Robert Walden was born in New York City, and became interested in acting at City College of New York, where he won a best actor's award for his performance in "The Teahouse of the August Moon."
He did summer stock at the Cecilwood Theatre in Fishkill, N.Y., and, after graduating from CCNY, became the youngest male member of The Actors Studio. He got an early break in 1970 when he won a co-starring role as Shelley Winters' youngest son in the movie "Bloody Mama."
He appeared in "Dance of Death" at the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., and in the American Conservatory Theater production of "The Last Sweet Days of Isaac" in San Francisco. Paddy Chayevsky saw him on opening night and, four months later, he was cast in the playwright's theatrical film, "The Hospital."
That led to a regular role on 'The Bold Ones" television series. He has appeared in such motion pictures-for-television as "Enola Gay," "The Marcus-Nelson Murders," "Shirts/Skins," "Larry," and "The Great Ice Rip-Off," and has had guest roles on such shows as "Medical Center," 'The Rookies" and "Rhoda."
He portrayed Donald Segretti in the award-winning feature film "All the President's Men." His other movies include "Rage," 'The Out of Towners," "Pigeons," "New York, New York," "Capricorn One" and "Audrey Rose."
He was nominated for Emmys in 1979 and 1980 for his portrayal of hard-bitten reporter Joe Rossi on "Lou Grant." His role has given him an interest in journalism that led to magazine and newspaper writing assignments for the Los Angeles Free Press, the San Francisco Examiner, the Los Angeles Herald Examiner and New York magazine. He also speaks frequently at college and high school journalism seminars.
He continued his stage work with "History of the American Film" at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, and appeared Off Broadway in "Lime Green/Khaki Blue" and "Hey You, Light Man!"
Walden is 5'9" tall, weighs 140 pounds and has light brown hair and blue eyes, He is an ice hockey fan, enjoys tennis, basketball and swimming, and sings and plays guitar. He is single and lives in Studio City, Calif.
Known For
Credits
Cast Credits
Love & Death (2023)
Guest starring as Dr. Irving Stone
(2 episodes)
- Episode 1x06: The Big Top (May 18, 2023)
- Episode 1x04: Do No Evil (May 4, 2023)
The West Wing (1999)
Guest starring as Senator Rossiter
- Episode 2x21: 18th and Potomac (May 9, 2001)
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999)
Guest starring as William Dorsey
- Episode 7x01: Demons (Sep 20, 2005)
Melrose Place (1992)
Guest starring as Norman
(2 episodes)
- Episode 4x16: Holy Strokes (Jan 1, 1996)
- Episode 4x14: Two Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (Dec 4, 1995)
Murder, She Wrote (1984)
Guest starring as Lt. Antonelli
- Episode 2x03: Murder in the Afternoon (Oct 13, 1985)
Brothers (1984)
Starring as Joe Waters
(3 episodes)
- Episode 3x15: Goodbye, Cliffie (Sep 3, 1986)
- Episode 2x22: Godzilla Meets Bambi (aka Donald's Apartment) (Nov 13, 1985)
- Episode 2x10: A House Divided (Jul 18, 1985)
Centennial (1978)
Guest starring as Dr. Richard Butler
- Episode 1x01: Only the Rocks Live Forever (Oct 1, 1978)
The Love Boat (1977)
Guest starring as Jeff Thatcher
- Episode 5x03: Two Grapes on the Vine / Aunt Sylvia / Deductible Divorce (Oct 17, 1981)
Lou Grant (1977)
Starring as Joe Rossi
(114 episodes)
- Episode 5x24: Charlie (Sep 13, 1982)
- Episode 5x23: Victims (Aug 30, 1982)
- Episode 5x22: Beachhead (May 24, 1982)
- Episode 5x21: Suspect (May 17, 1982)
- Episode 5x20: Unthinkable (May 3, 1982)
- Episode 5x19: Fireworks (Apr 19, 1982)
- Episode 5x18: Law (Apr 12, 1982)
- Episode 5x17: Blacklist (Apr 5, 1982)
- Episode 5x16: Obituary (Mar 22, 1982)
- Episode 5x15: Recovery (Mar 8, 1982)
- Episode 5x14: Hunger (Mar 1, 1982)
- Episode 5x13: Immigrants (Feb 15, 1982)
- Episode 5x12: Review (Feb 8, 1982)
- Episode 5x11: Cameras (Jan 25, 1982)
- Episode 5x10: Ghosts (Jan 11, 1982)
- Episode 5x09: Jazz (Jan 4, 1982)
- Episode 5x08: Friends (Dec 28, 1981)
- Episode 5x07: Drifters (Dec 14, 1981)
- Episode 5x06: Double-Cross (Dec 7, 1981)
- Episode 5x05: Risk (Nov 30, 1981)
- Episode 5x04: Hometown (Nov 23, 1981)
- Episode 5x03: Reckless (Nov 16, 1981)
- Episode 5x02: Execution (Nov 9, 1981)
- Episode 5x01: Wedding (Nov 2, 1981)
- Episode 4x20: Stroke (May 4, 1981)
- Episode 4x19: Depression (Apr 13, 1981)
- Episode 4x18: Violence (Apr 6, 1981)
- Episode 4x17: Business (Mar 23, 1981)
- Episode 4x16: Campesinos (Mar 16, 1981)
- Episode 4x15: Venice (Mar 9, 1981)
- Episode 4x14: Survival (Feb 23, 1981)
- Episode 4x13: Strike (Feb 16, 1981)
- Episode 4x12: Search (Feb 9, 1981)
- Episode 4x11: Generations (Jan 26, 1981)
- Episode 4x10: Boomerang (Jan 19, 1981)
- Episode 4x09: Rape (Jan 12, 1981)
- Episode 4x08: Catch (Jan 5, 1981)
- Episode 4x07: Streets (Dec 15, 1980)
- Episode 4x06: Libel (Dec 1, 1980)
- Episode 4x05: Goop (Nov 24, 1980)
- Episode 4x04: Sting (Nov 17, 1980)
- Episode 4x03: Pack (Oct 27, 1980)
- Episode 4x02: Harassment (Sep 29, 1980)
- Episode 4x01: Nightside (Sep 22, 1980)
- Episode 3x24: Hazard (Mar 24, 1980)
- Episode 3x23: Guns (Mar 17, 1980)
- Episode 3x22: Influence (Mar 10, 1980)
- Episode 3x21: Dogs (Mar 3, 1980)
- Episode 3x20: Blackout (Feb 18, 1980)
- Episode 3x19: Lou (Feb 11, 1980)
- Episode 3x18: Censored (Feb 4, 1980)
- Episode 3x17: Inheritance (Jan 28, 1980)
- Episode 3x16: Cover-Up (Jan 21, 1980)
- Episode 3x15: Indians (Jan 14, 1980)
- Episode 3x14: Brushfire (Jan 7, 1980)
- Episode 3x13: Kids (Dec 24, 1979)
- Episode 3x12: Hollywood (Dec 17, 1979)
- Episode 3x11: Andrew: Part 2 (Dec 10, 1979)
- Episode 3x10: Andrew: Part 1 (Dec 3, 1979)
- Episode 3x09: Kidnap (Nov 19, 1979)
- Episode 3x08: Witness (Nov 12, 1979)
- Episode 3x07: Gambling (Nov 5, 1979)
- Episode 3x06: Hype (Oct 29, 1979)
- Episode 3x05: Frame-Up (Oct 22, 1979)
- Episode 3x04: Charlatan (Oct 15, 1979)
- Episode 3x03: Slammer (Oct 1, 1979)
- Episode 3x02: Exposé (Sep 24, 1979)
- Episode 3x01: Cop (Sep 17, 1979)
- Episode 2x24: Romance (May 7, 1979)
- Episode 2x23: Skids (Apr 2, 1979)
- Episode 2x22: Bomb (Mar 26, 1979)
- Episode 2x21: Marathon (Mar 19, 1979)
- Episode 2x20: Convention (Mar 5, 1979)
- Episode 2x19: Home (Feb 26, 1979)
- Episode 2x18: Hit (Feb 19, 1979)
- Episode 2x17: Samaritan (Feb 12, 1979)
- Episode 2x16: Sweep (Feb 5, 1979)
- Episode 2x15: Scam (Jan 22, 1979)
- Episode 2x14: Vet (Jan 15, 1979)
- Episode 2x13: Fire (Jan 8, 1979)
- Episode 2x12: Denial (Jan 1, 1979)
- Episode 2x11: Conflict (Dec 18, 1978)
- Episode 2x10: Babies (Dec 11, 1978)
- Episode 2x09: Singles (Dec 4, 1978)
- Episode 2x08: Slaughter (Nov 20, 1978)
- Episode 2x07: Schools (Nov 13, 1978)
- Episode 2x06: Dying (Nov 6, 1978)
- Episode 2x05: Murder (Oct 30, 1978)
- Episode 2x04: Mob (Oct 23, 1978)
- Episode 2x03: Hooker (Oct 16, 1978)
- Episode 2x02: Prisoner (Oct 2, 1978)
- Episode 2x01: Pills (Sep 25, 1978)
- Episode 1x22: Physical (Mar 20, 1978)
- Episode 1x21: Poison (Mar 6, 1978)
- Episode 1x20: Spies (Feb 27, 1978)
- Episode 1x19: Scandal (Feb 13, 1978)
- Episode 1x18: Sect (Jan 31, 1978)
- Episode 1x17: Renewal (Jan 24, 1978)
- Episode 1x16: Hero (Jan 17, 1978)
- Episode 1x15: Sports (Jan 10, 1978)
- Episode 1x14: Airliner (Jan 3, 1978)
- Episode 1x13: Christmas (Dec 13, 1977)
- Episode 1x12: Takeover (Dec 6, 1977)
- Episode 1x11: Housewarming (Nov 29, 1977)
- Episode 1x10: Psych-Out (Nov 22, 1977)
- Episode 1x09: Judge (Nov 15, 1977)
- Episode 1x08: Scoop (Nov 8, 1977)
- Episode 1x07: Barrio (Nov 1, 1977)
- Episode 1x06: Aftershock (Oct 25, 1977)
- Episode 1x05: Nazi (Oct 18, 1977)
- Episode 1x04: Henhouse (Oct 11, 1977)
- Episode 1x03: Hoax (Oct 4, 1977)
- Episode 1x02: Hostages (Sep 27, 1977)
- Episode 1x01: Cophouse (Sep 20, 1977)
CHiPs (1977)
Guest starring as Robert Walden
- Episode 4x06: The Great 5K Star Race and Boulder Wrap Party (2) (Dec 7, 1980) [Uncredited]
Battle of the Network Stars (1976)
Guest starring as Robert Walden
(2 episodes)
- Episode 1x12: Special #12 (May 7, 1982)
- Episode 1x09: Special #9 (Dec 5, 1980)
Laverne & Shirley (1976)
Guest starring as Customer with Inflatable Turtle
- Episode 7x15: An Affair to Forget (Feb 9, 1982) [Uncredited]
Rhoda (1974)
Guest starring as Ernie Joyce
- Episode 3x17: Somebody Has to Say They're Sorry (Jan 23, 1977)
The Bold Ones: The New Doctors (1969)
Starring as Dr. Martin Cohen
(16 episodes)
- Episode 4x16: And Other Things I May Not See (May 4, 1973)
- Episode 4x15: The Night Crawler (Jan 16, 1973)
- Episode 4x14: A Tightrope to Tomorrow (Jan 9, 1973)
- Episode 4x13: Terminal Career (Jan 2, 1973)
- Episode 4x12: The Velvet Prison (Dec 19, 1972)
- Episode 4x11: End Theme (Dec 12, 1972)
- Episode 4x10: A Purge of Madness (Dec 5, 1972)
- Episode 4x09: An Inalienable Right to Die (Nov 28, 1972)
- Episode 4x08: A Quality of Fear (Nov 14, 1972)
- Episode 4x07: A Very Strange Triangle (Oct 31, 1972)
- Episode 4x06: A Substitute Womb (Oct 24, 1972)
- Episode 4x05: A Standard For Manhood (Oct 17, 1972)
- Episode 4x04: Time Bomb in the Chest (Oct 10, 1972)
- Episode 4x03: A Nation of Human Pincushions (Oct 3, 1972)
- Episode 4x02: Is This Operation Necessary? (Sep 26, 1972)
- Episode 4x01: Five Days in the Death of Sgt. Brown (Sep 19, 1972)
Columbo (1968)
Guest starring as Billy Fine
- Episode 1973-10-07: Any Old Port in a Storm (Oct 7, 1973) [Co-Star]