Robert Joy

Robert Joy (born August 17, 1951) is a Canadian actor. He is best known for his role as medical examiner Sid Hammerback on the police procedural series CSI: NY, and his appearances in the films Atlantic City, Ragtime (1981), Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), WaterWorld (1995), Land of the Dead (2005), The Hills Have Eyes (2006), and Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem (2007). He is a two-time Genie Award nominee for Best Supporting Actor; for Atlantic City and Whole New Thing.

Joy has also worked extensively on the stage, particularly in Shakespearean productions, in both Canada and the United States. Earlier in his career, he was closely affiliated with Newfoundland comedy troupe CODCO.

Early life Joy was born on August 17, 1951, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and grew up in St. John's, Newfoundland. He is the son of Flora Louise (née Pike) and Dr. Clifton Joseph Joy, a physician and politician. He attended Corpus Christi College, Oxford, on a Rhodes Scholarship and Memorial University of Newfoundland.

Career Joy played Madonna's punk musician boyfriend Jim in 1985's Desperately Seeking Susan, and the Dutch-Israeli Hans in the 1986 Alliance/CTV production Sword of Gideon, an adaptation of George Jonas's book Vengeance.

In 1998, he appeared in Gregory Hoblit's thriller Fallen, where he fit into the all-star cast that included Denzel Washington, Donald Sutherland, James Gandolfini, and John Goodman. In 2005, he had a lead role as the simple-minded sharpshooter Charlie Houx in George A. Romero's zombie film Land of the Dead.

In the fall of 2005, Joy joined the CBS police procedural series CSI: NY during its second season as a recurring character, Dr. Sid Hammerback, the Chief Medical Examiner, and became a main cast member in season five. Joy stated, "I basically read the script and then look up everything on Wikipedia that I don't know, and try to find out how to pronounce all the long words and get my head around actually what it is that I'm conveying, because often my character has a lot of explaining to do."

In 2006, Joy appeared onscreen in Alexandre Aja's remake of The Hills Have Eyes where he portrays a mutant named Lizard. He also starred as Ted Bedworth, father of Samaire Armstrong's character Nell Bedworth, in the 2006 romantic comedy It's a Boy Girl Thing. In 2007, Joy played the character of Colonel Stevens in Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem. He appeared as Dr. Stephen Hawking in the comedy Superhero Movie in 2008.

In addition to his acting, Joy was frequently associated with the Newfoundland-based CODCO, working with the comedy troupe on many of their pre-television stage shows and appearing as a guest performer in the series. He also co-starred in the 1986 Andy Jones film, The Adventure of Faustus Bidgood, the only film that features the entire cast of CODCO.

He appeared as himself in the 2012 documentary film That Guy... Who Was in That Thing.

Joy has had on-going stage engagements on Broadway and throughout US, most recently appearing as Charles in King Charles III at Shakespeare Theatre Company in Washington, DC (February 7 – March 18, 2017). and as Crito and the poet Mellitus in "Socrates" at The Public Theater, New York, NY, which ran from April 2019 through June 3, 2019.

Personal life Joy is divorced from actress Mary Joy. They have one daughter, Ruby Joy, who is an actress. In the summer of 2011, Joy and his daughter performed together in Shakespeare's The Tempest. Joy was formerly the partner of actor William Duff-Griffin, who died from prostate cancer on November 13, 1994. Joy has been in a relationship with Broadway composer Henry Krieger since 1995.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1980 Atlantic City Dave Matthews Nominated – Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role 1981 Ticket to Heaven Patrick Threshold David Art Ragtime Henry "Harry" Kendall Thaw 1983 Amityville 3-D Elliot West 1985 Desperately Seeking Susan Jim Terminal Choice Dr. Harvey Rimmer Joshua Then and Now Colin Fraser 1986 The Adventure of Faustus Bidgood Eddie PeddleAlso composer 1987 Radio Days Fred Big Shots Dickie 1988 The Suicide Club Michael Collins 1989 She's Back Paul Millennium Sherman the Robot Longtime Companion Ron 1991 Shadows and Fog Spiro's Assistant 1993 The Dark Half Fred Clawson 1994 Death Wish V: The Face of Death Freddie Flakes 1995 Waterworld Ledger Guy A Modern Affair Sperm Bank technician 1996 Harriet the Spy Ben Welsch 1997 Henry & Verlin Ferris 1998 Fallen Charles Olom 1999 Resurrection Gerald Demus 2000 Manfred Roeder 2001 Perfume Andrew Sweet November Raeford Dunne Joe Somebody Pat Chilcutt The Shipping News EMS Officer 2005 Land of the Dead Charlie Whole New Thing Rog 2006 The Hills Have Eyes Lizard Dinner for One Man It's a Boy Girl Thing Ted Bedworth 2007 Aliens vs. Predator: Requiem Col. Stevens 2008 Superhero Movie Professor Stephen Hawking Down to the Dirt Robert Kavanagh 2013 Impromptu Chuck Voice role 2018 Crown and Anchor Doug 2019 The Goldfinch Welton "Welty" Blackwell 2021 Don't Look Up Congressman Tenant

Television Year Title Role Notes 1974 The National Dream: Building the Impossible Railway Carter TV miniseries 1981 Escape from Iran: The Canadian Caper Mark Lijek TV movie 1985–1989 The Equalizer Jacob Stock 1985 Moonlighting Clark Greydon 1 episode: "My Fair David" 1986 Miracle at Moreaux Major Braun TV movie Sword of Gideon Hans TV movie 1987 The Lawrenceville Stories Mr. Tapping TV miniseries 1989 Miami Vice Sebastian Ross 1 episode: "Miami Squeeze" 1990 Judgment Mr. Hummel TV movie 1991 Grand Larceny Henry Piggott TV movie The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd Christopher DeWitt 1 episode: "Here's How to Break the Other Leg" Hyde in Hollywood Julian Hyde TV movie Scales of Justice Robert Stewart Episode "Regina v Stewart" 1992 The Ray Bradbury Theater Booth 1 episode: "Downwind from Gettysburg" 1993 Dieppe Hughes-Hallett TV movie Gregory K Ralph Kingsley TV movie Maniac Mansion Pony 1 episode: "Love Letters" Woman on Trial: The Lawrencia Bembenek Story Sheldon Zenner TV movie Tracey Ullman Takes on New York Disgruntled Ex-Employee TV movie 1995 Law & Order Leo Barnett 1 episode: "Pride" New York Undercover Glenn Holloway 1 episode: "Tag, You're Dead" The Marshal Thomas Borden 1 episode: "Pass the Gemelli" Side Effects Connor Dennison 1 episode: "Paying the Price" 1996 Wings Dr. Grayson 1 episode: "One Flew Over the Cooper's Nest" The Nerd Rick Steadman TV pilot Dangerous Offender: The Marlene Moore Story Dr. Steve Gibson TV movie Moonlight Becomes You Earl Bateman TV movie 1998 Law & Order Louis Dutton 1 episode: "Stalker" The Outer Limits Dr. Greg Olander 1 episode: "Identity Crisis" 1999 Becker Tetzoff 1 episode: "P.C. World" Seasons of Love Jim Brewster TV movie Snoops Walter Byrd 1 episode: "Singer in the Band" Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place Ed 1 episode: "Halloween 2: Mind Over Body" 2000 Nash Bridges Norman Craft 1 episode: "Heist" Relic Hunter Dr. Flaubert 1 episode: "Dagger of Death" 2001 Haven Lawrence Dickson TV movie Star Trek: Voyager Inspector Yerid 1 episode: "Workforce: Part 2" 61* Bob Fitschel TV movie Titus Father Crawford 1 episode: "The Wedding" Gideon's Crossing Andy Alter 1 episode: "Is There a Wise Man in the House?" Just Ask My Children Sam Bennis TV movie The Guardian Larry Hines 1 episode: "Loyalties" 2002 Crossing Jordan Ethan Grady 1 episode: "Blood Relatives" MDs Frank Coones All 10 episodes 2003 The Agency Mr. Thornby 1 episode: "Absolute Bastard" Without a Trace Josh's Father 1 episode: "Victory for Humanity" Alias Dr. Hans Jürgens 1 episode: "Second Double" 2004 Malcolm in the Middle Danny 1 episode: "Hot Tub" Helter Skelter Detective Morrisy TV movie Sex Traffic Major James Brooke TV movie Everybody Loves Raymond Mr. Putnam 1 episode: "Ally's F" 2004–2005 Boston Legal A.D.A. Preston 2 episodes: "Change of Course" and "Tortured Souls" 2005 Medium Dr. Kenneth Holloway 1 episode: "Penny for Your Thoughts" E-Ring Mark Boskovich 1 episode: "Pilot" 2005–2013 CSI: NY Dr. Sid Hammerback 168 episodes; main character 2006 Commander in Chief Frank Devane 1 episode: "State of the Unions" 2010, 2013 Republic of Doyle Al Kavanagh 3 episodes 2014 Grey's Anatomy Marty 1 episode: "I'm Winning" The Mentalist Alexander Lark 1 episode: "Black Hearts" The Good WifeWendell Keller1 episode: "Dear God" 2015 Defiance Monguno's Father 2 episodes Hand of God Ira Goldstein 2 episodes2021Prodigal SonGerald Morris1 episode: "Exit Strategy"2022JuliaHunter FoxRecurring role; 7 episodes2024FromHenry KavanaughMain character2025 The InstituteDr. Daniel HendricksMain character