# Robert Dowdell

Robert Dowdell (March 10, 1932 – January 23, 2018) was an American actor, best known for his role as Lieutenant Commander Chip Morton in the television series Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea.

## Biography

Dowdell was born in Park Ridge, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, and later graduated Parker High School. He attended Wesleyan University and the University of Chicago, before enlisting in the United States Army Corps of Engineers.
After discharging from the service, Dowdell took an interest in acting. It was suggested that he take lessons with Wynn Handman. He was cast in a play written by Leslie Stevens, who went on to create the Western television series Stoney Burke and encouraged him to audition. Dowdell was cast in the recurring role of Cody Bristol. Following Stoney Burke, Dowdell was cast in Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, which aired from 1964 to 1968. Over the next 30 years, he continued to act in various stage, film, and television productions before retiring in 1995.

## Personal life

Dowdell was married to actress Sheila Connolly from 1965 until their divorce in 1979. He did not have any children.

## Death

Dowdell died of natural causes on January 23, 2018, at age 85 in Coldwater, Michigan.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1970 | Macho Callahan | Blind man |
| 1984 | The Initiation | Jason Randall |
| 1987 | Assassination | Capt. Ogilvie - Cappy |
| 1989 | Wicked Stepmother | Judge |
| 1989 | Skin Deep | Traffic Judge |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1956 | Studio One | | Episode: "American Primitive" |
| 1959 | Deadline | Beene | Episode: "The Neon Touch" |
| 1960 | The Fifth Column | | Television film |
| 1960 | Buick-Electra Playhouse | | Episode: "The Fifth Column" |
| 1960 | Moment of Fear | | Episode: "The Accomplice" |
| 1962 | Surfside 6 | Eric Hirsh | Episode: "Masquerade" |
| 1962–1963 | Stoney Burke | Cody Bristol | 32 episodes |
| 1964–1968 | Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea | Lt. Comdr. Chip Morton | 109 episodes |
| 1969 | Land of the Giants | Policeman | Episode: "Brainwash" |
| 1970 | Storefront Lawyers | Philip Evers | Episode: "The Law Can't Touch Him" |
| 1971 | City Beneath the Sea | Young Officer | Television film |
| 1971 | O'Hara, U.S. Treasury | Maj. Tony Puller USMC | Episode: "O'Hara, U.S. Treasury" |
| 1971 | Terror in the Sky | Tower Radar Operator | Television film |
| 1971–1972 | Adam-12 | Lt. Tom Ashton / Sgt. Wade / Sgt. Prescott | 3 episodes |
| 1972 | McMillan & Wife | Pilot | Episode: "The Face of Murder" |
| 1972 | The F.B.I. | Dan Bransfield | Episode: "Arrangement with Terror" |
| 1975 | S.W.A.T. | Peter Sedley | Episode: "Strike Force" |
| 1977 | Most Wanted | Dr. Andrews | Episode: "The Ritual Killer" |
| 1979 | 240-Robert | Dr. Lewis | Episode: "Oil and Water" |
| 1979 | Buck Rogers in the 25th Century | Galen | Episode: "Planet of the Slave Girls" |
| 1979 | CHiPs | Mr. Adams | Episode: "Second Chance" |
| 1982 | Hart to Hart | | Episode: "Hart of Diamonds" |
| 1983 | Fame | Air Force Major | Episode: "Hail to the Chief" |
| 1984 | Masquerade | Captain | Episode: "Caribbean Holiday" |
| 1984 | The Master | Senator Clayton | Episode: "Hostages" |
| 1984–1986 | Capitol | Sen. Joshua Harrington | 3 episodes |
| 1985 | V | Visitor Doctor | Episode: "The Betrayal" |
| 1985 | Dynasty | Butler | Episode: "The Titans" |
| 1986 | Outrage! | District Attorney Curran | Television film |
| 1986 | Hotel | Cameron Russell | Episode: "Restless Nights" |
| 1987 | Max Headroom | Doctor | Episode: "Body Banks" |
| 1990 | Freddy's Nightmares | Victor Hall | Episode: "Funhouse" |
| 1991 | Hunter | Motel Manager | Episode: "Under Suspicion" |
| 1995 | American Masters | Minister | Episode: "Edgar Allan Poe: Terror of the Soul" |