Episode 181 – From Warp Drive to Director's Chair: The Incredible Career of Robert Duncan McNeill – Part 1
Hollywood ObsessedShow Notes
On this episode of Hollywood Obsessed, host Tony Miros welcomes actor, director, producer, and “Star Trek: Voyager” favorite Robert Duncan McNeill for an engaging and deeply personal conversation about the career that has kept him in front of—and behind—the camera for more than four decades.
Robert reflects on his childhood in Atlanta, where a painfully shy young boy unexpectedly discovered a love for acting after being cast as a Munchkin in a local production of “The Wizard of Oz”. What began as a way to overcome his shyness soon became a lifelong passion, leading him from community theater to New York City, Juilliard, Broadway, and eventually Hollywood.
He shares fascinating stories about earning his first professional jobs, joining the cast of “All My Children” as Charlie Brent, receiving a Daytime Emmy nomination, and juggling the soap opera with filming “Masters of the Universe” alongside Courteney Cox & Frank Langella. Robert also looks back on his unforgettable Broadway run in “Six Degrees of Separation” with Stockard Channing.
Of course, there's plenty of “Star Trek” to talk about. Robert recalls his first appearance as Nick Locarno on “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” how that experience led to his iconic role as Lieutenant Tom Paris on ‘Voyager,’ and why their camaraderie, laughter, and genuine affection for one another still make the ‘Voyager’ family one of the most beloved in TV history.
ROBERT DUNCAN MCNEILL
Robert Duncan McNeill is an acclaimed actor, director, producer, and writer whose career spans more than four decades in television, film, and theater. Most recently, he served as Executive Producer, Director, and Writer on all four seasons of the hit sci-fi comedy “Resident Alien,” earning an ASTRA Award nomination in 2024 for directing and co-writing the acclaimed Season 3 finale, "Homecoming." The series also received the Hollywood Critics Association Award for Best Cable Comedy Series in 2021.
As one of television's most accomplished directors, Robert has helmed more than 100 episodes across science fiction, comedy, drama, and action. His extensive producing and directing credits include “Chuck,” “Turner & Hooch,” “The Gifted,” “The Arrangement,” “Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce,” “666 Park Avenue,” and “What About Brian.” He also directed the pilot for ABC's hit comedy “Samantha Who?” and the pilot for NBC's medical drama “Heartbeat.”
Before moving behind the camera, Robert built an impressive acting career after graduating from The Juilliard School. He appeared on Broadway in “Six Degrees of Separation,” earned a Daytime Emmy Award nomination for “All My Children,” and starred alongside Courteney Cox in “Masters of the Universe.”
Robert is best known to audiences worldwide for his iconic portrayal of Lieutenant Tom Paris in all seven seasons of “Star Trek: Voyager.” After first appearing as Nick Locarno on “Star Trek: The Next Generation,” he returned to create one of the franchise's most beloved characters. It was during ‘Voyager’ that he began directing, launching the second phase of a career that has made him one of television's most respected filmmakers.
In 2020, Robert reunited with his longtime friend and ‘Voyager’ co-star Garrett Wang to launch the hit podcast “The Delta Flyers,” where the pair revisit every episode of “Star Trek: Voyager.” The podcast has since expanded to include “Star Trek: Deep Space Nine,” featuring regular appearances by Armin Shimerman and Terry Farrell, and remains a favorite destination for “Star Trek” fans around the world.
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