Robin Riker

A third-generation actress on both sides of her family, Robin was born in a trunk. Actually, she was almost born in a taxi on the Brooklyn Bridge but traffic was good that day so she made her actual debut at Beth Israel hospital in New York City. Her parents, both professional actors, owned and ran legit theaters, in Aspen, Atlanta and Syracuse and had a very practical philosophy: "If you have children, use them." Consequently, Robin grew up on stage, backstage, in the box office and selling cookies in the lobby. Classically trained since the age of two, including several years with the prestigious Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Robin has since split her time between stage, film and television. Even after starring in countless TV series and films, the stage remains Robin's favorite version of soul food.

Her television work includes starring roles as a series regular in six series, among them: The Gregory Hines Show (CBS), Thunder Alley with Edward Asner (ABC) the groundbreaking SHOWTIME series, Brothers (two Ace Award nominations for Best Actress in a comedy) two series for FOX including the cult classic comedy Get A Life, in which she played Chris Elliott's nemesis. One particular episode, in which Chris and Robin play rival stars in a community theatre production, was named by TV Guide as "One of the fifty funniest TV moments of all time."

Robin has had recurring roles in several popular series including Reba, Hung, and Boston Legal as well as guest-starring roles on dozens of shows; playing Hector Elizondo's ex-wife on Tim Allen's Last Man Standing, Bones, Switched at Birth, Anger Management with Charlie Sheen, NCIS, and Justified, to name but a few. TV movies include, This Magic Moment, Holly's Holiday and the mini-series Gone But Not Forgotten opposite Brooke Shields.

The Indie film, The Wedding Party, will be making the rounds of the festival circuit soon and the John Sayles cult classic, Alligator, in which Robin stars opposite Robert Forster is having a "behind the scenes" DVD release in the near future.

Her stage credits include All My Sons with Neil Patrick Harris at The Geffen Playhouse, (Ovation nomination for Best Supporting Actress), George Furth's play, Sex, Sex, Sex, Sex, and Sex at the Matrix (LA Weekly nomination for Best Supporting Actress), Les Liaisons Dangereuses at The Blank Theatre (Ovation nomination for Best Actress) Pied a Terre- (Off-Broadway) Welcome to the Woods (Off-Broadway and part of the New York 400 Festival), Bernard Slade's I Remember You with Tony Danza at Garry Marshall's Falcon Theatre, and The Kiss at City Hall at the Pasadena Playhouse, Cannibals at the Zephyr Theatre and productions of Ladies Room in both Los Angeles and San Francisco.

Her book, A Survivors' Guide to Hollywood: How to Play the Game Without Losing Your Soul, was released in 2013 and is available at Samuel French, Skylight Bookstore, and worldwide via Amazon and Barnes and Noble. More info at www.robinriker.com