Robert Wolfgang Fauser (born September 2, 1967) is an American writer, television producer, actor, voice actor and artist. A heir to the Fauser Companies fortune, he gained fame as Robert Stockholm in It's the Paul Taylor Program!, appearing in the show from 1987-1995. After the show ended, he mostly switched to writing and producing for film and television, especially animated projects. He was showrunner and head writer of Mole Miner from seasons 8 to 15. He and Rachel Bantilan serve as the creators and executive producers of the Disney+ original animated series The Amazing Adventures of Jackie Lynn Thomas.
As an animation writer, he is known for the unpredictable nature of the stories he has written, relying heavily on a mix of seriousness, satire, farce and "sharp-tongued" social observations. He has received both praise and criticism for much of his work; while his stories for many shows he's written have received high marks for their farcical nature and originality, his run as Mole Miner showrunner/head writer has received criticism for being part of an alleged decline in quality of the show.
Early life[]
Robert Wolfgang Fauser was born in Chicago, Illinois on September 2, 1967 at Chicago Hospital for Women and Children, the son of Shelly Fauser, of Italian descent and Arnold Fauser, of German origin. His father left Germany after Adolf Hitler and the Nazi Party rose to power, and was the third head of the Fauser Companies construction conglomerate.
Fauser attended Chicago Vocational High School, where he graduated in 1986.
Career[]
As an actor[]
When he was in high school, Fauser was a young actor active in local theater and had some roles in local and national commercials. In mid-1986, his agent called him about an audition for It's the Paul Taylor Program!. Despite his father being reluctant to his son taking the job since it would require Fauser to go to Canada to film, he took the role, which was re-named Robert Stockholm for him.
Speaking about the experience, Fauser said:
- "The show was holding auditions in Toronto, Montreal, L.A., New York, and Chicago. I was one of the few at the Chicago audition to get drafted into the show. My father told me, "Son, I go to Barokia to oversee our construction company's division there, and I'm fine with that. But you going thousands of miles away to Toronto to film a teen sitcom? I have some problems with that." He obviously thought I was throwing my career into the trash with this decision. So did my agent when he found out which location we would be filming in."
Robert and his older brother Oswald traveled to Toronto each summer to tape the series and travel out for the promotional tours & work. They resided during filming at a vacation rental home in Oakville, Ontario.
As a writer[]
After It's the Paul Taylor Program! ended, Fauser moved to Los Angeles, hoping to pursue a career as a television writer. He studied under Stu Gratton, a script doctor and writer known for his use of farce to convey moral messages. Fauser credits Gratton with helping him "use writing to point out what I could find wrong with something by exaggerating it until it can no longer be taken seriously." He has cited Gratton and filmmaker John Boorman as being among his influences.
Personal life[]
Fauser and his wife, voice actress Claudia Terwilliger-Fauser, live in Hermosa Beach, California.