| No. 45 | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Fullback |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | June 4, 1945 Fagatogo, American Samoa |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Farrington (HI) |
| College: | Michigan State |
| NFL draft: | 1968: 9th round, 245th pick |
| Career history | |
| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Robert Apisa (born June 4, 1945) is an American actor and former football fullback. He played college football at Michigan State University.
Apisa, one of eleven children, was born in American Samoa. His parents moved the family to Oahu, Hawaii when he was seven. He didn't start playing football until entering the ninth grade at Farrington High School. He also practiced baseball and track. [1]
He accepted a football scholarship from Michigan State University. He was named a starter at fullback as a sophomore, registering 126 carries for 715 yards (second on the team and third in the conference), a 5.7-yard average and 10 touchdowns. At the end of the season, he was limited with injuries, but still was able to become the first player of Samoan ancestry to be named All-American. He required off-season knee surgery.
On November 19, 1966, he was a part of the contest played against the University of Notre Dame called "The Game of the Century", which ended in a 10–10 tie. [2] It was also the first ever live television sports broadcast in Hawaii. He had 140 rushing yards and one touchdown against the University of Michigan. He suffered a knee injury in the seventh game against Northwestern University and missed most of the remaining contests. He posted 86 carries for 445 yards (5.2-yard avg.) and 9 touchdowns.
As a senior, he struggled to recover from off-season knee surgery. He tallied only 50 carries for 183 yards during the season. Besides being a notable blocker, he finished his college career as the school's all-time leading rushing fullback with 1,343 yards. [3] He was a part of 2 national championship teams (1965 and 1966).
In 2017, he was inducted into the Michigan State Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2018, he was inducted into the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame. [4]
Apisa was selected by the Green Bay Packers in the ninth round (245th overall) of the 1968 NFL/AFL draft. [5] He was waived on July 30. [6]
After retiring from professional football, Apisa spent more than 33 years working as a character actor and stunt coordinator in television series and films.
Apisa's grandson, Jacob Isaia, is an offensive lineman for Michigan State University and California State University, Fresno.[ citation needed ]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Free Ride | Thug #1 | |
| 1987 | Three O'Clock High | Cop #1 | |
| 1987 | Code Name Zebra | Alonso | |
| 1987 | Grotesque | Patrick | |
| 1990 | Heart Condition | Teller | |
| 1990 | The Forbidden Dance | Security Guard #2 | |
| 1991 | The Perfect Weapon | Man with Red Bandana | Uncredited |
| 1991 | The Last Boy Scout | Baynard's Bodyguard | |
| 1992 | Kill Fee | Bodyguard #1 | |
| 1993 | Nowhere to Run | Prisoner | |
| 1993 | Point of No Return | The V.I.P. | |
| 1993 | The Sandlot | Home Plate Umpire | |
| 1993 | Hard Target | Mr. Lopacki | |
| 1993 | The Painted Desert | Bones | |
| 1994 | The Specialist | Ned's Thug in Hotel Room | Uncredited |
| 1994 | A Low Down Dirty Shame | Bouncer at Bar | |
| 1995 | Under Siege 2: Dark Territory | Dane's Tech | |
| 1996 | Executive Decision | Jean-Paul Demou | |
| 1996 | Courage Under Fire | Iraqi Tank Commander | |
| 1996 | Fled | Jose Marti | |
| 1996 | The Glimmer Man | Smith's Bodyguard | Uncredited |
| 1996 | Santa with Muscles | Franco | |
| 1997 | Gang Related | Bailiff | |
| 1998 | The Replacement Killers | Thug | |
| 1998 | Savior | Colonel | Uncredited |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973–1977 | Hawaii Five-O | Portuguese / Regan / George | 3 episodes |
| 1980 | Waikiki | Kahea | Television film |
| 1981–1987 | Magnum, P.I. | Various roles | 6 episodes |
| 1985 | J.O.E. and the Colonel | Schaefer's Henchman | Television film |
| 1985 | Riptide | Reed | Episode: "Robin and Marian" |
| 1985–1986 | Airwolf | Various roles | 5 episodes |
| 1986 | The Fall Guy | Cop | Episode: "Tag Team" |
| 1986–1988 | Hunter | Various roles | 3 episodes |
| 1988 | Simon & Simon | Garcia | Episode: "Forever Hold Your Piece" |
| 1988 | L.A. Law | Cop #2 | Episode: "Hand Roll Express" |
| 1988 | Quiet Victory: The Charlie Wedemeyer Story | Kahuna | Television film |
| 1989 | Snoops | Santos | Episode: "Photo Opportunity" |
| 1989, 1990 | Jake and the Fatman | Konahe / Raymond Say | 2 episodes |
| 1990 | Twin Peaks | Bodyguard on Stairs | Episode: "The Orchid's Curse" |
| 1991 | The Flash | Joey C.'s Bodyguard | Episode: "Alpha" |
| 1992, 1993 | Renegade | Bouncer / Corelli | 2 episodes |
| 1993 | Marked for Murder | Girado | Television film |
| 1993 | Raven | Samoan Sam | Episode: "Heat" |
| 1993 | Diagnosis: Murder | Foreman | Episode: "Inheritance of Death" |
| 1994 | Dead at 21 | Secret Service #2 | Episode: "Use Your Illusion" |
| 1999 | Baywatch | Erik | Episode: "Water Dance" |