Robin Riker
View on WikipediaRobin Riker (born October 2, 1952) is an American actress and author. She made her big screen debut in the 1980 horror film Alligator and later went to star in the Showtime comedy series Brothers (1984–1989).
Key Information
Riker had starring roles in a number of sitcoms during 1990s, include Get a Life (1990–92), Shaky Ground (1992–93), Thunder Alley (1994–95), and The Gregory Hines Show (1997–98). From 2008 to 2010 she played the role of Beth Logan in the CBS daytime soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful.[3]
Early life
[edit]Riker began acting in theater when she was two years old.[4]
Career
[edit]Riker began her career appearing in episodes of M*A*S*H, Fantasy Island, The Fall Guy, The Rockford Files, The A-Team and Airwolf. She made her film debut appearing as a female lead in the 1980 horror film Alligator. From 1984 to 1987, she starred as Kelly Hall in the Showtime comedy series Brothers, leaving at the end of the show's fourth season. She also appeared in films Stepmonster (1993), A Reason to Believe (1995), Brink! (1998) and Don't Look Under the Bed (1999).
During 1990s, Riker had starring roles in a number of sitcoms, include Get a Life (1990–92), Shaky Ground (1992–93), Thunder Alley (1994–95), and The Gregory Hines Show (1997–98). She guest starred on Murder, She Wrote, Sabrina the Teenage Witch, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Malcolm in the Middle, Reba, NCIS, Boston Legal, Bones, Justified and The Glades.
In 2000, Riker began appearing in a daytime soap opera Days of Our Lives. In 2005, she was named by KCL Productions to dress up as Princess Peach mascot to do Mario Superstar Baseball commercial. After, she signed a contract for the CBS soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful in the recast role of Beth Logan. Her first appearance was on June 18, 2008.[3] Riker continues to work in stages from Los Angeles to New York and to receive nominations for her work in the theatre. In 2013, she provided the voice and motion capture for Lilith in the video game DmC: Devil May Cry. In May 2016, Riker was hired to portray the recurring role of Naomi Dreyfus on the ABC daytime soap opera General Hospital. She played the role from June 3, 2016, to September 21, 2016.[5]
Filmography
[edit]Films
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Alligator | Dr. Marisa Kendall | |
| 1990 | Writer's Block | Magenta | Short film |
| 1990 | Without Her Consent | Marcia | Television film |
| 1991 | Body Chemistry II: The Voice of a Stranger | Brenda Foster | |
| 1993 | Stepmonster | Denise Gore | |
| 1994 | In the Heat of Passion II: Unfaithful | Catherine | |
| 1995 | A Reason to Believe | Constance | |
| 1995 | Dead Badge | Joyce Deitz | |
| 1996 | Christmas Every Day | Carolyn Jackson | Television film |
| 1997 | The O Show | Mom | Television film |
| 1998 | Brink! | Maddie Brinker | Television film |
| 1999 | Don't Look Under the Bed | Karen McCausland | Television film |
| 2002 | The Stoneman | Dr. Anna Weston | |
| 2005 | Gone But Not Forgotten | Nora Sloane / Samantha Reardon | Television film |
| 2006 | Read It and Weep | Diana | |
| 2011 | Convincing Clooney | Head Honcho | |
| 2012 | Save the Date | Aunt Mary | |
| 2012 | Divorce Invitation | Lucy Christian | |
| 2012 | Holly's Holiday | Carol | |
| 2012 | The Famous Joe Project | Carrie | |
| 2013 | This Magic Moment | Maryellen Gable | Television film |
| 2016 | Saved By Grace | Anne | |
| 2016 | The Wedding Party | Kit "The Cougar" | |
| 2018 | Hildy & Maude | Hildy | Short film |
| 2018 | Killer in a Red Dress | Mary | |
| 2019 | Granny's Home | Colleen | Original Title: "Psycho Granny" |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | General Hospital | Naomi Dreyfus | ABC |
| 2015 | Austin & Ally | Mrs. Jackson | Episode: "Rejection & Rocket Ships" |
| 2008–2010 | The Bold and the Beautiful | Beth Logan | CBS (54 episodes) |
| 2003 | Exit 9 | Lynne | TV pilot |
| 2000 | Days of Our Lives | Bonnie Lockhart | NBC |
| 1999 | Sliders | First Lady Mrs. Williams | Episode (5/7): "A Current Affair" |
| 1997–1998 | The Gregory Hines Show | Nicole Moran | CBS (20 episodes) |
| 1994–1995 | Thunder Alley | Roberta "Bobbi" Turner | ABC (19 episodes) |
| 1992–1993 | Shaky Ground | Helen Moody | FOX (17 episodes) |
| 1990–1992 | Get a Life | Sharon Potter | FOX (31 episodes) |
| 1989 | Empty Nest | Janet Majors | Episode 2x05: "Just You and My Kid" |
| 1984–1987 | Brothers | Kelly Hall | Showtime (80 episodes) |
| 1977 | M*A*S*H | Nurse Perry | "Fallen Idol" (Season 6, Ep. 2) |
| 1976 | Baa Baa Blacksheep | 1st Nurse | NBC |
Episodic – Guest Star
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | You're The Worst | Faye Cottumaccio | Episodes: "Worldstar!" and "Dad-Not-Dad" |
| 2014 | Anger Management | Terri | Episode: "Charlie Rolls the Dice in Vegas" |
| 2013 | Justified | Deborah Jane | Episode: "Money Trap" |
| 2012–2013 | DeVanity | Angelica Roth | www.devanity.com (3 episodes) |
| 2012 | Last Man Standing | Wanda | Episode: "Ed's Twice Ex-Wife" |
| 2012 | Switched at Birth | Michelle Natterson | Episode: "Street Noises Invade the House" |
| 2011 | Hung | Actress | Episode: "A Monkey Named Simian or Frances is Not a Fan" |
| 2011 | Svetlana | Liam's Mom | Episode: "Mom! Dad!" |
| 2010–2013 | The Glades | Jody Cargill | A&E (3 episodes) |
| 2010 | Bones | Nadia Blake | Episode: "The Shallow in the Deep " |
| 2007 | Big Love | Meredith Paulson | Episode: "The Happiest Girl" |
| 2006 | Boston Legal | Candy Springtime | ABC (2 episodes) |
| 2006 | The Closer | Barbara | Episode: "The Other Woman" |
| 2006 | Twenty Good Years | Helen | Episode: "Sorry, Wrong Ship" |
| 2005 | NCIS | Saleena Lockhart | Episode: "Black Water" |
| 2004 | Cold Case | Doreen Denova | Episode: "Disco Inferno" |
| 2004 | Crossing Jordan | Frances Pritchard | Episode: "Til Death Do Us Part" |
| 2003 | American Dreams | Mrs. Jensen | Episode: "Ticket to Ride" |
| 2002–2003 | Reba | Sue Montgomery | The WB (2 episodes) |
| 2002 | One on One | Connie | Episode: "Adventures in Double Dating" |
| 2002 | What I Like About You | Eileen | Episode: "Spa Day" |
| 2001 | Family Law | Actress | Episode: "Sex, Lies, and Internet" |
| Dead Last | Bunny Cahill | Episode: "Jane's Exit" | |
| Six Feet Under | Chloe Yorkin | Episode: "Crossroads" (uncredited) | |
| Two guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place | Mrs. Brewer | Episode: "Make Mine Tea" | |
| Malcolm in the Middle | Tina | Episode: "New Neighbors" | |
| 1998 | Clueless | Bev | Episode: "Father's Keeper" |
| 1997 | Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Catherine Madison | Episode: "Witch" |
| 1996 | Sabrina, the Teenage Witch | Marigold Wiccan | Episode: "A Halloween Story" |
| 1996 | Murder, She Wrote | Colleen Sellers | Episode: "Death by Demographics" |
| 1994 | Diagnosis: Murder | Claire | Episode: "Many Happy Returns" |
| 1989 | Murder, She Wrote | Connie Kowalski | Episode: "Dead Letter" (as Robin Riker-Hasley) |
| Highway to Heaven | Peg Bennett | Episode: "The Silent Bell" | |
| 1985 | Misfits of Science | Sarah | Episode: "Grand Theft Bunny" |
| 1985 | Highway to Heaven | Sherri Johnson | (TV Series), 2 episodes: "A Song for Jason: Part 1" and "A Song for Jason: Part 2" |
| 1984 | Airwolf | Dr. Karen Hansen | Episode: "Moffett's Ghost" |
| 1983 | The Fall Guy | Leslie Tyler | Episode: "Wheels" (S03E12) |
| 1983 | The A-Team | Amanda Huston | Episode: Water, Water Everywhere" |
| Pearl | CBS |
Theatre
[edit]- Ladies' Room (1988; Tiffany Theatre Los Angeles)
- The Kiss at City Hall (2000; Pasadena Playhouse; Victim Dramalogue Award Winner Stage Coach Theatre
- Sex, Sex, Sex, Sex, Sex and Sex (2005; The Matrix Theatre)
- I Remember You (2006; Falcon Theatre)
- Welcome to the Woods (2009; off-Broadway)
- Cannibals (2010) Zephyr Theatre
- Les Liaisons Dangereuses (The Blank Theatre Company)
- All My Sons (Geffen Playhouse)
- Pied a Terre Off Broadway
References
[edit]- ^ Staff, Hollywood.com. "Robin Riker | Biography and Filmography | 1952". Retrieved 2017-03-16.
- ^ Harter, Clara (June 9, 2026). "Hiker who died in Runyon Canyon ID'd as Hollywood screenwriter, pal of Caitlyn Jenner". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
- ^ a b Robin Riker Actors | Soaps.com
- ^ A Survivor's Guide to Hollywood How To Play The Game Without Losing Your Soul. Callipygian Press. September 2013. ISBN 978-0-9888156-0-5.
- ^ SOD (May 11, 2016). "ROBIN RIKER JOINS GH". Soap Opera Digest. United States. American Media, Inc. Archived from the original on May 17, 2016. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
External links
[edit]Robin Riker
View on GrokipediaEarly life
Family background
Robin Riker was born on October 2, 1952, in New York City, to parents deeply embedded in the entertainment industry. As a third-generation actress on both sides of her family, she was nearly delivered in a taxi en route to the hospital while crossing the Brooklyn Bridge, an incident that underscored her immediate immersion in a dramatic, show-business lifestyle.[7] Her parents were both professional actors who owned and operated legitimate theaters in locations including Aspen, Colorado; Atlanta, Georgia; and Syracuse, New York, instilling a practical approach to the arts from an early age.[8] Due to her parents' theater ventures, Riker never lived in one place for more than two and a half years until moving to Los Angeles.[7] This familial involvement extended to her grandparents, who were performers: her paternal grandfather worked as a clown with the Ringling Brothers Circus, while her maternal grandmother pursued acting as an amateur.[9] Her father began his career in television and radio as a young man, hosting shows such as Captain Rick’s Showboat in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, and handling roles like weather reporting and camera operation.[9] Her mother, also a performer, contributed as a writer and director within the theater world.[9] This multi-generational theatrical heritage positioned Riker within a lineage of entertainers, where family members actively shaped the performing arts landscape through ownership, production, and on-stage work.[9]Acting beginnings
Robin Riker began her acting journey at the age of two, making her stage debut in The Littlest Angel and immersing herself in theater through family productions where she grew up spending much of her time backstage.[9] As a child, she appeared on her father's television show Captain Rick’s Showboat alongside her brother.[9] This early exposure, motivated by her family's deep roots in the entertainment industry, provided a nurturing environment that sparked her lifelong passion for performance.[2] From that young age, Riker received classical training, honing her skills in dramatic arts and laying a strong foundation for her future work.[2] Her training included several years with the prestigious Colorado Shakespeare Festival, where she engaged with Shakespearean techniques and ensemble performance practices.[2] In addition to performing, Riker contributed to the operational side of theater during her childhood, assisting with box office duties and lobby sales at family shows.[2] These hands-on experiences deepened her understanding of the collaborative nature of live theater and reinforced her commitment to the craft.[2]Career
Television roles
Riker made her television debut in a guest role as Nurse Perry in the "Fallen Idol" episode of the CBS series MASH* in 1977.[10] This appearance marked her entry into episodic television, where she built experience through various guest spots before transitioning to more prominent parts.[11] Her breakthrough came with the lead role of Kelly Hall, the outspoken waitress and love interest in the unconventional family sitcom Brothers on Showtime, which she portrayed from 1984 to 1987.[3] For this performance, Riker received two CableACE Award nominations for Best Actress in a Comedy Series.[12] The series, known for tackling taboo subjects like homosexuality, showcased her comedic timing and helped establish her in the genre.[7] Throughout the 1990s, Riker starred in several Fox and ABC sitcoms, solidifying her presence in ensemble comedies. She played Sharon Potter, the overbearing wife of Chris's best friend and a frequent antagonist, in Get a Life from 1990 to 1992, opposite Chris Elliott's eccentric paperboy.[13] This was followed by her role as Helen Moody, the supportive wife in the family-oriented Shaky Ground (1992–1993), which featured Matt Frewer as her bumbling husband.[14] In 1994–1995, she took over as Bobbi Turner, the strong-willed single mother, in the second season of Thunder Alley on ABC.[15] Riker closed the decade with the part of Nicole Moran, a key family member, in CBS's The Gregory Hines Show (1997–1998).[16] Later in her career, Riker returned to daytime television with recurring roles in soap operas. She portrayed Beth Logan, the resilient matriarch of the Logan family, on The Bold and the Beautiful from 2008 to 2010, during which the character dealt with health struggles and family dynamics.[17] In 2016, she appeared as Naomi Dreyfus, the scheming mother of Hayden Barnes, in 15 episodes of ABC's General Hospital. In the 2010s, Riker continued with recurring and guest roles in primetime dramas and comedies. She played Jody Cargill in multiple episodes of A&E's The Glades from 2010 to 2013.[18] She guest-starred as Deborah Jane in the 2011 episode "Money Trap" of FX's Justified. Additionally, she appeared as Wanda, the twice-divorced ex-wife of Ed Alzate, in the 2012 episode "Ed's Twice Ex-Wife" of ABC's Last Man Standing.[19] These roles highlighted her versatility in supporting characters across genres.[4]Film roles
Robin Riker made her big screen debut as the herpetologist Marisa Kendall in the 1980 horror film Alligator, where she assists a detective in tracking a giant mutant alligator terrorizing Chicago.[20][21] In this supporting role, Riker portrayed a determined scientist whose expertise drives the plot's investigative elements, marking her entry into genre cinema.[22] Riker took on a lead role as Denise Gore in the 1993 sci-fi horror comedy Stepmonster, playing a murderous stepmother who reveals monstrous traits after marrying into a family. Her performance as the titular antagonist blended dark humor with horror, highlighting her versatility in low-budget thrillers produced by Roger Corman.[23] This role showcased Riker's ability to anchor a film with a complex, villainous character, contrasting her earlier supportive parts.[24] In 1998, Riker appeared as Mrs. Morgan (also credited as Maddie Brinker) in the Disney Channel TV movie Brink!, a sports drama centered on aggressive inline skating and themes of friendship and integrity among teenagers. As the supportive mother figure, she contributed to the film's family-oriented narrative, bridging her genre work with more mainstream youth entertainment.[25] This appearance reflected a transitional phase in her career, overlapping briefly with her television commitments.[26] Riker later took supporting roles in the 2012 romantic comedy Save the Date, portraying Aunt Mary, a familial confidante navigating the protagonist's wedding dilemmas and personal growth.[27] Her character added warmth and comic relief to the ensemble-driven story of relationships and self-discovery.[28] In the 2019 thriller Psycho Granny (also known as Lineage of Lies), Riker played the villainous Colleen Barton, a deceptive grandmother whose sinister secrets unravel a family's bonds.[29] This lead antagonistic performance emphasized her enduring presence in suspenseful narratives, delivering a chilling portrayal of familial betrayal.[30]Filmography
Films
- Alligator (1980): Marisa Kendall, directed by Lewis Teague.[31]
- Body Chemistry II: Voice of a Stranger (1991): Brenda, directed by Jim Wynorski.
- Stepmonster (1993): Denise Gore, directed by Jeremy Stanford.
- A Reason to Believe (1995): Dr. Susan Cornell, directed by Douglas Tirola.
- Brink! (1998): Maddie Brinker, directed by Greg Beeman.
- Don't Look Under the Bed (1999): Karen McCausland, directed by Kenneth Johnson.
- Read It and Weep (2006): Lydia, directed by Eric Bross.
- Save the Date (2012): Joan, directed by Michael Mohan.
- Saved by Grace (2016): Anne, directed by Brian Baugh.
- Psycho Granny (2019): Colleen Barton, directed by Dylan Oliver.
- Killer Dream Home (2020): Beverly Maples, directed by Mark Gantt.
- The Holiday Proposal Plan (2023): Paulette Kravitz, directed by R.C. Maxwell.