Former Star Calls on Charlie Kirk's Accused Shooter to Confess

When actor Ricky Schroder traveled to Provo, Utah, on July 6 to sit in the gallery during Tyler Robinson’s preliminary hearing, he brought more than just his presence in the courtroom. The 56-year-old former child star, known for his role in Silver Spoons, came with a message—one he felt compelled to deliver not in the gallery itself, but to the public, directly to the defendant.

In a Wednesday, July 8 Instagram video, Schroder addressed Robinson, 23, who is charged with aggravated murder in the September 2025 death of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. Kirk was 31 when he was shot and killed during a speaking engagement. Robinson has not yet entered a plea. Schroder’s message was straightforward and rooted in faith: confess, ask for forgiveness, and serve the Lord.“You can do the right thing now,”Schroder said, urging Robinson to acknowledge his actions and whoever may have helped him, rather than prolonging what he called a“charade.”

What makes Schroder’s intervention notable isn’t just the appeal itself—it’s the specificity of his framing. He didn’t call for retribution or dwell on the crime. Instead, he presented confession as an act that could unite people around tragedy, and suggested that in mercy there might be blessing for everyone involved.“You can still do good with your life,”he told Robinson.“That would be the best thing you can do is not put your parents and the world through this charade.”

Schroder, who attended the hearing alongside his wife Julie Trammel, emphasized that he and his wife came to support the Kirk family and honor what Kirk stood for. In a separate Monday social media video, he called for civility and respect during the trial process, noting that people“can have a difference of opinion without being so damn mean.”Kirk is survived by his parents, his wife Erika Kirk, and their two children.

The trial unfolds against a backdrop of sharp cultural division. While Kirk was a prominent conservative voice, his death sparked reactions across the political and cultural spectrum—including criticism from actress Amanda Seyfried, who called him“hateful”after his assassination. Yet Schroder’s approach sidesteps that divide entirely, focusing instead on personal accountability and spiritual transformation. Whether Robinson hears the message, or whether it moves him toward confession, remains unknown. But Schroder’s willingness to articulate that path publicly signals something worth noting: even amid deep disagreement over a public figure’s legacy, there’s room for appealing to conscience.