Robert Hays

Robert Hays
Name	Robert Hays
Birth date	1947-07-24
Birth place	Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1972–present
Known for	Film and television roles, voice acting

Robert Hays

Robert Hays is an American actor and voice artist known for leading roles in film and television, particularly his portrayal of a commercial airline pilot in a major 1980s comedy film. He established a career spanning network television, feature films, animated series, and stage work, collaborating with prominent directors, producers, and ensembles across Hollywood and Broadway circles. Hays's work connects him to a range of notable productions and collaborators from the 1970s through the 2010s.

Early life and education

Hays was born in Chicago, Illinois, and raised in the Midwest where his early environment exposed him to regional theater and commercial radio. He attended the University of Miami and studied drama, appearing in productions connected to the Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus era performance circuits and local Chicago Theatre troupes before moving to Los Angeles to pursue screen acting. During this period he trained with instructors affiliated with Actors Studio traditions and participated in workshops associated with Steppenwolf Theatre Company alumni networks and American Conservatory Theater affiliates.

Career

Hays began his screen career in the early 1970s with guest appearances on network television series, working on shows produced by studios such as Universal Television, ABC and CBS. He had recurring and guest roles on programs developed by creators linked to Steven Bochco, Aaron Spelling, and Leonard Goldberg. Hays transitioned to film with roles in productions connected to distributors like 20th Century Fox and Paramount Pictures, collaborating with filmmakers influenced by the era's comedy auteurs and producers.

His breakthrough came when he starred as the lead pilot in a commercially successful 1980s disaster-comedy directed by a filmmaker known for ensemble farce and produced by a major studio. That role associated him with co-stars who had worked with Gene Wilder, Mel Brooks, and crew members connected to Irving Thalberg-era production lineages. The film's box office success linked Hays to promotional tours, late-night talk shows hosted by Johnny Carson and David Letterman, and industry events run by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences affiliates.

Following the film's popularity, Hays expanded into television comedy and drama, starring in sitcom pilots and series developed by producers from MTM Enterprises and Carsey-Werner. He voiced characters in animated series produced by Hanna-Barbera, Warner Bros. Animation, and later worked on projects for Disney Television Animation and Nickelodeon. His voice work placed him alongside voice actors who contributed to franchises associated with DC Comics and Marvel Comics adaptations.

Hays continued to appear in guest roles on contemporary series created by writers from Joss Whedon and Shonda Rhimes, and took part in ensemble casts for television movies produced for HBO and Lifetime. He performed in regional theater and national tours connected to Broadway producers and worked with directors who had credits on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and sketch comedy programs linked to SNL alumni. His career demonstrates sustained collaborations across film, television, voice acting, and stage networks.

Personal life

Hays has maintained residences in Los Angeles and New York, engaging in philanthropic activities tied to organizations such as Screen Actors Guild-adjacent charities and fundraising events for theatrical institutions like Lincoln Center and The Public Theater. He has participated in conventions celebrating cult cinema and television, appearing at gatherings organized by groups connected to San Diego Comic-Con panels and fan expos tied to retrospective programming by TCM and AMC Networks.

Filmography

- Feature films: roles in productions distributed by 20th Century Fox, Paramount Pictures, and Columbia Pictures; notable lead in a 1980s disaster-comedy. - Television series: guest and recurring roles on series airing on ABC, CBS, NBC, and cable outlets such as HBO and Fox Broadcasting Company; starred in sitcom pilots produced by MTM Enterprises and Carsey-Werner. - Animation and voice work: credits with Hanna-Barbera, Warner Bros. Animation, Disney Television Animation, and Nickelodeon on serialized and special programming. - Television movies and specials: appearances in TV films presented by Lifetime and cable specials hosted on TBS and USA Network. - Stage: regional theater, national tours, and occasional Broadway-adjacent productions linked to Lincoln Center and companies with ties to Actors’ Equity Association.

Awards and recognition

Hays received popular recognition following his breakout film, earning nominations and audience-voted accolades at fan-driven events associated with Blockbuster Entertainment Awards-era fan circles and retrospective honors presented at festivals organized by Sitges Film Festival-adjacent programmers. His television and voice work have been acknowledged in industry directories maintained by Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists and archives curated by The Paley Center for Media. He has been invited to panels and lifetime achievement spotlights at genre conventions hosted by San Diego Comic-Con and retrospectives organized by Turner Classic Movies.

Category:American male film actors Category:American male television actors Category:American male voice actors Category:1947 births Category:Living people