Biography
Robert is a Los Angeles-based writer/director.
Born to Robert and Dale Etta Hensley of Ohiopyle, he was raised before the backdrop of the lush Laurel Highlands. Even growing up in rural southwestern Pennsylvania, Robert felt a certain connection to the entertainment industry. His father's lineage produced several iconic performers, most notably Patsy Cline. Throughout his academic career, Robert excelled in the arts, and sought opportunities to work in and around the theatre, developing a keen interest in working with actors.
With over two decades of experience working in entertainment; first in theatre and then film, Robert began his career as a costume designer, later transitioning to makeup and special effects, and now film-making. As a costume designer, his work has included work on contemporary ballets and world premiere plays off-Broadway and in Los Angeles. His work on Gatsby in Hollywood by Joshua Rebell was nominated for Best Costumes at the 2003 Garland Awards. As a makeup artist, his talent and skills with cosmetics have allowed him to travel and create styles for some of the most famous faces in the world for red carpets, magazine covers, television shows, and on film.
While writing had always been a hobby, a dare led Robert to write his first play, The Dark Sisters, a short adaptation of a Grimm Brothers' fairy tale. It was originally produced as part of George Larkin's Grimm Fest at the MET Theatre in Los Angeles in 2003, and was later published as part of a Grimm Fest anthology by JAC Publishing. His next play, the full-length dark comedy Turning Out, was produced in Los Angeles by the Blank Theatre Company, and was also published by JAC. He later self-published a collection of short plays, Death, Life and a Creme Filled Center, which had been produced as a staged reading at Anthony Meindl's Meta Theatre.
His first self-published work of fiction was the YA novella, Leo's Love Story, an LGBT-themed, sci-fi teen romance. It was nominated for the YA Fiction Award at the 2013 Los Angeles Book Awards. He most recently published a collection of short screenplays, Short Attention Span.
Robert's first produced screenplay, the short film Texas Toast, was produced by Alyson Fouse and directed by Chane't Johnson. Over the past ten years, he has written, directed and produced a variety of scenes and short films, including the drama A Mother's Love, starring veteran character actress Veronica Alicino, which can now be viewed on his YouTube channel. His award-winning short film, The Taste of Salt, screened in five festivals in five months, winning five awards, and is now available for streaming on Amazon. His most recent short, the award-winning contemporary ghost story, Homewrecker, which was inspired by the traditional fable of "La Llorona," is currently screening at festivals.
Robert has also written several feature-length screenplays and a pilot. Robert is currently attached to direct the romantic comedy, Roasted, from a screenplay he wrote, which was optioned by Leonian Pictures.
Robert was recently inducted into the Uniontown Area High School Academics, Arts & Athletics Hall of Fame.
