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Robert Kazinsky
Robert Kazinsky
from Wikipedia

Robert John Appleby (born 18 November 1983),[1] known professionally as Robert Kazinsky, is an English actor. He is known for his roles as Casper Rose in the Sky One drama Dream Team (2005–2006) and Sean Slater in the BBC soap opera EastEnders (2006–2009, 2019, 2021, 2022). In 2013, he portrayed Chuck Hansen in Pacific Rim and Macklyn Warlow in the sixth season of HBO's True Blood. In 2016, he played Orgrim Doomhammer in Warcraft and Jimmy Pritchard in the Fox television series Second Chance. In 2019, he appeared as the Don in Captain Marvel.

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Kazinsky was born Robert John Appleby in Haywards Heath, Sussex, England on 18 November 1983.[2] Kazinsky is Jewish.[3] He is also a fluent speaker of Hebrew.[4] Kazinsky was educated at Hove Park School in Hove as well as K-Bis Theatre School in Brighton, from 1995 to 2000. He appeared in their productions of Bugsy Malone and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Kazinsky trained as an actor at the Guildford School of Acting from September 2002 to July 2005. He took his grandfather's middle name as his stage name.[5][6]

Career

[edit]

Kazinsky appeared in Israeli television commercials before he started acting.[7] He made his acting debut in 2005, when he had a guest role in an episode of the CBBC children's programme The Basil Brush Show, playing a character named Sven Garley. Kazinsky then got a role in Sky One's football drama series Dream Team, in which he played Casper Rose from late 2005 to 2006, when he was killed off towards the end of the ninth series, after he announced his intention to leave.[5]

Kazinsky next played Sean Slater in EastEnders; he made his first appearance on 22 August 2006.[8] On 27 March 2007, Kazinsky was suspended from work on EastEnders for two months. A story in The People newspaper alleged that Kazinsky had bombarded a model with "obscene text messages and photographs." Kazinsky issued a statement apologising "for any offence caused and for bringing the show into disrepute".[9] Kazinsky announced he would be leaving the show in October 2008[10] and made his last appearance in the show on 1 January 2009. On YouTube, Kazinsky was featured as the presenter in the EastEnders launch video when they launched their own video channel on the website.

He made his film debut in 2012 when director George Lucas offered him a part in his World War II film Red Tails, in which Kazinsky plays a "pilot who has to adapt to being among African-American comrades."[11] In October 2010, Kazinsky was cast in the film The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. He would have played Fili, a member of the Company of Dwarves,[12] but in April 2011, Kazinsky resigned from the role for personal reasons.[13] On 9 January 2011, he guest starred on the drama series Brothers & Sisters as Dr Rick Appleton.[14]

On 13 November 2012, Kazinsky joined the cast of the sixth season of the fantasy drama series True Blood, which premiered in 2013.[15] That same year, Kazinsky appeared in Guillermo del Toro's science-fiction monster film Pacific Rim, as Chuck Hansen, an Australian Jaeger pilot.[16]

In March 2015, he was cast in the leading role in the Fox drama series Second Chance.[17] His character, Jimmy Pritchard, was a murdered elderly ex-cop who is genetically brought back to life as a man in his mid-30s with unusual powers. The series debuted in 2016.[18] Due to low ratings, it was cancelled after one series.[19]

Kazinsky co-starred as Orgrim Doomhammer in the fantasy adventure film Warcraft, based on the video game of the same name which was released in May 2016.[20][21] An avid World of Warcraft player, Kazinsky credits the game with giving him self-confidence during a period in which he would be harassed and attacked by people who confused him for the Sean Slater character.[22]

In 2018, he appeared in the science-fiction film Mute which premiered on Netflix. In 2019, he had a cameo in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Captain Marvel.

On 17 January 2019, it was announced that Kazinsky would reprise his role of Sean Slater for a guest appearance.[23] He returned to EastEnders for a brief stint which commenced on 26 April 2019. Kazinsky returned for two further one-off appearances, in the episode broadcast on 1 November 2021, and appeared via video call on 7 April 2022.[24]

Filmography

[edit]

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2009 Love Mikey Short
2009 Cowboy Mark Short
2012 Red Tails Chester Barnes
2012 The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Fili Uncredited
2013 Pacific Rim Chuck Hansen as Rob Kazinsky
2013 Siren Guy
2015 Hot Pursuit Randy
2016 Warcraft Orgrim Doomhammer Voice
2018 Spivak Chuck
2018 Mute Rob as Rob Kazinsky
2019 For Love or Money Mark
2019 Captain Marvel Biker (The Don)
2019 The Assent Joel
2020 Big America Henry
2022 The Gray Man Perini
2025 Star Trek: Section 31 Zeph

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2005 The Basil Brush Show Sven Garley Episode: "Basil's Brush with Fame"
2005–2006 Dream Team Casper Rose 30 episodes
2006–2009, 2019, 2021, 2022 EastEnders Sean Slater Series regular
2010 Law and Order: Los Angeles Ronnie Powell Episode: "Sylmar"
2010 Brothers and Sisters Dr Rick Appleton 2 episodes
2013 Robot Chicken George Jetson Voice
Episode: "Robot Fight Accident"
2013 True Blood Macklyn Warlow 9 episodes
2016 Second Chance Jimmy Pritchard (revived younger version) 11 episodes
2016 Face Off Himself Guest judge

Video games

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
2017 Mass Effect: Andromeda Archon Voice

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Group Award Nominated work Result
2006 British Soap Awards Sexiest Male EastEnders Nominated
2006 Villain of the Year Nominated
2007 Sexiest Male Nominated
2007 Villain of the Year Nominated
2007 Inside Soap Awards Sexiest Male Nominated
2007 Best Bad Boy Nominated
2008 All About Soap Awards Fittest Fella Nominated
2008 British Soap Awards Sexiest Male Nominated
2008 Villain of the Year Nominated
2008 Inside Soap Awards Sexiest Male Won
2008 Best Actor Won
2008 Best Bad Boy Nominated
2008 Digital Spy Soap Awards Most Popular Actor Nominated
2008 Sexiest Male Nominated
2008 Villain of the Year Nominated
2008 Soaper Star Awards Best Actor Won
2008 Best Bad Boy Nominated
2008 Sexiest Male Won
2009 EastEnders Awards Male Hottie Won
2009 All About Soap Awards Killer Secret Nominated
2009 Fatal Attraction Won
2009 British Soap Awards Best Actor Won
2009 Sexiest Male Nominated

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
Robert Kazinsky (born Robert John Appleby; 18 November 1983) is an English actor and model known for his work in television and film, particularly his breakout role as in the (2006–2009, with returns in 2019 and 2021) and subsequent international roles including Chuck Hansen in (2013), Macklyn Warlow in (2013–2014), and The Don in Captain Marvel (2019). Born in , , to Phyllis and Paul Appleby—parents of Polish-Jewish and Russian-Jewish descent—Kazinsky grew up in the coastal town of , where he adopted his surname from his grandfather's to distinguish himself in the industry, as Appleby is a common surname. He attended Hove Park School from 1995 to 2000, participating in school productions like and , though he was later expelled from both the school and a subsequent college. Kazinsky then trained professionally at the from 2002 to 2005, graduating with honors. Kazinsky's career launched with the role of Casper Rose in the series Dream Team (2005–2006), followed by his prominent stint, which earned him several award nominations including for British Soap Award for Best Newcomer. Transitioning to Hollywood, he appeared in guest roles on Brothers & Sisters (2009) and , before landing action-oriented film parts such as the hotheaded pilot in and the orc Blackhand in (2016). Notable for his versatility across genres, Kazinsky was initially cast as Fíli in (2012) but departed early in production due to personal health issues, with the role recast. More recently, he starred as Zeph in the Paramount+ film (2025) and appeared as Cavre in Maigret (2025).

Early life

Childhood and family

Robert Kazinsky was born Robert John Appleby on 18 November 1983 in Haywards Heath, Sussex, England. He is the son of Phyllis and Paul Appleby, and was raised alongside his older brother Michael in the seaside town of Brighton, where the family settled after his birth. Kazinsky's parents are of Jewish descent, with roots tracing to Polish and Russian immigrants. Kazinsky adopted his stage surname from his grandfather's middle name to distinguish himself professionally while honoring his family heritage.

Education and training

Kazinsky attended Hove Park School in , , from 1995 to 2000, where he first explored his passion for through participation in school theatre productions such as Bugsy Malone and A Midsummer Night's Dream.[https://closeronline.co.uk/celebrity/news/robert-kazinsky-everything-need-know/) He was later expelled from both the school and a subsequent college. During this period, he also trained at the K-Bis Theatre School in , honing early performance skills in a dedicated dramatic arts environment. In September 2002, Kazinsky enrolled at the (GSA), a constituent school of the , to pursue formal theatre training. He completed the three-year program in July 2005, graduating with full honors and gaining comprehensive expertise in acting techniques, voice, movement, and . Throughout his educational journey, Kazinsky developed versatile theatre skills that prepared him for professional work, including proficiency in ensemble performance and character interpretation. Complementing his artistic growth, he achieved fluency in Hebrew through cultural immersion tied to his Jewish heritage, which later informed roles requiring linguistic authenticity.

Personal life

Heritage and identity

Robert Kazinsky, born Robert John Appleby, has Ashkenazi Jewish ancestry on both sides of his family, with his parents, Phyllis and Paul Appleby, descending from Polish and Russian Jewish immigrants. He adopted the stage name Kazinsky from his paternal grandfather's middle name, honoring this heritage. Kazinsky identifies strongly as Jewish by ethnicity and cultural background, though he has distanced himself from religious practice, describing religion as "a curse on the world" while emphasizing his pride in his Jewish roots. Kazinsky acquired fluency in Hebrew through his Jewish upbringing, which facilitated early opportunities, including commercials on Israeli television. He underwent a bar as part of family traditions, reflecting the observance of key Jewish rites in his childhood home. In public discussions, Kazinsky has highlighted his as a source of personal strength and advocacy against stereotypes, expressing a desire to portray "tough Jews" in roles to counter portrayals like those of . This perspective has influenced his interest in characters with Jewish backgrounds, such as , where he sees opportunities to authentically represent his heritage on screen.

Relationships and privacy

Kazinsky has maintained a relatively private personal life, with limited details about his romantic history emerging through media reports. In the early 2000s, he was rumored to have been involved with singer , though Dixon publicly denied the romance in a 2008 interview. In 2007, he was reported to be dating model following a brief secret relationship. That same year, Kazinsky began dating actress Jennifer Biddall, with the pair confirming their relationship publicly after several months together; they separated in 2008. Later relationships included a brief romance with actress Fiona Brattle starting in 2008, during which Kazinsky acknowledged having a girlfriend named Fiona in a television interview. From 2010 to 2011, he dated actress , though details remained sparse due to their discretion. Kazinsky has emphasized his focus on career over romance in interviews, stating in 2016 that he was "married to my job" and obsessed with work, effectively confirming his single status at the time. As of 2025, there are no reports of a or long-term partner, aligning with his approach to shielding personal matters from public scrutiny. This has resulted in minimal media coverage of his relationships beyond initial tabloid mentions, allowing him to prioritize professional endeavors without extensive personal exposure.

Career

Early roles and television breakthrough

Kazinsky's professional acting debut came in 2005 with a guest appearance as on the children's comedy series , marking his entry into television shortly after graduating from the . This minor role was quickly followed by his first substantial part as Casper "Cass" Rose, a promising young footballer, in the drama Dream Team from late 2005 to 2006. His portrayal of Rose, who met a dramatic end in a car crash, garnered positive reception, with the character topping a fan poll for most popular in its season. Kazinsky achieved his television breakthrough in August 2006 when he joined the soap opera as , the troubled older brother of . Over his three-year stint until 2009, spanning 262 episodes, Sean's arcs delved into intense family dynamics within the Slater clan, including his protective yet volatile bond with Stacey and conflicts arising from his mother Jean's , which strained their relationships and highlighted themes of guilt and abandonment after Sean accidentally caused his father Brian's death by punching him, triggering a brain haemorrhage. The character's storylines also featured a pivotal paternity twist, where Sean believed he fathered Roxy Mitchell's daughter , only to learn it was Jack Branning's, culminating in a violent rampage and his departure from on 2009. These narratives, including explorations of challenges tied to family representations like Jean's condition, earned Kazinsky critical acclaim, including the Best Actor award at the 2009 . The role propelled Kazinsky to household name status in the UK, solidifying his reputation through high-profile soap drama and award recognition, with 23 nominations across various ceremonies during his tenure. He later made brief returns as for guest spots in April–May 2019, November 2021, and April 2022, often involving Slater family reunions and support for Jean or Stacey amid ongoing personal crises. This early soap success laid the foundation for his career trajectory, transitioning him from supporting roles to leading television presence.

Film roles and international recognition

Kazinsky made his debut in the war drama (2012), directed by Anthony Hemingway, where he portrayed Chester Barnes, a member of during . The film, produced by , earned mixed critical reception with a 41% approval rating on , praised for its historical tribute but critiqued for formulaic storytelling. It grossed approximately $50 million worldwide against a $58 million budget, marking a modest commercial performance that nonetheless introduced Kazinsky to American audiences. His role in Guillermo del Toro's Pacific Rim (2013) as the brash Jaeger pilot significantly boosted his international visibility, particularly among sci-fi enthusiasts. Kazinsky's portrayal of the competitive Australian co-pilot alongside his on-screen father Herc Hansen (played by ) added emotional depth to the ensemble, contributing to the film's acclaim for its spectacular and monster battles. Pacific Rim received generally positive reviews, holding a 72% score, and achieved strong success with $411 million worldwide on a $190 million , largely driven by international markets like . This breakout performance helped solidify Kazinsky's transition from British television, where his fame had initially aided his casting in Hollywood projects. Kazinsky continued with supporting roles in comedies and fantasy epics, including Randy, a dim-witted henchman, in the action-comedy Hot Pursuit (2015) opposite and Sofia Vergara. The film drew poor critical response, with an 8% rating for its uneven humor and clichéd plot, and underperformed commercially at $51 million worldwide against a $35 million budget. He then voiced and provided for the warrior Orgrim Doomhammer in Duncan Jones's adaptation (2016). Kazinsky's performance as the honorable chieftain was highlighted for its intensity in motion-capture work, though the film earned mixed reviews at 29% on , faulted for dense exposition despite impressive visuals. It proved a global hit, grossing $439 million worldwide—fueled by $221 million in —on a $160 million budget, enhancing Kazinsky's profile in international fantasy cinema. In 2019, Kazinsky appeared in a brief but memorable cameo as The Don, the leader of a biker gang, in the entry Captain Marvel, directed by . His scene opposite Brie Larson's showcased his ability to deliver tough-guy charisma in high-stakes action. The film garnered positive critical reception with a 79% score for its empowering narrative and '90s , and became a massive commercial triumph, earning $1.13 billion worldwide—the highest-grossing film of the year at the time—against a $152 million budget. This MCU involvement further cemented Kazinsky's international recognition within blockbuster franchises.

Recent projects and voice work

In recent years, Robert Kazinsky has increasingly focused on high-profile streaming projects within the action and thriller genres. In 2022, he portrayed the mercenary Perini in the action The Gray Man, directed by the , where he played a supporting in a globe-trotting narrative alongside and Chris Evans. This role marked his continued involvement in large-scale blockbusters following his earlier international film work. Kazinsky expanded into limited television series with his performance as CIA operative Steve Catlin in the 2023 Showtime miniseries , a dramatization of the hunt for terrorist , co-starring with and Luna Fujimoto. The four-episode production highlighted his ability to tackle intense, character-driven roles in historical contexts. Additionally, his recurring role as the enigmatic Xander McClure in the Freeform supernatural drama Siren concluded in 2020, spanning three seasons and emphasizing his affinity for genre storytelling involving mythical elements. In 2025, Kazinsky appeared in two major releases. He played the enhanced armored warrior Zeph in the Paramount+ film Star Trek: Section 31, a spin-off from the franchise starring Michelle Yeoh as Philippa Georgiou, focusing on the shadowy intelligence organization; the film received mixed-to-negative reviews upon its January release. In the ITV/PBS Masterpiece series Maigret, he portrayed Inspector Justin Cavre, a psychologically astute in the modern adaptation of Georges Simenon's novels, alongside Benjamin Wainwright as the titular inspector. These projects underscore his shift toward streaming platforms and /thriller hybrids. In 2024, Kazinsky took on the role of Henry in thriller Do You Want to Die in Indio?, a set in California's , directed by Joshua De Jesus and exploring themes of ambition and moral compromise. Regarding voice work, while his notable contributions include voicing the in the 2017 video game Mass Effect: Andromeda, Kazinsky has not taken on prominent new voice acting roles in s or since 2020, instead prioritizing on-screen performances in genre fare. This trajectory reflects a broader pivot to serialized streaming content and franchise extensions, aligning with industry trends toward digital distribution.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleDirector
2012Red TailsChester BarnesAnthony Hemingway
2013Pacific RimChuck HansenGuillermo del Toro
2013SirenGuyJesse Peyronel
2015Hot PursuitRandyAnne Fletcher
2016WarcraftOrgrim DoomhammerDuncan Jones
2018MuteRobDuncan Jones
2018SpivakChuckAnthony Abrams, Adam Rifkin
2019Captain MarvelThe DonAnna Boden, Ryan Fleck
2019The AssentJoelPearry Reginald Teo
2019For Love or MoneyMarkMark Murphy
2022The Gray ManPeriniAnthony Russo, Joe Russo
2025Star Trek: Section 31ZephOlatunde Osunsanmi

Television

Kazinsky began his television career with guest appearances in British series before achieving prominence in soap operas and American dramas. His breakthrough role was as Sean Slater in the BBC soap EastEnders, which he played from 2006 to 2009. He reprised the character in guest capacities in later years. Subsequent roles spanned genres, including supernatural series, procedurals, and miniseries, often portraying complex or antagonistic figures. In recent years, he has taken on roles in international productions.
Year(s)TitleRoleNetwork/PlatformEpisodes/Notes
2005Sven Garley1 episode
2005–2006Dream TeamCasper "Cass" RoseRecurring role, series 9
2006–2009254 episodes
2010Law & Order: Los AngelesRonnie Powell1 episode ("Sylmar")
2010Brothers & SistersDr. Rick AppletonABC1 episode ("Thanks for the Memories")
2013Ben Flynn / Macklyn Warlow10 episodes (season 6)
2016Second ChanceJimmy PritchardFox11 episodes (lead role)
2019Guest arc (8 episodes, April–May)
20211 episode (November 1)
2023SteveApple TV+Miniseries (recurring, 4 episodes total series)
2025MaigretJustin CavreSeries regular (premiered October 2025)

Video games

Robert Kazinsky provided the voice for the , the primary and leader of the kett faction, in the 2017 action role-playing video game Mass Effect: Andromeda, developed by and published by [Electronic Arts](/page/Electronic Arts). Released on March 21, 2017, for , , and Windows, the game explores humanity's colonization efforts in the , where the Archon's obsessive pursuit of genetic drives conflict with the human-led Andromeda Initiative. Kazinsky's performance brought a cold, calculating intensity to the character, as discussed in 's feature emphasizing the Archon's "desperate search for " through exaltation of other species. Mass Effect: Andromeda garnered mixed critical reception, earning a Metacritic score of 71/100 for the PC version, with praise for its expansive exploration and combat but criticism for facial animations, bugs, and narrative inconsistencies at launch. Kazinsky's voice work contributed to the game's immersive alien threats, though specific reviews of individual performances were limited amid broader technical discussions.

Awards and nominations

British Soap Awards

Robert Kazinsky received significant acclaim at the for his portrayal of in the , earning multiple nominations that reflected both public and industry recognition of his performance as a complex . The awards, established in and organized by ITV, honor outstanding contributions to British s through categories voted on by the public and a panel of industry experts, providing a key measure of peer and audience validation in the . Over the course of his tenure on from 2006 to 2009, Kazinsky amassed a total of 23 award nominations across various soap ceremonies, several of which came from and underscored the impact of his role. These included nominations for Villain of the Year and Sexiest Male in 2006, shortly after his debut, highlighting his immediate presence as a compelling newcomer. In 2007 and 2008, he was nominated for Sexiest Male and Villain of the Year, competing against prominent actors from rival soaps like and , which emphasized his appeal and the character's dramatic intensity. The pinnacle came in 2009, when he won the award at the ceremony held on May 9, defeating nominees including and from itself, in a public-voted category that celebrated his standout dramatic work amid the soap's high-profile storylines. He was also nominated for Sexiest Male that year, further affirming his multifaceted recognition. This victory, part of ' haul of seven awards that evening, marked a career highlight and peer-endorsed triumph during the awards' era.

Other honors

In addition to his recognition at , Kazinsky received two honors at the 2008 Inside Soap Awards for his portrayal of in , winning both the Sexiest Male and categories. He also received the following additional honors for his role:
YearAwardCategoryResultRef.
2008All About Soap AwardsFittest FellaNominated
2008 Soap AwardsMost Popular ActorNominated
2008Soaper Star AwardsWon
2009EastEnders AwardsMale HottieWon
Despite prominent roles in major films such as (2013), (2016), The Gray Man (2022), and (2025), Kazinsky has not received notable nominations or awards from film festivals or international genre bodies like the for these performances.

References

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