# Robert Picardo
**Robert Picardo** (born 1953) is an American stage-trained character actor best known for playing the Emergency Medical Hologram, called [The Doctor](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-doctor-star-trek), on *Star Trek: Voyager* (UPN, 1995–2001), as well as Coach Cutlip on *The Wonder Years*, Dr. Richard on *China Beach*, and Richard Woolsey across the *Stargate* television franchise.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1953, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000585/bio/) |
| Education | Yale University, B.A. 1974; trained at the Circle in the Square Professional Theatre School[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/picardo-robert-1953-bob-picardo-robert-piccardo) |
| Signature role | The Doctor (EMH) on *Star Trek: Voyager*, 1995–2001; also directed the episodes "Alter Ego" and "One Small Step"[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/robert-picardo/bio/3030418180/) • [4](https://www.startrek.com/news/trek-directors-school-robert-picardo) |
| Other series roles | Coach Ed Cutlip on *The Wonder Years* (1988–91); Dr. Dick Richard on *China Beach* (1988–91); Richard Woolsey on *Stargate SG-1*, *Stargate Atlantis*, and *Stargate Universe*[5](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/robert-picardo/) • [6](https://www.gateworld.net/news/2013/05/coda/) |
| Awards | Drama-Logue Award for *The Normal Heart*; Emmy nomination, 1989, for "Loosiers," *The Wonder Years*; Saturn Award nominations for *Gremlins 2: The New Batch* and *Star Trek: Voyager*[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/picardo-robert-1953-bob-picardo-robert-piccardo) |
| Space advocacy | Member of the Board of Directors of The Planetary Society; member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences[7](https://www.planetary.org/profiles/robert-picardo) |
| Recent work | Reprises The Doctor in *Star Trek: Starfleet Academy* (Paramount+, 2026), set in the 32nd century[8](https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-movies-shows/star-trek-starfleet-academy-robert-picardo-and-gina-yashere-on-embracing-the-legacy-of-their-roles-in-latest-trek-show-interview) |
## Early life and stage career
Picardo was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where he spent his childhood, and graduated from the [William Penn Charter School](https://www.edgepedia.org/william-penn-charter-school) before attending Yale University[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000585/bio/). At Yale he landed a role in [Leonard Bernstein](https://www.edgepedia.org/leonard-bernstein)'s *Mass* and, at age 19, played a leading role in the work's European premiere; he graduated with a [Bachelor's degree](https://www.edgepedia.org/bachelors-degree) in Drama[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000585/bio/). He also trained at the Circle in the Square Professional Theatre School[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/picardo-robert-1953-bob-picardo-robert-piccardo).
His stage work included [David Mamet](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-mamet)'s *Sexual Perversity in Chicago* and, with [Diane Keaton](https://www.edgepedia.org/diane-keaton), *The Primary English Class*. In 1977 he made his Broadway debut in the comedy hit *Gemini*, with [Danny Aiello](https://www.edgepedia.org/danny-aiello), and later appeared in Bernard Slade's *Tribute*, *Beyond Therapy*, *Geniuses*, and *The Normal Heart*, for which he won a Drama-Logue Award[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000585/bio/). TV Guide notes that after singing in *Mass* he was encouraged by Bernstein himself to pursue an acting career[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/robert-picardo/bio/3030418180/).
## Television breakthrough
Picardo entered films and television in 1980, debuting on film in [Joe Dante](https://www.edgepedia.org/joe-dante)'s horror-comedy *The Howling*[5](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/robert-picardo/). Through the 1980s he accumulated guest shots and short runs on series including *[Benson](https://www.edgepedia.org/benson-tv-series)*, *Dinosaurs*, *21 Jump Street*, and *L.A. Law*[5](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/robert-picardo/).
Two concurrent ABC roles made him a familiar face. On *The Wonder Years* (1988–91) he played Coach Ed Cutlip, a cold-hearted junior high school gym coach, in a recurring role that brought an Emmy Award nomination for outstanding guest actor in a comedy series in 1989 for the episode "Loosiers"[5](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/robert-picardo/) • [2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/picardo-robert-1953-bob-picardo-robert-piccardo). On *China Beach* (1988–91) he played Dr. Dick Richard, a dedicated military surgeon in wartime Vietnam and the beloved of nurse [Dana Delany](https://www.edgepedia.org/dana-delany)'s character[5](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/robert-picardo/). In 1991 he shared the Founder's Award from Viewers for Quality Television for both series[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/picardo-robert-1953-bob-picardo-robert-piccardo).
## Star Trek: Voyager and The Doctor
In 1995 Picardo was cast as the Emergency Medical Hologram, the ship's doctor on *Star Trek: Voyager*, a role he held for the series' seven seasons through 2001[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/robert-picardo/bio/3030418180/). The character began as a temporary failsafe program and evolved into an increasingly complex individual over the show's run[9](https://www.startrek.com/news/voyagers-caretaker-an-interview-with-robert-picardo). Picardo has said the character's limitations as a hologram worked in his favor as an actor, because they set him apart in the audience's mind[9](https://www.startrek.com/news/voyagers-caretaker-an-interview-with-robert-picardo).
He also directed two *Voyager* episodes, "Alter Ego" and "One Small Step", after training through the informal directors' program that producer [Rick Berman](https://www.edgepedia.org/rick-berman) offered to actors who wanted to direct; he had first trained to direct on *China Beach*, trailing directors during that show's shortened final season[4](https://www.startrek.com/news/trek-directors-school-robert-picardo). He received a Saturn Award nomination for best genre television supporting actor in 2000 for the role[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/picardo-robert-1953-bob-picardo-robert-piccardo).
The character carried into film and beyond: Picardo played the holographic doctor in *Star Trek: First Contact* (1996)[10](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000585/), appeared as Dr. Lewis "Doc" Zimmerman in the Borg Invasion 4D attraction at [Star Trek](https://www.edgepedia.org/star-trek): The [Experience](https://www.edgepedia.org/experience) at the Las Vegas Hilton beginning around 2004[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/picardo-robert-1953-bob-picardo-robert-piccardo), and later voiced The Doctor in the second season of the animated series *Star Trek: Prodigy*[8](https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-movies-shows/star-trek-starfleet-academy-robert-picardo-and-gina-yashere-on-embracing-the-legacy-of-their-roles-in-latest-trek-show-interview).
## Stargate and other roles
Picardo played Richard Woolsey across the *Stargate* franchise, first as a recurring character on *Stargate SG-1*, then joining the regular cast for the final season of *Stargate Atlantis*, and appearing in *Stargate Universe*[6](https://www.gateworld.net/news/2013/05/coda/). His film work includes *Innerspace* (1987), in which he played The Cowboy, *Gremlins 2: The New Batch* (1990) as Mr. Forrester, *Star Trek: First Contact*, and Joe Dante's *Matinee* (1993)[11](https://www.robertpicardo.com/roles) • [10](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000585/). On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes his highest-rated film is *Matinee* at 93 percent and his lowest is *Wagons East!* (1994) at 0 percent[12](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/robert_picardo).
Later television credits include *Hail, Caesar!*, *Grey's Anatomy*, *Dickinson*, *The Orville*, *Lucifer*, and *The Good Fight*[11](https://www.robertpicardo.com/roles) • [13](https://www.robertpicardo.com/work).
## Return to Star Trek
In March 2023 Picardo was approached through his agents about joining a new live-action *Star Trek* series; he learned he would play the same character in the 32nd century, with 800 years of digital experience[8](https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-movies-shows/star-trek-starfleet-academy-robert-picardo-and-gina-yashere-on-embracing-the-legacy-of-their-roles-in-latest-trek-show-interview). In *Star Trek: Starfleet Academy* (Paramount+, 2026), The Doctor serves as an instructor at the re-established academy, and the character's holographic appearance ages through a subroutine he introduced[14](https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/why-star-trek-robert-picardo-feels-hes-yoda-starfleet-academy-why-hologram-looks-older). Picardo described the character as a deeper version of himself, shaped by seeing generations of organic colleagues grow old and die[14](https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/why-star-trek-robert-picardo-feels-hes-yoda-starfleet-academy-why-hologram-looks-older). The series was later canceled after its first season, which Picardo attributed in part to the current political and cultural climate and to limited promotion by Paramount's new owners[15](https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/star-trek-robert-picardo-notes-major-change-he-adjusted-to-returning-for-starfleet-academy).
## Advocacy and personal life
Picardo serves on the Board of Directors of The Planetary Society and is a member of the [Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences](https://www.edgepedia.org/academy-of-motion-picture-arts-and-sciences)[7](https://www.planetary.org/profiles/robert-picardo). He has appeared at Star Trek conventions and charity events, including hosting the charity auction on Star Trek: The Cruise[16](https://2026.startrekthecruise.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/STTC26_DailyProgram_FullWeek_Web.pdf), and has raised money for charity through his official fan club, the Central Alliance of Robert Picardo Enthusiasts (CARPE)[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/picardo-robert-1953-bob-picardo-robert-piccardo). He married Linda Pawlik, an actress, on October 21, 1984; they have two daughters, Nicollette Arianna and Gina Emira[2](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/picardo-robert-1953-bob-picardo-robert-piccardo).
## References
1. [Robert Picardo – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000585/bio/)
2. [Picardo, Robert 1953(?)- , Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/picardo-robert-1953-bob-picardo-robert-piccardo)
3. [Robert Picardo Biography, Celebrity Facts and Awards, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/robert-picardo/bio/3030418180/)
4. [Trek Directors' School: Robert Picardo, StarTrek.com](https://www.startrek.com/news/trek-directors-school-robert-picardo)
5. [Robert Picardo – Actor, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/robert-picardo/)
6. [Coda: An Interview With Robert Picardo, GateWorld](https://www.gateworld.net/news/2013/05/coda/)
7. [Robert Picardo, The Planetary Society](https://www.planetary.org/profiles/robert-picardo)
8. ['Star Trek: Starfleet Academy': Robert Picardo and Gina Yashere on embracing the legacy of their roles, Space.com](https://www.space.com/entertainment/space-movies-shows/star-trek-starfleet-academy-robert-picardo-and-gina-yashere-on-embracing-the-legacy-of-their-roles-in-latest-trek-show-interview)
9. [Voyager's Caretaker: An Interview with Robert Picardo, StarTrek.com](https://www.startrek.com/news/voyagers-caretaker-an-interview-with-robert-picardo)
10. [Robert Picardo, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000585/)
11. [Roles, RobertPicardo.com](https://www.robertpicardo.com/roles)
12. [Robert Picardo Movie & TV Show List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/robert_picardo)
13. [Work, RobertPicardo.com](https://www.robertpicardo.com/work)
14. [Why Star Trek's Robert Picardo Feels Like He's The 'Yoda' Of Starfleet Academy, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/why-star-trek-robert-picardo-feels-hes-yoda-starfleet-academy-why-hologram-looks-older)
15. [Star Trek's Robert Picardo Notes The Major Change He Had To Adjust To When Returning For Starfleet Academy, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/interviews/star-trek-robert-picardo-notes-major-change-he-adjusted-to-returning-for-starfleet-academy)
16. [Star Trek: The Cruise 2026 Daily Program](https://2026.startrekthecruise.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/STTC26_DailyProgram_FullWeek_Web.pdf)
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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 Pe to P*
*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