# Robin Dunne
**Robin Dunne** is a Canadian actor, screenwriter, and director best known for playing the forensic psychiatrist Dr. Will Zimmerman on the science-fiction series *[Sanctuary](https://www.edgepedia.org/sanctuary-2007-tv-series)* and for his many appearances in direct-to-video film sequels and made-for-television romance and Christmas movies.
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1976, Toronto, Ontario, Canada[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0242903) |
| Signature role | Dr. Will Zimmerman on *Sanctuary*, 2008–2011, 59 episodes[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0242903) |
| Early break | Supporting role in *The Big Hit* (1998), executive produced by John Woo and starring Mark Wahlberg[2](https://directors.ca/directors/robin-dunne/) |
| Best-known film role | Sebastian Valmont in *Cruel Intentions 2* (2000)[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/robin-dunne/bio/3000243824/) |
| Award | 2010 Leo Award, best lead performance by a male in a dramatic series, for the *Sanctuary* episode "Pavor Nocturnus"[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/robin-dunne/bio/3000243824/) |
| Writing and directing | *A.R.C.H.I.E* (2016) and *A.R.C.H.I.E 2* (2018), both featuring the voice of Michael J. Fox; *Kill Victoria* (2024), which he wrote, directed, and starred in[2](https://directors.ca/directors/robin-dunne/) |
| Personal life | Married to Farrah Aviva since July 2016; previously married to Heidi Lenhart[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0242903) |
## Early career
Dunne is a veteran of Canadian television, beginning in his teens. He trained at the Etobicoke School of the Arts in Toronto, where he built up a list of stage credits[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/robin-dunne/bio/3000243824/) • [4](https://www.thescifiworld.net/interviews/robin_dunne_01.htm). His early exposure in the United States came through Canada-lensed projects such as the 1994 ABC television movie *Against Their Will: Women in Prison*, the 1996 feature *The Road Home*, and the series *My Life as a Dog*, which aired on Showtime in the United States from 1997 to 1998[5](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/robin-dunne/).
From 1998 to 2000 he played the bookish Franz on the family drama *Little Men* on PAX TV, a role that won him notice with the show's cult following[5](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/robin-dunne/). Also in 1998 he appeared in *The Big Hit*, a Hong Kong action-influenced crime comedy starring [Mark Wahlberg](https://www.edgepedia.org/mark-wahlberg), Lou Diamond Phillips, and [Christina Applegate](https://www.edgepedia.org/christina-applegate) and executive produced by [John Woo](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-woo)[5](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/robin-dunne/) • [4](https://www.thescifiworld.net/interviews/robin_dunne_01.htm).
## Sebastian Valmont and the 2000s
**Manchester Prep.** In 1999 Dunne was cast as Sebastian Valmont in the Fox drama *Manchester Prep*, a series prequel to the film *Cruel Intentions* (1998), following the main characters through their early high school days. The network scrapped the show despite strong early buzz, and the material was recycled into the direct-to-video feature *Cruel Intentions 2* (2000)[5](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/robin-dunne/). The part remains his most frequently cited film role[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/robin-dunne/bio/3000243824/).
Through the early 2000s he worked steadily in television movies and sequels: a recurring role on *Dawson's Creek* (1999–2000) as A.J. Moller, a college-age suitor of [Joey Potter](https://www.edgepedia.org/joey-potter); a featured role as an ill-fated lottery winner in the [USA Network](https://www.edgepedia.org/usa-network) thriller *Class Warfare*; a starring part in the drama *Borderline Normal*; the young Samuel Clemens in the Hallmark biopic *Mark Twain's Roughing It*; and the direct-to-video sequel *The Skulls 2*[5](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/robin-dunne/). He also appeared in *American Psycho II: All American Girl* (2002) and *[Species III](https://www.edgepedia.org/species-iii)* (2004)[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/robin-dunne/bio/3000243824/). On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, his highest-rated film is *The Snow Walker* (2003) at 86 percent and his lowest is *Species III* (2004) at 17 percent[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/robin_dunne).
## Sanctuary
Dunne's best-known role came with *Sanctuary*, the Syfy series in which he played Dr. Will Zimmerman, a forensic psychiatrist recruited by Dr. Helen Magnus ([Amanda Tapping](https://www.edgepedia.org/amanda-tapping)) into a network of safe havens for "Abnormals," the cryptids and creatures that secretly populate the world[7](https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/streaming/this-supernatural-series-that-was-canceled-too-soon-is-streaming-for-free-on-roku-channel). The show began as an eight-part web series before Syfy picked it up as a full series, and Dunne was involved from the start[7](https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/streaming/this-supernatural-series-that-was-canceled-too-soon-is-streaming-for-free-on-roku-channel) • [8](https://www.thegate.ca/television/08592/video-interview-robin-dunne-talks-season-three-of-sanctuary/). He appeared in 59 episodes between 2008 and 2011[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0242903).
The production was unusual in that it was filmed largely against green screens, with computer-generated sets and backgrounds, something Dunne discussed in interviews as both a challenge and an opportunity, since it let each episode be set anywhere without building physical sets[9](https://www.buddytv.com/exclusive-interview-with-sanctuary-star-robin-dunne/) • [4](https://www.thescifiworld.net/interviews/robin_dunne_01.htm). He said he prepared for the part by studying the character's work and checking scenes with series creator Damian Kindler, whose father is a psychiatrist[4](https://www.thescifiworld.net/interviews/robin_dunne_01.htm). For the episode "Pavor Nocturnus" he won the 2010 Leo Award for best lead performance by a male in a dramatic series, and he was nominated in the same category in 2011 and 2012[3](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/robin-dunne/bio/3000243824/). He also directed at least one episode of the series[10](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/9054/robin-dunne).
## Writing and directing
Dunne moved into writing and directing alongside acting. His writing credits include the [Nickelodeon](https://www.edgepedia.org/nickelodeon) *Roxy Hunter* television movie series, beginning with *Roxy Hunter and the Mystery of the Moody Ghost* (2007), and the feature films *The Adventure Club* (2017)[4](https://www.thescifiworld.net/interviews/robin_dunne_01.htm) • [11](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/robin-dunne/credits/3000243824/). As a writer-director he made the comedy features *A.R.C.H.I.E* (2016) and *A.R.C.H.I.E 2* (2018), both featuring the voice of [Michael J. Fox](https://www.edgepedia.org/michael-j-fox) as the robot dog Archie, and *Welcome to Nowhere* (2018), in which he also starred[2](https://directors.ca/directors/robin-dunne/).
Since the early 2020s his directing work has centered on television movies. He directed *Christmas on Mistletoe Lake*, which premiered on Lifetime in 2022, and wrote both the screenplay and a novel released in concert with the film; he wrote and directed *Making Scents of Love* for Tubi in 2023; he wrote, directed, and starred in the thriller *Kill Victoria*; and he directed and co-wrote *Renovation Romance* for Hulu in 2024[2](https://directors.ca/directors/robin-dunne/). He reprised the role of Sheriff Ryan McGregor in the Ainsley McGregor mystery films on Hallmark, for which he also wrote the screenplays[2](https://directors.ca/directors/robin-dunne/).
## Television work beyond Sanctuary
Dunne's guest and recurring television credits include *Dead Like Me*, *CSI: Miami*, *NCIS*, *[Defiance](https://www.edgepedia.org/defiance-tv-series)*, *Murdoch Mysteries*, *Hudson & Rex*, *Private Eyes*, and *October Faction*, along with a lead role in the Syfy series *Sanctuary*[2](https://directors.ca/directors/robin-dunne/) • [10](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/9054/robin-dunne). In *October Faction* (2020) he played Sheriff Woody Dutton[12](https://fametown.com/en/celebrity/robin-dunne/).
## References
1. [Robin Dunne, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0242903)
2. [Robin Dunne, Directors.ca (Directors Guild of Canada profile)](https://directors.ca/directors/robin-dunne/)
3. [Robin Dunne Biography, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/robin-dunne/bio/3000243824/)
4. [Robin Dunne interview, The SciFi World (2007)](https://www.thescifiworld.net/interviews/robin_dunne_01.htm)
5. [Robin Dunne, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/robin-dunne/)
6. [Robin Dunne Movies & TV Shows, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/robin_dunne)
7. [This supernatural series that was canceled too soon is streaming for free, Tom's Guide](https://www.tomsguide.com/entertainment/streaming/this-supernatural-series-that-was-canceled-too-soon-is-streaming-for-free-on-roku-channel)
8. [Video Interview: Robin Dunne talks season three of 'Sanctuary', The GATE (2010)](https://www.thegate.ca/television/08592/video-interview-robin-dunne-talks-season-three-of-sanctuary/)
9. [Exclusive Interview with 'Sanctuary' Star Robin Dunne, BuddyTV (2008)](https://www.buddytv.com/exclusive-interview-with-sanctuary-star-robin-dunne/)
10. [Robin Dunne, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/9054/robin-dunne)
11. [Robin Dunne Credits, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/robin-dunne/credits/3000243824/)
12. [Robin Dunne biography, Fametown](https://fametown.com/en/celebrity/robin-dunne/)
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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 › Canadian actors › Surnames Cr to F*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license