Robert Pine is looking healthy and energetic at the age of 83 and a source exclusively tells Closer the veteran actor is living his best healthy life while continuing to guide A-list son Chris Pine through his Hollywood journey.
“Robert’s always kept Chris grounded and instilled strong values in him,” the source says. “In a way, he’s Hollywood royalty himself, but you’d never know it by the way he acts, he’s so low-key and humble and he’s passed that on to Chris.”
The CHiPs alum began as a Western actor in 1964 and soon found a place for himself in the industry on television. He was a regular sight on many shows throughout the 70s and 80s, including Gunsmoke, Lost in Space, The Silent Force, The Wild Wild West, Barnaby Jones, Lou Grant, Star Trek and Knight Rider. Robert married actress Gwynne Gilford — Chris’ mom — in 1969, though she went on to retire from acting and become a psychotherapist.
Chris, however, decided to follow in his father’s footsteps and become an actor, finding much more mainstream success as a star than Robert had. The source notes that the proud dad couldn’t be happier with his son’s achievements, and Chris is particularly thankful for the lessons along the way.
“He’s always taught Chris the importance of hard work and never taking anything for granted. Even though Robert has been in the business forever, nothing was handed to Chris, he’s worked his way up from the ground, and he knows what it means to earn his place,” the insider explains.
Both father and son had opened up about how highly they regard each other’s work in the past. “I couldn’t be prouder. He’s an incredibly hard worker,” Robert said of Chris.
The Star Trek star, 44, expressed equal admiration for his father’s acting. “My dad’s had a hell of a career,” Chris told IndieWire in April 2022. “He got his SAG card in ’64. Was under contract at Universal. Got paid to be an actor, got paid to take horseback riding lessons. He was on The Virginian, Gunsmoke, The Love Boat.”
“He was in The Graduate,” he added. “My father was in The Graduate! When Dustin Hoffman goes to the fraternity to find out where Katharine Ross is getting married, there’s a shot of Dustin talking to some guys in a bathroom, and good old Bob Pine is there. Then they cut back to Dustin and I think my father is the one that’s answering him.”
Unsurprisingly, the insider adds that Chris and Robert’s relationship is still strong to this day and they often spend time with each other when they can.
“Chris is a very devoted son, he lives close to his parents and is always going over to check in on them, to bring them dinner, or anything they might need. He knows he’s still lucky to have them around at this age and he’s not taking a moment for granted. He’ll be the first to say that without them, he wouldn’t be the person he is today.”
