Robert Picardo

Photo of Robert Picardo

Biography

With his bald head, deep-set eyes, and richly expressive features, Picardo has portrayed a wide range of characters on TV: most notably, a cold-hearted junior high school gym coach--the dreaded Coach Cutlip in a recurring role on "The Wonder Years" (ABC, 1988-91); a dedicated and sympathetic military surgeon (and the beloved of nurse Dana Delany) in wartime Vietnam on "China Beach" (ABC, 1988-91); and a somewhat testy but supremely competent …
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Job Title

Actor, Other

Born

October 27, 1953

Career Milestones

1995

Hosted the syndicated TV special "Inside the New Adventure--Star Trek: Voyager"

Portrayed the initially unnamed holographic doctor on the hit spin-off "Star Trek: Voyager" (UPN); also directed two episodes and scripted one

1994

First TV-movie collaboration with Dante, "Runaway Daughters", an installment of Showtime's "Rebel Highway" series

1993

Played a recurring role on the hit sitcom "Home Improvement" (ABC)

Provided various voices for "Dinosaurs", a children's puppet show from Jim Henson Productions

1990

Provided the voice for the Johnnycab that takes Arnold Schwarzenegger for a ride in "Total Recall"

Played the recurring role of Coach Cutlip on "The Wonder Years", the popular sitcom set in the late 1960s; received 1989 Emmy nomination as Guest Actor in a Comedy Series

1988

Played Dr. Dick Richard, a regular character on the war drama series "China Beach"

1986

First TV collaboration with Dante, "Boo", an episode of the Steven Spielberg-produced fantasy anthology series "Amazing Stories"

1985

First appearance in a TV special "Michael Nesmith in Television Parts"

1984

Debut as a TV series regular, "Steambath", a Showtime fantasy based on the off-Broadway play set in a steambath in the hereafter

1980

TV miniseries debut, "The Dream Merchants" (syndicated)

1980

Feature acting debut, "The Howling"; first of numerous collaborations with director Joe Dante

1979

Reprised his role in the L.A. production of "Tribute" caught the attention of director Joe Dante

1978

Played opposite Jack Lemmon in the Broadway production of "Tribute"

1977

Broadway debut, a lead in "Gemini" with Danny Aiello

1976

Acted on stage with Diane Keaton in "The Primary English Class"

1976

Professional acting debut, off-Broadway production of David Mamet's "Sexual Perversity in Chicago"

1974

Moved to NYC at age 20; enrolled at the Circle in the Square Professional Theater Workshop

Bernstein informed Picardo's mother that her son was switching his major from biology to drama

Urged by Bernstein to study acting in New York

1972

While a pre-med student at Yale College, played a lead in the European production of Leonard Bernstein's "Mass" at age 19

Awards

1989

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor In a Comedy Series in The Wonder Years