Robert David Hall Biography

Robert David Hall is an impassioned spokesperson for the importance of hiring actors with disabilities. In 1978, when he was 31, he was crushed by an 18-wheeler, lost both legs, and suffered burns over 65 percent of his body. He now uses prosthetics, and currently plays the role of Doctor Al Robbins in the Emmy nominated show, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.He has been quoted as saying, If you support diversity and think shows should give a portrayal of what America truly looks like, then performers with disabilities must be included in that equation...People have been very good at being politically correct. They say the right things. But there has been an assumption that disabled actors could slow down production, can't do this or that, or that people won't want to see them on screen.Robert has testified before Congress to encourage the hiring of disabled actors, and has also served as a national board member and chair on the Performers With Disabilities Committee.He was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award with the CSI cast. In 1998 Robert won the Harold Russell Award from the Media Access Office. The Harold Russell Award is presented to an actor who serves as the best role model for other disabled actors.Born on November 9, 1947 in East Orange, New Jersey, Robert graduated from the University of California (UCLA) in 1971 with a degree in English literature. He made his big break into the acting world in 1991 when he played burn survivor Steven Kellen in Michael Apted's film, Class Action.Before that Robert worked as a professional musician and plays the guitar, piano and mandolin. He has also done voice work on television commercials and cartoons such as the 1983 animation action adventure, The Littles where he was the voice of Dinky Little and Mr. George Bigg. The show ended in 1986. He also worked for several years as a DJ. In addition, he narrated several voices in Batman: The Animated Series.On the day of his accident he worked the morning shift at a local radio station. After the crash he was so convinced that if he stopped talking he was going to die so he kept up a regular stream of one-sided conversation. He talked about everything including what he studied in school, his family, his favorite records and movies, information about every girlfriend he d had, and where he lived.Robert has appeared in Beverly Hills 90210, Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction, Brooklyn South, L A Law, Party of Five, The Practice, The West Wing, and Touched by an Angel.He has married three times and divorced twice. His first marriage to Susan Petroni in 1971 lasted three years. He married his second wife Connie Cole in 1979 and the two had a son, Andrew, born in 1981. He married Judy Sterns in 1999.