[3] Robinson began his acting career in summer stock theatre and repertory companies, and eventually made his way to the Broadway stage, where he appeared in Shakespeare's As You Like It and Much Ado About Nothing, as well as several other plays by the age of 19.

[3] This was followed by roles in a variety of films, including The Virgin Queen (1955) starring Bette Davis, My Man Godfrey (1957) with David Niven and June Allyson, Woody Allen's comedy Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Sex* (*But Were Afraid to Ask) (1972), and Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992).

During 1974, he played the museum director in a 1975 episode of the ABC supernatural show Kolchak: The Night Stalker titled "Chopper" and a dual role in a Banacek mystery called "Now You See Him, Now You Don't."

In 1975, he also played Norman in Shampoo and did a comedic take on Dracula in the pop musical movie Train Ride to Hollywood, starring the R&B band Bloodstone.

At age 23, his newfound celebrity, after appearing in The Robe and its sequel Demetrius and the Gladiators, reportedly inflated his ego, and he became extremely difficult to work with.

Resuming acting work in obscure bit parts, he had another career relapse when he was forced to spend 15 months in jail after all for an old warrant served on him for unknowingly missing a court date during his earlier retrial.

Robinson credited letters of encouragement from friend Bette Davis with helping him find the strength to overcome his problems.