There are actors that are never really considered great but when lumped in great enough numbers tend to serve as the support group of the more well-known and recognized elite in show business that never really seem to get the kind of attention their more famous counterparts get. Robert Rusler is among that number as he’s been around for a good deal of time and despite that has never really seen his name outlined nearly as much as those he works with. Honestly he’s worked on some rather big pictures and been a temporary part of many shows that have used his experience and the fact that he’s very useful as an extra to great extent. Those that were growing up during the 80s might remember him well enough since he did show up in a couple of movies that were fairly well known such as Weird Science and Nightmare on Elm Street 2. Rusler hasn’t always been front and center but he’s been there all the same and has contributed in a much bigger way than some people might realize.
It’s very easy for some actors to get lost in the mix, and it’s especially easy for fans to cast them aside in favor of the bigger names since noticing everyone at the same time is rather difficult and at times not a popular way of thinking. Robert was at one time into surfing and skating on a semi-professional level, so he did have some skills not directly related to acting. While living in Hawaii he did seem to have a few things that kept him busy. But when he and his family moved to Los Angeles he thought that he would take a chance and get into acting. This was around the time he was getting into martial arts as well, so he had a few marketable skills on his resume since skating, surfing, martial arts, and acting kind of went hand in hand when it came to some movies. It didn’t really seem to help him in Weird Science since along with Robert Downey Jr. he played a character that was bound and determined to make life a living hell for Gary and Wyatt. As time went on however he kept getting minor to somewhat important roles that put him on screen time and again, but it’s kind of obvious that he’s never really struck it as big as many of his counterparts did.
Some people might say that this doesn’t matter, that he made his own way and did what he could, and that much is true since after a while he became more of a TV star and did fairly well there, appearing on Babylon 5 and several other shows throughout the years as he lent his expertise here and there. One thing about 80s stars, major or minor, is that if they’re still in the business it means they’ve been around for a while and do have enough to share with others that it might prove to be invaluable. Even the minor players are those that might be wise to listen to since they’ve hung on for one reason or another and are likely able to help those that might seek them out or just step in from time to time and bolster the ranks since they’ve been there, done that, and could be a little more accessible when it comes to getting hints and tips for a career than their more famous counterparts who are at times kind of hard to reach. In other words the usefulness of people like Robert doesn’t fade just because they’re not as prominent as other actors.
Plus, when you look at this way he’s kind of outlasted some of those that were thought to be going places back in the day since he’s still doing his thing and is still in show business for the most part. He’s become a writer throughout the years and a producer so he’s stuck around and made show business his home more or less as he’s continued to do this and that and make it known that he’s still very much in the game. A lot of people might think of an old 80s star as someone that just hasn’t hung up their acting hat just yet and is kind of meandering about, but the smart folks of that era continued to learn and evolve as the years went on, and while some of them might not have ever reached the same level that others did they still found a way to contribute to the industry that managed to give them a start way back when. If nothing else it’s a way for them to make a living and to remain as close to the pulse as they were when they started. Robert has been around long enough to know what the game is about, and he’s worked it smoothly enough to earn his place.
Follow Us
