Biography for
Andrew Robinson (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

14 February 1942, New York City, New York, USA

Birth Name

Andrew Jordt Robinson

Nickname

AJ
Andy

Height

5' 10" (1.78 m)

Mini Biography

Andrew Jordt Robinson was born in New York City and attended the University of New Hampshire, later receiving his B.A. in English from the New School for Social Research in NYC. After graduation, he spent a year in England at the London Academy for Music and Dramatic Arts on a Fulbright Scholarship. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Mr. Robinson performed a wide variety of theater, movie and television roles. These included the infamous Scorpio killer in Dirty Harry (1971), a stint on "Ryan's Hope" (1975), which earned him an Emmy nomination, and the title role in a TV movie about Liberace. He was chosen for the continuing guest role of "Elim Garak", the Cardassian tailor/spy on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (1993), after first reading for the part of "Odo"! In the early 90s, Mr. Robinson helped found The Matrix Theatre Company in Los Angeles. In addition to acting in several of the company's productions, in 1995 and 1996 his direction of "Endgame" and "The Homecoming" at the Matrix earned him two Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards. This led to his TV directing debut on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (1993), and Mr. Robinson has since gone on to direct episodes of "Star Trek: Voyager" (1995). 1997-1998 directorial projects at The Matrix were "Dangerous Corner" and "A Moon for the Misbegotten".

IMDb Mini Biography By: Vicki Reeves

Spouse

Irene Robinson

(1970 - present) 1 child

Trivia

Almost got the part of Odo on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (1993) after first reading for the part. He was chosen for the recurring role of Elim Garak instead.

Has a daughter, Rachel Robinson, who appeared in the "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (1993) episode "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: The Visitor (#4.2)" (1995) (as "Melanie", an aspiring writer) and was a leading candidate for the role of "Ezri Dax" on DS9.

Robinson's portrayal of the chilling Scorpio Killer in Dirty Harry (1971) led to him receiving serious death threats via telephone after the film's release.

While it's tempting to make the connection, Andrew Robinson is not related to Edward G. Robinson. Andy's father died in WWII, when Andy was only three.

Has an action figure made in his likeness of his character, Garak, on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (1993).

Wrote a novel about the "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (1993) character he played, Elim Garak, entitled "A Stitch in Time".

Along with Lawrence Dobkin, he is one of only two "Star Trek" non-regulars to both appear in and direct an episode of "Star Trek". (He appeared in many episodes of "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (1993) and directed the "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" (1993) episode, "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine: Looking for par'Mach in All the Wrong Places (#5.3)" (1996) and the "Star Trek: Voyager" (1995) episodes, "Star Trek: Voyager: Blood Fever (#3.16)" (1997) and "Star Trek: Voyager: Unforgettable (#4.22)" (1998).

Is the godfather of Nana Visitor and Alexander Siddig's son, Django El Tahir El Siddig.

Fluent in Japanese and French.

Personal Quotes

[on writing his first Star Trek book] People were worried that somehow, by writing this book I was going to give up that mystery of Garak, and Garak now was going to be completely understood, but I think just the opposite happened.

You learn from your failures - at least I do. When things go right, you don't sit down and analyze them. But when something goes wrong, I sit and analyze and consider and get introspective. In personal life or professional, not succeeding teaches you more.

[on his role in Dirty Harry (1971)] If I had a buck for every guy, and it's always a guy by the way, who has come up to me and quoted that line in its entirety to me. ("I know what you're thinking... Well do ya, PUNK!") I gotta tell you, I'd be a rich man, now.

Where Are They Now

(2006) Heading up the new Acting MFA program at the University of Southern California.

(May 2008) Divides his time between Paris -- where he lives with his wife -- and teaching at the University of Southern California's School of Theatre, where he is the Senior Lecturer and Director of M.F.A. Acting.