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 Roberts was born in Manhattan, New York City, the son of radio announcer Ken Roberts and Norma (née Finkelstein), an animator. His family was Jewish. Roberts attended the High School of Music & Art"Notable Alumni," Alumni & Friends of LaGuardia High School website. Accessed Feb. 29, 2016. and Northwestern University, and he made his Broadway debut in 1962 with a role in the play Something About a Soldier.
Career
Roberts often 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. 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 and death Roberts was married to Jennifer Lyons from 1969 until they divorced in 1975. They had one child.
Roberts died of lung cancer at his Manhattan home on February 7, 2025 at the age of 85.
Acting credits Film 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 1980Stardust Memories TonyWoody Allen 1982 A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy Maxwell 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
Television Year Title Role Notes1965The Trials of O'Brien Charlie1 episode1965, 1966The Edge of NightLee Pollock2 episodes1969A Guide for the Married ManEd StanderTV movie1970Men at Law Jack Halbert1 episode1971Love, American Style Chris1 episode1971Night Gallery Dr. Morris Levine1 episode1975PhyllisJerry1 episode1976The Lindbergh Kidnapping CaseLt. Jim FinnTV movie1976Snafu ConroyTV movie1977McMillan and Wife Philip Bainbridge1 episode1978, 1979The Love BoatJack Chenault3 episodes1979The Girls in the OfficeMike HoldenTV movie1980If Things Were DifferentMichael BodenTV movie1982A Question of HonorMarloweTV movie1983Packin' It In Charlie BaumgartnerTV movie1983, 1985Trapper John, M.D. Lawrence Kolleeny / Dr. Jerry Kulyn2 episodes1984The Four SeasonsTed Bolen13 episodes1985Finder of Lost LovesThad Holcombe1 episode1985The Lucie Arnaz Show Jim Gordon6 episodes1985HotelBrian Fox1 episode1987A Different Affair Jeffrey NewmanTV movie1988The Thorns Sloan Thorn12 episodes1991Matlock Guy Palmer1 episode1991The Carol Burnett ShowVarious skit characters2 episodes1991, 1994,1998, 2010Law & OrderLucas Pollard / Nicholas Bennett Paul Redfield / Senator Bryce Peterson4 episodes1991Our Sons HarryTV movie1992Murder, She WroteDevon "Sonny" Lane1 episode1993Not in My FamilyPsychotherapistTV movie1993The American ClockJesse LivermoreTV movie1994All My Children Dr. Eisenstein1 episode1995The Case of the Jealous Jokester Ted JoplinPerry Mason TV movie1995Victor/Victoria Carol "Toddy" ToddTV movie2001The Concert for New York CityMan on BenchSegment: "Sounds from a Town I Love"TV movie and live concert special2001American Masters Narrator1 episode2004Married to the Kellys Martin Wagner1 episode2008Law & Order: Criminal Intent Ziggy Gold1 episode2015Dinner with Family with Brett Gelman and FriendsTony Roberts / HimselfTV movie2017Dirty DancingMax KellermanTV movie
Theater Year Title Role Venue Ref. 1962Something About a SoldierAir Cadet / a SoldierAmbassador Theatre, Broadway 1964The Last AnalysisMaxBelasco Theatre, Broadway 1965Barefoot in the ParkPaul BratterBiltmore Theatre, Broadway 1966–1968Don't Drink the WaterAxel MageeMorosco Theatre, Broadway 1967–1968How Now, Dow JonesCharlieLunt-Fontanne Theatre, Broadway1969–1970Play It Again, SamDick ChristieBroadhurst Theatre, Broadway 1970Promises, PromisesChuck BaxterShubert Theatre, Broadway 1972–1973SugarJoeMajestic Theatre, Broadway 1974–1976Absurd Person SingularGeoffreyMusic Box Theatre, Broadway 1979–1981They're Playing Our SongVernon HerschImperial Theatre, Broadway 1979Murder at the Howard Johnson'sMitchell LavellJohn Golden Theatre, Broadway1985–1986DoublesGeorgeRitz Theatre, Broadway1986–1987Arsenic and Old LaceMortimer Brewster46th Street Theatre, Broadway1989–1990Jerome Robbins' BroadwayThe Setter / Emcee / Pseudolus / Pa / Cigar / Tevye / FloyImperial Theatre, Broadway 1992–1993The SeagullDr. DornLyceum Theatre, Broadway1994The Sisters RosensweigMervyn KantEthel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway1995–1997Victor/VictoriaCarroll "Toddy" ToddMarquis Theatre, Broadway2000–2002The Tale of the Allergist's WifeIraEthel Barrymore Theatre, Broadway2003–2004CabaretHerr SchultzStudio 54, Broadway 2005EndgameHammIrish Repertory Theatre, Off-Broadway2006Barefoot in the ParkVictor VelascoCort Theatre, Broadway2007–2008XanaduDanny Maguire / ZeusHelen Hayes Theatre, Broadway2009The Royal FamilyOscar WolfeSamuel J. Friedman Theatre, Broadway
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 characters82 episodes
Awards and nominations How Now, Dow Jones — Nominee — Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical (1968) Play It Again, Sam — Nominee — Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play (1969)
References
External links
Tony Roberts at Internet Off-Broadway Database
Tony Roberts - Downstage Center interview at American Theatre Wing.org Tony Roberts article in The New York Observer