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Robbie Rist
Robbie Rist
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Robert Anthony Rist (born April 4, 1964) is an American actor.[1] He is known for playing Cousin Oliver in The Brady Bunch, Martin in Grady and "Little John" in Big John, Little John. Rist is also known for voicing assorted characters in television shows, games and movies, most notably as the voice of Michelangelo in the films Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (1993), and Casey Jones (2011); his other voice roles include Stuffy in Doc McStuffins, Whiz in Kidd Video, Star in Balto, Maroda in Final Fantasy X, and Choji Akimichi in Naruto.[2] Additionally, he and director Anthony C. Ferrante provided music for the Sharknado film and the theme song for the Sharknado franchise. He played Ted and Georgette Baxter's adopted son David on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. He was also the voice of the stick man from the Handi Snacks commercials.

Key Information

Early life

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Rist was born in La Mirada, California on April 4, 1964.[1]

Career

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Acting

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Rist as Cousin Oliver in The Brady Bunch in 1974

As a child, Rist played Cousin Oliver in the final six episodes of The Brady Bunch.[2] With the regular children all growing older, his inclusion was intended to reintroduce a cute, younger child to the series. However, the idea backfired as most viewers disliked the Oliver character and the plan became moot as ABC had opted to not renew the series even before his debut. This gave rise to the TV term "Cousin Oliver Syndrome".

After The Brady Bunch, he appeared as Glendon Farrell in Lucas Tanner starring David Hartman, "Little John" in the Saturday Morning series Big John, Little John, Tommy in the series premiere for the short-lived CBS drama series Bronk, and Martin in the short-lived Sanford and Son spin-off Grady. During 1975-77, Rist played David, son of Ted Baxter (Ted Knight) on The Mary Tyler Moore Show. He also appeared in three episodes of The Bionic Woman. In 1980, Rist played "Dr. Zee" in the first three episodes of Galactica 1980.[3] He made four guest appearances on CHiPs and the short-lived CBS series Whiz Kids, and also played "Booger" in a failed Revenge of the Nerds TV pilot. In 1986, Rist had a supporting role as Milo in the action film, Iron Eagle, which was a box-office hit despite being critically panned.[4]

As of 2006, Rist was acting, working with music and also working in film production. Rist produced a horror/comedy film, Stump The Band, directed by William Holmes and JoJo Hendrickson.[5]

In 2013, he portrayed Robbie the Bus Driver in the camp horror film Sharknado.[6] Rist said in an interview that his friend Anthony C. Ferrante came upon the film's poster at the American Film Market and became enthusiastic about the concept. When Ferrante said that he had been approached to direct the film, Rist insisted that Ferrante take the job, and that if he did, that he should have a part in it. He also mentioned that Sharknado was his very first red carpet premiere.[2]

Voice-over work

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As an adult, Rist has worked as a voice actor, such as in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film series (as the voice of Michaelangelo); from 1984 to 1986, he starred in the Saturday morning cartoon Kidd Video, playing the character Whiz both in live-action music videos and animated sequences. He was the voice of Star, a mauve-and-cream Siberian Husky, in the animated 1995 Universal Studios film Balto, and to date, this is his first and only role in a full-length animated film. He was also the voice of Aaron in the PC game Star Warped. An episode of Batman: The Animated Series titled "Baby Doll" contained a character called Cousin Spunky that was intended to boost sagging ratings of the fictional sitcom Love That Baby, a clear reference to Cousin Oliver (Rist lent his voice to the episode, but did not play Cousin Spunky; his character was an adult).

Rist also voices characters Choji Akimichi from Naruto, and Bud Bison from Mega Man Star Force.

Rist was the voice of Stuffy, Doc's overly proud stuffed dragon, in Disney Junior's hit animated series Doc McStuffins.[2][7]

In 2009, he voiced Griffin in Terminator Salvation. He also provided additional voices in Final Fantasy XIII, as well as reprising his role as Michelangelo in a fan-made movie about Casey Jones.[8]

Rist voiced the reincarnation of Mondo Gecko in TMNT 2012.

In 2014, he appeared as the voice of an alien in the James Rolfe film Angry Video Game Nerd: The Movie.

Music

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Rist is also a musician and producer; he sings, plays guitar, bass guitar and drums. Rist has worked with many Los Angeles rock bands, including Wonderboy, The Andersons, Cockeyed Ghost, Nice Guy Eddie, and Steve Barton and the Oblivion Click. The list of west coast pop bands Rist has performed with numbers in the hundreds. He divides his time between film and music production, performing with Los Angeles alt-country band KingsizeMaybe and rock band Jeff Caudill & The Goodtimes Band (with Jeff Caudill of Orange County punk band Gameface and Michael "Popeye" Vogelsang of Orange County punk band Farside). Rist has also produced a number of records for bands, including Suzy & Los Quattro, Backline, Ginger Britt and the Mighty, Jeff Caudill, Steve Barton and the Oblivion Click, Nice Guy Eddie, Kingsizemaybe and The Mockers. Rist produced the album Automatic Toaster for The Rubinoos[9] and played drums on that album.[10] He currently is the drummer for the rock formation Your Favorite Trainwreck.[11]

Rist and director Anthony C. Ferrante provided the music for the Sharknado film, initially writing about six songs for the first film. Rist and Ferrante would provide music for the sequel Sharknado 2 as the band Quint, and perform its theme song "(The Ballad of) Sharknado", which had originally appeared in the first film but few in the initial audience noticed it.[2][12] Quint was named after the character in Jaws and served as their band's name for future work on the franchise, including the song "Crash" in Sharknado 3.[13][14] They also released an EP called Great White Skies with several of the theme song's variants.[15]

Rist and Don Frankel's power-pop group Sundial Symphony recorded two of Paul Levinson's songs -- "Merri Goes Round" and "Looking for Sunsets (In the Early Morning)" -- which were released by Big Stir Records in 2019.[16]

Advertising

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In October 2016 and April 2019, Rist was seen promoting The Brady Bunch television series on the MeTV television network.

Filmography

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Animation

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Live action

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Video games

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References

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Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Robbie Rist (born April 4, 1964, in ) is an American actor, voice actor, and musician best known for his child role as Cousin Oliver Tyler on the final season of the sitcom (1974) and for voicing the character in the first three live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles films (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles , Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze , and ). Rist began his acting career as a child in the early 1970s, landing the recurring role of , the young orphan nephew of Carol Brady (played by ), in the sixth and final season of , appearing in all six episodes aired from September to October 1974. At age nine during filming, Rist portrayed the curly-haired, freckled boy whose arrival was intended to refresh the aging cast of child actors but later became a cultural symbol of a show's decline, often cited in discussions of "." His early television work also included guest spots on shows like and , establishing him as a prolific child performer in Hollywood during that era. Transitioning to voice acting in the late 1980s and 1990s, Rist became a prominent figure in animation and film dubbing, most notably lending his energetic, laid-back voice to Michelangelo, the party-loving turtle, in the blockbuster Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles trilogy produced by New Line Cinema, which grossed approximately $323 million worldwide combined. He reprised voice roles in the franchise sporadically, including Mondo Gecko and Jet McCabe in episodes of the 1987–1996 animated series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Casey Jones in the 2012 CGI series. Other significant voice credits include the sarcastic sled dog Star in the animated feature Balto (1995), Choji Akimichi in the English dub of the anime Naruto (2002–2007), and guest voices in series such as Doc McStuffins (2012–2020) and OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes (2017–2019), showcasing his versatility across genres from family entertainment to action-adventure. Beyond acting, Rist has pursued a parallel career in music as a composer, producer, and performer since childhood, playing instruments like piano, guitar, bass, drums, and mandolin. He has composed for films and television, including contributions to projects like Sharknado (2013), where he also appeared on-screen, and released solo albums such as I'll Be There (2009) and collaborated with bands like I D8. In 2017, he shared a win for Best Song at an indie film festival for "Life Interrupted" from the short film of the same name. Rist continues to work in voice-over, production, and music, maintaining a low-profile personal life; he married producer Ali Riseling in 2019.

Early life and education

Family and childhood

Robert Anthony Rist was born on April 4, 1964, in . He was raised in , primarily in the , where he spent his formative years. Rist's parents were German immigrants who emigrated during or after , bringing with them a strong small-town rooted in European traditions. They were described by Rist as old-school and protective, particularly as he entered the entertainment industry at a young age, emphasizing discipline and resilience in the face of criticism. Despite their caution, his parents were supportive of his early ambitions, allowing him to pursue on the condition that he maintained focus on his education and personal development. Growing up in a household influenced by his parents' immigrant background, Rist developed an early interest in performance and music, activities that his family encouraged as long as they did not compromise his studies. This nurturing environment, combined with the cultural values of hard work instilled by his parents, shaped his childhood and laid the foundation for his future career in entertainment.

Schooling and early interests

Rist attended High School in Woodland Hills, , where he was part of the class that popularized "surf speak" slang in the early . He graduated in 1982. After high school, Rist enrolled at , in , though details about his major or duration of study remain unspecified. From a young age, Rist demonstrated a strong interest in music, starting lessons at age three and later pursuing instruction as a child. He also beat rhythms on his knees like many young musicians, fostering an early creative outlet. His passion for emerged during childhood, leading to his debut in a student film produced at UCLA, followed by a national television commercial for Nestle's Crunch before he was cast in at age nine.

Professional career

Breakthrough roles in television

Robbie Rist's entry into television acting began with guest appearances in the early , but his breakthrough came with recurring roles that showcased his youthful energy and comedic timing. In , at age 10, he joined the cast of the popular ABC as Cousin Oliver Tyler, the orphaned relative of the Brady children, appearing in the final six episodes of the show's fifth and last season. This role, though controversial for signaling the series' decline in some viewers' eyes, provided Rist with national exposure on a family-oriented program that had been a staple since 1969. Building on that visibility, Rist landed a regular role in 1975 as Martin, the grandson of the title character, in Grady, a short-lived spin-off from starring Redd Foxx's co-star . The series, which ran for one season with 19 episodes, focused on the relocation of the Evans family to and highlighted Rist's portrayal of a mischievous young boy navigating urban life. His performance in Grady demonstrated his ability to handle ensemble comedy and contributed to his growing reputation as a child actor in sitcoms. In 1976, Rist starred as in the children's fantasy sitcom , created by the producers of . In this role, he played the 12-year-old son of a high school principal who gains the ability to transform into a young boy after drinking from a , leading to humorous age-related mishaps. The show aired for one season, blending live-action adventure with lighthearted family themes, and marked Rist's first lead in a series, further solidifying his presence in television.

Voice acting and animation

Rist entered the field of voice acting in the 1980s, notably providing the voice for Whiz, the keyboardist in the animated musical adventure series Kidd Video, which aired from 1984 to 1986. His work in this period established him as a versatile performer capable of handling energetic, youthful characters in ensemble casts. During the 1990s, Rist achieved significant recognition for voicing Michelangelo in the live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles films, including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1990), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles II: The Secret of the Ooze (1991), and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III (1993), where he supplied the character's laid-back, pizza-loving personality through voice-over performances. He also contributed to animated projects of the era, such as voicing Brian Daily in the episode "Baby-Doll" of Batman: The Animated Series (1994) and Star, the wisecracking mukluk dog, in the feature film Balto (1995). Later in the decade, Rist voiced Kevin, brother of Meg, in the episode "Shafted" of Godzilla: The Series (2000). In the 2000s, Rist expanded into anime dubbing, most prominently as Choji Akimichi, the kind-hearted but gluttonous ninja, in the English version of Naruto, a role he performed across the series from 2002 to 2007. His video game credits during this time included voicing Maroda, a Ronso warrior, in Final Fantasy X (2001) and its sequel Final Fantasy X-2 (2003). Rist's voice work continued into the 2010s and beyond with family-oriented animation, including the recurring role of Stuffy, the enthusiastic but clumsy dragon toy, in the Disney Junior series Doc McStuffins starting in 2012. Overall, he has amassed over 80 credited roles in animation, anime, and video games, often portraying comic relief characters with a distinctive, affable tone.

Music and production work

Rist began his musical pursuits at a young age, taking lessons starting at age three and later expanding to , bass, , and . His early interest in music was influenced by co-star from , who introduced him to obscure recordings that shaped his tastes. Over the decades, Rist has balanced acting with extensive work as a and , contributing to , punk, alt-country, and rock genres. As a and recording engineer, Rist has overseen albums for several bands and artists, emphasizing hands-on involvement in studio sessions. He produced Automatic Toaster (2007) for group , on which he also played drums. Other production credits include records for The Masticators, Spanish pop act Suzy & Los Quattro, Backline, Ginger Britt and the Mighty, Jeff Caudill, and and the Culprits. In these roles, Rist often performs multiple instruments and provides backing vocals, particularly for projects lacking full bands. Rist's performance career spans numerous bands, where he primarily plays drums and guitar. He was the drummer for Wonderboy, releasing their self-titled debut album in 1993 on Racer Records, followed by Abbey Road to Ruin. Other groups include The Andersons, Cockeyed Ghost, Nice Guy Eddie, and alt-country outfit Kingsize Maybe. More recently, he has drummed for Jeff Caudill & The Goodtimes Band and rock group Your Favorite Trainwreck. In 1995, Rist released his solo album Robbie Rist. Beyond band work, Rist has composed music for film and television, including the theme song for the franchise in collaboration with director . His latest solo release, The Weight of Illusion (2025), features over fifteen original songs written and recorded at home, showcasing his ongoing songwriting and production efforts.

Recent activities and other ventures

In recent years, Robbie Rist has continued his career with roles in animated and projects. In 2025, he provided voices for the Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds. The previous year, 2024, saw him voicing the Clown Fish in the Barbie: Mermaid Adventure. Earlier, in 2023, Rist reprised his role as Choji Akimichi in the Naruto x : Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections and appeared in the live-action film Attack of the Meth Gator. Beyond acting, Rist remains active in music as a performer and . He serves as the for the rock band Your Favorite Trainwreck, contributing to their ongoing performances and recordings. On October 7, 2025, Rist released his solo album The Weight of Illusion, a collection of over fifteen original songs written and recorded at home over the course of a year, showcasing his songwriting and multi-instrumental talents. Rist co-hosts the podcast The Spoon, where he, alongside Chris Jackson and Thom Bowers, discusses a mix of nostalgic, pop culture, and personal topics in a humorous style. The show has maintained a consistent release schedule, with recent episodes including EP 598: "The Monsters Are Off The Screen" on October 31, 2025, and EP 595: "No Way To Steer An Elephant (The Story)" on October 2, 2025, often featuring guest appearances from fellow entertainers. Additionally, Rist frequently participates in fan conventions and comic expos, engaging with audiences through panels and signings. Notable appearances include the Fanboy Expo Orlando in September 2025, Dallas Fan Festival in October 2025, and Pensacon, where he discusses his career highlights from to . These events highlight his enduring popularity among fans of and media.

Filmography

Live-action television

Rist made his television debut in the early 1970s. His breakthrough came in 1974 when he joined as Cousin Oliver, the orphaned relative adopted by the Brady family, appearing in the final 6 episodes of the series. This role, though controversial among fans for signaling the show's decline, established Rist as a familiar in family sitcoms. Following , Rist appeared as Martin in 2 episodes of the short-lived spin-off Grady (1975–1976), which had 10 episodes total and played the son of the character from the original series. He then took the lead role of in the fantasy sitcom (1976–1977), portraying a teacher who transforms into a after drinking from a . In 1976, Rist appeared in three episodes of as David Baxter, the adopted son of Ted and Georgette Baxter. Rist continued with guest roles throughout the late 1970s and . He played Jeff in an episode of Emergency! in 1973, Bobby in (1977), and multiple characters across three episodes of (1977–1982), including Jeff in "Cry Wolf," Brian in "," and Russell in "This Year's Riot." In 1980, he portrayed the young Cylon hybrid Dr. Zee in the pilot episodes of . Additional guest spots included Jerry on (1981), Tommy on (1983), Chip on Whiz Kids (1983), and Bobby on (1984).
Year(s)TitleRoleNotes
1972–1974The Brady BunchOliver Tyler (Cousin Oliver)Recurring role, 6 episodes
1973Emergency!JeffGuest, 1 episode ("Dinner Date")
1975–1976GradyMartinGuest, 2 episodes
1976The Mary Tyler Moore ShowDavid BaxterRecurring, 3 episodes
1976–1977Big John, Little JohnLittle JohnMain role, 13 episodes
1977The Bionic WomanBobbyGuest, 1 episode ("The Dejon Caper")
1977CHiPsJeffGuest, 1 episode ("Cry Wolf")
1978CHiPsBrianGuest, 1 episode ("Neighborhood Watch")
1980Galactica 1980Dr. ZeeRecurring, 3 episodes
1981The Love BoatJerryGuest, 1 episode
1982CHiPsRussellGuest, 1 episode ("This Year's Riot")
1983T.J. HookerTommyGuest, 1 episode ("Partners in Death")
1983Whiz KidsChipGuest, 1 episode ("A Chip Off the Old Block")
1984Silver SpoonsBobbyGuest, 1 episode ("The Best Man")
Rist's live-action television work tapered off in the late 1980s as he transitioned to , with no major recurring roles after . Occasional guest appearances and TV movies followed, but his primary contributions to live-action TV remain in the family-oriented and sci-fi genres of the and early .

Live-action films

Rist began his live-action film career in the late with supporting roles in made-for-television movies, but gained wider recognition in theatrical releases during the . His role as Milo Bazen, the best friend of the protagonist in the action film (1986), marked a significant early appearance; the movie was a commercial success, grossing over $18 million domestically despite mixed reviews. In the comedy (1989), he played a minor role as a friend's character in a story about and family dynamics. In the , Rist embraced and cinema, notably portraying Robbie the in the Syfy original movie (2013), a low-budget horror-comedy that spawned a franchise and became a pop phenomenon through buzz. He reprised a small role as Quint in the series finale (2018). More recently, he appeared in holiday-themed and independent films, including Sheldon in the family drama Blending Christmas (2021), which reunited him with several Brady Bunch co-stars, and supporting parts in sci-fi comedy Time Pirates (2022) as Elrod and horror Attack of the Meth Gator (2023) as Trig.
YearTitleRole
1986Milo Bazen
1989Corvette Kid's Friend
2013Robbie the Bus Driver
2018The Last Sharknado: It's About TimeQuint Guitarist
2021Blending ChristmasSheldon
2022Time PiratesElrod
2023Attack of the Meth GatorTrig

Animated projects

Rist began his career in during the early . He gained prominence in the mid- with the role of Whiz in the musical adventure series (1984–1985). His breakthrough in came with voicing additional characters in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, including Mondo and Jet McCann in episodes of the 1987–1996 animated series; he also voiced in the live-action films (1990-1993) and related projects. This performance became one of his most recognized contributions to the genre. Throughout the 1990s, Rist contributed to several prominent animated series, including additional voices in Batman: The Animated Series (1992–1995), Captain Planet and the Planeteers (1990–1996), and (1991–1996). He voiced Jack in the short-lived (1998–1999) and provided voices for Godzilla: The Series as Kevin (1998–2000). In the 2000s, Rist took on the role of Choji Akimichi in the English dub of (2002–2007) and its sequel Naruto: Shippuden (2007–2017), a character he reprised in Boruto: Naruto Next Generations (2017–present). Other notable television roles include Stuffy the Dragon in (2012–2020) and additional voices in (2016–present). As of 2024, he provided voices in Barbie: Mermaid Adventure. In animated films, Rist voiced Star, the boastful husky, in the 1995 feature Balto. He provided additional voices for The Land Before Time II: The Great Valley Adventure (1994 direct-to-video) and All Dogs Go to Heaven 2 (1996). Later credits include Itchy in the holiday special An All Dogs Christmas Carol (1998) and additional voices in Alpha and Omega (2010). Rist's work in animation spans over four decades, encompassing more than 30 television series and a dozen films, often highlighting his versatile range in comedic and youthful characters.

Key Animated Projects

ProjectRoleYearType
Whiz1984–1985TV Series
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1987 series)Mondo Gecko / Additional Voices1987–1996TV Series
Brian / Additional Voices1992–1995TV Series
Additional Voices1990–1996TV Series
The Land Before Time II: The Great Valley AdventureAdditional Voices1994Film
Star1995Film
All Dogs Go to Heaven 2Additional Voices1996Film
Jack1998–1999TV Series
Choji Akimichi2002–2007TV Series
Stuffy2012–2020TV Series
Additional Voices2010Film
Barbie: Mermaid AdventureAdditional Voices2024Film
Note: This table highlights representative examples; Rist has contributed to over 35 additional animated titles.

Video games

Rist has provided for numerous video games, primarily in the action-adventure and fighting genres, often reprising roles from animated series and films. His contributions span from the early 2000s onward, showcasing his versatility in voicing energetic, youthful characters. One of his most prominent video game roles is as in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, which he first voiced in the 2003 video game adaptation and continued in sequels such as Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2: Battle Nexus (2004), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 3: Mutant Nightmare (2005), and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Smash-Up (2009). He also voiced Mondo Gecko in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in (2016), expanding his work within the series. These performances align with his earlier portrayal of the character in animated projects, bringing the laid-back, pizza-loving turtle to life in interactive formats. Rist has also been a key voice in the Naruto series, voicing Choji Akimichi across multiple titles, including [Naruto: Clash of Ninja](/page/Naruto: Clash of Ninja) (2003), [Naruto: Ultimate Ninja](/page/Naruto: Ultimate Ninja) (2003), [Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2](/page/Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2) (2010), and [Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker](/page/Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker) (2018). This role highlights his ability to capture the character's growth from a timid youth to a confident ninja. Additionally, he voiced Maroda in [Final Fantasy X](/page/Final Fantasy X) (2001) and its sequel (2003), as well as minor roles like Nautilus Inhabitant in (2010). As of 2025, he reprised Choji in Naruto x : Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections (2023) and provided voices in Sonic Racing: CrossWorlds (2025).

References

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