Robert Culp: TV Star to Video Game Voice Actor

Robert Culp – From TV to Video Games

Robert Culp was a big shot in the entertainment industry, known for his acting, directing, and screenwriting skills. He got his start on the small screen in Dick Powell’s Zane Grey Theatre, but it was his role as Hoby Gilman in the Western series Trackdown that really put him on the map. The show ran from 1957 to 1959 and made Culp a household name.

But that wasn’t the end of his TV career. Oh no, Culp went on to play a variety of characters in the crime drama series Columbo from 1971 to 1990. He was Jordan Rowe, Dr. Bart Kepple, Paul Hanlon, and Investigator Brimmer all rolled into one suave package.

And get this, folks: Culp even made the jump to video games! He lent his voice to the character of Dr. Wallace Breen in Half-Life 2 and its sequel in 2004 and 2006. Talk about versatility!

Sadly, Culp’s final performance was in the film The Assignment in 2010, where he played the role of Blakesley. But let’s not forget the hundreds of other performances he gave in his more than 50-year career. Robert Culp, we salute you!

What happened to Robert Culp?

Robert Culp died on March 24th 2010 from a fall whilst walking near Runyon Canyon Park, LA. He was 79 years old.

When he died he had just wrapped up a minor role in The Assignment as Blakesley. He was also part-way through some screenplays, one of which was a rendition of Terry and the Pirates. It had got the go ahead for production to start in Hong Kong in 2012, and Culp was to be the director. Terry and the Pirates was Culp’s favourite comic strip as a child and had always wanted to make a film based on it.

How many times was Robert Culp on Columbo?

Robert Culp had to play his character for four episodes in Columbo namely “Death Lends a Hand,” “The Most Crucial Game,” “Double Exposure,” and “Columbo Goes to College”.

Here are Robert Culp’s best bits!

Robert Culp one of only a handful of recurring guest actors on Columbo. He appeared in four episodes, the first of which was Death Lends a Hand. Culp played PI Carl Brimmer. His next appearance was as Paul Hanlon in The Most Crucial Game. Double Exposure saw him cast as the very first Columbo actor to play a killer more than once. He played Dr Bart Keppel. He would play a killer 3 times. 17 years later in 1990 he acted in Columbo one final time in Columbo Goes to College. He played Jordan Rowe, the father of one of the episodes murderers. This was the only episode where Culp was not the murderer.

Is Robert Culp single or married?

Robert Culp was married to Candace Faulkner for 28 years before his death but also had four previous marriages.

Culp’s first wife was Elayne Caroll whom he married in 1951. They were married 5 years before they divorced in 1956. His second wife was Nancy Ash. They married in 1957 and enjoyed 9 years together before divorcing in 1966. His third, and arguably most famous wife, was France Nuyen. Robert and France met on the set of his show I Spy. They married in 1967 but divorced after only 3 years together. Between 1971 and 1981 Robert was with Sheila Sullivan.  Then he met Candace.

How many kids does Robert Culp have?

Robert Culp had four children with Nancy Wilner named Joshua, Jason, Joseph, and Rachel. He then had another daughter named Samantha with Sheila Sullivan.

Childhood

Robert Culp was born on August 16th 1930. He grew up in Berkeley and went to Berkeley High School where he did pole vault. He placed second at the California Interscholastic Federation meet in 1947.

Rober t Culp went to four different colleges but never gained a degree.

What is Robert Culp’s estimated net worth?

Robert Culp’s estimated net worth was around $5 million.

For 14 years he and his wife Candace lived in the Beverly Hills Post Office area in the hills above Sunset Boulevard. Their house was built in 1926 for Reginald Denny, a British comedy actor.

Their luxury home was 4000-square-feet and designed with Spanish influences.

Video tour of Robert Culp’s Luxury Home: