---
name: "Robert Pastorelli"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/robert-pastorelli"
fi1m_id: "robert-pastorelli"
imdb_id: "nm0665123"
tmdb_id: 7866
wikidata_id: "Q654376"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "21 June 1954"
died: "8 March 2004"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 8
average_fi1m_score: 71
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 8
updated: "2026-10-05T00:14:11.548130+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 Pastorelli

## Identity

Robert Pastorelli

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/robert-pastorelli
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** robert-pastorelli
- **IMDb ID:** nm0665123
- **TMDB ID:** 7866
- **Wikidata ID:** Q654376
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Pastorelli, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q654376, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0665123/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/7866

Actor. Born 21 June 1954 in New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA. Died 8 March 2004.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 21 June 1954, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
- **Died:** 8 March 2004
- **Active:** 1982–1996
- **Also known as:** Robert Joseph Pastorelli
- **Average Fi1m score:** 71, as actor, over 8 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 73 (5), 1990s 67 (3)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 62 to 52 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 4 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 4, Crime 3, Action 2, Adventure 2, Comedy 2, Animation 1
- **Screen time:** 8 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $999m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Pastorelli, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q654376, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0665123/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/7866

## Streaming the US now

- **AMC+:** [*Dances with Wolves*](https://film.one/film/dances-with-wolves.md) (80)
- **Tubi:** [*Murphy Brown*](https://film.one/tv/murphy-brown.md) (77)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*FernGully: The Last Rainforest*](https://film.one/film/ferngully-the-last-rainforest.md) (64)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*Eraser*](https://film.one/film/eraser.md) (58)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Robert Pastorelli

> Robert Pastorelli is good company as a gruff man with something unexpected to say. His partnership with Candice Bergen in *Murphy Brown* gives us the clearest reason to seek out his work.

The housepainter has opinions. As Eldin Bernecky in *Murphy Brown* (1988), Robert Pastorelli gets to be a confidant as well as a man with a practical job, and the eccentricity has somewhere to go. Candice Bergen’s Murphy is funny, capable and difficult; Pastorelli gives her someone worth talking to without making her easier to manage. We warmed to Eldin because his philosophical bent makes him interesting company even before there is a joke to deliver. Pastorelli and Bergen are comfortable letting these two people remain awkward.

He had come through small television and film parts as streetwise characters before *Murphy Brown* provided the breakthrough. Timmons in *Dances with Wolves* (1990) was his first substantial film role. Kevin Costner’s patient Western is worth the long journey, despite its too-reassuring view of Sioux life. Its warmth and attention to character suit an actor whose appeal depends on giving a supporting figure a little individuality. It is a useful next stop after the sitcom, provided the slower pace appeals.

There are limits to how much the cast can do for the material. The secretary gags and musical routines in *Murphy Brown* are less rewarding than Bergen’s difficult, capable lead, and she remains the main reason we recommend the programme. Pastorelli’s contribution is the rapport beside her, where an eccentric supporting character has a purpose beyond being odd. Film work also used his tougher edge in *Eraser* (1996), while *Michael* (1996) placed him in a fantasy comedy alongside John Travolta.

Leading television roles in *Double Rush* (1995) and the American *Cracker* (1997) offered a different test. Neither series lasted long, so we would be wary of treating the leading credits alone as a guide to what to watch. The work we return to is the comedy beside Bergen, where his philosophical housepainter has somebody formidable to talk to. Start there, and allow for the occasional routine that tries too hard.

## Biography

Robert Joseph Pastorelli was an American actor. Born in New Brunswick, New Jersey, he began his career with stage work in New York in the 1970s before moving to Los Angeles in 1982.

He appeared in supporting film roles including Vinnie in *Beverly Hills Cop II* (1987) and Timmons in *Dances with Wolves* (1990). On television he played Eldin Bernecky in the series *Murphy Brown* for seven seasons from 1988 to 1994, and he received an Emmy nomination for the role.

Pastorelli died in Hollywood Hills, California, in 2004.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (8)

- *Eraser* (1996), Fi1m 58, as Johnny C — [page](https://film.one/film/eraser.md)
- *FernGully: The Last Rainforest* (1992), Fi1m 64, as Tony (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/ferngully-the-last-rainforest.md)
- *Dances with Wolves* (1990), Fi1m 80, as Timmons — [page](https://film.one/film/dances-with-wolves.md)
- *Murphy Brown* (1988), Fi1m 77, as Eldin Bernecky — [page](https://film.one/tv/murphy-brown.md)
- *Beverly Hills Cop II* (1987), Fi1m 48, as Vinnie — [page](https://film.one/film/beverly-hills-cop-ii.md)
- *Miami Vice* (1984), Fi1m 81, as Vespa — [page](https://film.one/tv/miami-vice.md)
- *Cagney & Lacey* (1982), Fi1m 81, as Rosen — [page](https://film.one/tv/cagney-and-lacey.md)
- *St. Elsewhere* (1982), Fi1m 78, as Danny Christiano — [page](https://film.one/tv/st-elsewhere.md)

## Complete filmography (55)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Be Cool* (2005), as Joe Loop
- *Women vs. Men* (2002), as Nick
- *South Pacific* (2001), as Luther Billis
- *The Ballad of Lucy Whipple* (2001), as Clyde Claymore
- *Bait* (2000), as Jaster
- *Modern Vampires* (1998), as The Count
- *Heist* (1998), as T-Bone · Associate Producer
- *Mother Goose: A Rappin' and Rhymin' Special* (1997), as Sgt. Louie (voice)
- *Cracker* (1997), series, as Gerry 'Fitz' Fitzgerald
- *A Simple Wish* (1997), as Oliver Greening
- *Michael* (1996), as Huey Driscoll
- *Eraser* (1996), as Johnny C — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/film/eraser.md)
- *The West Side Waltz* (1995), as Sookie Cerullo
- *Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child* (1995), series, as Sgt. Louie (voice)
- *Double Rush* (1995), series, as Johnny Verona
- *Touched by an Angel* (1994), series, as Joe Collette
- *The Yarn Princess* (1994), as Jake Thomas
- *Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit* (1993), as Joey Bustamente
- *Harmful Intent* (1993), as Devlin O'Shea
- *The Paint Job* (1993), as Willie
- *Striking Distance* (1993), as Jimmy Detillo
- *Sex, Shock & Censorship in the 90's* (1993), as Jesus
- *Batman: The Animated Series* (1992), series, as Manny (voice)
- *Folks!* (1992), as Fred
- *FernGully: The Last Rainforest* (1992), as Tony (voice) — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/film/ferngully-the-last-rainforest.md)
- *Dances with Wolves* (1990), as Timmons — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/dances-with-wolves.md)
- *Murphy Brown* (1988), series, as Eldin Bernecky — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/murphy-brown.md)
- *Lady Mobster* (1988), as Matteo Villani
- *Memories of Me* (1988), as Al (Broccoli)
- *Beauty and the Beast* (1987), series, as Tony Perotta, Vick Ramos
- *The Spirit* (1987), Actor
- *Beverly Hills Cop II* (1987), as Vinnie — Fi1m 48, [page](https://film.one/film/beverly-hills-cop-ii.md)
- *Hands of a Stranger* (1987), as Handyman
- *Outrageous Fortune* (1987), as Dealer #2
- *MacGyver* (1985), series, as Arnie
- *The Twilight Zone* (1985), series, as Man (segment "Dead Woman's Shoes")
- *Braker* (1985), as Forensic expert
- *California Girls* (1985), as Mechanic
- *I Married a Centerfold* (1984), as Guard
- *Hunter* (1984), series, as Willie Wakefield
- *Miami Vice* (1984), series, as Vespa — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/miami-vice.md)
- *Night Court* (1984), series, as Lorenzo Amador
- *Hardcastle and McCormick* (1983), series, as Adler
- *Diner* (1983), as Turko
- *The A-Team* (1983), series, as Juarez's Henchman
- *St. Elsewhere* (1982), series, as Danny Christiano — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/st-elsewhere.md)
- *Newhart* (1982), series, as Prisoner, Biker
- *Remington Steele* (1982), series, as Weasel
- *Knight Rider* (1982), series, as Leroy
- *Cagney & Lacey* (1982), series, as Rosen — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/cagney-and-lacey.md)
- *T. J. Hooker* (1982), series, as Rapist - Dancer
- *Cassie & Co.* (1982), series, as Buddy Imperial
- *Simon & Simon* (1981), series, as Ken
- *Hill Street Blues* (1981), series, as Jimmy Frumento, Bobby Stellin — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/hill-street-blues.md)
- *Barney Miller* (1975), series, as Edward Guthrie

## Gallery

- ![Robert Pastorelli](https://film.one/media/person/77426/gallery-156b2e2114a9.jpg) Robert Pastorelli — Image via TMDB
- ![Robert Pastorelli](https://film.one/media/person/77426/gallery-032744db7453.jpg) Robert Pastorelli — Image via TMDB

---
© 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-pastorelli