Robert “Bob” Scheerer began his career in entertainment as a dancer in the group "The Jivin' Jacks and Jills" appearing in such films as Private Buckaroo (1942) and How’s About It (1943). After working on Broadway as a performer for several years, Scheerer decided he wanted to work on the production side of the business and began as a production assistant for CBS in New York. He then left for ABC and worked as an associate producer on The Steve Allen Plymouth Show, then was hired on to bandleader Spike Jones’ Swinging Spiketaculars with the stipulation that he also be able to direct. During the first half of the 1960s Scheerer directed musical and variety shows such as The Bell Telephone Hour, The Andy Williams Show, and The Danny Kaye Show. In 1966 he directed his first scripted television series, for an episode of Gilligan’s Island. Throughout the late 60s and early 70s Scheerer directed television movies such as Arsenic and Old Lace (1969) and Hans Brinker (1969); a feature film titled Adam at Six A.M. (1970); and a series of musical and variety television specials titled Changing Scene I, II, II and IV (1970, 1970, 1971, 1971).
For the majority of his lengthy career, Scheerer worked extensively in episodic television, directing for such series as Ironside, Hawkins, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, The Blue Knight, Hawaii Five-O, The Mary Tyler Moore Hour, Number 96, Fame, The Love Boat, Dynasty, The Colbys, Guns of Paradise, Knots Landing, Falcon Crest, Jake and the Fatman, Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Matlock, and Star Trek: Voyager. Scheerer also directed three more feature films, The World’s Greatest Athlete (1973), The Family and Other Living Things (1978), and How to Beat the High Co$t of Living (1980).
For his directorial achievements Scheerer has been nominated for two DGA Awards, for an episode of The Danny Kaye Show in 1964 and the television special Here’s Peggy Fleming in 1968. Scheerer has also been nominated for 10 Primetime Emmy Awards, winning once for The Danny Kaye Show in 1964.