Robert McRay
Encyclopedia
Robert McRay is an American television actor
, sculptor, and personal trainer
.
McRay's first experience in front of the camera was at the age of 5, on Romper Room
. Backstage he was introduced to Edgar Bergen
and Charlie McCarthy. This meeting led to his becoming a professional ventriloquist by the age of 12 in Vancouver, Washington
, where he was primarily raised on the hippie
communes
of the Pacific Northwest
during the mid-1970s. At the age of 17 he joined the United States Navy
where he was awarded Naval honorman. He graduated from the Ron Baillie School of Broadcast
in Washington state
in 1983.
Moving to Southern California
, he has attained success in a wide range of artistic careers. He has been a television and movie trailer producer for Disney/Touchstone
. He has been a casting
director for many projects, as well as a produced writer for both television and feature films. He has been an actor, starring in several motion pictures, including Legend of the Phantom Rider, The Mob, and Double Crossed. His television credits include many television appearances and he was also a series regular, playing Zzeben, a sidekick loyal to Conan
, on the television series Conan the Adventurer
. Zzeben is a mute, and Robert even devised a unique sign language (called "hyberion sign language" which contained over 180 unique signs so as to be faithful to the period of the show). His achievements include being one of the top personal trainers in the entertainment industry. A spokesman against the drug and supplement industry and a fitness consultant, he has formulated programs and strategies for fitness centers and corporations. His contributions to the arts have gained him the reputation of being one of the world's best mechanical sculptors, and his works can be found in collections around the world. His larger-scale sculptures can be seen as both landmarks and commercial displays, including a 25-foot-tall Bigfoot
sculpture in the Canadian
town of Creston, British Columbia
.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, sculptor, and personal trainer
Personal trainer
A personal trainer is a fitness professional involved in exercise prescription and instruction. They motivate clients by setting goals and providing feedback and accountability to clients. Trainers also measure their client's strengths and weaknesses with fitness assessments...
.
McRay's first experience in front of the camera was at the age of 5, on Romper Room
Romper Room
Romper Room is a children's television series that ran in the United States from 1953 to 1994 as well as at various times in Australia, Canada, Japan, Puerto Rico, New Zealand and the United Kingdom...
. Backstage he was introduced to Edgar Bergen
Edgar Bergen
Edgar John Bergen was an American actor and radio performer, best known as a ventriloquist.-Early life:...
and Charlie McCarthy. This meeting led to his becoming a professional ventriloquist by the age of 12 in Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver, Washington
Vancouver is a city on the north bank of the Columbia River in the U.S. state of Washington. Incorporated in 1857, it is the fourth largest city in the state with a 2010 census population of 161,791 as of April 1, 2010...
, where he was primarily raised on the hippie
Hippie
The hippie subculture was originally a youth movement that arose in the United States during the mid-1960s and spread to other countries around the world. The etymology of the term 'hippie' is from hipster, and was initially used to describe beatniks who had moved into San Francisco's...
communes
Commune (intentional community)
A commune is an intentional community of people living together, sharing common interests, property, possessions, resources, and, in some communes, work and income. In addition to the communal economy, consensus decision-making, non-hierarchical structures and ecological living have become...
of the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
during the mid-1970s. At the age of 17 he joined the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
where he was awarded Naval honorman. He graduated from the Ron Baillie School of Broadcast
Broadcasting
Broadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
in Washington state
Washington State
Washington State may refer to:* Washington , often referred to as "Washington state" to differentiate it from Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States* Washington State University, a land-grant college in that state- See also :...
in 1983.
Moving to Southern California
Southern California
Southern California is a megaregion, or megapolitan area, in the southern area of the U.S. state of California. Large urban areas include Greater Los Angeles and Greater San Diego. The urban area stretches along the coast from Ventura through the Southland and Inland Empire to San Diego...
, he has attained success in a wide range of artistic careers. He has been a television and movie trailer producer for Disney/Touchstone
Touchstone Pictures
Touchstone Pictures is an American film production label and is one of several film labels of the Walt Disney Motion Pictures Group. Established in 1984, its releases typically feature more mature themes and darker tones than those that are released under the Walt Disney Pictures banner.Touchstone...
. He has been a casting
Casting (performing arts)
In the performing arts, casting is a pre-production process for selecting a cast of actors, dancers, singers, models and other talent for a live or recorded performance.-Casting process:...
director for many projects, as well as a produced writer for both television and feature films. He has been an actor, starring in several motion pictures, including Legend of the Phantom Rider, The Mob, and Double Crossed. His television credits include many television appearances and he was also a series regular, playing Zzeben, a sidekick loyal to Conan
Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian is a fictional sword and sorcery hero that originated in pulp fiction magazines and has since been adapted to books, comics, several films , television programs, video games, roleplaying games and other media...
, on the television series Conan the Adventurer
Conan the Adventurer (TV series)
Conan: The Adventurer is a low-budget American television series produced from 1997 to 1998 and loosely based on the fantasy hero Conan the barbarian. The TV show premiered on September 22, 1997, and ran for 22 episodes. This live-action series starred Ralf Möller as Conan of Cimmeria and Danny...
. Zzeben is a mute, and Robert even devised a unique sign language (called "hyberion sign language" which contained over 180 unique signs so as to be faithful to the period of the show). His achievements include being one of the top personal trainers in the entertainment industry. A spokesman against the drug and supplement industry and a fitness consultant, he has formulated programs and strategies for fitness centers and corporations. His contributions to the arts have gained him the reputation of being one of the world's best mechanical sculptors, and his works can be found in collections around the world. His larger-scale sculptures can be seen as both landmarks and commercial displays, including a 25-foot-tall Bigfoot
Bigfoot
Bigfoot, also known as sasquatch, is an ape-like cryptid that purportedly inhabits forests, mainly in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. Bigfoot is usually described as a large, hairy, bipedal humanoid...
sculpture in the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
town of Creston, British Columbia
Creston, British Columbia
Creston is a town of 4,826 people in the Kootenay region of southeastern British Columbia, Canada. The town is located just a few kilometers north of the Porthill, Idaho border crossing into the United States and about a three-hour drive north from Spokane, Washington. It is about a one-hour drive...
.