Robert David Hall
An actor who transformed personal tragedy into a pioneering, two-decade television role as the unflappable coroner Dr. Al Robbins.
Born 1947 (age 79)·American actor·Birthday: November 9·Baby Boomers
Biography
Robert David Hall's path to becoming one of television's most recognizable medical examiners was as unconventional as it was inspiring. Before acting, he was a musician and a radio DJ. A catastrophic traffic accident in 1978 resulted in the amputation of both his legs, a life-altering event he faced with remarkable resilience. He returned to school, studied acting, and began landing character roles that drew on his deep, authoritative voice and steady presence. His big break came in 2000 with 'CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,' where for fifteen seasons he played Dr. Al Robbins, a character whose physical difference was noted but never defined him—a quiet revolution in representation. Off-screen, Hall became a powerful advocate for actors with disabilities and for road safety, using his platform to argue for greater inclusivity in Hollywood long before it was a common cause.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Robert was born in 1947, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Robert Was Born
The biggest hits of 1947
#1 Movie
The Egg and I
Best Picture
Gentleman's Agreement
Robert's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1947Born
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1952Started school
Queen Elizabeth II ascends the throne
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $8,350Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Blue Tango" — Leroy AndersonBest Picture: The Greatest Show on Earth
1960Became a teenager
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1963Could drive
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1965Could vote
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1968Turned 21
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1977Turned 30
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1987Turned 40
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1997Turned 50
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 60
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 70
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 79 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed Dr. Albert Robbins for 15 seasons on 'CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,' one of the longest-running roles for an actor with a disability on prime-time TV.
- Served as the national chairman of the Performers with Disabilities Committee for the Screen Actors Guild.
- Was a successful radio disc jockey on stations like KPPC-FM in Los Angeles before his acting career.
Did You Know?
He is a classically trained pianist and still plays music regularly.
He provided the voice for various characters in the 'VeggieTales' children's video series.
He holds a degree in history from UCLA.
“I'm not a victim. I'm an actor who happens to have a disability.”
