Biography
Film career
Born Robert Dean Stockwell, he began his acting career at age seven. One of his notable child roles was as the 11-year-old son of Gregory Peck in Gentleman's Agreement (1947). He also starred in the lead role of a very enlightening and entertaining film "The Boy With Green Hair" in 1948. Unlike many child actors, he continued to act past his teenage years.
In 1959, Stockwell appeared in the film Compulsion, based on the famous case of Leopold and Loeb (with characters names changed to "Steiner and Strauss"), playing Judd Steiner. Compulsion also starred Orson Welles as the Clarence Darrow-based lawyer Jonathan Wilk.
In 1984 he appeared in Wim Wender's critically acclaimed film Paris, Texas, and in that same year, in David Lynch's film version of Dune as the traitor Dr. Yueh. In 1986, Stockwell appeared in another David Lynch film, Blue Velvet. In 1988 he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Mafia boss Tony "the Tiger" Russo in the comedy Married to the Mob.
Television roles
Stockwell's performance as Tony inspired producer Donald Bellisario to cast him in what would arguably become his best-known role, as Admiral Albert Calivicci ("Al") in the American TV series Quantum Leap, which aired between 1989 and 1993. He also appeared as a guest star on an episode Star Trek: Enterprise with former co-star of Quantum Leap, Scott Bakula. Bellisario also cast Stockwell as Senator Edward Sheffield in First Monday and JAG in 2002; his role would continue as Secretary of the Navy Edward Sheffield from late 2002 until JAG's cancellation in 2005. Most recently, he guest starred as the Cylon Brother Cavil in the re-imagined series Battlestar Galactica (said to be a reoccuring role for season 3 in the BSG Podcast for episode 220).
Personal life
In 1960 he married actress Millie Perkins but they divorced two years later.
Stockwell is an accomplished artist. He creates both digitally enhanced photographs and original collages in the style of his friend and fellow artist, Wallace Berman. He is also a friend of musician Neil Young and designed the album cover art for American Stars'n'Bars. Together they would direct Human Highway, which Stockwell wrote.
Stockwell is an avid golfer and would play golf during breaks in filming episodes of Quantum Leap.
