Robert Donner, the craggy faced character actor whose gift for playing zany eccentrics peaked when he played the delirious prophet Exidor on the popular sitcom Mork & Mindy, died on June 8 of a heart attack at his Sherman Oaks home. He was 75.

Born on April 27, 1931, in New York City, Donner grew up in New Jersey, Michigan and Texas. After graduating from high school, he served four years in the Navy and resettled in California in the early '50s. While residing in Studio City, he befriended a young Clint Eastwood who encouraged him to try acting. His start in the business was modest enough, a few bit parts in films (Rio Bravo (1959), The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance (1962) and some principal roles on television (Combat, Rawhide); but his career didn't really take off until the late '60s, where his frantic comic timing and quirky presence perked up such films as The Spirit is Willing, Cool Hand Luke (both 1967), and Skidoo (1968).

His best movie work came in the '70s where Donner created a series of strange but memorable characters in a string of cult films: Vanishing Point, One More Train to Rob (both 1971), High Plains Drifter (his best screen performance, as a barnstorming preacher opposite his old friend Eastwood), The Man Who Loved Cat Dancing (both 1973) and Bite the Bullet (1975).

Despite his worthy and respectable film resume, it would be television that would make Donner a fond memory for almost every thirtysomething in America. His role of Exidor on Mork and Mindy the prophet who leads an invisible troop, 'The Friends of Venus" on a march toward a better world, and whose catch phrase "Mork, is that y-o-o-u-u?" was delivered with a crying wail, was insanely funny and memorable. If nothing else, it made him a charming footnote in the annals of Nick's TV Land.

Donner's work would be occupied by television over the next few years on some hit shows: MacGyver, Matlock, Married with Children and Dharma & Greg, but his final film was released theatrically just last month, the Luke Wilson family vehicle Hoot. He is survived by his wife, Jill; and two brothers.

by Michael T. Toole