Robert Picardo plays The Doctor, a holographic figure serving as the emergency medical program devised by Starfleet. When the ship's doctor aboard the Starship U.S.S. Voyager was killed in the pilot episode, the EMH Doctor became the resident physician. " The Doctor is programmed with all the medical knowledge to make him a good doctor, however, with one flip of a switch, he can disappear," explains Robert. "He is extremely competent and efficient, but he doesn't see the purpose in humor or irony. ... (although) the Doctor's bedside manner improves as he tries to understand human nature."

Born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Robert graduated from the William Penn Charter School. He entered Yale University as a pre-med. student, not knowing that he would someday portray doctors in three separate productions. First as Dr. Dick Richards on the ABC series China Beach, then as Dr. McCaskill in the theater production "The Waiting Room" at the Mark Taper Forum, and now as the Doctor on Star Trek: Voyager.

While at Yale, Robert landed a role in Leonard Bernstein's "Mass," a musical theater piece originally commissioned for the 1972 opening of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. At the age of 19, Robert played a leading role in the European premiere of "Mass." In 1974, armed with a B.A. in Drama from Yale, he enrolled at the Circle in the Square Professional Theater Workshop (fellow alumni include Kevin Bacon and Ken Olin). Robert's theatrical work prospered as he appeared in the David Mamet play "Sexual Perversity in Chicago," and with Diane Keaton in "The Primary English Class."

Robert made his Broadway debut in the leading role in the comedy hit "Gemini" with Danny Aiello. He went on to co-star with Jack Lemmon in Bernard Slade's "Tribute." His work in theater includes "Beyond Therapy" and "Geniuses" at the Los Angeles Public Theater. Robert not only earned critical acclaim for his powerful performance in "The Normal Heart" at the Berkeley Repertory Theater, but he won a Drama-Logue Award for his work.

The awards and recognition continued as Robert became involved in television. He was nominated for an Emmy Award for his role as Mr. Cutlip on the ABC series The Wonder Years. Furthermore, Robert was awarded the Viewers for Quality Television Founder's Award for his outstanding performance in The Wonder Years and for his role as Dr. Dick Richards on China Beach.

Robert's extensive television work has included a starring role opposite Helena Bonham-Carter in NBC's movie-of-the-week, "Deadly Deception: The Marina Oswald Story", the HBO movie "White Mile" and the NBC mini-series "Deadly Matrimony." He had recurring roles on Home Improvement and L.A. Law , and he guest-starred in Tales From the Crypt. He currently stars as the voice of Pfish, the singing land shark, in the Cartoon Network's animated short "Pfish and Chips," part of the World Premiere 'Toons series. Robert has appeared in the feature films "Wagon's East," "Gremlins II," "Innerspace," "The Burbs," "Back to School," "Star 80," "Loverboy" and "The Howling."

Robert resides in Los Angeles with his wife and two children. He is also an active supporter of The Planetary Society.