Robert Whelan appeared on Coronation Street in five roles:
- Prosecution barrister Mr Myers at Alan Bradley's trial heard at Weatherfield Crown Court in October 1989
- Jim Chester in August 1990
- Dennis Pooley, father of Rovers' barmaid Tanya Pooley who appeared in February 1994
- Lingerie retailer and Underworld client Harry Hollands appearing in February 2000 and March 2002
- Businessman Frank Taylor in May and June 2007.
His other credits include roles in The Bill, Casualty, Emmerdale, Hotel Getaway, Heartbeat, Dalziel and Pascoe, A Touch of Frost, Watching, Crossroads, Superman, Softly Softly, and Crown Court.
He has been married to fellow Street actress Deborah Fairfax since 1988.