Biography
Gen-X'ers will almost invariably recall actor Brian Robbins; he began his career by starring in a multi-season run as Eric Mardian, a self-styled slickster forced into the same high-school class with a group of nerdy brainiacs, in the
Howard Hesseman ABC sitcom
Head of the Class (1986-1991). Robbins also appeared in other projects at around the same time, including episodes of
Growing Pains, the sci-fi exploitation outing C.H.U.D. 2: Bud the C.H.U.D. (1989) and the family-friendly telemovie
Camp Cucamonga (1990).
Around 1993, Robbins abandoned acting by stepping behind the camera, as a director, producer, and eventually, executive-level Hollywood studio producer -- and thus achieved far greater success in that venue than he did as a young star. Among other endeavors, Robbins was responsible for such blockbuster series as
Smallville,
What I Like About You, and
One Tree Hill, and features such as the
Eddie Murphy comedy
Norbit (2007). In 2008, he signed to both produce and direct the inspirational prison drama
Jailhouse Rock. For a number of years, Robbins ran a production shingle with partner Mike Tollin, though the press reported in 2007 that their partnership had formally ended. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide