Robert Abbott

Robert Abbott (born August 28, 1964) is an American film director and TV producer, known for his work in sports journalism and documentary films. Abbott has worked for CNN and ESPN, before starting Hey Abbott! Entertainment in January 2009. Abbott's most recent work is the 2022 documentary on Eli Broad- the first American businessman to found two Fortune 500 companies in different industries, Eli Broad’s success was defined by keen vision, an appetite for risk-taking and an instinct for strong partners. Abbott also directed a 2018 documentary titled Port of Destiny: Peace. The film focuses on former Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize winner, and his work in ending the five-decade civil war between far-left rebel group FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) and the government of Colombia. Prior to Port of Destiny: Peace, he produced, directed, and narrated ESPN's 30 for 30 entitled The Last Days of Knight (2018), where Abbott tells the story of his investigation that led to the 2000 firing of the longtime head coach of Indiana University men's basketball, Bob Knight.Other projects include ESPN's 30 for 30: Catholics vs. Convicts, ESPN's SportsCentury documentary series, Field of Screams, CNN Special Reports: The Moses Project, ESPN Backstory with Don Van Natta, and the CNN Breaking News Coverage of the 1996 Centennial Olympic Park bombing. In addition to directing and producing, Abbott helped create the television shows ESPN's E:60, ESPN Classic's Top 5 Reasons You Can't Blame..., and SEC Storied. Abbott has won six Emmy Awards in five different categories.