Robin Riker / Bio
A third generation actor 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 NYC.
Classically trained since a child, she made her stage debut at the age of 4. By 10 she was performing the classics with the prestigious Colorado Shakespeare Festival,
Since then, Robin has split her time between stage, film and television.
In the last year, her most recent adventures include shooting Perfectly Imperfect a film on the high seas with Dermot Mulroney, Brian Austin Green and Malin Ackerman….she shot aboard the Utopia of the Seas which is the world’s second largest cruise ship. She had a lovely stateroom.
Fun Fact: She loves saying that.
The next adventure took her back in time to the 1800’s, a whore house in the Old West and some fun Vampires …”Blood Lust” with Billy Zane and Danielle Bissutti.
Her long and distinguished film and TV career began with Mash, The Rockford Files, Welcome Back Kotter, John Sayles’ cult classic feature Alligator, in which she starred opposite the late great Robert Forster and the groundbreaking Showtime series “Brothers” in which she starred as Kelly in 81 episodes and for which she received 2 Cable Ace nominations as Best Actress in a comedy.
Fun Fact: Alligator has recently been re-released on 4K Blu Ray.
Extra Fun: The fabulous Bryan Cranston was a PA on Alligator; a fact Robin only learned while working with Brian on Malcolm in the Middle.
Her television work includes leading roles in six other series, among them: The Gregory Hines Show (CBS),Thunder Alley with Edward Asner and Haley Joel Osment (ABC), two series for FOX including the cult classic comedy Get A Life, in which she played Chris Elliott’s nemesis. One particular episode (Zoo Animals on Wheels) in which Chris and Robin play rival stars in a community theatre production, was named by T.V. Guide as “One of the fifty funniest T.V. moments of all time.”
Fun Fact: Get a Life is now streaming on Shout TV.
Robin has had recurring roles in several popular series including Murder She Wrote, Boston Legal, Reba, Highway to Heaven, Riptide, The Glades, You’re the Worst, The Bold & The Beautiful and General Hospital.
Lifetime films include Gone But Not Forgotten opposite Brooke Shields, and a more recent ,super fun film in which she stars as the title character Psycho Granny.
Fun Fact: She’s not a granny but damn that was fun!
Guest starring roles on dozens of shows including, Buffy the Vampire Slayer as Catherine Madison “The Witch”
Tim Allen’s Last Man Standing, playing Hector Elizondo’s ex wife,
Malcolm in the Middle,Six feet Under (her episode was one of the creators’ favorite) Bones, Switched at Birth, Anger Management with Charlie Sheen, NCIS, and Justified, to name a few.
Fun Fact: Robin as “The Witch” has her own trading card in the Buffy collector set.
Even after starring in many TV series, films and countless episodics the stage remains Robin’s favorite version of soul food.
Her stage credits include, All My Sons with Neil Patrick Harris and Laurie Metcalf at The Geffen Playhouse, (Ovation nom. Best Supporting Actress),
George Furth’s play, Sex, Sex, Sex, Sex, and Sex at the Matrix (LA Weekly nom. Best Supporting Actress),
Les Liaisons Dangereuses at The Blank Theatre (Ovation nom. Best Actress)
Pied a Terre– Off Broadway
Welcome to the Woods (Off Broadway and part of the New York 400 Festival),
I Remember You with Tony Danza at Garry Marshall’s Falcon Theatre,
The Kiss at City Hall at the Pasadena Playhouse,
Cannibals, at the Zephyr Theatre
Ladies Room by Robin Schiff with runs in both Los Angeles and San Francisco.
Her parents, both professional actors, owned worked in and ran legit theatres, in Aspen, Atlanta and Syracuse and had a very practical philosophy: “If you have children, use them.” Robin is very grateful that they did. Consequently, she grew up on stage, backstage, in the box office and selling cookies in the lobby. Robin learned how to survive and have fun doing it.
Fun fact: The 2nd printing of her book A Survivors’ Guide to Hollywood & Other Strange Places: How to Play the Game Without Losing Your Soul, is about to be released and will be available soon. A few Autographed first editions of the book are available on this website: www.robinriker.com
In addition to performing, Robin is available for speaking engagements. Especially in these challenging times, Her brand of fun, positive truth telling is powerful. Navigating the intricacies of our inner and outer worlds and how they affect us in demanding situations inside and outside of Hollywood is uplifting and motivating.