Hall Inspires Disabled Actors

Robert David Hall (Al Robbins) this weekend said CSI: Crime Scene Investigation had opened up a new chapter in his life.

Hall, an amputee who lost his legs in a car accident when he was 29, told Terry Morrow at the Ventura County Star that he never expected to be an advocate for disabled people in the entertainment industry. "Because this show is so wildly successful, it has opened a lot of opportunities for me to get involved in many causes," he said. "It has given me a new platform."

After the accident, Hall said he didn't expect to be welcomed by the acting profession. "I didn't think there was a place for someone who had artificial legs," he said. Although he wasn't flooded with offers at the time, things did start to change as Hall aged. "As I got older, I got more castable." During the 1990s, he appeared in shows such as Beverly Hills 90210, LA Law and The Practice and scored film roles in Class Action and The Negotiator.

As a regular cast member of television's most-watched program and the recipient of three SAG Award ensemble acting nominations, Hall's profile has enabled him to help all disabled people, not just those who are actors. "It helps people who are newly disabled realize they have a chance to audition for something or interview for a job," he said. "When you see people with disabilities succeed in their profession, it shows them that they can go for their goals, and they can succeed."

The complete interview can be found here at the Ventura County Star.

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