Robert Walden
Encyclopedia
Robert Walden is an American
television
and motion picture actor. He is best known for his role as Joe Rossi on Lou Grant
for which he was nominated for an Emmy three times and his role as Joe Waters on Brothers
. He's currently a series regular on Happily Divorced
.
Winokur) and Max Wolkowitz.
for Roger Corman
. After that, and for the first several years of his career, he often played young doctors, such as in the television series "The Bold Ones" as Dr. Cohen (after the departure of John Saxon prior to the final season), and notably in films Blue Sunshine
and Paddy Chayefsky
's The Hospital
. His breakthrough role was in the television series Lou Grant, on which he played journalist Joe Rossi. He was a cast member on Lou Grant during its entire run (1977–1982), and received three Emmy Award
nominations (in 1979, 1980 and 1981) for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his work on that series. Walden has played several historical characters, including Donald Segretti
in the 1976 film All the President's Men
, and J. Robert Oppenheimer in the 1980 TV movie Enola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bomb. From 1984 - 1989 he starred in the groundbreaking Showtime sitcom Brothers
as the middle of three brothers, the owner of a bar/restaurant who was a retired NFL placekicker. His youngest brother, played by Paul Regina, was gay and the series dealt with issues regarding homosexuality
. Walden also made a cameo appearance as a sound engineer in the 1994 film Radioland Murders
.
Currently, Walden is making a return to series television in the new TV Land
sitcom Happily Divorced
, which premiered on June 15, 2011. Walden plays the father of the lead character, played by series creator and writer Fran Drescher
, and Rita Moreno
appears as his wife. As on his previous series Brothers, Happily Divorced is also predominantly gay-themed, as the plot is based on Drescher's divorce from series co-creator Peter Marc Jacobson
, who later came out as gay and remained friends with Drescher.
Walden is a distinguished teacher of acting at the The New School for Drama
, division of the New York City
university The New School
. In August, 2006 he appeared in the Herbert Bergoff Playwrights Foundation production of Arthur Miller's "'The American Clock
'" under the direction of Austin Pendleton
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
and motion picture actor. He is best known for his role as Joe Rossi on Lou Grant
Lou Grant (TV series)
Lou Grant is an American television drama series starring Ed Asner in the titular role as a newspaper editor. Unusual in American television, this drama series was a spinoff from a sitcom, The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Aired from 1977 to 1982, Lou Grant won 13 Emmy Awards, including "Outstanding Drama...
for which he was nominated for an Emmy three times and his role as Joe Waters on Brothers
Brothers (TV series)
Brothers is an American television sitcom that originally aired on the cable network Showtime from July 13, 1984 to July 25, 1989, totaling 115 episodes. It was produced by Gary Nardino Productions, in association with two separate divisions of Paramount; first by the Paramount Video division and...
. He's currently a series regular on Happily Divorced
Happily Divorced
Happily Divorced is an American sitcom created by Fran Drescher and Peter Marc Jacobson. Inspired by their experiences, the series, which became TV Land's third original scripted series following Hot in Cleveland and Retired at 35, premiered on June 15, 2011, and revolves around a Los Angeles...
.
Early life
Walden was born in New York, New York, the son of Hilda (néeMarried and maiden names
A married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage. When a person assumes the family name of her spouse, the new name replaces the maiden name....
Winokur) and Max Wolkowitz.
Career
Walden's career began in 1970, in Bloody MamaBloody Mama
Bloody Mama is a 1970 low budget film very loosely based on the story of Ma Barker. It was directed by Roger Corman and starred Shelley Winters in the title role, depicted as a corrupt mother who encourages and organizes her children's criminality. The film featured an early appearance by a young...
for Roger Corman
Roger Corman
Roger William Corman is an American film producer, director and actor. He has mostly worked on low-budget B movies. Some of Corman's work has an established critical reputation, such as his cycle of films adapted from the tales of Edgar Allan Poe, and in 2009 he won an Honorary Academy Award for...
. After that, and for the first several years of his career, he often played young doctors, such as in the television series "The Bold Ones" as Dr. Cohen (after the departure of John Saxon prior to the final season), and notably in films Blue Sunshine
Blue Sunshine (film)
Blue Sunshine is a 1978 horror film directed and written by Jeff Lieberman and starring Zalman King and Deborah Winters. The film has become a cult item among horror fans, remembered mainly for its creatively weird atmosphere and offbeat plot...
and Paddy Chayefsky
Paddy Chayefsky
Sidney Aaron "Paddy" Chayefsky , was an American playwright, screenwriter, and novelist. He is the only person to have won three solo Academy Awards for Best Screenplay....
's The Hospital
The Hospital
The Hospital is a 1971 black comedy film directed by Arthur Hiller and starring George C. Scott as Dr. Herbert Bock. The script was written by Paddy Chayefsky, who was awarded the 1972 Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.-Plot:...
. His breakthrough role was in the television series Lou Grant, on which he played journalist Joe Rossi. He was a cast member on Lou Grant during its entire run (1977–1982), and received three Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
nominations (in 1979, 1980 and 1981) for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series for his work on that series. Walden has played several historical characters, including Donald Segretti
Donald Segretti
Donald Henry Segretti is a former political operative for the Committee to Re-elect the President during the early 1970s. Segretti was hired by friend Dwight L...
in the 1976 film All the President's Men
All the President's Men (film)
All the President's Men is a 1976 Academy Award-winning political thriller film based on the 1974 non-fiction book of the same name by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, the two journalists investigating the Watergate scandal for The Washington Post...
, and J. Robert Oppenheimer in the 1980 TV movie Enola Gay: The Men, the Mission, the Atomic Bomb. From 1984 - 1989 he starred in the groundbreaking Showtime sitcom Brothers
Brothers (TV series)
Brothers is an American television sitcom that originally aired on the cable network Showtime from July 13, 1984 to July 25, 1989, totaling 115 episodes. It was produced by Gary Nardino Productions, in association with two separate divisions of Paramount; first by the Paramount Video division and...
as the middle of three brothers, the owner of a bar/restaurant who was a retired NFL placekicker. His youngest brother, played by Paul Regina, was gay and the series dealt with issues regarding homosexuality
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
. Walden also made a cameo appearance as a sound engineer in the 1994 film Radioland Murders
Radioland Murders
Radioland Murders is a 1994 black comedy mystery film directed by Mel Smith and co-written/produced by George Lucas. Radioland Murders is set in the 1939 atmosphere of old-time radio and pays homage to the screwball comedy films of the 1930s...
.
Currently, Walden is making a return to series television in the new TV Land
TV Land
TV Land is an American cable television network launched on April 29, 1996. It is owned by MTV Networks, a division of Viacom, which also owns Paramount Pictures, and networks such as MTV and Nickelodeon...
sitcom Happily Divorced
Happily Divorced
Happily Divorced is an American sitcom created by Fran Drescher and Peter Marc Jacobson. Inspired by their experiences, the series, which became TV Land's third original scripted series following Hot in Cleveland and Retired at 35, premiered on June 15, 2011, and revolves around a Los Angeles...
, which premiered on June 15, 2011. Walden plays the father of the lead character, played by series creator and writer Fran Drescher
Fran Drescher
Francine Joy "Fran" Drescher is an American film and television actress, comedian, screenwriter, director, producer, author, singer, talk show host, political lobbyist and health activist...
, and Rita Moreno
Rita Moreno
Rita Moreno is a Puerto Rican singer, dancer and actress. She is the only Hispanic and one of the few performers who have won an Emmy, a Grammy, an Oscar, and a Tony, and was the second Puerto Rican to win an Academy Award....
appears as his wife. As on his previous series Brothers, Happily Divorced is also predominantly gay-themed, as the plot is based on Drescher's divorce from series co-creator Peter Marc Jacobson
Peter Marc Jacobson
Peter Marc Jacobson is an American television writer, director and producer, and actor. He is best known as the co-creator of the popular sitcom The Nanny which he created and wrote with his then wife actress Fran Drescher, who was the star of the series.-Producer:*What I Like About You Peter Marc...
, who later came out as gay and remained friends with Drescher.
Other Jobs
He was a member of the Doo Wop group Bobby & The Chord-A-Roys in 1960.Walden is a distinguished teacher of acting at the The New School for Drama
The New School for Drama
The New School for Drama is the New School 's three-year graduate program for the theater arts, located at 151 Bank St. It was established in 2005 and grants Masters of Fine Arts degrees in acting, directing and playwriting...
, division of the New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
university The New School
The New School
The New School is a university in New York City, located mostly in Greenwich Village. From its founding in 1919 by progressive New York academics, and for most of its history, the university was known as the New School for Social Research. Between 1997 and 2005 it was known as New School University...
. In August, 2006 he appeared in the Herbert Bergoff Playwrights Foundation production of Arthur Miller's "'The American Clock
The American Clock
The American Clock is a play by Arthur Miller. The play is about 1930s America during The Great Depression. It is based in part on Studs Terkel's Hard Times: An Oral History of the Great Depression. The play premiered on Broadway at the Biltmore Theatre on November 11, 1980; closing on November 30,...
'" under the direction of Austin Pendleton
Austin Pendleton
Austin Pendleton is an American film, television, and stage actor, a playwright, and a theatre director and instructor.-Life and career:...
.