William Roberts is an excellent and experienced actor, and he does a terrific job with the part of Rob Lerner, the colony leader. In fact, he’s so perfect at it, there’s isn’t much specific to say, except “it’s perfect”. He’s got the right tone, the right mix of inspiration and realism, and just that little touch of worrying charisma. You do feel that if this guy talked you into walking off a cliff, you just might do it. But fortunately for you, his heart’s in the right place.
Rob Lerner
Dr. John Robert Lerner, founder of the International Space Foundation, will be joining the first true human settlement on a planet beyond the confines of this Earth. He and a group of pioneering colonists will be settling permanently at the International Space Foundation Colony on the northern Border of Mare Imbrium at the Laplace Promentary. This is a crowning achievement for the Mechanical Engineer who has given the last twenty-five years of his life supporting this cause which soon will come to fruition.
Dr. Lerner received his Doctorate in Mechanical Engineering for his work on long duration regenerative life support systems. A frequent lecturer at the University of Arizona and founder of the
Lunar Independent Biosphere Research Experiment (LIBRE)
whose lunar colony simulation was used for training all ISF candidate colonization teams.
Rob Lerner is the one who started this madness by creating the International Space Foundation. He also stepped down from his position as “Founder and President” to be part of the first colony. So he’s a very important character — in his own way very passionate, charismatic, and just a little bit crazy. But you know, in a good way.
We also get to see another side of Rob as a family man — as a husband and father. He’s not exactly perfect at either. His ideological devotion to the mission of colonizing the Moon sometimes gets in the way of family. But he loves Hiromi, and Georgiana is his little girl. They’re more traditional about their roles than Anya and Josh are.
William Roberts
Raised in Oregon and northern California, William Roberts acted and directed at the Oregon Shakespearean Festival, Ashland, Oregon, from 1963 to 1972. He acquired a B.A. in Theatre Arts from Humboldt State College, Arcata, California in 1967 and a Diploma in Drama at the University of Manchester in the UK in 1969, where he has resided since then. He has acted on stage as well as in radio, television, and film productions.
- Infinite Justice (2006), “Walensky”
- Afterlife (TV series) – Sleeping with the Dead (2005), “Maslansky”
- Cold Mountain (2003), “Grayling”
- Down (2001), “Special Agent in Charge”
- Balto (1995), “Rosy’s Father”
- The Affair (TV movie) (1995), “Clark”
- Martin Chuzzlewit (TV mini-series) – Episode Three (1994), “Mr. Scadder”
- Paul Merton: The Series (TV series) – Episode #2.4 (1993)
- The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (TV series) Transylvania, January 1918 (1993), “Stanfill”
- ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas (video short) (1992), Narrator
- Inspector Morse (TV series) – Fat Chance (1991), “Hank Briardale”
Rather than a speech, here’s a bit of dialog featuring Rob when Hiromi and Georgiana arrive at the colony:
