"The Doctor is programmed with state-of-the-art 24th-Century medical information, but his bedside manner needs work," says Robert Picardo of his Voyager character, a holographically projected computer program devised by Starfleet for medical emergencies. "He can be arrogant, rude, impatient and slightly paranoid. I see him as a satire of managed health care."
The doctor, whose name is theoretically "Zimmermann," became the resident physician aboard the U.S.S. Voyager when the ship's human doctor was killed in the pilot episode. As for Picardo himself, he was born and raised in Philadelphia.
After graduating from the William Penn charter school, he entered Yale as a premed student, unaware of the fate of playing physicians on prime-time television that awaited. In the meantime, he has enjoyed a rich career on television and the stage.
He resides in the Los Angeles area with his wife and two children.
Major Credits
(film)
Small Soldiers (1998)
Star Trek: First Contact (1996)
Wagons East (1994)
Gremlins 2: The New Batch (1990)
Loverboy (1989)
The Burbs (1989)
Innerspace (1987)
Back to School (1986)
Explorers (1985, three roles)
Star 80 (1983)
The Howling (1980)
(television)
Pfish and Chips (1999)
Ally McBeal (guest role, 1999)
The Outer Limits (guest role, 1998)
Early Edition (guest role, 1997)
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (guest role, 1997)
The Second Civil War (1997)
E.R. (guest role, 1995)
Star Trek: Voyager (1995-present, directed one episode)
White Mile (1994)
Home Improvement (recurring guest role, 1993)
Deadly Deception: The Marina Oswald Story (1993)
Tales from the Crypt (guest role, 1989)
The Wonder Years (1988-91)
China Beach (1988)
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