Tony Roberts (actor)

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).

Infobox

Born

David Anthony Roberts(1939-10-22)October 22, 1939New York City, U.S.

Died

February 7, 2025(2025-02-07) (aged 85)New York City, U.S.

Alma mater

Northwestern University

Occupation

Actor

Years active

1962–2017

Height

6 ft 1 in (185 cm)

Spouse

mw- Jennifer Lyons (m. 1969; div. 1975)

Children

Tables

· Acting credits › Film

1971

The Million Dollar Duck

Role(s)

Fred Hines

Notes

Vincent McEveety

Star Spangled Girl

Role(s)

Andy Hobart

Notes

Jerry Paris

1972

Play It Again, Sam

Role(s)

Dick

Notes

Herbert Ross

1973

Serpico

Role(s)

Bob Blair

Notes

Sidney Lumet

1974

The Taking of Pelham One Two Three

Role(s)

Warren LaSalle

Notes

Joseph Sargent

1975

Le Sauvage

Role(s)

Alex Fox

Notes

Jean-Paul Rappeneau

1977

Annie Hall

Role(s)

Rob

Notes

Woody Allen

1980

Just Tell Me What You Want

Role(s)

Mike Berger

Notes

Sidney Lumet

Stardust Memories

Role(s)

Tony

Notes

Woody Allen

1982

A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy

Role(s)

Maxwell

1983

Amityville 3-D

Role(s)

John Baxter

Notes

Richard Fleischer

1985

Key Exchange

Role(s)

David Slattery

Notes

Barnet Kellman

1986

Hannah and Her Sisters

Role(s)

Norman

Notes

Woody Allen

Seize the Day

Role(s)

Bernie Pell

Notes

Fielder Cook

1987

Radio Days

Role(s)

"Silver Dollar" Emcee

Notes

Woody Allen

1988

18 Again!

Role(s)

Arnie Watson

Notes

Paul Flaherty

1991

Popcorn

Role(s)

Professor Davis

Notes

Mark Herrier

Switch

Role(s)

Arnold Freidkin

Notes

Blake Edwards

1996

Apologies to Buñuel

Role(s)

Steve

Notes

Debbie Elbin

1998

Dead Broke

Role(s)

Walter

Notes

Edward Vilga

2001

My Best Friend's Wife

Role(s)

Mr. Epstein

Notes

Doug Finelli

2005

Twelve and Holding

Role(s)

Doctor

Notes

Michael Cuesta

2006

Well Fed and Comfortable

Role(s)

Mr. Barnes

Notes

Lou Howe

2013

An Anomaly

Role(s)

Performer

Notes

Charlie Scharfman

2014

The Longest Week

Role(s)

Barry the Therapist

Notes

Peter Glanz

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

· Acting credits › Television

1965

The Trials of O'Brien

Role(s)

Charlie

Notes

1 episode

1965, 1966

Role(s)

The Edge of Night

Notes

Lee Pollock

1969

A Guide for the Married Man

Role(s)

Ed Stander

Notes

TV movie

1970

Men at Law

Role(s)

Jack Halbert

Notes

1 episode

1971

Love, American Style

Role(s)

Chris

Notes

1 episode

Night Gallery

Role(s)

Dr. Morris Levine

Notes

1 episode

1975

Phyllis

Role(s)

Jerry

Notes

1 episode

1976

The Lindbergh Kidnapping Case

Role(s)

Lt. Jim Finn

Notes

TV movie

Snafu

Role(s)

Conroy

Notes

TV movie

1977

McMillan and Wife

Role(s)

Philip Bainbridge

Notes

1 episode

1978, 1979

Role(s)

The Love Boat

Notes

Jack Chenault

1979

The Girls in the Office

Role(s)

Mike Holden

Notes

TV movie

1980

If Things Were Different

Role(s)

Michael Boden

Notes

TV movie

1982

A Question of Honor

Role(s)

Marlowe

Notes

TV movie

1983

Packin' It In

Role(s)

Charlie Baumgartner

Notes

TV movie

1983, 1985

Role(s)

Trapper John, M.D.

Notes

Lawrence Kolleeny / Dr. Jerry Kulyn

1984

The Four Seasons

Role(s)

Ted Bolen

Notes

13 episodes

1985

Finder of Lost Loves

Role(s)

Thad Holcombe

Notes

1 episode

The Lucie Arnaz Show

Role(s)

Jim Gordon

Notes

6 episodes

Hotel

Role(s)

Brian Fox

Notes

1 episode

1987

A Different Affair

Role(s)

Jeffrey Newman

Notes

TV movie

1988

The Thorns

Role(s)

Sloan Thorn

Notes

12 episodes

1991

Matlock

Role(s)

Guy Palmer

Notes

1 episode

The Carol Burnett Show

Role(s)

Various skit characters

Notes

2 episodes

1991, 1994,1998, 2010

Role(s)

Law & Order

Notes

Lucas Pollard / Nicholas Bennett Paul Redfield / Senator Bryce Peterson

Our Sons

Role(s)

Harry

Notes

TV movie

1992

Murder, She Wrote

Role(s)

Devon "Sonny" Lane

Notes

1 episode

1993

Not in My Family

Role(s)

Psychotherapist

Notes

TV movie

The American Clock

Role(s)

Jesse Livermore

Notes

TV movie

1994

All My Children

Role(s)

Dr. Eisenstein

Notes

1 episode

1995

The Case of the Jealous Jokester

Role(s)

Ted Joplin

Notes

Perry Mason TV movie

Victor/Victoria

Role(s)

Carol "Toddy" Todd

Notes

TV movie

2001

The Concert for New York City

Role(s)

Man on Bench

Notes

Segment: "Sounds from a Town I Love"TV movie and live concert special

American Masters

Role(s)

Narrator

Notes

1 episode

2004

Married to the Kellys

Role(s)

Martin Wagner

Notes

1 episode

2008

Law & Order: Criminal Intent

Role(s)

Ziggy Gold

Notes

1 episode

2015

Dinner with Family with Brett Gelman and Friends

Role(s)

Tony Roberts / Himself

Notes

TV movie

2017

Dirty Dancing

Role(s)

Max Kellerman

Notes

TV movie

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

· Acting credits › Theater

1962

Something About a Soldier

Role(s)

Air Cadet / a Soldier

Notes

Ambassador Theatre, Broadway

1964

The Last Analysis

Role(s)

Max

Notes

Belasco Theatre, Broadway

1965

Barefoot in the Park

Role(s)

Paul Bratter

Notes

Biltmore Theatre, Broadway

1966–1968

Role(s)

Don't Drink the Water

Notes

Axel Magee

1967–1968

Role(s)

How Now, Dow Jones

Notes

Charlie

1969–1970

Role(s)

Play It Again, Sam

Notes

Dick Christie

1970

Promises, Promises

Role(s)

Chuck Baxter

Notes

Shubert Theatre, Broadway

1972–1973

Role(s)

Sugar

Notes

Joe

1974–1976

Role(s)

Absurd Person Singular

Notes

Geoffrey

1979–1981

Role(s)

They're Playing Our Song

Notes

Vernon Hersch

1979

Murder at the Howard Johnson's

Role(s)

Mitchell Lavell

Notes

John Golden Theatre, Broadway

1985–1986

Role(s)

Doubles

Notes

George

1986–1987

Role(s)

Arsenic and Old Lace

Notes

Mortimer Brewster

1989–1990

Role(s)

Jerome Robbins' Broadway

Notes

The Setter / Emcee / Pseudolus / Pa / Cigar / Tevye / Floy

1992–1993

Role(s)

The Seagull

Notes

Dr. Dorn

1994

The Sisters Rosensweig

Role(s)

Mervyn Kant

Notes

Ethel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway

1995–1997

Role(s)

Victor/Victoria

Notes

Carroll "Toddy" Todd

2000–2002

Role(s)

The Tale of the Allergist's Wife

Notes

Ira

2003–2004

Role(s)

Cabaret

Notes

Herr Schultz

2005

Endgame

Role(s)

Hamm

Notes

Irish Repertory Theatre, Off-Broadway

2006

Barefoot in the Park

Role(s)

Victor Velasco

Notes

Cort Theatre, Broadway

2007–2008

Role(s)

Xanadu

Notes

Danny Maguire / Zeus

2009

The Royal Family

Role(s)

Oscar Wolfe

Notes

Samuel J. Friedman Theatre, Broadway

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

· Acting credits › Radio

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1974–1982	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 / Peter Carlsen / Tim Lang / Tom Porter / Bobby Boyle / Stuart Belden / Dr. Harold W. Smiley / John Surratt / Ted / various other characters	82 episodes

References

"Tony Roberts, Star File: Broadway.com Buzz"
http://www.broadway.com/gen/Buzz_Star_File.aspx?ci=518664
Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/27/AR2009062702344.html
"Death rattle of the world – with laughs"
http://www.thevillager.com/villager_96/deathrattleoftheworld.html
"Tony Roberts Best of Friends With Success: 'Victor/Victoria' - Jewish Exponent | HighBeam Research"
https://web.archive.org/web/20110517011045/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-2391203.html
Jewish Journal
https://jewishjournal.com/culture/arts/hollywood/181275/woody-allens-sidekick-shares-all/
"Notable Alumni," Alumni & Friends of LaGuardia High School website. Accessed Feb. 29, 2016.
https://alumniandfriends.org/our-community/notable-alumni/
"Stage and film actor Tony Roberts, who often starred in Woody Allen movies, dies at 85"
https://apnews.com/article/tony-roberts-dies-e4aef9f7fa10479ba73b5528816bc6da
The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/02/07/movies/tony-roberts-dead.html
"Tony Roberts"
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0731634/
Playbill
https://playbill.com/production/something-about-a-soldier-ambassador-theatre-vault-0000001023
Playbill
https://playbill.com/production/the-last-analysis-belasco-theatre-vault-0000010805
Playbill
https://playbill.com/production/barefoot-in-the-park-biltmore-theatre-vault-0000001555
Playbill
https://playbill.com/production/dont-drink-the-water-morosco-theatre-vault-0000002406
Playbill
https://playbill.com/production/how-now-dow-jones-lunt-fontanne-theatre-vault-0000005069
Playbill
https://playbill.com/production/play-it-again-sam-broadhurst-theatre-vault-0000002045
Playbill
https://playbill.com/production/promises-promises-shubert-theatre-vault-0000010478
Playbill
https://playbill.com/production/sugar-majestic-theatre-vault-0000007833
Playbill
https://playbill.com/production/absurd-person-singular-music-box-theatre-vault-0000002602
Playbill
https://playbill.com/production/theyre-playing-our-song-imperial-theatre-vault-0000006039
Playbill
https://playbill.com/production/murder-at-the-howard-johnsons-john-golden-theatre-vault-0000008408
Playbill
https://playbill.com/production/doubles-ritz-theatre-vault-0000010062
Playbill
https://playbill.com/production/arsenic-and-old-lace-46th-street-theatre-vault-0000003089
Playbill
https://playbill.com/production/jerome-robbins-broadway-imperial-theatre-vault-0000006034
Playbill
https://playbill.com/production/the-seagull-lyceum-theatre-vault-0000007111
Playbill
https://playbill.com/production/the-sisters-rosensweig-ethel-barrymore-theatre-vault-0000004305
Playbill
https://playbill.com/production/victor-victoria-marquis-theatre-vault-0000008190
Playbill
https://playbill.com/production/the-tale-of-the-allergists-wife-ethel-barrymore-theatre-vault-0000004297
Playbill
https://playbill.com/production/cabaret-kit-kat-klub-vault-0000004928
Playbill
https://playbill.com/article/tony-roberts-stars-in-irish-reps-endgame-by-irish-master-beckett-in-nyc-com-124187
Playbill
https://playbill.com/production/barefoot-in-the-park-cort-theatre-vault-0000003469
Playbill
https://playbill.com/production/xanadu-helen-hayes-theatre-vault-0000006696
Playbill
https://playbill.com/production/the-royal-family-samuel-j-friedman-theatre-vault-0000001507