--- name: "Robert Hays" canonical: "https://film.one/person/robert-hays" fi1m_id: "robert-hays" imdb_id: "nm0001332" tmdb_id: 14416 wikidata_id: "Q1970920" roles: ["Actor"] born: "24 July 1947" reviewed_on_fi1m: 2 average_fi1m_score: 90 average_as: "actor" average_over: 2 updated: "2026-09-17T23:34:21.607925+00:00" licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Robert Hays ## Identity Robert Hays - **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/robert-hays - **Type:** Person - **Fi1m ID:** robert-hays - **IMDb ID:** nm0001332 - **TMDB ID:** 14416 - **Wikidata ID:** Q1970920 - **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Hays, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1970920, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001332/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/14416 Actor. Born 24 July 1947 in Bethesda, Maryland, USA. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 24 July 1947, Bethesda, Maryland, USA - **Active:** 1980–1992 - **Average Fi1m score:** 90, as actor, over 2 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 89 (1), 1990s 91 (1) - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Hays, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1970920, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001332/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/14416 ## Streaming the US now - **Hulu:** [*Airplane!*](https://film.one/film/airplane.md) (89) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Fi1m on Robert Hays > Robert Hays makes an excellent comic leading man when earnestness is the job. In *Airplane*, he keeps the romantic troubles clear through the interruptions, and his refusal to compete with the jokes helps them work. In the bar flashback in *Airplane* (1980), Robert Hays gives the romance enough seriousness for the disco silliness to be funny. Ted Striker's feelings still matter to Ted, however little dignity the film allows him. We laughed because Hays and Julie Hagerty keep playing the romantic encounter rather than advertising how ridiculous it is becoming. Hays takes his character seriously without asking us to take the film seriously. The joke would be weaker if he seemed to be enjoying it with us. Hays came to prominence with the sitcom *Angie* (1979–80) and *Airplane*, then returned as Ted in *Airplane II: The Sequel* (1982). His subsequent career spread across television, family films and animation. He starred as Paul Forrester in the television series *Starman* (1986) and played Bob Seaver in *Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey* (1993). He also voiced Tony Stark in *Iron Man* (1994). That is a broader working life than the familiar parody lead suggests, although our strongest recommendation rests on that early performance. Jim Abrahams, David Zucker and Jerry Zucker get something precise from him in *Airplane*: a leading man who keeps the melodrama clear while their comedy continually disrupts it. Hagerty's Elaine Dickinson is essential to that, and the two deserve to be considered together. Their romantic difficulties give us a story we can return to after each interruption, without either performer insisting that it deserves more respect than the jokes. Hays is often cast as an earnest straight man, but this is a particularly good use of him. The limitation is in the material: some of the wordplay is painfully corny, and a straight face cannot make every line worth hearing. Hays nevertheless helps weaker jokes pass because he does not stop to sell them. There is considerable skill in keeping a performance this steady amid so much silliness. Start with *Airplane* for Hays, and give Hagerty her share of the credit. ## Biography Robert Hays is an American actor. Born on 24 July 1947 in Bethesda, Maryland, he began his career in theatre, performing at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. He made early television appearances in series including *Wonder Woman* (1975) and *Angie* (1979–1980). Hays gained prominence with his role as pilot Ted Striker in the comedy film *Airplane!* (1980) and its sequel *Airplane II: The Sequel* (1982). Other film credits include *Cat's Eye* (1985), *Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey* (1993) and its sequel, and *Superhero Movie* (2008). On television he starred in *Starman* (1986–1987) and appeared in *That '70s Show* (2000); he also provided the voice of Iron Man in the 1994 animated series *Spider-Man*. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, roberthays.me.* ## On Fi1m (2) - *The Larry Sanders Show* (1992), Fi1m 91, as Robert Hays — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-larry-sanders-show.md) - *Airplane!* (1980), Fi1m 89, as Ted Striker — [page](https://film.one/film/airplane.md) ## Complete filmography (74) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Sharknado 2: The Second One* (2014), as Bob Wilson - *Paranormal Movie* (2013), as Director - *Superhero Movie* (2008), as Blaine Riker - *Universal Remote* (2007), as Dr. Anderson - *Spider-Man: The Venom Saga* (2005), as Tony Stark / Iron Man (voice) - *The Nutcracker and the Mouseking* (2004), as Squeak (voice) - *The Santa Trap* (2002), as Bill Emerson - *Spider-Man: The Return of the Green Goblin* (2002), as Stark (voice) - *The Retrievers* (2001), as Tom Lowry - *Alex in Wonder* (2001), as Dan Markov · Producer - *Bette* (2000), series, as Roy - *Dr. T & the Women* (2000), as Harlan - *Deadly Appearances* (2000), as Andy Boychuk - *An American Tail: The Mystery of the Night Monster* (1999), as Reed Daley (voice) - *30 Years to Life* (1998), as Vincent Dawson - *That '70s Show* (1998), series, as Bud Hyde - *Kelly Kelly* (1998), series, as Doug Kelly - *I'll Be Home For Christmas* (1997), as Dr. Mike Greiser - *Christmas Every Day* (1996), as Henry Jackson - *Spin City* (1996), series, as Los Angeles Mayor Stone Taylor - *Unabomber: The True Story* (1996), as David Kaczynski - *Superman: The Animated Series* (1996), series, as Edward Lytener (voice), Edward Lytener / Luminus (voice) - *The Abduction* (1996), Actor - *Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco* (1996), as Bob Seaver - *Vanished* (1995), as John Taylor - *The Outer Limits* (1995), series, as Dr. Peter Halstead - *Deadly Invasion: The Killer Bee Nightmare* (1995), as Chad Ingram - *Cyber Bandits* (1995), as Morgan - *Spider-Man* (1994), series, as Tony Stark / Iron Man (voice) - *Iron Man* (1994), series, as Iron Man (voice) - *Touched by an Angel* (1994), series, as Scott Walden - *Raw Justice* (1994), as Mitch McCullum - *No Dessert, Dad, 'Til You Mow the Lawn* (1994), as Ken Cochran - *Partners* (1993), as "Grave Squad" Lawyer - *Sex, Shock & Censorship in the 90's* (1993), as Martin Day - *Cutters* (1993), series, as Joe Polachek - *Fifty/Fifty* (1993), as Sam French - *Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey* (1993), as Bob Seaver - *The Larry Sanders Show* (1992), series, as Robert Hays — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-larry-sanders-show.md) - *Hot Chocolate* (1992), as Eric Ferrier - *Running Against Time* (1991), as David Rhodes - *For Better or for Worse* (1989), as Sean - *FM* (1989), series, as Ted Costas - *She's Having a Baby* (1988), as Robert Hays (uncredited) - *Murder by the Book* (1987), as D.H. 'Hank' Mercer / Biff Deegan - *Starman* (1986), series, as Paul Forrester / Starman · Director - *Cat's Eye* (1985), as Norris - *Mister Roberts* (1984), as Lt. JG Doug Roberts - *Scandalous* (1984), as Frank Swedlin - *Touched* (1983), as Daniel - *Utilities* (1983), as Bob Hunt - *Trenchcoat* (1983), as Terry Leonard - *Airplane II: The Sequel* (1982), as Ted Striker - *The Day the Bubble Burst* (1982), as Gregory Winslow - *California Gold Rush* (1981), as Bret Harte / Narrator - *Take This Job and Shove It* (1981), as Frank Macklin - *Airplane!* (1980), as Ted Striker — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/film/airplane.md) - *The Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything* (1980), as Kirby Winter - *The Fall of the House of Usher* (1979), as Jonathan Cresswell - *Angie* (1979), series, as Brad Benson - *Almost Heaven* (1978), series, Actor - *The Young Pioneers* (1978), series, as Dan Gray - *The Initiation of Sarah* (1978), as Scott Rafferty - *The Love Boat* (1977), series, as Sam Bradley - *Delta County, USA* (1977), as Bo - *Young Pioneers' Christmas* (1976), as Dan Gray - *Spencer's Pilots* (1976), series, Actor - *Young Pioneers* (1976), as Dan Grey - *Laverne & Shirley* (1976), series, Actor - *Wonder Woman* (1975), series, as Cpl. Jim Ames - *The Rockford Files* (1974), series, as Darren Weeks — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-rockford-files.md) - *The Streets of San Francisco* (1972), series, Actor - *Cannon* (1971), series, Actor - *Marcus Welby, M.D.* (1969), series, as Officer Gilpin ## Gallery - ![American actors Kathleen Beller and Robert Hays filming Touched in Brigantine New Jersey. 35mm. (2008)](https://film.one/media/person/117500/gallery-8d95adde31e1.jpg) American actors Kathleen Beller and Robert Hays filming Touched in Brigantine New Jersey. 35mm. (2008) — David Swift, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/57/Kathleen_Beller%2C_Robert_Hays%2C_filming_Touched.jpg/1280px-Kathleen_Beller%2C_Robert_Hays%2C_filming_Touched.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Robert Hays at GalaxyCon Richmond in 2019](https://film.one/media/person/117500/gallery-9cc46e8baa36.jpg) Robert Hays at GalaxyCon Richmond in 2019 — Super Festivals, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Robert_Hayes_Photo_Op_GalaxyCon_Richmond_201.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Robert Hays at the Wizard World Comic Con in 2014](https://film.one/media/person/117500/gallery-e7ad16261c8d.jpg) Robert Hays at the Wizard World Comic Con in 2014 — Paula R. Lively from Zanesville, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/80/Robert_Hays_%2813530781684%29.jpg/1280px-Robert_Hays_%2813530781684%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail) - ![Robert Hays at GalaxyCon Richmond in 2019](https://film.one/media/person/117500/gallery-ee53d2e5b9bf.jpg) Robert Hays at GalaxyCon Richmond in 2019 — Super Festivals from Ft. Lauderdale, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/Robert_Hays_%2848636794422%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Robert Hays](https://film.one/media/person/117500/gallery-f95f5d8e3455.jpg) Robert Hays — Image via TMDB - ![Robert Hays](https://film.one/media/person/117500/gallery-901b5c2a07fe.jpg) Robert Hays — Rob DiCaterino from Clifton, NJ, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d9/Robert_Hays_2013.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/robert-hays