1. Overview
Robyn Douglass is an American actress and model who gained recognition for her roles in films such as Breaking Away, Romantic Comedy, and The Lonely Guy. She also had a notable recurring role in the science fiction series Galactica 1980. Beyond her acting career, Douglass was known for her modeling work, including an appearance on the cover of Playboy magazine. Her career was significantly impacted by a high-profile lawsuit against Hustler magazine regarding unauthorized publication of photos. In her personal life, she was married to attorney Rick Halprin, with whom she was involved in a civil rights lawsuit. She later published an memoir reflecting on her career and life.
2. Early Life
Robyn Douglass's early life was shaped by her birth in Japan and her upbringing in a military family, which influenced her initial foray into acting.
2.1. Birth and Childhood
Robyn Douglass was born on June 21, 1953, in Sendai, Japan. She is the daughter of an Army doctor and hospital administrator. Her early life included time in Japan before her family relocated.
2.2. Education
Douglass attended a Catholic girls' school in Mountain View, California, where she began her acting pursuits.
3. Career
Robyn Douglass's professional journey in the entertainment industry spanned over two decades, encompassing significant roles in both film and television, alongside a career in modeling.
3.1. Acting Career
Douglass's acting career extended for 21 years, from 1978 to 1999. She was featured in several films, including the 1979 coming-of-age drama Breaking Away, the 1983 film Romantic Comedy, and the 1984 comedy The Lonely Guy. On television, she held a recurring role as Jamie Hamilton in the science fiction series Galactica 1980.
In 1984, Douglass starred in the made-for-television comedy-drama film Her Life As A Man. This film was an adaptation of "My Life As A Man," an article written by Carol Lynn Mithers for the Village Voice. In the film, Douglass portrayed Carly Perkins, an aspiring female reporter who, in an effort to secure a sportswriting job at a national magazine known for its chauvinistic editor, disguised herself as a man, adopting the alias Carl Parsons. Her convincing portrayal allowed her to gain the insider story she sought.
Her television credits also include various guest appearances and roles in TV movies. She appeared in episodes of Tenspeed and Brown Shoe (1980), Trapper John, M.D. (1981), Stingray (1985-1986), Lady Blue (1986), and The New Mike Hammer (1986). She also had a two-episode role as Lt. Joanne Beaumont in Houston Knights (1987). Her television film roles included The Clone Master (1978), The Girls in the Office (1979), Golden Gate (1981), More Than Murder (1984), and Freeze Frame (1993).
3.2. Modeling Career
Prior to her prominent acting roles, Douglass also pursued a career as a model. She notably appeared on the cover of the December 1974 edition of Playboy magazine.
4. Legal Disputes
Robyn Douglass faced significant legal challenges that impacted her public image and career, most notably a lawsuit against Hustler magazine.
4.1. Hustler Magazine Lawsuit
In 1981, nude and erotic photographs of Douglass were published in Hustler magazine. This led Douglass to file a lawsuit against the magazine, asserting that the photos were published without her permission. She claimed that the publication portrayed her in a false light, including depicting her as a lesbian, which she argued damaged her career as an advertising model. A jury initially ruled in her favor. However, in 1985, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit reversed the judgment and ordered a new trial. The Supreme Court of the United States subsequently allowed this order to stand without further comment.
5. Personal Life
Robyn Douglass's personal life included a marriage to a prominent attorney, a move to California, and involvement in a civil rights-related lawsuit.
5.1. Marriage and Divorce
On December 2, 2000, Robyn Douglass married criminal defense attorney Rick Halprin. Halprin was known for representing high-profile clients, including the Chicago crime boss Joseph Lombardo. Douglass and Halprin later divorced sometime before his death in 2013.
5.2. Residence and Business
Following her divorce from Rick Halprin, Robyn Douglass relocated from Illinois to California. In California, she ventured into a new business endeavor, opening a bed-and-breakfast.
5.3. Civil Rights Related Lawsuit
In 2002, Robyn Douglass and her then-husband, Rick Halprin, filed a lawsuit against the Prairie Single Family Homes of Dearborn Park Association. The lawsuit was brought under the Civil Rights Act of 1968, with the couple alleging that the neighborhood association was permitting harassment against them due to Halprin's Jewish faith. In 2004, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit reversed a portion of a lower court's dismissal of the case, though on narrow grounds.
6. Later Activities
In her later years, Robyn Douglass revisited her career through a published memoir, offering reflections on her experiences in the entertainment industry.
6.1. Memoir Publication
In 2020, Robyn Douglass released an audio memoir titled Messages for the Future: The Galactica 1980 Memoirs. This memoir provided her reflections on her career and life, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of Galactica 1980. The audio memoir was produced by Daniel Earnshaw and published by Explore Multimedia.
7. Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | The Clone Master | Gussie | Television film |
| 1979 | The Girls in the Office | Karen Heineman | Television film |
| 1979 | Breaking Away | Katherine | Feature film |
| 1980 | Tenspeed and Brown Shoe | Martha Gribb | 1 episode: "Pilot: Part 1" |
| 1980 | Galactica 1980 | Jamie Hamilton | Main cast (9 episodes) |
| 1981 | Trapper John, M.D. | Sheila | 1 episode: "Second Sight" |
| 1981 | Golden Gate | Candy Martin | Television film |
| 1982 | Partners | Jill | Feature film |
| 1983 | Romantic Comedy | Kate Mallory | Feature film |
| 1984 | More Than Murder | Eve Warwick | Television film |
| 1984 | The Lonely Guy | Danielle | Feature film |
| 1984 | Her Life As A Man | Carly Perkins / Carl Parsons | Television film |
| 1985-86 | Stingray | Daphne Delgado | 2 episodes: "Pilot" / "Orange Blossom" |
| 1986 | Lady Blue | Officer Sylvie Swenson | 1 episode: "Sylvie" |
| 1986 | The New Mike Hammer | Dr. Bosnowski | 1 episode: "Mike's Baby" |
| 1987 | Houston Knights | Lt. Joanne Beaumont | 2 episodes: "Mirrors" / "North of the Border" |
| 1993 | Freeze Frame | Victoria Case | Television film |
| 1999 | New York Earthquake | Feature film |