‘CHiPs’ Star Robert Pine’s Son Inherited His Striking Good Looks & Surpassed His Fame In Hollywood

Sep 25, 2023 by apost team

Robert Pine is best known for his role as Sgt. Joseph Getraer on the television series "CHiPs," which he starred in from 1977 to 1983. However, today, he is more popular as actor Chris Pine's dad. Robert's road to an acting career is unlike many. Although he always liked being an actor, he didn’t initially pursue it. 

The actor first studied pre-med, and after taking some chemistry and calculus courses to improve his grades for medical school, he realized he didn't want to spend his entire life doing that. The actor only pursued medicine to satisfy his parents. 

Robert decided to be an actor in February 1964 and demonstrated his talents to a Universal representative scouting for new talent at the time. The rep, Eleanor Kilgallen, thought he had potential and took him to California, where he learned horse riding and took acting and singing lessons. Robert stayed under contract with Universal for three years and changed his name from Granville Whitelaw Pine to Robert Pine while he was there. 

In an interview in 2012, the actor disclosed that he never liked the name as it sounded too serious and made him feel stupid. Robert then carved out a career as a supporting and character actor. He has 152 known acting credits and has appeared in more than 400 episodes on television.

On June 10, 2023, the actor made a rare appearance at the May 2023 Kentucky Derby dressed in a blue suit and a beige hat. His wife, Gwynne Gilford, was also with him and wore a blue hat to complement his look.

Read on to find out more about Robert's career and how his son has followed in his footsteps.

Robert passionately pursued acting while also exploring other interests. In 1969, the "Christmas Under Wraps" star tied the knot with actress Gwynne Gilford. The couple welcomed two children, Katherine "Katie" Pine and Chris, who also caught the acting bug later in life. 

Although Gilford was an actress when she married Robert — she appeared in six episodes of "CHiPs" with him as his wife — she retired in 1987 and became a therapist. Katherine followed suit and retired from acting in 1998 with the "CHiPs '99" reboot. She took classes together with Gilford to become a psychotherapist.

Besides his dad, Chris is the only one who is still an actor. The "Star Trek" star has surpassed his dad as a performer, but the older Pine couldn't be more proud of his son. Robert has previously disclosed that his son is talented and well-behaved, so it is okay for people to make the connection between them. 

The father-son duo often steps out together, showcasing their close bond, sometimes even dressed in the same color. Robert and Chris were at the premiere of "Five Days at Memorial" — where Robert stars as Dr. Horace Baltz — on Aug. 8, 2022, and they both wore navy blue suits. 

Chris is also notably proud of his dad's achievements as an actor. During his interview with IndieWire, published in April 2022, just before his outing with Robert in August, he gushed over his father’s onscreen achievements. 

"My dad’s had a hell of a career. 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 told the outlet.

Chris was also wowed by one of Robert's earliest acting roles, where he featured in "The Graduate" with Dustin Hoffman and Katharine Ross.

apost.com

In a YouTube clip from June 10, 2023, Robert and his wife, Gilford, were shown on the red carpet at the May 2023 Kentucky Derby. The clip was posted a month before the actor's 82nd birthday, which falls on July 10, 2023. 

The actor donned a blue suit and a shirt that was a lighter shade of blue. He also wore a navy blue neck scarf with polka dots and a beige hat with a black stripe. 

Robert's wife of 54 years, Gilford, wore colorful, loose trousers, which included blue flowers, a pink top and a blue hat. She stepped back as a reporter approached Robert to interview him. Robert revealed that it was his first derby, and he was hoping to make a lot of money as he already lost a significant amount the day before. When asked for some advice, Robert said: 

"Enjoy your life and find the joy in it. Don't dwell on the other stuff." 

The interviewer also asked him if he was proud of his son, and the ever-active artist said: 

"I'm very proud of him. He's doing a good job, and he is a good man."

Robert added that he would name his horse "Chris Pine" spelled backward if he had one in the derby. 

Fans commented on the video and praised the veteran. 

"Well now I know where Chris Pine gets his natural charm and charisma from.😊," one fan wrote. 

Another user commented: 

"Robert Pine. Nice fella. Will always remember him from Chips. Met Mr. Pine at Radford University in 1997. Serious actor, but a gentle soul. Who woulda known his son would take on the role of one of science fiction's most iconic characters. Bet he's one proud dad."

Despite having two parents who were actors, Chris noted he didn’t catch the acting bug until later in life. Even his late grandmother, Anne Gwynne, was an actress and WWII-era pinup model.

“I never had a passion for acting, acting was something that seemed to pop out of nowhere and then just took over my life. It seemed to be fated and it made a lot of sense,” he told IndieWire.

Now, with films such as “Wonder Woman” “A Wrinkle in Time” and “Hell or High Water,” under his belt, many could say he has even surpassed his father in terms of stardom.   

eing such a charismatic actor, one might also assume Chris to be a party animal but the star said he never had much of a wild side.

“No, I was probably the exact opposite! My delayed pubescence is coming up. I don’t feel bad at all,” he said.

Apart from acting, Chris said he also dabbled in his other passion, interior decorating. “I love design. I’m really into interior design and architecture and furniture. If I had any patience whatsoever for furniture making, I’d probably get into that. But I don’t. I do love creating spaces, though,” he explained.

Given Chris’s piercing blue eyes and strong jawline, it’s unsurprising he has been linked to many beautiful women, including South African model Dominique Piek, actress Olivia Munn and Icelandic model Iris Björk Jéhannesdéttir. Pine also dated British actress Annabelle Wallis, with whom he spent Christmas in December 2020. He said:

“The first time in 40 years I haven’t been with my family, but I will be with my girlfriend and her family out here… Everyone is happy and healthy, whether they are in my family, my circle of friends, that’s all I can ask for.”

What do you think of Robert Pine's outfit? Have you watched any of his movies? Are you a fan of Chris Pine’s movies as well? Let us know — and pass this article on to friends, family members and fellow Robert Pine and Chris Pine fans!