Robert grew up in Toronto, Ohio, where his athletic ability led to a four year football scholarship at Florida State University. There he earned a B.A. in Communications. He later received an M.A. at Michigan State University and then joined WGN radio in Chicago as a sales account representative. He then briefly appeared as a TV weatherman.

His big break came from Burt Reynolds in 1972 when he played Burt's younger brother in a stage production of "The Rainmaker". Burt brought him to California and let him stay in his home there until he got his acting break.

He was starring in the TV series The Lazarus Man when he was diagnosed with cancer, which caused the cancellation of the series. The cancer went into remission after treatment and he resumed acting again with his role as Captain Jim Kennedy III on The Love Boat: The Next Wave.
He sued Castle Rock Television for $1.47 million (the amount he would have received for the 2nd season of his TV series The Lazarus Man.) on 11th April 2000 because Lazarus Man was canceled because he had cancer. He alleged he did not receive payments from the company. Apparently Urich and his production company entered into an agreement with Castle Rock in 1995 for Urich to act in the Lazarus Man pilot. Under the deal, he was to be paid $70,000 per episode for the first season and $73,000 an episode the second season. In July 1996, he informed Castle Rock that he had cancer and would have to undergo treatment, but the suit said at no time was Urich unable to perform his duties. Then Castle Rock terminated the agreement a month later. Urich underwent chemotherapy, radiation treatments and two operations in the mid-1990s to seemingly successfully fight synovial cell sarcoma, a rare cancer that attacks the joints. Daughter with Menzies, Allison Grady, born [18 April 1998] Bachelor of Arts from Florida State University 1968, Master of Arts from Michigan State University in Communications Son: Ryan 1979 Daughter: Emily 1980. Brother of Tom Urich Is of Slovak heritage. Member of Lambda Chi Alpha. Graduated from Florida State University in 1967 or 1968 Spent latter years devoted to cancer research and education, and he and wife established the Heather and Robert Urich Fund for Sarcoma Research at the University of Michigan. Recipient of the Gilda Radner Courage Award from the Roswell Park Cancer Institute. Won 1992 Cable Ace Award as Informational Host of National Geographic's "On Assignment" series. Also in 1992, narrated Emmy-winning National Geographic Explorer film, "U-Boats: Terror on Our Shores." Wife Heather Menzies played blonde Louisa, one of the Von Trapp children, in the film version of The Sound of Music. He was from Toronto, Ohio; his wife was from Toronto, Ontario! National spokesman for the American Cancer Society in 1998. Holds the record for having the most series-regular roles on TV: 13. Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, S.W.A.T., Soap, Tabitha, Vega$, Gavilan, Spenser: For Hire, American Dreamer Crossroads It Had to Be You, The Lazarus Man, The Love Boat: The Next Wave, and Emeril. Graduated from Toronto High School in Toronto, Ohio in 1964. Attended Florida State University on a four-year football scholarship where he earned his undergraduate degree in Radio and Television Communications in 1968. Graduated from Michigan State University in 1971 with a masters degree in Broadcast Research and Management. His final film, Night of the Wolf aired on Animal Planet the same day that he died. Uncle of actor Justin Urich Has two grandchildren Michelle (born 2004) and Lana (born 2005)