In 1978, an 18-wheeler smashed into Robert David Hall’s car and ignited its gas tank. More than 65 percent of his body was burned, and he spent several months in a burn unit. Both of his legs were amputated; however, he now walks comfortably on two prosthetic limbs.
Robert David Hall’s Roles Include. . .
Today, Robert David Hall is one of the most prominent working actors with disabilities. He has appeared in movies including Starship Troopers and The Negotiator, as well as on the Emmy award-winning TNT mini-series Andersonville. He also boasts appearances on Family Law, The Practice, and The West Wing, to name a few guest starring roles. His voice has been heard in hundreds of commercials, animated series and narrations.
Today, Hall is perhaps best known for his role as head county coroner Dr. Albert Robbins M.D. on the television show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. Hall had a recurring role in Seasons 1 and 2 and became a regular cast member in Season 3.
Sharing His Disability with Characters
Several of Robert David Hall’s characters have openly shared his disability. Dr. Robbins is one of them. The crutch Robbins walks with, however, isn’t the aspect of his personality that the show, one of the highest-rated dramas on television, centers on. Instead, it delves into the critical information the doctor delivers to investigators of Las Vegas’ CSI unit by way of his extensive knowledge of forensic pathology.
Best Role Model for Actors with Disabilities
Hall continues to play the talented doctor and win public acclaim for the role. In 2002 and 2003, he was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild (SAG) Award along with the rest of the CSI cast. The cast also won a People's Choice Award for Best Television Drama. In 1998 Robert David Hall won the Harold Russell Award from the Media Access Office, presented to the actor who serves as a role model for other actors with disabilities.
The award was appropriate since Robert David Hall has dedicated so much of his life to working with disability advocacy groups determined to change the obstacles actors with disabilities face. He has worked to help Hollywood understand how to overcome some of the industry’s more prevalent disability stereotypes. Robert David Hall believes characters with disabilities that do something positive or normal can give the public a different perspective on what life with a disability is like.
In addition to his efforts to promote disability awareness, Robert David Hall is a DJ for an alternative music station, an announcer for national commercials, and he sings and plays guitar in a band. Hall is also a member of the Mutual Amputee Foundation.
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