Andrew Jordt Robinson was born in New York City and attended the University of New Hampshire, later receiving his B.A. in English from the New School for Social Research in NYC. After graduation, he spent a year in England at the London Academy for Music and Dramatic Arts on a Fulbright Scholarship. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, Mr. Robinson performed a wide variety of theater, movie and television roles. These included the infamous Scorpio killer in Dirty Harry, a stint on _"Ryan's Hope" (1988)_ which earned him an Emmy nomination, and the title role in a TV movie about Liberace. He was chosen for the continuing guest role of Garak the Cardassian tailor/spy on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine after first reading for the part of Odo! In the early 90s, Mr. Robinson helped found The Matrix Theatre Company in Los Angeles. In addition to acting in several of the company's productions, in 1995 and 1996 his direction of "Endgame" and "The Homecoming" at the Matrix earned him two Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards. This led to his TV directing debut on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Mr. Robinson has since gone on to direct episodes of Star Trek: Voyager. 1997-1998 directorial projects at The Matrix were "Dangerous Corner" and "A Moon for the Misbegotten".
Almost got the part of Odo on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine after first reading for the part. He was chosen for the recurring role of Elim Garak instead. Has a daughter, Rachel Robinson, who appeared in an episode of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (as Melanie, an aspiring writer) and was a leading candidate for the recurring role of Ezri Dax on DS9. Robinson's portrayal of the chilling Scorpio Killer in Dirty Harry led to him receiving serious death threats via telephone after the film's release. While it's tempting to make the connection, Andrew Robinson is not related to Edward G. Robinson. Andy's father died in WWII, when Andy was only three. Has an action figure made in his likeness of his character, Garak, on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Wrote a novel about the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine character he played, Elim Garak, entitled "A Stitch in Time". Along with Lawrence Dobkin, he is one of only two 'Star Trek' non-regulars to both appear in and direct an episode of 'Star Trek'. (He appeared in many episodes of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and directed the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode, 'Looking for Par'Mach in All the Wrong Places' and the Star Trek: Voyager episodes, 'Blood Fever' and 'Unforgettable'). Is the godfather of Nana Visitor and Alexander Siddig's son, Django El Tahir El Siddig.