Blake Robbins
{{about|the actor|the Webcamgate scandal|Robbins_v._Lower_Merion_School_District}}
{{Short description|American actor and director (born 1965)}}{{Infobox person
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1965|06|17}}
| birth_place = Karamürsel, Turkey
| alma_mater = American Academy of Dramatic Arts
| nationality = American
| citizenship = United States
Turkey
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|director}}
| years_active = 1996–present
| website =
}}
Blake Robbins (born June 17, 1965) is an American actor and director of film and television. He appeared in the films Wind River, The Ugly Truth, Jayhawkers, and To Leslie. Robbins is also known for his guest-starring appearances as Officer Dave Brass on the HBO drama series Oz, Tom on the NBC sitcom The Office, and Mitch Glender on the FX crime drama series Sons of Anarchy, as well as supporting roles in Firefly, Law & Order, 24, Entourage, and The Bling Ring.
After almost two decades working as an actor, Robbins stepped behind the camera and made his directorial debut with the independent drama The Sublime and Beautiful, which premiered at the Slamdance Film Festival. His second feature as director, the modern-day western The Scent of Rain and Lightning starring Maika Monroe, received critical acclaim.
Early life
Robbins was born in Karamürsel, Turkey, where his father served in the United States Navy.{{Cite web|url=https://www.clevelandfilm.org/films/2017/the-scent-of-rain-and-lightning|title=The Scent of Rain and Lightning|website=Clevelandfilm.org|language=en|access-date=November 10, 2021}} Robbins has one brother. His parents divorced when he was little and his mother remarried. Robbins had a strong connection with his stepfather, who passed away in April 2013. Robbins's biological father along with his brother struggled with alcoholism.{{cite web|url=https://www.theblot.com/blake-robbins-the-sublime-and-the-beautiful-is-anything-but/|title=Blake Robbins’ ‘The Sublime and Beautiful’ Is Anything But|website=TheBlot Magazine|access-date=November 10, 2021}} After earning a degree in Business Marketing, Robbins attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. Soon after, he began to perform on Broadway, working also as an acting coach for a while.{{cite web|url=http://www.conciergequestionnaire.com/article/blake-robbins-interview-39the-sublime-and-beautiful39|title=Blake Robbins Interview: 'The Sublime and Beautiful'|website=Concierge Questionnaire|date=December 16, 2014|access-date=November 10, 2021|first=Lynn|last=Pattnosh}} Robbins currently resides in Los Angeles.{{cite web|url=http://www.galomagazine.com/movies-tv/a-portrait-of-grief-an-interview-with-actor-and-filmmaker-blake-robbins/#.YYuYfoZBzmZ|title=A Portrait of Grief: An Interview with Actor and Filmmaker Blake Robbins|website=GALO Magazine|date=February 23, 2014|access-date=November 10, 2021|first=Emma|last=Diab}}
Career
Robbins began his career in 1996 with a guest appearance in an episode of the ABC soap opera All My Children. He went on to guest star in television series such as Law & Order, Third Watch and Firefly, before landing a recurring role as Officer Dave Brass in the HBO drama Oz between 2001 and 2003. During the 2000s, Robbins continued acting on the series Charmed, Strong Medicine, Medium, Crossing Jordan, The O.C., 24, Without a Trace, Criminal Minds and Private Practice. Robbins also appeared as Tom on the NBC's comedy The Office, opposite Steve Carell and John Krasinski.{{cite web|url=https://www.bostonherald.com/2008/12/08/blake-robbins-ponders-sundance-trip/|title=Blake Robbins ponders Sundance trip|website=Boston Herald|date=December 8, 2008|access-date=November 10, 2021|first=Olivia|last=Vanni}}
Robbins' first film role was in the independent drama Going Under. Since then, he has appeared in other features including Love Comes to the Executioner, Bunker Hill, and the romantic comedy The Ugly Truth, in which he stars alongside Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler.
Throughout the 2010s, Robbins guest-starred in several television series including FlashForward, The Closer, Rizzoli & Isles, CSI: NY, Sons of Anarchy, Masters of Sex and Legends. Simultaneously, Robbins worked on a number of independent films, namely Rubber, Jayhawkers, Martyrs and Wind River. More recently, he starred in the Marcel Sarmiento horror thriller Faceless.{{cite web|url=https://www.firstshowing.net/2021/mysterious-face-transplant-horror-thriller-faceless-official-trailer/|title=Mysterious Face Transplant Horror-Thriller 'Faceless' Official Trailer|website=FirstShowing.net|date=January 27, 2021|access-date=November 10, 2021|first=Alex|last=Billington}}
Robbins made his directorial debut with the independent drama The Sublime and Beautiful, which he also wrote and stars in as David Conrad, a father who loses his children in a car accident.{{cite web|url=https://www.parkrecord.com/entertainment/blake-robbins-wore-many-hats-for-the-sublime-and-beautiful/|title=Blake Robbins wore many hats for ‘The Sublime and Beautiful’|website=The Park Record|date=January 18, 2014|access-date=November 10, 2021|first=Scott|last=Iwasaki}} Shot in only 12 days on a budget of $30,000,{{cite web|url=https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/blake-robbins-interview-the-scent-of-rain-and-lightning-indie-filmmaking/|title=Blake Robbins interview: The Scent Of Rain And Lightning, indie filmmaking|website=Den of Geek|date=February 15, 2018|access-date=November 10, 2021|first=Ryan|last=Lambie}} the film premiered at the 2014 Slamdance Film Festival. Writing for Variety, film critic Ronnie Scheib stated that Robbins "brings nothing new to Hollywood's dead-children genre".{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2014/film/markets-festivals/slamdance-film-review-the-sublime-and-beautiful-1201067514/|title=Slamdance Film Review: ‘The Sublime and Beautiful’|website=Variety|date=January 23, 2014|access-date=November 10, 2021|first=Ronnie|last=Scheib}}
Robbins directed his second film, The Scent of Rain and Lightning, starring Maika Monroe. Based on the 2010 novel of the same name by Nancy Pickard, the story centers on Jody Linder (Monroe), a young woman who finds out the man responsible for murdering her parents has been released from prison.{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/logan-miller-mark-webber-justin-chatwin-join-the-scent-of-rain-and-lightning/|title=Logan Miller, Mark Webber, Justin Chatwin Join ‘The Scent of Rain and Lightning’|website=The Wrap|date=November 5, 2015|access-date=November 10, 2021|first=Jeff|last=Sneider}}{{cite web|url=https://www.flickeringmyth.com/2018/02/exclusive-interview-director-blake-robbins-scent-rain-lightning/|title=Exclusive Interview – Director Blake Robbins on The Scent of Rain and Lightning|website=Flickering Myth|date=February 18, 2018|access-date=November 10, 2021|first=Gary|last=Collinson}} Having its world premiere at the Atlanta Film Festival,{{cite web|url=https://www.atlantafilmfestival.com/atlff-news/2017/2/24/atlanta-film-festival-announces-2017-lineup-of-features-and-short-films|title=Atlanta Film Festival Announces 2017 Lineup of Features and Short Films|website=Atlanta Film Festival|date=March 13, 2017|access-date=November 10, 2021|first=Cameron|last=McAllister}} the film garnered a positive reception from critics; in his review for The Hollywood Reporter, Frank Scheck opined that it was "a well-acted, intelligent thriller".{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/scent-rain-lightning-1085158/|title=‘The Scent of Rain and Lightning’: Film Review|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=February 15, 2018|access-date=November 10, 2021|first=Frank|last=Scheck}}
Filmography
= Film =
| class="wikitable"
| style="background:#FFFFCC;"| {{dagger|alt=Films that have not yet been released}} |Denotes productions that have not yet been released |
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
! scope="col" |Year ! scope="col" |Title ! scope="col" |Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" |Notes |
| 2004
!scope="row"|Going Under |Axel | |
| 2005
!scope="row"|Alice |The Intruder |Short film |
| rowspan="2"| 2006
!scope="row"|Love Comes to the Executioner |Stuttering Guard | |
| scope="row"|Arc
|Thomas Blake | |
|---|
| 2007
!scope="row"|The Son of Sam's Daughter |Ben's Dad |Short film |
| rowspan="2"| 2008
!scope="row"|Christmas Break |Mr. Chatsworth |Short film |
| scope="row"|Bunker Hill
|Delmar | |
| rowspan="2"| 2009
!scope="row"|The Only Good Indian |Moller | |
| scope="row"|The Ugly Truth
|KPQU Big Wig | |
| 2010
!scope="row"|Rubber |Cop Eric | |
| rowspan="2"| 2011
!scope="row"|Part Time Fabulous |Dr. Carr | |
| scope="row"|Dispatch
|Killer | |
| rowspan="3"| 2012
!scope="row"|The Men's Room |The Man |Short film |
| scope="row"|Between the Forest and the Field
|Daniel |Short film |
| scope="row"|Blackout
|Jimmy |Short film |
| rowspan="4"| 2013
!scope="row"|Imprints |Doctor |Short film |
| scope="row"|Cliff
|Dr. Keanon |Short film |
| scope="row"|The Lull Breaker
|Pa |Short film |
| scope="row"|The Championship Rounds
|Phillip |Short film |
| rowspan="4"| 2014
!scope="row"|The Sublime and Beautiful |David Conrad |also writer, producer and director |
| scope="row"|Jayhawkers
|Dick Harp | |
| scope="row"|Buttwhistle
|Mr. Blancmange | |
| scope="row"|Moths
|Mr. Cunningham |Short film |
| 2015
!scope="row"|Martyrs |Dad | |
| rowspan="2"| 2016
!scope="row"|Ctrl Alt Delete |Charlie | |
| scope="row"|From Ashes to Immortality
|Jon Orr |Short film |
| rowspan="3"| 2017
!scope="row"|Wind River |Tim | |
| scope="row"|The Scent of Rain and Lightning
|Sheriff Don Phelps |also director and producer |
| scope="row"|DriverX
|Rick | |
| rowspan="2"| 2018
!scope="row"|Funny Story |Dan | |
| scope="row"|Backpedals
|Hugo |Short film |
| rowspan="2"| 2019
!scope="row"|Let's Scare Julie |Uncle Vince |
| scope="row"|Things That Fall
|The Professor |Short film |
| 2021
!scope="row"|Faceless |Tom | |
| 2022
!scope="row"|To Leslie | The Handyman | |
| rowspan="2" scope=row style="background:#FFFFCC;"|2023
!scope="row"|Line of Fire |Bobby |Post-production |
= Television =
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
! scope="col" |Year ! scope="col" |Title ! scope="col" |Role ! scope="col" class="unsortable" |Notes |
| 1996
!scope="row"|All My Children |Valet |1 episode |
| 1999
!scope="row"|Law & Order |Heinrich |Episode: "Marathon" |
| 2000
!scope="row"|Third Watch |Peter |Episode: "History" |
| rowspan="2"| 2002
!scope="row"|Push, Nevada |Lexus Driver |Episode: "Jim's Domain" |
| scope="row"|Firefly
|Agent McGinnis |Episode: "Ariel" |
|---|
| 2001–2003
!scope="row"|Oz |Officer Dave Brass |15 episodes |
| 2003
!scope="row"|10-8: Officers on Duty |Dr. Lawrence |Episode: "Late for School" |
| rowspan="3"| 2004
!scope="row"|Cold Case |David Lake |Episode: "Late Returns" |
| scope="row"|Charmed
|Patrol Officer |Episode: "It's a Bad, Bad, Bad, Bad World: Part 1" |
| scope="row"|Strong Medicine
|Morgan Benedicto |Episode: "Healing Touch" |
| rowspan="4"| 2005
!scope="row"|Medium |Trooper |Episode: "A Priest, a Doctor and a Medium Walk Into an Execution Chamber" |
| scope="row"|Crossing Jordan
|Peter Ellison |Episode: "Embraceable You" |
| scope="row"|Wanted
|Martin Beckwith |Episode: "The Promise of Darkness" |
| scope="row"|The O.C.
|Don |2 episodes |
| rowspan="2"| 2006
!scope="row"|E-Ring |James Ogilvy |Episode: "Five Pillars" |
| scope="row"|24
|Ross |Episode: "Day 5: 2:00 a.m.-3:00 a.m." |
| 2007
!scope="row"|Without a Trace |Craig Dalton |Episode: "Connections" |
| rowspan="4"| 2008
!scope="row"|Eli Stone |Howard Masters |Episode: "Heartbeat" |
| scope="row"|Criminal Minds
|Jonathan Morris |Episode: "A Higher Power" |
| scope="row"|Private Practice
|Mark Miller |Episode: "A Family Thing" |
| scope="row"|Entourage
|Guy on Plane |Episode: "First Class Jerk" |
| 2008–2009
!scope="row"|The Office |Tom Halpert |2 episodes |
| rowspan="4"| 2010
!scope="row"|The Forgotten |Dr. Max Rayburn |Episode: "Patient John" |
| scope="row"|FlashForward
|Special Agent Buckner |4 episodes |
| scope="row"|The Closer
|Mr. Witten |Episode: "Heart Attack" |
| scope="row"|Secret Millionaires
|Dr. Cadillac |1 episode |
| rowspan="2"| 2011
!scope="row"|Rizzoli & Isles |Scott James |Episode: "Brown Eyed Girl" |
| scope="row"|The Bling Ring
|Mr. Bishop |Television film |
| rowspan="2"| 2012
!scope="row"|CSI: NY |Jimmy Portico |Episode: "2,918 Miles" |
| scope="row"|NCIS
|Scott Martin |Episode: "Gone" |
| rowspan="3"| 2013
!scope="row"|Monday Mornings |Dr. David Martin |Episode: "Pilot" |
| scope="row"|Sons of Anarchy
|Mitch Glender |2 episodes |
| scope="row"|Masters of Sex
|Security Guard Brown |Episode: "Manhigh" |
| 2014
!scope="row"|Legends |Dennis Evans |2 episodes |
| 2015
!scope="row"|The Ultimate Evil |David Berkowitz |unknown episodes |
| 2017
!scope="row"|Law & Order True Crime |Harry |3 episodes |
| 2021
!scope="row"|Bad Vibes |Rob |1 episode |
Awards and nominations
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Robbins, Blake}}
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:20th-century American male actors