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Robert R. Shafer
Shafer at The Office Convention in Scranton, Pennsylvania
Born
Robert Ray Shafer Jr.

(1958-04-10) April 10, 1958 (age 66)
Charleston, West Virginia, U.S.
EducationBroward College (attended)
Height6 ft 4 in (193 cm)

Robert Ray Shafer (born April 10, 1958) is an American character actor who has appeared in film, television, commercials, voice-over and theater. Shafer, sometimes credited as Bobby Ray Shafer, is perhaps best known for playing Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration on the American sitcom The Office, and has amassed a substantial cult following for his portrayal of Officer Ted Warnicky (more commonly known as Joe Vickers) in the 1989 horror-comedy Psycho Cop and the sequel Psycho Cop 2.

Early life

Robert Ray Shafer, Jr. was born in Charleston, West Virginia on April 10, 1958. He attended high school in Romeo, Michigan and graduated in 1976. Shafer then attended Broward College before moving to Los Angeles to pursue acting.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1984 The Rosebud Beach Hotel Rodney
1986 Echo Park Commercial Director
1987 Hollywood Shuffle Commercial Director
1989 Future Force David Harris
Psycho Cop Officer Joe Vickers
1990 Dark Romances Vol. 1 Voice overs Direct-to-video
1991 Inside Out Cuddy Dalton Direct-to-video
1993 Psycho Cop Returns Officer Joe Vickers
1994 A Brilliant Disguise Jimmy Brennan
1997 The Corporate Ladder Jack Sherman
Mister Atlas Wilshire Frodden
2000 Finding Kelly Sheriff Posey
2002 Contagion Wallace
2003 Monster Man Police Officer #1
2005 Choker Clark
2006 All In Slick Moustached Player
Slip' M-16 Man
2007 Protecting the King Officer Gibbs
2008 Stiletto Krieger Direct-to-video
Dark Honeymoon Sheriff Fields Direct-to-video
2009 Heat Wave Roy Rogan TV film
The Scenesters George Porter
The Gold Retrievers Sheriff Mike Denton
Reconciliation Pastor Hughes
Maneater Gus Direct-to-video
2010 Turbulent Skies Jackson TV film
Screwball: The Ted Whitfield Story Nick Middlesworth
Mega Shark Versus Crocosaurus Charlie Ross Direct-to-video
2011 Hard Hats Arno Jones Short film
Mega Python vs. Gatoroid Zeke TV film
Knifepoint Michael
Video Breakups Short film
Getting That Girl Coach Thieson
Super Shark Commander Williams
2012 The Temple Zipper Voice role
Collision Course Pilot
Revelations Dad Short film
FDR: American Badass! Robby Kreeger
Retribution James Cooper TV film
The Adventures of Soap Man Sexual Harasser Short film
2013 Abner, the Invisible Dog Charlie
Mrs. Sweeney Mr. O'Neal Short film
2014 Zombeavers Trucker
Asteroid vs Earth Lieutenant Rouse TV film
Friended to Death Chuck Henson
2015 Loaded Mechanic
Helen Keller vs. Nightwolves Arthur
A Christmas Reunion Frank O'Brien TV film
2016 Pee-wee's Big Holiday Construction Worker
Mark Upon the Flesh Homeless Man Short film
2017 Awaken the Shadowman Tom
Blotched Edward Gluer
2018 Dick Dickster Dick Dickster
2020 The Onania Club Military Dad
Caged Officer Ganser

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1985 Highway to Heaven Dennis Episode: "As Difficult as ABC"
1993 Wings Otto Episode: "The Key to Alex"
1998 Arli$$ Reporter Episode: "Where Do Clients Come From?"
1999 Becker Mr. Preston Episode: "Hate Thy Neighbour"
2000 Titus Bar Patron Episode: "Red Asphalt"
2001 Malcolm in the Middle Police Officer Episode: Flashback
Ultimate Revenge Mobster Episode: "2 December 2001"
2002 Son of the Beach Main Crony Episode: "The Long Hot Johnson"
2004 The West Wing Cable Pundit Episode: "The Dover Test"
2005 Las Vegas Wally Ford Episode: "For Sail by Owner"
Boston Legal Smith Episode: "Gone"
2005–2013 The Office Bob Vance, Vance Refrigeration Recurring role, 24 episodes
2006 In Justice Prison Guard Episode: "Pilot"
2008 MANTIME with Fran and Ramis Santa Episode: "Christmas Special"
The Young and the Restless Howard Sullivan Guest role, 1 episode
2009 Desperate Housewives Supervisor Episode: "The Coffee Cup"
2010 Cold Case Nate 'Red Scare' Beecher '10 Episode: "One Fall"
2011 How I Met Your Mother Uncle Pete Episode: "Last Words"
2012 The Life & Times of Tim Rodney's Dad Episode: "Strip Club Hostage Situation/Game Night"
Pair of Kings King Malakai Episode: "The Evil King"
Sherman's in Sanity Vern Pfinger 2 episodes
2013 The Silicon Assassin Project Episode: "The Medusa Meeting"
The Bridge Karl Millwright Episode: "Pilot"
Side Effects Police Chief Episode: "Pilot"
2015 The Messengers Earl Cowen Episode: "Why We Fight"
2016 Criminal Minds Chief Arthur Emmett Episode: "The Crimson King"
2016-2017 Adam Ruins Everything Ray Murphy Recurring role, 4 episodes
2017 A Girl Is a Gun Van De Moortel
2018 I'm a Man Frank Mini-series

References


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