# Robert Patrick
**Robert Patrick** (full name Robert Hammond Patrick) is an American actor born in 1958 in [Marietta, Georgia](https://www.edgepedia.org/marietta-georgia), best known for his breakthrough role as the shapeshifting liquid-metal assassin T-1000 in [James Cameron](https://www.edgepedia.org/james-cameron)'s *Terminator 2: Judgment Day* (1991)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001598/) • [2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/robert_patrick). After the part threatened to typecast him, he built a long career in film and television, including a two-year run as Agent John Doggett on *The X-Files* and recurring roles on *The Sopranos*, *Peacemaker*, *1923*, *Reacher*, and *Tulsa King*[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/robert_patrick) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001598/).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1958, Marietta, Georgia, USA[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001598/) |
| Breakthrough role | The T-1000 in *Terminator 2: Judgment Day* (1991)[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/robert_patrick) |
| Signature TV roles | Agent Doggett on *The X-Files* (two-year run); David Scatino on *The Sopranos* (2000–2001)[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/robert_patrick) • [3](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/robert-patrick/2146/) |
| Later series regulars | Auggie Smith in *Peacemaker* (2022–2025); Sheriff McDowell in *1923*; Shane Langston in *Reacher*; Jeremiah Dunmire in *Tulsa King*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001598/) |
| Distinction | The only actor killed on screen by all three Planet Hollywood founders: Bruce Willis in *Die Hard 2*, Sylvester Stallone in *Cop Land*, and Arnold Schwarzenegger in *Terminator 2*[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001598/bio/) |
| Personal life | Married to Barbara Patrick since 1990, two children; resides in Los Angeles[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001598/) |
## Early life and path to acting
Patrick grew up in Marietta, Georgia, where he played American Legion Baseball in high school, and went on to play football at [Bowling Green State University](https://www.edgepedia.org/bowling-green-state-university) in Ohio[3](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/robert-patrick/2146/). He dropped out before graduating after sitting in on drama classes and finding an interest in acting and theater[5](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/6761/robert-patrick).
A life-changing boat accident helped push him toward acting as a career. In a Wall Street Journal interview, Patrick said he had always wanted to act but did not think he could or would ever pursue it, until the accident changed his mind[6](https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/terminator-2-star-robert-patrick-decided-pursue-acting-after-life-changing-boat-accident.amp).
He moved into small parts in low-budget films. A casting director saw him and cast him as a psychotic biker in the 1987 film *Warlords From Hell*; that same year he landed roles in *Equalizer 2000*, *Eye of the Eagle*, and *Behind Enemy Lines*[5](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/6761/robert-patrick). Before his big break, Patrick was living out of his car[7](https://www.salon.com/2017/08/26/terminator-2-made-and-almost-ended-robert-patricks-career-i-kept-getting-offers-to-play-another-robot/).
## Terminator 2 and the T-1000
Patrick's career-making role came as the T-1000, the liquid-metal killing machine sent from the future in *Terminator 2: Judgment Day* (1991)[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/robert_patrick). His performance was built on steely restraint rather than monster theatrics: Salon's account of his scenes describes "a blank slate of steely menace" and a "cold ruthlessness with zero regard for humanity", which was what Cameron saw in him for the part[7](https://www.salon.com/2017/08/26/terminator-2-made-and-almost-ended-robert-patricks-career-i-kept-getting-offers-to-play-another-robot/).
The role nearly closed doors as well as opening them. Patrick later said he kept getting offers to play another robot, and he feared being typecast almost immediately after the film's release[7](https://www.salon.com/2017/08/26/terminator-2-made-and-almost-ended-robert-patricks-career-i-kept-getting-offers-to-play-another-robot/) • [8](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/robert-patrick/).
The part itself had a different history before him: the musician [Billy Idol](https://www.edgepedia.org/billy-idol) originally had the T-1000 role, and Patrick has discussed in interviews what it was like to replace him[9](https://linktr.ee/RobertPatrick).
## After T2: film and typecasting
Following *Judgment Day*, Patrick took work steadily across budget levels, from low-budget thrillers such as *The Cool Surface* (1994) to more respectable features like *Cop Land* (1997) alongside [Robert De Niro](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-de-niro) and [Sylvester Stallone](https://www.edgepedia.org/sylvester-stallone)[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/robert_patrick). His film credits from this period and after include *Die Hard 2* (1990), *Wayne's World*, *Last Action Hero*, *Fire in the Sky*, *The Faculty* (1998), *Spy Kids*, *Flags of Our Fathers* (2006), *Bridge to Terabithia*, *Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle* (2003), *Ladder 49* (2004), *Walk the Line* (2005), *Trouble with the Curve* (2012) opposite [Clint Eastwood](https://www.edgepedia.org/clint-eastwood), *Identity Thief* (2013), *Gangster Squad* (2013), and *Lovelace* (2013)[10](https://www.miramax.com/profile/robert-patrick/) • [3](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/robert-patrick/2146/).
In 2005 he played two fathers of American music icons: Vernon Presley, Elvis Presley's father, in the TV film *Elvis*, and Ray Cash, Johnny Cash's father, in the Academy Award-winning *Walk the Line*[11](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/robert-patrick/bio/3000754752/). By the mid-1990s he had achieved sobriety, and he credits the period with bringing a slew of strong supporting roles, culminating in his turn as the hapless gambling family man David Scatino on *The Sopranos*[7](https://www.salon.com/2017/08/26/terminator-2-made-and-almost-ended-robert-patricks-career-i-kept-getting-offers-to-play-another-robot/).
## Television work
Television gave Patrick some of his most substantial parts. On *The Sopranos*, he played David Scatino in a recurring role from 2000 to 2001[3](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/robert-patrick/2146/). He then spent a two-year run as Agent John Doggett on *The X-Files*, joining the series after [David Duchovny](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-duchovny)'s departure[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/robert_patrick). He has called Doggett his favorite role to this day[9](https://linktr.ee/RobertPatrick).
His later television work has been prolific. He played Cabe Gallo on *[Scorpion](https://www.edgepedia.org/scorpion-tv-series)*, appeared in *The Walking Dead*, and took recent series-regular and recurring parts as Auggie Smith (White Dragon) in [James Gunn](https://www.edgepedia.org/james-gunn)'s *Peacemaker* (2022–2025, 13 episodes), Sheriff McDowell in the *Yellowstone* prequel *1923* (2022–2025, 11 episodes), Shane Langston in *Reacher* (2023–2024), and Jeremiah Dunmire in *Tulsa King* (2025)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001598/). In the 2020s he also returned to the T-1000 in voice form, playing the character in the video game *Mortal Kombat 1* and its 2024 expansion[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001598/).
## Voice and video game work
Patrick has done extensive voice acting alongside his screen work. In the LucasArts adventure game *The Dig*, he lends his voice to Boston Low, the game's main character[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001598/). More recently he reprised the T-1000 in *Mortal Kombat 1* (2023) and *Mortal Kombat 1: Definitive Edition* (2025), in which his fellow cast members included [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://www.edgepedia.org/arnold-schwarzenegger) and [John Cena](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-cena)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001598/).
## Personal life
Patrick has been married to Barbara Patrick since November 24, 1990, and they have two children[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001598/). He credits church, his wife, and their dogs for the longevity of the marriage, which by 2026 stood at more than 35 years, and he avoids Hollywood party events in favor of time at home[12](https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/terminator-star-robert-patrick-shuns-hollywood-parties-says-he-prefers-being-home-his-wife-35-years.amp). He lives in Los Angeles[10](https://www.miramax.com/profile/robert-patrick/).
He is the eldest of five siblings; his brother [Richard Patrick](https://www.edgepedia.org/richard-patrick) is the lead vocalist of the rock band Filter[13](https://entertainment.inquirer.net/273365/robert-patrick-owes-hollywood-career-filipino-connection). Motorcycling is a long-standing commitment: in October 2013 he served as Honorary Grand Marshal of the 29th Annual Love Ride, the long-running motorcycle charity event, alongside [Peter Fonda](https://www.edgepedia.org/peter-fonda), and he is the Charter Holder of Chapter 101 of the Boozefighters Motorcycle Club, a non-profit group of motorcycle enthusiasts who raise money for veterans and disabled veterans[10](https://www.miramax.com/profile/robert-patrick/).
## Note on namesakes
A different Robert Patrick, an American playwright associated with the Off-[Off-Broadway](https://www.edgepedia.org/off-broadway) theater of the 1960s and known for *The Haunted Host* and *Kennedy's Children*, is a separate person; his work is covered in its own right and is unrelated to the actor's career[14](https://www.villagevoice.com/interview-playwright-robert-patrick-on-caffe-cino-negative-narcissism-and-how-to-make-money-reviewing-porn/).
## References
1. [Robert Patrick – IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001598/)
2. [Robert Patrick – Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/robert_patrick)
3. [Robert Patrick biography and filmography – Tribute.ca](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/robert-patrick/2146/)
4. [Robert Patrick – Biography – IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001598/bio/)
5. [Robert Patrick – TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/6761/robert-patrick)
6. ['Terminator 2' star Robert Patrick decided to pursue acting after life-changing boat accident – Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/terminator-2-star-robert-patrick-decided-pursue-acting-after-life-changing-boat-accident.amp)
7. ["Terminator 2" made — and almost ended — Robert Patrick's career – Salon.com](https://www.salon.com/2017/08/26/terminator-2-made-and-almost-ended-robert-patricks-career-i-kept-getting-offers-to-play-another-robot/)
8. [Robert Patrick – Actor – TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/robert-patrick/)
9. [Robert Patrick Official – Linktree](https://linktr.ee/RobertPatrick)
10. [Robert Patrick – Miramax](https://www.miramax.com/profile/robert-patrick/)
11. [Robert Patrick Biography – TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/robert-patrick/bio/3000754752/)
12. ['Terminator' star Robert Patrick shuns Hollywood parties – Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/terminator-star-robert-patrick-shuns-hollywood-parties-says-he-prefers-being-home-his-wife-35-years.amp)
13. [Why Robert Patrick owes his Hollywood career to his 'Filipino connection' – Inquirer](https://entertainment.inquirer.net/273365/robert-patrick-owes-hollywood-career-filipino-connection)
14. [Interview: Playwright Robert Patrick – The Village Voice](https://www.villagevoice.com/interview-playwright-robert-patrick-on-caffe-cino-negative-narcissism-and-how-to-make-money-reviewing-porn/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames O to Pa*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license