Charlie Robinson (actor)
American actor (1945–2021)
Charlie Robinson
Robinson in 2009
Born Charles P. Robinson
(1945-11-09 ) November 9, 1945Died July 11, 2021(2021-07-11) (aged 75) Occupation(s) Actor, director Years active 1971–2021 Spouse(s) Arvis Robinson (m. 1968; div. 1978) Venus Duran (m. 19??; div. 19??)
Dolorita Noonan-Robinson
(
m. 1996)
Children 4
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
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
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
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
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
Film
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
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
^ Grullón Paz, Isabella (July 13, 2021). "Charlie Robinson, Actor Best Known for 'Night Court,' Dies at 75" . New York Times . Retrieved January 25, 2024 .
^ "Celebrity Mailbag" . The Blade . Toledo, Ohio. November 5, 1998. Retrieved December 8, 2012 .
^ 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 .
^ Goldberg, Lesley (July 31, 2012). " 'Hart of Dixie' Taps 'Night Court' Funnyman for Recurring Gig (Exclusive)" . The Hollywood Reporter .
^ Gennis, Sadie (August 1, 2012). " 'Hart of Dixie' Books Night Court's Charlie Robinson" . TV Guide .
^ " 'Fences' program" (PDF) . South Coast Repertory . January–February 2010. Retrieved April 1, 2023 .
^ 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 .
^ Boehm, Mike (September 7, 2013). "Charlie Robinson has no delusions playing Willy Loman" . Los Angeles Times .
^ Perez, Lexy (July 12, 2021). "Charlie Robinson, 'Night Court' Star, Dies at 75" . The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved July 13, 2021 .
^ Legaspi, Althea (July 12, 2021). "Charlie Robinson, 'Night Court' Actor, Dead at 75" . Rolling Stone . Retrieved July 13, 2021 .
^ Pedersen, Erik (July 12, 2021). "Charlie Robinson Dies: 'Night Court' & 'Buffalo Bill' Actor Was 75" . Deadline Hollywood . Retrieved July 13, 2021 .
^ Shanfeld, Ethan (July 12, 2021). "Charlie Robinson, Who Played Mac on 'Night Court,' Dies at 75" . Variety . Retrieved July 13, 2021 .
External links