Sam Robards
Samuel Prideaux Robards (born December 16, 1961)[1] is an American actor, best known for his role as Henry Swinton in the film A.I. Artificial Intelligence.
Sam Robards | |
|---|---|
| Born | Samuel Prideaux Robards December 16, 1961 New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Spouse(s) | Sidsel Jensen
(m. 1997) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent(s) | Jason Robards Lauren Bacall |
| Relatives | Stephen Humphrey Bogart (half-brother) |
Early life
Robards was born in New York City, the son of actor Jason Robards, Jr. (1922–2000) and actress Lauren Bacall (1924–2014). He is the only child from their marriage, though he has seven-half siblings; five through his father (three elder, two younger), and through his mother's marriage to Humphrey Bogart, half-siblings Stephen Humphrey and Leslie Bogart. Robards was seven when his parents divorced, which Bacall later blamed on the elder Robards' alcoholism.[2] Robards recalled he was devastated by the divorce, and said he was raised "basically alone." Afterwards, he resided with his mother in New York.[3] Several years after the divorce Sam moved to Europe with his mother and for a time lived in London England during '72-'74 attending the American School in London before moving on to other destinations before eventually returning to New York with his mother.
Robards attended Sarah Lawrence College, but was expelled after his freshman year due to poor grades and bad behavior.[3] In the fall of 1980, he attended the National Theater Institute at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, Connecticut.
Career
Robards began his acting career in 1980 in an off-Broadway production of Album, and made his feature-film debut in director Paul Mazursky's 1982 film Tempest. In 1985, Robards starred alongside Kevin Costner and future spouse Suzy Amis in Fandango. Robards acted opposite his father in the 1988 film Bright Lights, Big City, which ended up being their only collaboration before his death in 2000. That same year, he landed the leading role of Kevin Keegan in the CBS drama TV 101; however, being scheduled opposite Top 10 hits Roseanne and Matlock, the series was cancelled amidst a controversial abortion story line.
In 1990, he gained the role of Chris Elliott's friend, Larry, on the Fox sitcom Get a Life. However, Robards left after the first season, in the midst of a creative transition. In 1994, Robards starred in two films: Robert Altman's film Prêt-à-Porter, where he was a part of an ensemble cast that included his mother; and Alan Rudolph's biographical film of Dorothy Parker, Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle, where he portrayed the first editor of The New Yorker, Harold Ross.
His film résumé also includes Casualties of War, Beautiful Girls, American Beauty, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Life as a House, The Other Side of the Tracks, and The Art of Getting By.
Robards's television credits include a recurring role on and appearances on Spin City, The West Wing, Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Sex and the City, The Outer Limits, and Body of Proof. His recent projects included recurring roles on the series Gossip Girl (ended in 2012) and Treme (ended in 2013), and a regular role on Twisted (cancelled in 2014).
In the theatre, Robards was nominated for Broadway's 2002 Tony Award as Best Actor (Featured Role – Play) for Arthur Miller's The Man Who Had All the Luck. In July 2008, Robards took over the role of Richard Hannay in the New York City theatrical run of The 39 Steps.[4]
Personal life
In 1986, he married actress Suzy Amis, his co-star in Fandango. Their marriage produced a son, Jasper, before their divorce in 1994.[5] In 1997, Robards married Danish model Sidsel Jensen. They have two sons, Calvin and Sebastian.[6][7]
References
- "Sam Robards". Hollywood.com. Retrieved 2016-05-26.
- Bacall, Lauren. (2006). By Myself and Then Some. p. 377. HarperCollins, New York City. ISBN 978-0-06-112791-5.
- Hammer, Josh (October 18, 1982). "Having Survived the Tempest of Life with a Famous Mom and Dad, Actor Sam Sets Sail on His Own". People. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
- Kenneth Jones (4 June 2008). "Sam Robards Is the Next Pursued Man of Broadway's 39 Steps". Playbill. Archived from the original on 7 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-12.
- Kolson, Ann (1993-04-04). "Actress Suzy Amis Is Great, Critics Say, But Nobody Knows It - Yet". Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 2016-05-26.
- "Sam Robards". Turner Classic Movies. Retrieved 2016-05-27.
- Green, Adam (2014-08-13). "Call Me Betty: Vogue's Theater Critic Remembers Family Friend Lauren Bacall". Vogue. Retrieved 2016-05-27.
