Sam Robards
Samuel Prideaux Robards (born December 16, 1961)[1] is an American actor. The son of actors Jason Robards and Lauren Bacall, he is best known for his role as Henry Swinton in the film A.I. Artificial Intelligence, based on the science fiction short story "Supertoys Last All Summer Long" by English writer Brian Aldiss.
Sam Robards | |
|---|---|
| Born | Samuel Prideaux Robards December 16, 1961 New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Known for | Henry Swinton in A.I. Artificial Intelligence |
| Spouse(s) | Sidsel Jensen (m. 1997) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent(s) | Jason Robards Lauren Bacall |
| Relatives | Stephen Humphrey Bogart (half-brother) |
Early life and education
Robards was born in New York City, the son of actor Jason Robards, Jr. (1922–2000) and actress Lauren Bacall (1924–2014). He is the only child from their marriage, though he has seven half-siblings; five through his father (three elder, two younger), and through his mother's marriage to Humphrey Bogart, half-siblings Stephen Humphrey and Leslie Bogart. Robards was seven when his parents divorced, which Bacall later blamed on the elder Robards' alcoholism.[2] Robards recalled he was devastated by the divorce, and said he was raised "basically alone." Afterwards, he resided with his mother in New York.[3] Several years after the divorce, Sam moved to Europe with his mother and for a time lived in London, where he attended the American School in London, later returning to New York City where he attended Collegiate School.[4]
Robards attended Sarah Lawrence College, but was expelled after his freshman year due to poor grades and bad behavior.[3] In the fall of 1980, he attended the National Theater Institute at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, Connecticut.
Career
Robards began his acting career in 1980 in an off-Broadway production of Album, and made his feature-film debut in director Paul Mazursky's 1982 film Tempest. In 1985, Robards starred alongside Kevin Costner and future wife Suzy Amis in Fandango. Robards acted opposite his father in the 1988 film Bright Lights, Big City, which was their only collaboration before his death in 2000. Also in 1988, he was cast in the lead role of Kevin Keegan in the CBS drama TV 101 which was scheduled opposite Top 10 shows Roseanne and Matlock; the series was cancelled amidst a controversial abortion story line.
In 1990, he played the role of Chris Elliott's friend, Larry, on the Fox sitcom Get a Life, but left after the first season. In 1994, Robards starred in two films: Robert Altman's film Prêt-à-Porter, where he was a part of an ensemble that included his mother; and Alan Rudolph's biographical film of Dorothy Parker, Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle, where he portrayed the first editor of The New Yorker, Harold Ross.
His film résumé also includes Casualties of War, Beautiful Girls, American Beauty, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Life as a House, The Other Side of the Tracks, and The Art of Getting By.
Robards's television credits include a recurring role on and appearances on Spin City, The West Wing, Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Sex and the City, The Outer Limits, and Body of Proof. He had recurring roles on the series Gossip Girl (ended in 2012) and Treme (ended in 2013), and a regular role on Twisted (cancelled in 2014).
In the theatre, Robards was nominated for Broadway's 2002 Tony Award as Best Actor (Featured Role – Play) for Arthur Miller's The Man Who Had All the Luck. In July 2008, Robards took over the role of Richard Hannay in the New York City theatrical run of The 39 Steps.[5]
Personal life
In 1986, he married actress Suzy Amis, his co-star in Fandango. They had a son, Jasper, before their divorce in 1994.[6] In 1997, Robards married Danish model Sidsel Jensen. They have two sons, Calvin and Sebastian.[7][8]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Tempest | Teddy | |
| 1985 | Fandango | Kenneth Waggener | |
| 1985 | Not Quite Paradise | Mike | |
| 1988 | Bright Lights, Big City | Rich Vanier | |
| 1988 | Bird | Moscowitz | |
| 1989 | Casualties of War | Chaplain Kirk | |
| 1993 | The Ballad of Little Jo | Jasper Hill | |
| 1994 | Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle | Harold Ross | |
| 1994 | Prêt-à-Porter | Regina's Assistant | |
| 1996 | Beautiful Girls | Steve Rossmore | |
| 1997 | Dinner and Driving | Frank | |
| 1998 | Love from Ground Zero | Henry | Voice |
| 1999 | American Beauty | Jim Berkley | |
| 2000 | Bounce | Todd Exner | |
| 2001 | A.I. Artificial Intelligence | Henry Swinton | |
| 2001 | Life as a House | David Dokos | |
| 2004 | Catch That Kid | Tom | |
| 2004 | Surviving Eden | Gary Gold | |
| 2004 | Marmalade | Roger | |
| 2007 | Awake | Clayton Beresford Sr. | |
| 2008 | The Other Side of the Tracks | David | |
| 2008 | Che: Part One | Tad Szulc | |
| 2009 | Perestroika | Sasha | |
| 2009 | The Rebound | Frank | |
| 2009 | Company Retreat | Ron Gable | |
| 2011 | The Art of Getting By | Jack Sargent | |
| 2014 | Grand Street | Gary | |
| 2016 | The Late Bloomer | Dr. Lawson | |
| 2016 | Broken Links | Jack | |
| 2017 | Where Is Kyra? | Carl |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Prisoner Without a Name, Cell Without a Number | Daniel Timerman | Television film |
| 1985 | Spenser: For Hire | Chip Holmby | Episode: "The Choice" |
| 1985 | Into Thin Air | Stephen Walker | Television film |
| 1988 | Pancho Barnes | Gene McKendry | |
| 1988–1989 | TV 101 | Kevin Keegan | 17 episodes |
| 1990–1991 | Get a Life | Larry Potter | 24 episodes |
| 1993, 2009 | Law & Order | Davis Webb / Daniel Hendricks | 2 episodes |
| 1995 | The Outer Limits | Ben Kohler | Episode: "Living Hell" |
| 1995 | Donor Unknown | Dr. David Bausch | Television film |
| 1996 | The Man Who Captured Eichmann | David | |
| 1997 | The Trial of Adolf Eichmann | Avraham Aviel | |
| 1998 | Maximum Bob | Sheriff Gary Hammond | 7 episodes |
| 1998–1999 | Spin City | Arthur | 4 episodes |
| 1999 | Black and Blue | Mike Riordan | Television film |
| 2000 | Sex and the City | Tom Reymi | Episode: "Running with Scissors" |
| 2000 | Hamlet | Fortinbras | Television film |
| 2001 | The Warden | Axel | |
| 2001 | On Golden Pond | Bill Ray | |
| 2002 | Obsessed | David Stillman | |
| 2003 | My Life with Men | Jess Zebrowski | |
| 2004 | The Blackwater Lightship | Paul | |
| 2004 | Clubhouse | Bennet | Episode: "Chin Music" |
| 2004 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Paul Whitlock | Episode: "Magnificat" |
| 2004–2005 | The West Wing | Greg Brock | 8 episodes |
| 2006 | CSI: Miami | Mitchell Collett | Episode: "Dead Air" |
| 2007–2012 | Gossip Girl | Howie 'The Captain' Archibald | 16 episodes |
| 2010 | Vamped Out | Audition Actor #1 | Episode: "A New Day" |
| 2011 | Body of Proof | Bradford Paige | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2011 | Blue Bloods | Roger Carson | Episode: "My Funny Valentine" |
| 2011 | The Good Wife | Jarvis Bowes | Episode: "Killer Song" |
| 2012–2013 | Treme | Tim Feeny | 11 episodes |
| 2013–2014 | Twisted | Kyle Masterson | 19 episodes |
| 2015 | Limitless | Miles Amos | Episode: "Badge! Gun!" |
| 2019 | Madam Secretary | Major Brad Jenkins | Episode: "Valor" |
| 2021 | Y: The Last Man | Dean Brown | 2 episodes |
References
- ^ "Sam Robards". Hollywood.com. Retrieved 2016-05-26.
- ^ Bacall, Lauren. (2006). By Myself and Then Some. p. 377. HarperCollins, New York City. ISBN 978-0-06-112791-5.
- ^ a b Hammer, Josh (October 18, 1982). "Having Survived the Tempest of Life with a Famous Mom and Dad, Actor Sam Sets Sail on His Own". People. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
- ^ The Dutchman (the Collegiate School yearbook), 1975 edition, p. 35 (8th grade photos)
- ^ Kenneth Jones (4 June 2008). . Playbill. Archived from the original on 7 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-12.
- ^ Kolson, Ann (1993-04-04). "Actress Suzy Amis Is Great, Critics Say, But Nobody Knows It - Yet". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2016-05-26.
- ^ "Sam Robards". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 2016-05-27.
- ^ Green, Adam (2014-08-13). "Call Me Betty: Vogue's Theater Critic Remembers Family Friend Lauren Bacall". Vogue. Retrieved 2016-05-27.
External links
- Sam Robards at IMDb