Robert Thaler

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Robert Thaler
Born (1959-10-15) October 15, 1959 (age 64)
EducationUniversity of California,
Berkeley
(BS)
Occupation(s)Stage and television actor

Robert Thaler (born October 15, 1959)[1] is an American stage and television actor. He is known for playing Pearl Bradford in the American soap opera television series Santa Barbara.[1][2][3]

Early life and education[edit]

Thaler was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa,[1] where he was later raised in Marion, Iowa.[4] He had a brother and two sisters.[4] Thaler attended at University of California, Berkeley, where he earned a bachelor's degree in mathematics.[5] Influenced by the Broadway play One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Thaler performed at regional theatres.[4]

Career[edit]

Thaler began his career in 1983, where he played the starring role of "Dancer" in the new ABC crime drama television series The Renegades.[5][6]

While Thaler performed on regional theaters, he was seen by the creators Bridget and Jerome Dobson of the soap opera television series Santa Barbara, where they saw his performance on a Los Angeles play, titled, Tamara.[4] They created the role of Pearl Bradford for him.[4] Thaler joined the cast of Santa Barbara in October 1985,[5] where he was introduced as a wacky oddball waiter, helping "Cruz Castillo" (A Martinez) with his investigations. With his character on Santa Barbara, he revealed that the full name of the character was "Michael Baldwin Bradford III",[5] when his character fell in love with "Kelly Capwell" (Robin Wright). His final appearance on Santa Barbara was from April 1988, in which Thaler later guest-starred on television programs including Hardcastle and McCormick, V, Remington Steele, T.J. Hooker and Hill Street Blues.[6]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1999 Starry Night Commentator

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1982 The Renegades Dancer Television film
1983 The Renegades 6 episodes
1983 Remington Steele Langston Drewes Episode: "Love Among the Steele"
1984 V Ensign Daniel 2 episodes
1985 Hill Street Blues Reporter Episode: "The Life and Time of Dominic Florio Jr."
1985–1988 Santa Barbara Pearl 269 episodes
1986 T. J. Hooker Doug Richards Episode: "The Night Ripper"

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Soap star". Calgary Herald. Calgary, Alberta, Canada. January 18, 1987. p. 43. Retrieved December 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  2. ^ Lubin, Eve (July 4, 1986). "Aw shucks... Thaler discovers a pearl in 'Santa Barbara' role". The Times-News. Twin Falls, Idaho. p. 23. Retrieved December 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  3. ^ Lubin, Eve (July 5, 1986). "Robert Thaler plays no ordinary oyster shucker". The Daily American. Somerset, Pennsylvania. p. 19. Retrieved December 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  4. ^ a b c d e Passalacqua, Connie (February 22, 1987). Character gives 'Santa Barbara' pizazz. Retrieved December 5, 2021 – via Google Books. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help) Open access icon
  5. ^ a b c d Reichardt, Nancy (September 26, 1986). "Robert Thaler is a bit different from Pearl". The Daily News. Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. p. 20. Retrieved December 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon
  6. ^ a b Hanshew, Dennis (February 28, 1988). "Before 'Santa Barbara', Thaler did short-lived 'Renegades series'". The Indianapolis Star. Indianapolis, Indiana. p. 184. Retrieved December 5, 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Closed access icon

External links[edit]