Character Bios

Robin

Dick Grayson was an American crimefighter, singer and businessman. He is best known for being the original sidekick of Batman, Robin the Boy Wonder and Robin of the vocal duo Sam & Robin. 

Early life: 

Grayson was born Richard John Grayson Jr on July 6th 1948 in Gotham City.

For most of his childhood, he worked as an acrobat until his parents were murdered by dastardly criminals. 

Just when Grayson himself was going to get murdered, the legendary Caped Crusader, Batman saved his life and recognized him for his athleticism. 

Grayson accepted a life with Bruce Wayne and became his young ward and Batman's loyal sidekick Robin the Boy Wonder.

"I was like 'gosh! Has this day turned around!' You know, one minute, I'd lost my parents and was about to get killed myself, and the next, I'm the ward of a millionaire and a superhero! What more could I have wanted?" said Grayson in 1988. 

Grayson's education was at the exclusive Woodrow Roosevelt High School in Gotham City. Yet another place where he needed to fight crime at least once.

Crimefighting Career: 

Grayson was Robin the Boy Wonder until he graduated from collage in 1974.

Upon maturing, he started a crimefighting career of his own as Nightwing. 

Even so, his old friends always saw him as Robin. 

He was the predecessor of several Robins. Including Jason Todd, Tim Drake and Damian Wayne. 

When Todd became Robin, the press asked Sam Pan if he'd replace Grayson in the Sam & Robin duo, to which she famously replied, "Not on his life! Dick is the only Robin in my book and we're still performing together no matter what superhero he is."

Sam & Robin:

During the high point of the Dynamic Duo's popularity, they started collaborating with Wiggletown Australia's legendary crimefighting trio the Three Warriors.

Grayson became enamored of the trio's only girl, Sam Pan, and showed instant interest in her.

Pan had to refuse to accept that interest because she was married at the time. 

However, her husband was soon jailed and he punished himself by announcing a divorce and throwing her into Grayson's arms. 

Even before they started dating, Pan had displayed her ability to sing in places like Disney Actorville. 

She later convinced a non-singing Grayson to join her for a musical act to encourage a stage-frightened friend. 

This encouragement act eventually morphed into the successful vocal duo Sam & Robin. 

They had many hits since their debut on The Alan Brady Show. Including Orange Colored Sky, Roses and Guitars, Look of Love, Boo to You!, One Kiss Away and I Won't Say I'm in Love. 

Grayson often credited stage fright for the duo's success.

"Sam came to me one day and said 'Charles Wallace [Murry] wants a musical act for his show. He had already asked Chad [Stuart] and Jill [Gibson] to appear. Why he didn't go with Chad and Jeremy [Clyde], I'll never know. I had known Chad & Jeremy for a while by then; they performed in Gotham City once. Whereas, Jill... I had never even heard of her. She was a friend of Sam's who was scared of audiences and wouldn't perform without her. The rule to be on the show was that a musical act had to be a group and... I was the one Sam turned to. I was never one to let her down, so I went up there and performed just to encourage this poor lady. I had no idea it would turn into something so big" he said in 1978.

In 1967, the duo married after many audiences suggested they continue their career as husband and wife.

This followed the duo's most successful album, a collaboration between them, Chad Stuart and Jill Gibson called Holy Caped Collaboration!

Later life:

Grayson and Pan continued their musical career for decades. Even after they matured and had their own businesses.

Pan stayed in the crimefighting field while Grayson became a successful entrepreneur that created projects to better the lives of children and animals. 

In 1988, Sam & Robin disbanded and divorced as their careers were pulling them in different directions. 

Grayson even declined keeping his inheritance of Bruce Wayne's fortune and got away from Gotham City for a while.

Nevertheless, he still remained friends with Chad Stuart and actress Patty Lane. 

After Pan's death in 1996, Grayson tearfully got onto the stage and put on a tribute concert to her. 

"I could hardly keep my head facing the audience. I was just devastated by the loss of my longtime companion. She and I were so close, even after our divorce. I can subconsciously hear her saying "Dick, we should have reunited at least once." I feel the same way, so there I was" said Grayson in 1997. 

The last concert he ever had was in 1998 with Chad Stuart. They called themselves Chad & Robin and paid tribute to both of their lost duos by singing their songs.

Death:

On April 18th 1999, Grayson was working in his home in Malibu California when a gang of robbers broke in. 

As he hadn't fought crime in years, Grayson was no match for these robbers and their leader murdered him by stabbing him in the neck with a dagger.

Years later, identity tests revealed that the leader of the robbery was a descendant of the criminals who killed Grayson's parents. 

During a 2005 interview, actress Patty Lane described her dear friend as "an incredible man."

"He was extremely flexible; both figuratively and literally. He was one of the most loving and giving people I'd ever met. Not only that, he was a great performer and always put himself out there" she said.