Henry Ford Robinson, professionally known as Hank Robinson, was born on March 27, 1923, in Covington, Tennessee. He was a tall and burly individual, standing at 6'1". Growing up on a sharecropper farm in rural Tennessee, Robinson's early life was marked by simplicity and hard work.
As the world was plunged into chaos during World War II, Robinson served in the U.S. Army, playing his part in the global conflict. Following the war, he pursued a career in baseball, spending thirteen seasons playing in the minor leagues across various locations, including Hollywood, Denver, Gladewater, Yakima, Little Rock, Saginaw, Lake Charles, Galveston, and Laredo.
Before turning his attention to acting, Robinson worked as a security guard at MGM. He eventually transitioned to a career as an extra in the mid-1960s, frequently appearing as cowboys on various Western TV shows and making uncredited cameo appearances in a handful of movies.
As his acting career progressed, Robinson landed occasional credited roles, often being cast as a baseball umpire. In addition to his acting pursuits, he was also an avid golfer and scouted and coached young baseball players in both California and Nevada.
Robinson's life came to a close on April 7, 2012, at the age of 89, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He left behind his wife, Mildred, daughters Carin and Debra, son Robbie, and three grandchildren.
