Robert Donner was born on April 27, 1931 in New York City, New York, but was raised in New Jersey, Michigan, and Texas. After graduating from high school, he spent four years in the navy. When he got out, he moved to California, where he worked odd jobs during the day and attended California State University in the evening, until his neighbor, Clint Eastwood, talked him into pursuing an acting career. He told Donner that he was humorous and had a good face.
Donner's first film role was an uncredited part in the 1959 John Wayne Western, “Rio Bravo” and was in both sequels, “El Dorado” and “Rio Lobo”. His other film credits include: “The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance”, “Cool Hand Luke”, “The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing”, “High Plains Drifter”, “Vanishing Point”, “Damnation Alley” and “Under the Rainbow”.
Donner made more than twenty films and over one hundred television appearances. His television credits include: “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.”, “Bonanza”, “The Young Pioneers”, “Charlie's Angels”, “The A-Team”, “Columbo”, “Murder She Wrote”, and “Dharma & Greg”. He was best known for his recurring roles on “Adam-12”, as the ex-convict informant T.J., and on “The Waltons”, as the eccentric Yancy Tucker. But, he is best remembered for his recurring role as Exidor, the leader of an invisible cult called ‘The Friends of Venus’, on all four seasons of “Mork and Mindy”. He was also a celebrity guest on game shows like Match Game, Password Plus, Beat the Clock and Body Language.
When he was not busy acting, Donner was extremely active in athletics, and was known as one of Hollywood's most enthusiastic golfers. He was a member of the former "Hollywood Hackers" and carried a seven handicap. He was the leader of a group of entertainment industry professionals known as “Don Porter's Thursday Golf Group” and joined others at many of the Celebrity Golf Tournaments to raise money for various charities around the world. Donner also played in many tennis tournaments and was frequently called upon during "Celebrity Nights" in which he performed stand-up comedy and promised not to sing. His reputation in this area, lead him to become known as one of Hollywood's "in demand" Corporate Speakers.
Robert Donner married producer/writer Jill Sherman Donner in 1982. On June 8, 2006, he passed away in Sherman Oaks, California from a heart attack at the age of 75.

ACTING CREDITS:

Hoot - 2006
Early Edition - Lucius Snow - 2000
Dharma & Greg - Joe – 1997
Pacific Blue - Luther - 1996
The Naked Truth - Mr, Klench – 1995
Columbo: Undercover - Zeke – 1994
Hearts Afire - Sheriff -1993
With a Vengeance - Det. Max Borovey - 1992
Murder, She Wrote: From the Horse's Mouth - Sheriff - 1991
The Hit Man - Otto - 1991
Lassie: Well of Love - 1990
Rocket Boy - as Hawkhead - 1987
Murder, She Wrote: If a Body Meet a Body - Silas Pike - 1986
Allan Quartermain and the Lost City of Gold - Swarma – 1986
MacGyver – Milt Bozer - 1985
The A-Team: Breakout! - Sheriff - 1984
Hysterical - Ralph - 1983
Under the Rainbow - Assassin – 1981
Falcon Crest - Tucker Fixx - 1981
Mork and Mindy - (Recurring Role) - Exidor - 1978-1982
Standing Tall - 1978
Five Days from Home - Baldwin - 1978
The Young Pioneers – Mr. Peters - 1978
Damnation Alley - 1977
Charlie's Angels: To Kill an Angel - Korbin - 1976
Young Pioneers' Christmas - 1976
Captains and the Kings - Wounded Texan - 1976
The Last Hard Men - Lee Roy Tucker - 1976
The Boy Who Talked to Badgers - 1975
Bite the Bullet - Reporter - 1975
Take a Hard Ride - Skave - 1974
Nakia - Fincher - 1974
High Plains Drifter - Preacher - 1973
Santee - 1973
The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing - Dub - 1973
Mrs. Sundance - Ben Lant -1973
The Waltons – (Recurring Role) - Yancy Tucker - 1972-1978
Horror at 37,000 Feet - Dispatcher - 1972
Pickup on 101 - Jesse, 1st Farmer - 1972
No Place to Run - Car Salesman – 1972
Mrs. Pollifax -- Spy - Larrabee - 1971
Something Big - Cobb's friend - 1971
Fools' Parade - Willis Hubbard -1971
Vanishing Point - Older Cop - 1971
One More Train to Rob - Sheriff Adams - 1971
Bonanza: The Horse Traders -] Owen - 1970
Zigzag - Sgt. Mason Weber - 1970
Well of Love - 1970
Rio Lobo - Whitey Carter - 1970
Chisum - Morton - 1970
The Intruders - Roy Kirsh - 1970
Adam-12 - (Recurring Role) - T.J. - 1969-1973
Bonanza: Meena - Owen - 1969
Ironside: A Bullet for Mark - Gas Station Owner - 1969
The Undefeated - Judd Mailer - 1969
Skidoo - Switchboard Operator - 1968
The Private Navy of Sgt. O'Farrell - Pvt. Ogg - 1968
El Dorado - Milt - 1967
The Spirit Is Willing - Ebenezer Twitchell - 1967
Cool Hand Luke - Boss Shorty - 1967
Catalina Caper - Fingers - 1967
Agent for H.A.R.M. - Morgue attendant - 1966
Red Line 7000 - LeRoy - 1965
I Spy - Dr. Bustard - 1965
The Man From U.N.C.L.E.: The Terbuf Affair - 1964
The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance - 1962
Rio Bravo - 1959
Rawhide - Billings - 1959
Gunsmoke - Belnap - 1955
The Wonderful World of Disney - Burton - 1954