries Series regular, 16 episodes
2013 Key & Peele Pawn Shop Owner Episode: "Season 3, Episode 12"
2015 Reed Between the Lines Monroe Reed Episodes: "You Have to Let Go" & "I'm Not Superman"
K.C. Undercover Pops Episode: "Off the Grid"
Key & Peele Dying Father Episode: "The End"
2015-2019 Mom Mr. Munson Recurring role, 7 episodes
2016 Grey's Anatomy Leo Polson Episode: "You're Gonna Need Someone on Your Side"
2017 K.C. Undercover Othello King Episode: "Out of the Water and Into the Fire"
Disjointed Scooter Boots Episode: "Donna Weed"
2017-2018 The Guest Book Wilfred Series regular, 11 episodes
2018 This Is Us Don Robinson Episodes: "Katie Girls" &"Toby"
NCIS Ray Jennings Episode: "Fragments"
2019 Better Things Sylvester Episode: "Holding"
2020 Raven's Home Mr. Arthur Episodes: "Close Shave" & "On Edge"
Russell Maniac Mike Episode: "Ferraro Family Business"
Love in the Time of Corona Charles Miniseries, 4 episodes

References

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  1. ^ Grullón Paz, Isabella (July 13, 2021). "Charlie Robinson, Actor Best Known for 'Night Court,' Dies at 75". New York Times. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  2. ^ "Celebrity Mailbag". The Blade. Toledo, Ohio. November 5, 1998. Retrieved December 8, 2012.
  3. ^ Brooks, Tim; Marsh, Earle F. (June 24, 2009). The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network and Cable TV Shows, 1946-Present. New York: Ballantine Books. p. 815. ISBN 978-0-3074-8320-1. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  4. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (July 31, 2012). "'Hart of Dixie' Taps 'Night Court' Funnyman for Recurring Gig (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
  5. ^ Gennis, Sadie (August 1, 2012). "'Hart of Dixie' Books Night Court's Charlie Robinson". TV Guide.
  6. ^ "'Fences' program" (PDF). South Coast Repertory. January–February 2010. Retrieved April 1, 2023.
  7. ^ Donloe, Darlene (September 6, 2013). "Charlie Robinson and SCR's Masterson Pay Attention to Willy Loman". This Stage Magazine. Archived from the original on January 9, 2017. Retrieved January 8, 2017.
  8. ^ Boehm, Mike (September 7, 2013). "Charlie Robinson has no delusions playing Willy Loman". Los Angeles Times.
  9. ^ Perez, Lexy (July 12, 2021). "Charlie Robinson, 'Night Court' Star, Dies at 75". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  10. ^ Legaspi, Althea (July 12, 2021). "Charlie Robinson, 'Night Court' Actor, Dead at 75". Rolling Stone. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  11. ^ Pedersen, Erik (July 12, 2021). "Charlie Robinson Dies: 'Night Court' & 'Buffalo Bill' Actor Was 75". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
  12. ^ Shanfeld, Ethan (July 12, 2021). "Charlie Robinson, Who Played Mac on 'Night Court,' Dies at 75". Variety. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
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