Robert Patrick
A character actor of chilling precision, he turned a liquid-metal assassin into one of cinema's most unforgettable villains.
Born 1958 (age 68)·American actor·Birthday: November 5·Baby Boomers
Biography
Robert Patrick's face is one of American screen's most versatile instruments, capable of shifting from cold, terrifying menace to grounded, weary authority in a blink. His career was irrevocably changed by a single, nearly wordless role: the T-1000 in 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day.' With a physicality that was both robotic and predatory, he created a benchmark for sci-fi antagonists. Rather than be typecast by that success, Patrick used it as a launchpad to demonstrate remarkable range. He played a stoic FBI agent on 'The X-Files,' a tough small-town sheriff in 'Peacemaker,' and a corrupt CIA officer in 'Bridge of Spies.' His performances are built on a foundation of intense focus and minimalist expression, making him a reliable anchor in both blockbuster films and gritty television dramas, always leaving a distinct impression regardless of screen time.
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 1958, 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 1958
#1 Movie
South Pacific
Best Picture
Gigi
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Robert's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1958Born
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1963Started school
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
1971Became a teenager
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1974Could drive
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1976Could vote
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1979Turned 21
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1988Turned 30
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1998Turned 40
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 50
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 60
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 68 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed the iconic, shape-shifting T-1000 in 'Terminator 2: Judgment Day,' a role that redefined the sci-fi action villain.
- Won a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor on Television for his role as John Doggett on 'The X-Files.'
- Played a central role as Master Sergeant Jonas Blane in the television series 'The Unit,' created by David Mamet.
Did You Know?
He is an avid marathon runner and was in peak physical condition for his relentless pursuit scenes in 'Terminator 2.'
His brother, Richard Patrick, is the founder and frontman of the industrial rock band Filter.
He played two different characters in the 'James Bond' film franchise: in 'Die Another Day' and 'Quantum of Solace.'
“I approach every role like it's my first day on the job, with respect for the work.”
