Robert Duncan McNeill (born November 9, 1964 in Raleigh, North Carolina) is an American actor, producer, movie director, and television director who is best known for his role as Lieutenant Tom Paris on the television show Star Trek: Voyager.
Biography
Acting career
McNeill grew up in Atlanta, and began his career acting in local and regional productions before becoming a student at The Juilliard School in New York City.12 He enjoyed early success as a professional actor, winning the role of Charlie Brent on All My Children34and starring in the feature film Masters of the Universe.35 He also starred in an acclaimed episode of the 1980s version of The Twilight Zone, "A Message from Charity."6 He then appeared with Stockard Channing in the Broadway production of Six Degrees of Separation7 before returning to Los Angeles to pursue roles on television. He appeared in featured guest roles on numerous TV series, including Homefront, L.A. Law, Quantum Leap, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Murder, She Wrote and was a featured cast member on the short-lived series, Going to Extremes89 before earning the role of Tom Paris on Voyager.10
Directing career
McNeill began his directing career with several episodes of Voyager.11 He then wrote, produced, and directed two award-winning short films, The Battery and 9 mm of Love,123 and began to direct other episodic television. While he has since performed as a guest star on television shows like The Outer Limits and Crossing Jordan, McNeill is now focusing on his directing career, helming episodes of Dawson's Creek, Everwood, Star Trek: Enterprise, Dead Like Me, The O.C., Las Vegas, Summerland, and Supernatural. His directing credits for 2006-2007 include episodes of Desperate Housewives, Medium, Standoff, The Nine, The Knights of Prosperity, In Case of Emergency, What About Brian and My Boys. In 2007 he directed the season 5 premiere of Las Vegas, the pilot of Samantha Who (which features his Star Trek: Voyager co-star Tim Russ ) and then signed on as a producer - director of the new NBC show Chuck, helming episodes two, six, seven, and fifteen of the series. 313
Personal life
During the filming for Voyager there were three Roberts on the cast list. Robert Beltran was known as Robert, Robert Picardo as Bob and Robert Duncan McNeill as Robbie. After the conclusion of Voyager McNeill developed a keen interest in bike riding and completed several rides for charity. On the set of Voyager McNeill was known as the practical joker.McNeill lives in LA with his wife Carol and three children. Robert has said in interviews he prefers directing because he is uncomfortable with the attention received as an actor. McNeill was inspired to direct when watching Jonathan Frakes and Levar Burton both former Star Trek actors go into directing.
References
- ^ Henderson, Kathy (June 14, 1988). "Soap Opera Digest". Retrieved on 2007-03-10.
- ^ "Biography, Official Homepage of Robert Duncan McNeill". Retrieved on 2007-03-10.
- ^ a b c d "Filmography". Official Homepage of Robert Duncan McNeill. Retrieved on 2007-03-10.
- ^ ""All My Children," Official Homepage of Robert Duncan McNeill". Retrieved on 2007-03-10.
- ^ ""Masters of the Universe," Official Homepage of Robert Duncan McNeill". Retrieved on 2007-03-10.
- ^ ""A Message From Charity" Official Homepage of Robert Duncan McNeill". Retrieved on 2007-03-10.
- ^ ""Six Degrees of Separation" Official Homepage of Robert Duncan McNeill". Retrieved on 2007-03-10.
- ^ Sloan, Allison (January 1993). "Easy Rider". Soap Opera Digest. Retrieved on 2007-03-10.
- ^ ""Going to Extremes" Official Homepage of Robert Duncan McNeill". Retrieved on 2007-03-10.
- ^ ""Star Trek: Voyager Cast Robert Duncan McNeill" Startrek.com". Retrieved on 2007-03-10.
- ^ Kaplan, Anna L (November 1997). "Paris at the Helm: Robert Duncan McNeill on His Shift From Actor to Director". Cinefantastique. Retrieved on 2007-03-10.
- ^ Perenson, Melissa (June 2000). "The Final Season Looms, but Robert Duncan McNeill will Always Have Paris". Star Trek Communicator. Retrieved on 2007-03-10.
- ^ "Filmography as Director, Internet Movie Database". Retrieved on 2007-03-10.
External links