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Tony Roberts (actor)

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Tony Roberts
Roberts in 2019
Born
David Anthony Roberts

(1939-10-22)October 22, 1939
New York City, U.S.
DiedFebruary 7, 2025(2025-02-07) (aged 85)
New York City, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1962–2017
Height6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Spouse
Jennifer Lyons
​
​
(m. 1969; div. 1975)​
Children1

David Anthony Roberts (October 22, 1939 – February 7, 2025) was an American actor known for his roles on stage and screen. He is best known for his collaborations with filmmaker Woody Allen, having acted in six of his films, most notably Annie Hall (1977).

Roberts also acted in films by Sidney Lumet, Blake Edwards, and Herbert Ross. On stage, he made his Broadway debut in the Ernest Kinoy play Something About a Soldier (1962). He received two Tony Award nominations for his supporting roles in the musical comedy How Now, Dow Jones (1968) and Woody Allen's comedic play Play It Again, Sam (1969).

Early life and education

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Roberts was born in Manhattan, New York City, the son of radio announcer Ken Roberts and Norma (née Finkelstein), an animator.[1][2] His family was Jewish.[3][4][5] Roberts attended the High School of Music & Art[6] and Northwestern University, and he made his Broadway debut in 1962 with a role in the play Something About a Soldier.[7]

Career

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From the original Broadway cast of Play It Again, Sam. Third from left in front row is Tony Roberts; fourth from left is Woody Allen. Diane Keaton is on the far right. (1969)

Roberts collaborated with Woody Allen. In Annie Hall, he portrayed Alvy Singer's best friend Rob. Other Allen movies and plays in which he appeared include both the Broadway and movie versions of Play It Again, Sam; Stardust Memories (1980), A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy (1982), Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) and Radio Days (1987). In 2001, Roberts appeared in Allen's respective segment for The Concert for New York City.

Roberts portrayed Deputy Mayor Warren LaSalle in The Taking of Pelham One Two Three. He also appeared in the Sidney Lumet movies Serpico and Just Tell Me What You Want. In a rare, big-screen leading role, Roberts starred in the 1983 horror movie Amityville 3-D as John Baxter, a deeply skeptical tabloid journalist who buys a haunted house. He appeared opposite George Burns (as his son) in 1988's Eighteen Again!, and co-starred in the horror-dark comedy Popcorn as Professor Davis, and in Blake Edwards's situation comedy Switch as Arnold Freidkin, both 1991 theatrical releases. Roberts also appeared in the Walt Disney screwball comedy The Million Dollar Duck and the stage-to-screen adaptation of Star Spangled Girl, both 1971 (and both co-starring Sandy Duncan); Key Exchange and Le Sauvage, both 1985; 1986's Seize the Day; and 2005's Twelve and Holding.

Roberts's last theatrically released feature film role was as Jason Bateman's character's therapist in the 2014 independent romantic comedy-drama The Longest Week. His final made-for-television film portrayal was in the 2017 ABC production Dirty Dancing.

Roberts's Broadway credits include Barefoot in the Park; How Now, Dow Jones; Murder at the Howard Johnson's; Promises, Promises; Sugar (the musical version of the movie Some Like It Hot); The Sisters Rosensweig; They're Playing Our Song; Victor/Victoria; The Tale of the Allergist's Wife; Arsenic and Old Lace; and Cabaret. In 1998, he played Buddy Plummer in Stephen Sondheim's Follies at the Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey. In 2007, Roberts returned to Broadway in the musical Xanadu.

On television, Roberts was the third actor to play Lee Pollock on The Edge of Night.[citation needed] He appeared in numerous television series such as The Carol Burnett Show, Matlock, Law & Order, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. In 1977, he was featured, alongside Squire Fridell, as a lead in the short-lived NBC legal drama Rosetti and Ryan.

In 1978, he guest-starred on The Love Boat. Roberts and Lauren Tewes's character, cruise ship director Julie McCoy, fall in love, but in the end do not pursue a romantic relationship. Roberts was featured (with Penny Fuller, who had played his wife on The Edge of Night) on the ABC comedy The Thorns. He was a regular performer on the CBS Radio Mystery Theater. Roberts also recorded many of the audiobook adaptations of Stuart Woods's novels. His other audiobook credits include Andrew Vachss's Batman: The Ultimate Evil, Kurt Vonnegut's Cat's Cradle, and Spencer Johnson's Who Moved My Cheese?.

Personal life

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Roberts died of lung cancer at his Manhattan home on February 7, 2025, at the age of 85.[8]

Acting credits

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Film

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Year Title Role Director Notes Ref.
1971 The Million Dollar Duck Fred Hines Vincent McEveety [9]
1971 Star Spangled Girl Andy Hobart Jerry Paris [9]
1972 Play It Again, Sam Dick Herbert Ross [9]
1973 Serpico Bob Blair Sidney Lumet [9]
1974 The Taking of Pelham One Two Three Warren LaSalle Joseph Sargent [9]
1975 Le Sauvage Alex Fox Jean-Paul Rappeneau [9]
1977 Annie Hall Rob Woody Allen [9]
1980 Just Tell Me What You Want Mike Berger Sidney Lumet [9]
1980 Stardust Memories Tony Woody Allen [9]
1982 A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy Maxwell [9]
1983 Amityville 3-D John Baxter Richard Fleischer [9]
1985 Key Exchange David Slattery Barnet Kellman [9]
1986 Hannah and Her Sisters Norman Woody Allen [9]
1986 Seize the Day Bernie Pell Fielder Cook [9]
1987 Radio Days "Silver Dollar" Emcee Woody Allen [9]
1988 18 Again! Arnie Watson Paul Flaherty [9]
1991 Popcorn Professor Davis Mark Herrier [9]
1991 Switch Arnold Freidkin Blake Edwards [9]
1996 Apologies to Buñuel Steve Debbie Elbin [9]
1998 Dead Broke Walter Edward Vilga [9]
2001 My Best Friend's Wife Mr. Epstein Doug Finelli [9]
2005 Twelve and Holding Doctor Michael Cuesta [9]
2006 Well Fed and Comfortable Mr. Barnes Lou Howe Short film [9]
2013 An Anomaly Performer Charlie Scharfman Short film [9]
2014 The Longest Week Barry the Therapist Peter Glanz [9]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1965 The Trials of O'Brien Charlie 1 episode
1965, 1966 The Edge of Night Lee Pollock 2 episodes
1969 A Guide for the Married Man Ed Stander TV movie
1970 Men at Law Jack Halbert 1 episode
1971 Love, American Style Chris 1 episode
1971 Night Gallery Dr. Morris Levine 1 episode
1975 Phyllis Jerry 1 episode
1976 The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case Lt. Jim Finn TV movie
1976 Snafu Conroy TV movie
1977 McMillan and Wife Philip Bainbridge 1 episode
1978, 1979 The Love Boat Jack Chenault 3 episodes
1979 The Girls in the Office Mike Holden TV movie
1980 If Things Were Different Michael Boden TV movie
1982 A Question of Honor Marlowe TV movie
1983 Packin' It In Charlie Baumgartner TV movie
1983, 1985 Trapper John, M.D. Lawrence Kolleeny / Dr. Jerry Kulyn 2 episodes
1984 The Four Seasons Ted Bolen 13 episodes
1985 Finder of Lost Loves Thad Holcombe 1 episode
1985 The Lucie Arnaz Show Jim Gordon 6 episodes
1985 Hotel Brian Fox 1 episode
1987 A Different Affair Jeffrey Newman TV movie
1988 The Thorns Sloan Thorn 12 episodes
1991 Matlock Guy Palmer 1 episode
1991 The Carol Burnett Show Various skit characters 2 episodes
1991, 1994,
1998, 2010 		Law & Order Lucas Pollard / Nicholas Bennett
Paul Redfield / Senator Bryce Peterson 		4 episodes
1991 Our Sons Harry TV movie
1992 Murder, She Wrote Devon "Sonny" Lane 1 episode
1993 Not in My Family Psychotherapist TV movie
1993 The American Clock Jesse Livermore TV movie
1994 All My Children Dr. Eisenstein 1 episode
1995 The Case of the Jealous Jokester Ted Joplin Perry Mason TV movie
1995 Victor/Victoria Carol "Toddy" Todd TV movie
2001 The Concert for New York City Man on Bench Segment: "Sounds from a Town I Love"
TV movie and live concert special
2001 American Masters Narrator 1 episode
2004 Married to the Kellys Martin Wagner 1 episode
2008 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Ziggy Gold 1 episode
2015 Dinner with Family with Brett Gelman and Friends Tony Roberts / Himself TV movie
2017 Dirty Dancing Max Kellerman TV movie

Theater

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Year Title Role Venue Ref.
1962 Something About a Soldier Air Cadet / a Soldier Ambassador Theatre, Broadway [10]
1964 The Last Analysis Max Belasco Theatre, Broadway [11]
1965 Barefoot in the Park Paul Bratter Biltmore Theatre, Broadway [12]
1966–1968 Don't Drink the Water Axel Magee Morosco Theatre, Broadway [13]
1967–1968 How Now, Dow Jones Charlie Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, Broadway [14]
1969–1970 Play It Again, Sam Dick Christie Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway [15]
1970 Promises, Promises Chuck Baxter Shubert Theatre, Broadway [16]
1972–1973 Sugar Joe Majestic Theatre, Broadway [17]
1974–1976 Absurd Person Singular Geoffrey Music Box Theatre, Broadway [18]
1979–1981 They're Playing Our Song Vernon Hersch Imperial Theatre, Broadway [19]
1979 Murder at the Howard Johnson's Mitchell Lavell John Golden Theatre, Broadway [20]
1985–1986 Doubles George Ritz Theatre, Broadway [21]
1986–1987 Arsenic and Old Lace Mortimer Brewster 46th Street Theatre, Broadway [22]
1989–1990 Jerome Robbins' Broadway The Setter / Emcee / Pseudolus
/ Pa / Cigar / Tevye / Floy 		Imperial Theatre, Broadway [23]
1992–1993 The Seagull Dr. Dorn Lyceum Theatre, Broadway [24]
1994 The Sisters Rosensweig Mervyn Kant Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway [25]
1995–1997 Victor/Victoria Carroll "Toddy" Todd Marquis Theatre, Broadway [26]
2000–2002 The Tale of the Allergist's Wife Ira Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway [27]
2003–2004 Cabaret Herr Schultz Studio 54, Broadway [28]
2005 Endgame Hamm Irish Repertory Theatre, Off-Broadway [29]
2006 Barefoot in the Park Victor Velasco Cort Theatre, Broadway [30]
2007–2008 Xanadu Danny Maguire / Zeus Helen Hayes Theatre, Broadway [31]
2009 The Royal Family Oscar Wolfe Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, Broadway [32]

Radio

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Year Title Role Notes
1974–1977 CBS Radio Mystery Theatre Officer / Dan / Ned Murray / Prof. Steve Ramsey / Bill / Peter Jackson / David / Salvador / Harry / Steve / James Blake / Todd Stearns / Hugh / Mike Slater / Cash Haliday / Billy Chapman / various Various episodes

Awards and nominations

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References

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  1. ^ "Tony Roberts, Star File: Broadway.com Buzz". Broadway.com. 2011-03-19. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
  2. ^ Shapiro, T. Rees (2009-06-28). "Golden-Throated Announcer Introduced Soap Operas". Washington Post. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
  3. ^ "Death rattle of the world – with laughs". Thevillager.com. Retrieved 2011-08-22.
  4. ^ "Tony Roberts Best of Friends With Success: 'Victor/Victoria' - Jewish Exponent | HighBeam Research". May 17, 2011. Archived from the original on 2011-05-17. Retrieved Sep 5, 2020.
  5. ^ "Woody Allen's sidekick shares all". Jewish Journal. Jan 14, 2016. Retrieved Sep 5, 2020.
  6. ^ "Notable Alumni," Alumni & Friends of LaGuardia High School website. Accessed Feb. 29, 2016.
  7. ^ Kennedy, Mark (February 7, 2025). "Stage and film actor Tony Roberts, who often starred in Woody Allen movies, dies at 85". Associated Press.
  8. ^ Gates, Anita. "Tony Roberts, Nonchalant Fixture in Woody Allen Films, Dies at 85". The New York Times. Retrieved February 7, 2025.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y "Tony Roberts". IMDB. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  10. ^ "Something About a Soldier (Broadway, 1962)". Playbill. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  11. ^ "The Last Analysis (Broadway, 1964)". Playbill. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  12. ^ "Barefoot in the Park (Broadway, 1965)". Playbill. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  13. ^ "Don't Drink the Water (Broadway, 1966)". Playbill. Retrieved February 14, 2025.
  14. ^ "How Now, Dow Jones (Broadway, 1967)". Playbill. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  15. ^ "Play It Again, Sam (Broadway, 1969)". Playbill. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  16. ^ "Promises, Promises (Broadway, 1970)". Playbill. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  17. ^ "Sugar (Broadway, 1972)". Playbill. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  18. ^ "Absurd Person Singular (Broadway, 1974)". Playbill. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  19. ^ "They're Playing Our Song (Broadway, 1979)". Playbill. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  20. ^ "Murder at the Howard Johnson's (Broadway, 1979)". Playbill. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  21. ^ "Doubles (Broadway, 1985)". Playbill. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  22. ^ "Arsenic and Old Lace (Broadway, 1986)". Playbill. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  23. ^ "Jerome Robbins' Broadway (Broadway, 1989)". Playbill. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  24. ^ "The Seagull (Broadway, 1992)". Playbill. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
  25. ^ "The Sisters Rosensweig (Broadway, 1994)". Playbill. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  26. ^ "Victor/Victoria (Broadway, 1995)". Playbill. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  27. ^ "The Tale of the Allergist's Wife (Broadway, 2000)". Playbill. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  28. ^ "Cabaret (Broadway, 2003)". Playbill. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  29. ^ "Tony Roberts Stars in Irish Rep's Endgame, by Irish Master Beckett, in NYC". Playbill. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  30. ^ "Barefoot in the Park (Broadway, 2006)". Playbill. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  31. ^ "Xanadu (Broadway, 2007)". Playbill. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
  32. ^ "The Royal Family (Broadway, 2009)". Playbill. Retrieved February 13, 2025.
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