ROBERT HAYS : Hollywood’s Most Likable Leading Man

When I had the opportunity to interview legendary film and television star Robert Hays for my podcast via Zoom from his oceanside home in Hawaii, my mind instantly filled with memories of the movies and television shows from my childhood that still make me laugh and smile all these years later. People always say, “Be careful meeting your idols — they may disappoint you.” Thankfully, that couldn’t have been further from the truth in Robert’s case.

From the moment our conversation began, he was exactly who you’d hope him to be: warm, funny, humble, charming, and incredibly down to earth. What was supposed to be a one-hour interview quickly stretched to nearly two because we were having such a genuinely great time talking about his remarkable life and career.

What makes Robert’s career so impressive is its versatility. While most audiences instantly think of his iconic performance in “Airplane!,” his body of work extends far beyond comedy. Over the decades, he has played romantic leads, adventurous heroes, compassionate father figures, lovable everymen, charming authority figures, and even deeply unsettling villains. Whether delivering deadpan laughs or bringing emotional sincerity to dramatic material, Hays has always possessed an easygoing warmth that makes audiences immediately connect with him

His career has entertained multiple generations and produced countless memorable performances — and perhaps most impressively, he still approaches new creative opportunities with enthusiasm, gratitude, and curiosity.

In honor of my fantastic two-part interview with Robert for Hollywood Obsessed Podcast (Episodes 171 & 172), I’ve put together a collection of highlights from his incredible television and film career. Whether you’re revisiting old favorites or discovering hidden gems for the first time, I hope this retrospective reminds you why Robert Hays remains one of Hollywood’s most likable and enduring talents. Enjoy!

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AIRPLANE! (1980)

When movie fans think of “Airplane!,” they usually remember the nonstop gags, absurd one-liners, and glorious comic chaos — but at the center of it all was Robert Hays delivering one of the greatest deadpan performances in comedy history. As Ted Striker, Hays played every moment with complete sincerity, grounding the film’s insanity in genuine emotion. While everyone around him spiraled into parody-fueled madness, Striker treated his “drinking problem,” war trauma, and midair emergency like he was starring in a serious disaster movie — and that unwavering commitment is exactly what made the comedy work so brilliantly.

Hays became the perfect audience surrogate in a world that had completely lost its mind. Whether solemnly delivering ridiculous dialogue or enduring one outrageous sight gag after another, he never once winked at the audience. The legendary “drinking problem” sequence — where Striker literally misses his mouth every time he takes a sip — remains one of the funniest visual gags ever put on film. Even better, Hays reportedly contributed some of the intentionally boring dialogue during the scene where his endless stories drive passengers to suicide.

Behind the scenes, the atmosphere was just as hilarious. During serious cockpit scenes, Leslie Nielsen famously used a hidden fart machine off-camera in an attempt to break Hays’ composure. Somehow, Hays kept a perfectly straight face — a feat almost as impressive as landing the airplane itself.

If you’d like to hear even more behind-the-scenes stories from the making of “Airplane!,” check out my in-depth two-part conversation with Robert on Hollywood Obsessed Podcast Episodes 171 & 172. It’s packed with nostalgia, laughs, and wonderful memories from one of comedy cinema’s true classics.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN NOW

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ANGIE (1979–1980)

Before becoming comedy history’s unforgettable Ted Striker, Robert Hays won over television audiences as Brad Benson in the ABC sitcom “Angie.” The series paired Hays with Donna Pescow as Angie Falco, a wisecracking Philadelphia waitress who unexpectedly falls for Brad, a handsome pediatrician from a wealthy upper-crust family. The result was a sweet “opposites attract” romance filled with culture clashes, family chaos, and genuine heart.

Created by television legend Garry Marshall, the show quickly became one of ABC’s breakout hits, landing in the Top Five during its first season. Much of that success came from the sparkling chemistry between Hays and Pescow. Critics praised Hays for making Brad far more than a stereotypical rich guy, portraying him instead as warm, funny, and refreshingly grounded.

The show also featured a terrific supporting cast, including Doris Roberts as Angie’s hilariously overbearing mother and Debralee Scott as her accident-prone sister. And for fans of classic television, the theme song “Different Worlds,” sung by Maureen McGovern, remains pure nostalgic magic.

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STARMAN (1986)

When Robert Hays stepped into the lead role for the television adaptation of “Starman,” he wisely chose not to imitate Jeff Bridges’ Oscar-nominated performance from the original film. Instead, Hays brought his own gentle charm to the character, blending warmth, humor, and wide-eyed wonder into a version of Starman that felt lovable, compassionate, and refreshingly human. Adding even more heart to the series was young actor Christopher Daniel Barnes as Scott Hayden, the son who joins the alien traveler on his emotional cross-country journey.

Critics praised Hays for giving the character an “innocent curiosity” that made even the simplest human interactions entertaining. One especially fun twist came in the pilot episode, where Hays briefly portrayed the real Paul Forrester — a reckless, womanizing photographer whose personality couldn’t have been more different from the kindhearted alien later inhabiting his body. The contrast allowed Hays to showcase both his comedic timing and impressive versatility.

Sadly, despite its imaginative storytelling, emotional warmth, and devoted fanbase, the series lasted only one season on ABC. Decades later, many fans still believe “Starman” deserved a much longer journey through the television universe — myself included.

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CAT’S EYE (1985)

In “Cat's Eye,” Robert Hays stepped far outside the comedy cockpit that made him famous and delivered a genuinely suspenseful performance in the segment “The Ledge.” Hays plays Johnny Norris, a former tennis pro blackmailed by a sadistic millionaire into walking around the narrow ledge of a towering skyscraper. Every shaky step becomes a white-knuckle nightmare, and Hays convincingly sells the fear, exhaustion, and desperation of a man fighting for his life hundreds of feet above the street below.

Critics praised Hays for capturing sheer terror so effectively that audiences couldn’t help rooting for Johnny’s survival. His clean-cut sincerity made the perfect contrast to Kenneth McMillan’s gleefully unhinged villain. For viewers accustomed to seeing Hays in lighter roles, “Cat’s Eye” proved he could handle suspense and psychological intensity just as skillfully as comedy.

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MISTER ROBERTS (1984)

In the 1984 television adaptation of “Mister Roberts”, Robert Hays took on the challenging role of Lieutenant Douglas Roberts, a character famously associated with Henry Fonda. Performed live in front of a studio audience for NBC, the production leaned heavily into its theatrical roots, and Hays delivered a performance grounded in classic stage acting. Opposite Charles Durning as the tyrannical Captain Morton, Hays anchored the story’s central battle of wills while working alongside an impressive cast that included Kevin Bacon and Howard Hesseman.

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WONDER WOMAN (1977)

If you grew up watching reruns of “Wonder Woman” after school, there’s a good chance you remember the wildly entertaining episode “Wonder Woman in Hollywood,” which aired on February 16, 1977 as the ABC season finale before the series moved to CBS. The episode delivers everything that made the show such a classic — Hollywood glamour, Nazi spies, patriotic war heroes, and plenty of action.

Robert Hays played Corporal Jim Ames, one of four American war heroes targeted by Nazi agents for a propaganda show trial in Germany. Although Ames is initially blackmailed into helping the villains, Hays brought such natural likability to the role that his redemption felt genuinely satisfying. Watching the episode today is even more fun thanks to its stacked cast, including Lynda Carter, Lyle Waggoner, Debra Winger, and Barry Van Dyke.

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TAKE THIS JOB AND SHOVE IT! (1981)

In the 1981 comedy-drama “Take This Job and Shove It” (named after the popular country song by Johnny Paycheck),  Robert Hays moved away from his trademark deadpan comedy persona to deliver a grounded and heartfelt performance as Frank Macklin, an ambitious executive forced to reconnect with the blue-collar town he once left behind. Rather than portraying Macklin as a cold corporate stereotype, Hays infused the character with warmth, uncertainty, and sincerity, making him instantly relatable.

Critics noted how naturally Hays fit the film’s easygoing small-town atmosphere, proving he could handle dramatic material just as comfortably as comedy. Much of the film’s charm also came from his chemistry with Barbara Hershey, whose scenes with Hays provided an emotional center amid the labor disputes and corporate battles.

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THE ABDUCTION (1996)

In the 1996 thriller “The Abduction,” Hays delivered one of the darkest performances of his career. As Paul Olavsky, a deeply disturbed former police officer who stalks and kidnaps his estranged wife, played by Victoria Principal, Hays fully embraced a role far removed from the lovable heroes and comedic everymen audiences associated with him.

Through a series of flashbacks, the film charts Olavsky’s disturbing psychological unraveling as bitterness, unemployment, and obsession gradually transform him into a dangerous predator. It’s an unexpectedly intense performance that demonstrated Hays’ impressive dramatic range.

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HOMEWARD BOUND: THE INCREDIBLE JOURNEY (1993)

In “Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey,” Robert Hays played Bob Seaver, the caring stepfather whose quiet sincerity helps ground the film emotionally while the animals take center stage. Although the story belongs largely to Shadow, Chance, and Sassy, Hays provides the human emotional core that makes the pets’ long journey feel meaningful. His warmth and understated compassion help make the film’s emotional reunion finale so genuinely moving.

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THE GIRL, THE GOLD WATCH & EVERYTHING (1980)

Hays brought earnest charm and terrific physical comedy to the fantasy television movie “The Girl, the Gold Watch & Everything.” As Kirby Winter, Hays anchored the story’s whimsical premise with relatable everyman appeal, while his chemistry with co-star Pam Dawber added sweetness and heart to the adventure.

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AIRPLANE II: THE SEQUEL (1982)

Hays reprised Ted Striker in “Airplane II: The Sequel,” once again serving as the calm, overwhelmed center of total comic chaos. His deadpan sincerity grounded the film’s spoofing of science fiction and space-travel movies while reuniting him with Julie Hagerty as Elaine Dickinson.

The sequel also benefited from wonderfully inspired casting, including William Shatner as the eccentric Moon base commander Buck Murdock and Sonny Bono as a deranged bomber carrying a time bomb aboard the spacecraft.

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IRON MAN (1994–1996)

Hays brought heroic charm, wit, and surprising vulnerability to Tony Stark in the animated series “Iron Man.” His performance helped elevate the show beyond a standard 1990s superhero cartoon by giving Stark an approachable, relatable quality even amid the larger-than-life sci-fi action.

Hays was so well received in the role that he later reprised Tony Stark across other Marvel animated series of the era, including “Spider-Man: The Animated Series” and “The Incredible Hulk.”

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SHARKNADO 2: THE SECOND ONE (2014)

Casting Robert Hays in “Sharknado 2: The Second One” was a stroke of comedic genius because it instantly established the movie’s campy tone through one perfect meta-joke. Hays cleverly parodied his iconic Ted Striker persona from Airplane! by delivering the unforgettable line, “This is nothing, I’ve flown worse,” as chaos erupted aboard the doomed flight.

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If you’d like to go even deeper behind the scenes of Robert Hays’ remarkable career, check out my nostalgia-filled conversation with him on Hollywood Obsessed Podcast Episodes 171 & 172. From his early years in San Diego to his unforgettable experiences in Hollywood, these two episodes are packed with hilarious stories, heartfelt moments, and wonderful memories from across his incredible film and television journey.

Listen now:

Episode 171 — HERE

Episode 172 — HERE