Tim Robbins

An Academy Award-winning actor, Tim Robbins is just as well known for his activism as he is for his dramatic talents. After graduating from the University of California, Los Angeles, Robbins helped found the theater group known as The Actor’s Gang. After a number of small roles, he first caught the public’s attention as a likeable baseball player in "Bull Durham".

He went on to portray a diverse mix of lead characters, showing his great range as a performer. He appeared in "The Shawshank Redemption," "Jacob’s Ladder," The Player," and "Short Cuts." In 1992 Robbins also made the political mock documentary "Bob Roberts," which he wrote, directed, and starred in.

In 1995, Robbins stepped completely behind the camera for the critically acclaimed death penalty drama "Dead Man Walking," for which he received an Academy Award nomination for his directorial efforts. Throughout his career, Robbins has been outspoken on many issues and has used his celebrity to bring attention to specific causes. Serving as presenters at 1993 Academy Awards, he highlighted the plight of HIV-positive Haitian refugees who were being detained by the U.S. government.

Robbins has received many accolades for his contributions throughout the years, including recognition from the academy for his artistic talents in 2003 and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for "Mystic River."

More recently, Robbins has appeared in the independent drama "The Secret Life of Words," "Zathura: A Space Adventure," and "War of the Worlds." For television, he played Secretary of State Walter Larson in the HBO comedy "The Brink," "Here and Now," and "Castle Rock."