Background
He was born on April 13, 1932, to Charles Knox Robinson II, playwright, and Geraldine O"Loughlin, painter in Orange, New Jersey.
He was born on April 13, 1932, to Charles Knox Robinson II, playwright, and Geraldine O"Loughlin, painter in Orange, New Jersey.
A graduate of Lawrenceville School, he graduated Phi Beta Kappa and magna cum laude from Princeton University in 1954.
Robinson appeared in nearly 50 films and television shows over his career. His first film was Splendor in the Grass in the role of Johnny Masterson. Siblings include Judith Kirby Robinson, actress, and Toni Stuart Robinson Thalenberg, former actress/academic.
He was the cousin of actor Gerald South. O"Loughlin.
His theatrical family opened his acting career at age three on Broadway. He was an English major and had many campus activities, including serving as president of Triangle Club.
He also served as a French and Russian language interpreter for the 1984 Olympics. Robinson appeared in nearly 50 films and television shows during his career.
His first film was Splendor in the Grass in the small uncredited role of Johnny Masterson.
Some of Robinson"s other film appearances include Take Her, She"s Mine, Dear Brigitte, Shenandoah, and The Singing Nun. Mr. Robinson"s many television credits include 77 Sunset Strip, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Bachelor Father, Laramie, Wagon Train, Gunsmoke, Ben Casey, The Munsters, Mannix, The Federal Bureau of Investigation, Emergency!, Cannon, Airwolf, Switch and Simon & Simon. On Broadway he performed in Tall Story, The Pleasure of His Company and The Good Soup.
The first two plays would later become motion pictures (albeit without Mr Robinson).
He was part of the great ensemble cast in Robert Wise "s 1966 film The Sand Pebbles. Robinson played Richard Crenna"s second in command Ensign Bordelles aboard the fictional Navy gunboat, United States Ship San Pablo, stationed in China.
Robinson had a standout scene in which he had to lead his troops under guard of Chinese Nationalist soldiers back to the ship. As the sailors march, they are pummeled by vegetables thrown by the throngs of Chinese citizens.
He appeared in the 2001 Palm Canyon Theatre Productions Arsenic and Old Lace and The Manitoba Who Came to Dinner.
His lifelong entertainment career included his talents as an award-winning playwright, singer, songwriter, musician, linguist and magician. Robinson died at his home on July 22, 2006, of Parkinson"s disease. He was interred at Ocean View Cemetery in Staten Island, New New York