About Todd

Writer/Director Todd Robinson — Before working with a cadre of major talent alongside the likes of Ridley Scott, Sydney Pollack, Shakar Kapur, Jan DeBont, Michael Bay and others, Robinson was originally trained as an actor which has informed his considerable work in film and television.  His efforts span drama, documentary and live action on both the big screen and the small.

Robinson’s films often explore the boundaries of the human condition set against the action of large-scale theatrical backdrops as is evidenced by his cold war submarine thriller “Phantom” starring Ed Harris, David Duchovny and William Fichtner, and the Ridley Scott sea faring epic, “White Squall”.

Known as an actor’s director, Robinson’s recent film is “The Last Full Measure” about Medal of Honor recipient AFC William Hart Pitsenbarger.  This film stars Sebastain Stan, Allison Sudol, Jeremy Irvine, Christopher Plummer, Samuel L. Jackson, William Hurt, Ed Harris, Peter Fonda, John Savage, Amy Madigan, Diane Ladd, Bradly Whitford, Linus Roache, Ser Darius Blain, James Jagger, Cody Walker, Zack Roerig and LisaGay Hamilton.

Robinson wrote and directed the feature film noir thriller “Lonely Hearts” starring John Travolta, James Gandolfini, Salma Hayek, Jared Leto and Laura Dern in which Travolta plays his grandfather, Elmer (Buster) Robinson, one of the real-life homicide detectives on the case.

Robinson wrote and produced the aforementioned “White Squall”, working closely with director Ridley Scott.  The film stars Jeff Bridges, Ryan Phillippe, Jeremy Sisto, and Scott Wolf. He wrote “The Four Diamonds” for Disney, directed by Peter Werner, “Mermaid” helmed by Peter Masterson and was a contributing writer on Bad Boys II directed by Michael Bay.

Robinson created, and executive produced the series “Astronauts” for ABC, adapted the Nicholas Sparks best seller “The Rescue” for CBS and wrote and produced “Night and Day” for TNT.

Robinson wrote and directed the feature documentary “Amargosa” about Death Valley artist and recluse, Marta Becket and was an Academy Award finalist for Best Documentary Feature and later an EMMY Award.  Robinson executive produced “Go Tigers!”, exploring the famed Massillon, Ohio High School football team of the same name.  The film made its World Premiere at the Sundance Film Festival, was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award.

Robinson also wrote and directed “The Legend of Billy the Kid” for the Disney Channel, for which he won a Primetime EMMY Award, the biopic “Wild Bill: Hollywood Maverick” on legendary studio director, William A. Wellman, which garnered Best Documentary Film by the National Board of Review.  He also directed the documentary series: Stand And Be Counted for TLC with producing partner singer/songwriter David Crosby on social activism through popular music as well as “Amy Cook, The Spaces In Between”, a doc on music songstress of the same name.

Network series credits include: “The Young Riders”, “Life Goes On”, “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit” and the “Outsiders”.  Robinson currently serves as writer and supervising producer on NBC’s “Chicago PD” starring Jason Beghe.

Robinson received a Summa Cum Laude BFA in drama from the Theatre Conservatory at Adelphi University and is one of the founding members of The Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation, named for his college roommate, the late Jonathan Larson.

Robinson currently sits on the board of “Save A Warrior”, a foundation providing direct intervention services for veteran suicide prevention. Saveawarrior.org

When work permits Robinson serves as a professor of film production and thesis writing at the University of Southern California’s prestigious “School of Cinematic Arts”.

Robinson is an experienced aerobatic pilot and spends his free time restoring antique aircraft.

He is married to talent manager, Elizabeth Robinson. They have two children, Tyler James Robinson, a writer and film editor and Tessa Lynn Robinson, a television producer.