# Robert Rusler

Robert Rusler (born September 20, 1965) is an American film and television actor. He made his film debut in the teen comedy Weird Science (1985) and subsequently appeared in the horror films A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge (1985) and Vamp (1986). He starred as Tommy Hook in the skateboarding cult film Thrashin' (1986) and as "Buzz" in the 1989 film Shag.

## Life and career

Rusler was born in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the son of Maria Elena (née Varela) and Richard C. Rusler. He moved to Waikiki Beach in Hawaii, where he started surfing and skateboarding on a semi-professional level, competing in local tournaments. Then he and his family moved to Los Angeles, where he studied martial arts and entered many competitions. After high school, Robert wanted to try his hand as an actor and began taking acting classes at the Loft Studio with Peggy Feury and William Traylor.
His first film role was Max in the 1985 hit comedy Weird Science. He appeared later that year in the horror film A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge as Grady. While filming the movie, Rob and the star of the movie, Mark Patton became close friends. In 1986, he co-starred with Chris Makepeace in the horror comedy Vamp and with Josh Brolin in the teen sports drama Thrashin'.
He also played Richard Lawson in the 1991 TV film Stephen King's Sometimes They Come Back. Rusler has appeared in television series, such as the short lived 1990 series The Outsiders as Tim Shepard, and in the 1993 series Angel Falls, but his best known TV role was in the 1990s hit science fiction series Babylon 5 as Warren Keffer in season 2 (1994–1995). He has acted in the 1995 sci-fi video game flight simulator, Wing Commander IV which starred Mark Hamill and Malcolm McDowell. He also appeared in an episode of the TV series The Unit.
Rusler has made guest appearances on television shows ranging from The Facts of Life, Snoops, Cold Case, Medium, The Unit, The Closer, 24, Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and Enterprise in the season 3 episode "Anomaly" as Orgoth. He has appeared in a Heineken commercial directed by Oliver Stone.

## Filmography
### Film and television credits

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1985 | The Facts of Life | Neil | (1979 TV series) episodes: "Gone with the Wind Part 1" and "Gone with the Wind Part 2" |
| 1985 | Weird Science | Max | movie |
| 1985 | A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy's Revenge | Ron Grady | movie |
| 1986 | Dangerously Close | n/a | movie |
| 1986 | Vamp | A.J. | movie |
| 1986 | Thrashin' | Tommy Hook | movie |
| 1987 | Tonight's the Night | TV movie |
| 1989 | Shag | Buzz Ravenel | movie |
| 1990 | The Outsiders | Tim Shepard | TV series (13 episodes) |
| 1991 | Sometimes They Come Back | Richard Lawson | TV movie |
| 1992 | Final Embrace | Kyle Lambton | movie |
| 1992 | Crisis in the Kremlin | Jack Reilly | movie |
| 1993 | Amityville: A New Generation | Ray | video |
| 1993 | Angel Falls | Toby Riopelle | TV series |
| 1994–1995 | Babylon 5 | Lt. Warren Keffer | TV series (22 episodes) |
| 1995 | Murder, She Wrote | Pete Menteer | (1984 TV series) episode: "The Secret of Gila Junction" |
| 1995 | Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom | Seether | video game |
| 1997 | The Underworld | Dick | TV movie |
| 1999 | Mike Hammer, Private Eye | Jimmy Grecco | (1997 TV series) Episode: "The Long Road to Nowhere" |
| 1999 | Wasted in Babylon | Chaz | movie |
| 1999 | Snoops | n/a | (1999 TV series) episode: "Bedfellas" |
| 2002 | Robbery Homicide Division | Greg Canton | (2002 TV series) episode: "In/Famous" |
| 2003 | Star Trek: Enterprise | Orgoth | (2001 TV series) episode: "Anomaly" |
| 2003 | L.A. Dragnet | n/a | (2003 TV series) episode: "Slice of Life" |
| 2004 | The Whole Ten Yards | Policeman #2 | movie |
| 2004 | Cold Case | Lt. Nash Cavanaugh | (2003 TV series) episode: "The Plan" |
| 2004 | Air Strike | Ben Garrett | video |
| 2004 | NCIS | Lt. Col. Curtis Teague | (2003 TV series) episode: "Vanished" |
| 2005 | Rebound | Falcon Coach | movie |
| 2006 | 24 | Hank | (2001 TV series) episode: "Day 5: 11:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m." |
| 2006 | Surveillance | Ben Palmer | movie |
| 2006 | Rising Son: The Legend of Skateboarder Christian Hosoi | Himself | documentary |
| 2006 | Shifted | Skippy, Tail O' The Pup Employee | movie |
| 2006 | The Hunt Chronicles | Himself | video |
| 2006 | The Hunt | Atticus Monroe | movie |
| 2006 | Horror's Hallowed Grounds | Himself | (2006 TV series) (1 episode) |
| 2007 | Forfeit | Jimmy | movie |
| 2007 | Agenda | Alec Foster | movie |
| 2007 | The Closer | Joe White | (2005 TV series) episode: "Lovers Leap" |
| 2007 | The Unit | Colonel | (2006 TV series) episode: "M.P.s" |
| 2008 | Medium | David Barrington | (2005 TV series) episode: "Do You Hear What I Hear?" |
| 2008 | LA LA Land | Jerry Flaxman | TV movie |
| 2010 | Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy | Himself | documentary |
| 2010 | The Black Belle | Robert Rusler | movie |
| 2011 | Delivered | Wiggs | movie |
| 2011 | Metro | Balmer | TV movie |
| 2012 | Bones | Hunter Sherman | (2005 TV series) episode: "The Warrior in the Wuss" |
| 2015 | Tales of Halloween | Mr. Blake | movie |
| 2015 | Ray Donovan | Gus O'Dea | (2013 TV series) episode: "Breakfast of Champions" |
| 2016 | Murder in the First | Detective Ron Bestul | (2014 TV series) episode: "Daddy Dearest" |
| 2018 | Light as a Feather | Mr. Morris | 3 episodes |
| 2019 | S.W.A.T. | Leo Moretti | (2017 TV series) episode: "Bad Faith" |
| 2020 | In Search of Darkness: Part II | Himself | documentary |
| 2021 | Jakob's Wife | Tom Low | Movie |