Robert Lesser

Robert Lesser or Bobby Lesser is an American film, theater and television actor.

Lesser was born in New York City, and lives in Santa Barbara. His earliest work dates to 1967 with "David Holzman's Diary", directed by Jim McBride. He is best known for the opening scene with Bruce Willis in Die Hard, his featured role in Hester Street with Carol Kane, The Big Easy, Oscar with Sylvester Stallone, Shoot to Kill with Sidney Poitier, The Presidio (film) starring Sean Connery, the Japanese film Best Wishes for Tomorrow, among others. Lesser has worked with Bruce Willis, Ed Harris, Alan Arkin, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Matthew Broderick, Dennis Quaid, Penelope Ann Miller, and Richard Mulligan. He is well known in the Santa Barbara theater community.

In 2011, both The Wall Street Journal and The Hollywood Reporter published a front page, tongue-in-cheek open letter from Lesser to the Internet Movie Database after they refused to correct his birthdate, which they had listed as May 28, 1938, aging him considerably. They have since corrected the date.

Selected theaters The New York Shakespeare Festival's Richard the Third, on Broadway The Soft Touch directed by Alan Arkin Rubbers and Yanks 3 Detroit 0 Top of the Seventh, American Place Theatre by Alan Arkin. Performances at the Yale Repertory's Winterfest Geography of a Horse Dreamer by Sam Shepard - The Manhattan Theatre Club. Steven Berkoff's Kvetch and God's Country - Odyssey Theatre, Los Angeles. To Gillian on Her 37th Birthday by Michael Pressman (West Coast premiere). Santa Barbara area: Rubicon Theatre: My Antonia, In All Honesty Center Stage Theatre: The Goat or Who is Sylvia by Edward Albee and Krapp's Last Tape by Samuel Beckett. Ensemble Theatre Company: The Fourth Wall, Communicating Doors, The Last Night of Ballyhoo, The Weir, An Inspector Calls, and The Cripple of Inishmaan.

Selected films Year Title Role Notes 1967 David Holzman's Diary Max, Penny's agent 1974 Hot Times Coach / Guru 1975 Hester Street Lawyer 1977 The Goodbye Girl Richard III Cast 1980 Christmas Evil Detective Gottleib 1981 The Gangster Chronicles Treasury Agent #1 1984 2010 Dr. Hirsch1986 Poltergeist II: The Other Side Kane's People Running Scared Supoena Lawyer The Big Easy 'Silky' Foster 1987 The Monster Squad Eugene's Dad1988 Shoot to Kill Minelli The Presidio Sgt. Mueller Die Hard Businessman Ernest Saves Christmas Marty 1989 Great Balls of Fire! Alan Freed 1991 Oscar Officer Keough 1993 What's Love Got to Do with It Fairmount M.C.1995 Across the Moon Dentist #2 Steal Big Steal Little Agent Buchanan 1997 The Relic Mayor Robert Owen 1998 Godzilla Murray1999 The Auteur Theory Abusive Dad - The Quest End of Days Carson 2001 An American Rhapsody Harold 2007 Best Wishes for Tomorrow Featherstone title translates to "Ashita e no yuigon" 2009 Painting in the Rain Stefan 2016 8989 Redstone Pavel

Selected television Charlie's Angels (1981) - Burt Walker The New Odd Couple (1982–1983) - Harry Price / Stage Manager St. Elsewhere (1987) Married... with Children (1991) - Bum - Edwin Johanson Herman's Head (1992) - Troy Michaels Empty Nest (1990–1995) - Dr. Perry Smith / Russell Bosom Buddies (1981)