Sam Robards
Sam Robards (born December 16, 1961) is an American actor renowned for his versatile performances across film, television, and theater.[1] As the only child of acclaimed actors Jason Robards and Lauren Bacall, he was born in New York City and raised in a family deeply immersed in the entertainment industry. Robards began his acting career in 1980 with an Off-Broadway production of Album and made his film debut in Paul Mazursky's Tempest (1982), marking the start of a career spanning over four decades. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Robards built a solid reputation in supporting roles, appearing in notable films such as Fandango (1985), Bright Lights, Big City (1988), and Casualties of War (1989). His breakthrough came in the late 1990s and early 2000s with critically acclaimed parts, including Jim Berkley in Sam Mendes's American Beauty (1999)[3] and Henry Swinton in Steven Spielberg's A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001), as well as Clayton Beresford Sr. in Awake (2007).[4] On television, he gained further recognition for recurring roles like Kevin Keegan in TV 101 (1988–1989), Arthur in Spin City (1998–1999), and Howard "The Captain" Archibald in Gossip Girl (2007).[5][6] Robards has also excelled in theater, earning a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his portrayal of Gustav Eberson in the 2002 Broadway revival of Arthur Miller's The Man Who Had All the Luck.[1] His early inspiration for acting stemmed from accompanying his mother onstage during her Broadway run of Applause at age eight.[1] Married twice—first to actress Suzy Amis from 1986 until their divorce, and later to Sidsel Jensen since 1997—Robards has three children and continues to work in independent films and stage productions.Early life
Family background
Sam Robards was born on December 16, 1961, in New York City, to the acclaimed actors Jason Robards and Lauren Bacall.[7] He was the only child from their marriage, which lasted from 1961 until their divorce in 1969.[8] His father, Jason Robards, was a legendary figure in American theater and film, renowned for his commanding stage presence and winning two consecutive Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor—for portraying Ben Bradlee in All the President's Men (1976) and Dashiell Hammett in Julia (1977).[9] His mother, Lauren Bacall, achieved iconic status in Hollywood through her sultry portrayals in film noir classics, including Marie "Slim" Browning in To Have and Have Not (1944) and Vivian Rutledge in The Big Sleep (1946), often opposite Humphrey Bogart.[10] Robards grew up with seven half-siblings from his parents' previous marriages, including Stephen Humphrey Bogart, Bacall's son with Humphrey Bogart.[8] Following his parents' divorce when he was seven, Robards primarily lived with his mother in New York City before he and his mother relocated to Europe for periods due to Bacall's professional commitments, including time in London where he attended the American School in London.[8] This peripatetic childhood immersed him early in the entertainment industry; he frequently visited his parents backstage at theaters, standing alone on empty stages after performances and absorbing the world of acting from a young age.[11] The weight of his family's storied legacy presented early pressures, with his father initially discouraging a career in acting—once quipping that "it was an actor who shot Lincoln"—yet this environment ultimately fostered Robards' interest in the profession, as he grappled with self-doubt and the challenge of forging his own path amid high expectations.[12][11]Education
During his childhood, while living abroad with his mother in London from 1972 to 1974, Sam Robards attended the American School in London.[8] Upon returning to New York City, he attended the Collegiate School, where he was enrolled through at least the eighth grade in 1975.[13] Robards briefly attended Sarah Lawrence College, studying liberal arts with an emphasis on performing arts, but left after his freshman year.[14] In the fall of 1980, motivated in part by his family's longstanding involvement in theater, he participated in the intensive acting program at the National Theater Institute of the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Waterford, Connecticut, which provided foundational training in professional stagecraft.[14] Following this, Robards continued his acting education at the HB Studio in New York City, studying under instructors Morris Carnovsky, a veteran of classical theater productions, and Uta Hagen, renowned for her practical techniques in character development and scene work.[15] This specialized training honed his abilities in improvisation through Hagen's exercise-based methods and in classical theater via Carnovsky's emphasis on Shakespearean and period roles, preparing him for a career in professional performance.[16]Career
Theater
Robards began his stage career in Off-Broadway productions in the early 1980s. In 1980, he appeared as Boo in David Rabe's Album at the Cherry Lane Theatre, initially as an understudy before taking over the role.[14] In 1982, he played Saul in Susan Miller's Flux, directed by Michael Kahn, at Second Stage Theatre.[14] That decade continued with his performance as Tristram in Alan Ayckbourn's Taking Steps, directed by Robert Lewis, at the York Theatre Company in 1986.[17][14] In 1987, Robards portrayed Cootie in Michael Weller's Moonchildren, directed by Doug Hughes, at Second Stage Theatre.[18][19] The 1990s saw him in George Bernard Shaw's Misalliance as Joseph Percival, directed by David Warren, at the Roundabout Theatre Company's Off-Broadway production in 1997.[20][21] Entering the 2000s, Robards starred as Ethan in Nicky Silver's The Altruists, directed by David Warren, at the Vineyard Theatre in 2000.[22] His Broadway debut came in 2002 as Gustav Eberson in Arthur Miller's The Man Who Had All the Luck, directed by Scott Ellis, at the American Airlines Theatre.[23] In 2005, he played Geoffrey in Alan Ayckbourn's Absurd Person Singular, directed by John Tillinger, at the Biltmore Theatre.[24] Robards returned to Off-Broadway in 2007 as Jack Exley in J.T. Rogers's The Overwhelming, directed by David Cromer, at the Laura Pels Theatre.[25][26] The following year, he assumed the role of Richard Hannay in Patrick Barlow's adaptation of The 39 Steps, directed by Maria Aitken, at the Cort Theatre on Broadway.[27] In recent years, Robards appeared as David/Raf's Dad in James Graham's Punch, directed by Adam Penford, at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre on Broadway in 2025.[28][29]Film
| Year | Title | Role | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Tempest | Freddy | Paul Mazursky |
| 1985 | Fandango | Kenneth Waggener | Kevin Reynolds |
| 1988 | Bird | Moscowitz | Clint Eastwood |
| 1988 | Bright Lights, Big City | Rich Vanier | James Bridges |
| 1989 | Casualties of War | Chaplain Kirk | Brian De Palma |
| 1990 | The Ballad of the Sad Café | Marvin Macy | Simon Callow |
| 1993 | The Night We Never Met | Kenneth | Warren Leight |
| 1994 | Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle | Harold Ross | Alan Rudolph |
| 1995 | The Brady Bunch Movie | Larry Dittmeyer | Betty Thomas |
| 1996 | Beautiful Girls | Steve Rossmore | Ted Demme |
| 1997 | A Further Gesture | Ethan | Robert Dornhelm |
| 1998 | The Truman Show | Louis Coltrane | Peter Weir |
| 1999 | American Beauty | Jim Berkley | Sam Mendes |
| 2000 | Hamlet | Guildenstern | Michael Almereyda |
| 2001 | A.I. Artificial Intelligence | Henry Swinton | Steven Spielberg |
| 2001 | Life as a House | David Dokos | Irwin Winkler |
| 2004 | The Stepford Wives | Bob Mark | Frank Oz |
| 2006 | The Black Dahlia | Capt. John Tierney | Brian De Palma |
| 2007 | Awake | Clayton Beresford Sr. | Joby Harold |
| 2009 | The Rebound | Frank | Bart Freundlich |
| 2011 | The Art of Getting By | Jack Herman | Gavin Wiesen |
| 2013 | Blue Jasmine | Michael | Woody Allen |
| 2014 | The Late Bloomer | Mr. Harrigan | Kevin Pollak |
| 2016 | The Scent of Rain & Lightning | Bobby Reynolds | Blake Robbins |
| 2017 | Where Is Kyra? | Carl | Andrew Dosunmu |
| 2018 | The Persian Connection | Ben | Daniel Grove |
| 2022 | The Pale Blue Eye | Dr. Daniel Marquis | Scott Cooper |
| 2022 | Isle of Hope | William | Damián Romay |
| 2024 | Space Cadet | Rex's Dad (Calvin Simpson) | Liz W. Garcia |
| 2025 | Isle Child | Thomas Miller | Thomas Percy Kim |
Television
Robards began his television career with a lead role in the short-lived CBS drama series TV 101 (1988–1989), where he portrayed journalism teacher Kevin Keegan across all 13 episodes.[31] In 1990, he made a guest appearance on Law & Order (NBC, 1 episode as Daniel Hendricks).[32][33] From 1990 to 1991, Robards had a recurring role as Larry Potter, the best friend of the protagonist, in the Fox sitcom Get a Life, appearing in 24 episodes during its first season. He continued with guest spots in the late 1990s, including The Outer Limits (1995, Showtime, 1 episode as Ben Kohler) and Sex and the City (1998, HBO, 1 episode as Tom Reymi).[32] His most significant involvement came in seasons 5–7 (2004–2006) as recurring character reporter Greg Brock in 8 episodes of The West Wing (NBC).[30] A one-off guest role followed in CSI: Miami (2006, CBS, 1 episode as Mitchell Collett). Robards gained prominence with a recurring role as Howie "The Captain" Archibald in The CW's Gossip Girl (2007–2012), appearing in 23 episodes as Nate Archibald's father. He portrayed restaurateur Tim Feeny in a recurring capacity on HBO's Treme (2010–2013), with 11 episodes across seasons 3 and 4. From 2013 to 2014, Robards starred as psychiatrist Kyle Masterson in the ABC Family mystery series Twisted, a main role spanning all 19 episodes of its single season.[32] Subsequent guest appearances included Madam Secretary (2014, CBS, 1 episode as Brad Jenkins), Limitless (2015, CBS, 1 episode as Miles Amos), and Blue Bloods (2010, CBS, 1 episode as Roger).[32] In 2021, he had a two-episode guest arc as Dean in FX on Hulu's Y: The Last Man.[32] Robards' most recent television role is as Hal in the MGM+ series Hotel Cocaine (2024), a recurring part in 2 episodes of its first season.Personal life
Marriages
Sam Robards married actress Suzy Amis in 1986 after meeting her on the set of the film Fandango in 1985.[1][34] The couple's marriage lasted eight years, ending in divorce in 1994.[1][34] In 1997, Robards married Danish model Sidsel Jensen, whom he met at an airport in Paris.[11][35] The marriage, which took place on November 8, 1997, remains ongoing as of 2025.[35][1] From these unions, Robards has three children.[1] No other marriages or significant romantic relationships for Robards have been publicly documented.[1]Children
Sam Robards is the father of three sons from his two marriages. His eldest son, Jasper Robards, was born in 1990 to his first wife, Suzy Amis.[35] With his second wife, Sidsel Jensen, whom he married in 1997, Robards has two younger sons: Calvin, born in 1999, and Sebastian, born in 2001.[35][36] The Robards family maintains a low public profile regarding their children, with limited details available beyond basic biographical information.[1] Robards has primarily raised his sons in New York City, where the family resides.Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Tempest | Freddy | Paul Mazursky |
| 1985 | Fandango | Kenneth Waggener | Kevin Reynolds |
| 1985 | Not Quite Paradise | Mike | Lewis Gilbert |
| 1988 | Bird | Moscowitz | Clint Eastwood |
| 1988 | Bright Lights, Big City | Rich Vanier | James Bridges |
| 1988 | Casual Sex? | Nick | Geneviève Robert |
| 1989 | Casualties of War | Chaplain Kirk | Brian De Palma |
| 1990 | The Ballad of the Sad Café | Marvin Macy | Simon Callow |
| 1993 | The Night We Never Met | Kenneth | Warren Leight |
| 1994 | Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle | Harold Ross | Alan Rudolph |
| 1995 | The Brady Bunch Movie | Larry Dittmeyer | Betty Thomas |
| 1996 | Beautiful Girls | Steve Rossmore | Ted Demme |
| 1997 | A Further Gesture | Ethan | Robert Dornhelm |
| 1999 | American Beauty | Jim Berkley | Sam Mendes |
| 2000 | Hamlet | Guildenstern | Michael Almereyda |
| 2001 | A.I. Artificial Intelligence | Henry Swinton | Steven Spielberg |
| 2001 | Life as a House | David Dokos | Irwin Winkler |
| 2004 | The Stepford Wives | Bob Mark | Frank Oz |
| 2006 | The Black Dahlia | Capt. John Tierney | Brian De Palma |
| 2007 | Awake | Clayton Beresford Sr. | Joby Harold |
| 2009 | The Rebound | Frank | Bart Freundlich |
| 2011 | The Art of Getting By | Jack Herman | Gavin Wiesen |
| 2013 | Blue Jasmine | Michael | Woody Allen |
| 2014 | The Late Bloomer | Mr. Harrigan | Kevin Pollak |
| 2016 | The Scent of Rain & Lightning | Bobby Reynolds | Blake Robbins |
| 2017 | Where Is Kyra? | Carl | Andrew Dosunmu |
| 2018 | The Persian Connection | Ben | Daniel Grove |
| 2022 | The Pale Blue Eye | Dr. Daniel Marquis | Scott Cooper |
| 2022 | Isle of Hope | William | Damián Romay |
| 2024 | Space Cadet | Rex's Dad (Calvin Simpson) | Liz W. Garcia |
| 2025 | Isle Child | Thomas Miller | Thomas Percy Kim |