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Roy Roberts
Actor

Roy Roberts

19 Mar 1906Born
28 May 1975Died
69Age at death
131Credits

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Roy Roberts (born Roy Barnes Jones; March 19, 1906 – May 28, 1975) was an American character actor. Over his more than 40-year career, he appeared in more than nine hundred productions on stage and screen.

Born in Tampa, Florida, Roberts began his acting career on stage with a stock company there. He left the Tampa company after a year to perform in touring stock theater for five years.

He first appeared on Broadway in May 1931 before making his motion picture debut in Gold Bricks, a 1936 two-reel comedy short released by 20th Century-Fox.

Read the full biography

He appeared in numerous films in secondary parts and returned to perform on Broadway in such productions as Twentieth Century, My Sister Eileen, and Carnival in Flanders until he began making guest appearances on television series. After appearing on Gale Storm's My Little Margie in 1956, he became part of several television series.

In a show that was the precursor to The Love Boat, Roberts played the ship's captain for four years in Storm's next hit, Oh! Susanna, which aired on CBS and ABC from 1956 to 1960. He guest-starred in scores of series, including the western-themed crime drama, Sheriff of Cochise, the western series, My Friend Flicka, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (as Texas cattle baron Shanghai Pierce, and The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters, and Brian Keith's Cold War drama, Crusader.

Roberts appeared on four episodes of the CBS legal drama, Perry Mason, including the role of murderer Arthur Janeel in the 1961 episode, "The Case of the Malicious Mariner."

During the middle 1960s, Roberts was one of the most recognizable faces on television, and had recurring roles concurrently on a number of popular programs, including:

Bank president Mr. Cheever on CBS's The Lucy Show

John Cushing, president of the rival Merchants Bank in several episodes of The Beverly Hillbillies

The judge in The Beverly Hillbillies "The Clampetts in Court"

Railroad president Norman Curtis on CBS's Petticoat Junction

Darrin's father Frank Stephens on ABC's Bewitched, alternating with actor Robert F. Simon depending upon availability.

Banker Harry Bodkin & Dodge House Proprietor Mr. Dobie on CBS's Gunsmoke

Neighbor Bruce MacDermott on ABC's Our Man Higgins

Preston "Press" Wasco and Kelly on the NBC western, Laredo

"Doc" on John Payne's The Restless Gun in the 1957 episode "Trail to Sunset"

Banker George Bristol on NBC's Bonanza

Admiral Rogers on McHale's Navy (in some episodes, his first name is given as "John" and in others his name is given as "Bruce").

Roberts died in St. Vincent's Hospital in Los Angeles, California, of a heart attack on May 28, 1975, and was interred at Greenwood Memorial Park in Fort Worth, Texas. CLR

Known for

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 131 credits.

  1. 2008The Munsters: Family PortraitFilm: Mr.Morgan
  2. 1975The Strongest Man in the WorldFilm: Mr. Roberts
  3. 1974ChinatownFilm: Mayor Bagby
  4. 1973The OutfitFilm: Sheriff Bob Caswell
  5. 1971The Million Dollar DuckFilm: The Judge (uncredited)
  6. 1969This Savage LandFilm: Dr. Mordecai Reynolds
  7. 1968Now You See It, Now You Don'tFilm: Mr. Stockman
  8. 1968The Doris Day ShowSeries: Thaddius Gilby (1 episode)
  9. 1968Here's LucySeries: Superintendent, Warden Magginetti, Dr. Jamison, Dr. Honeycutt (2 episodes)
  10. 1968It Takes a ThiefSeries (1 episode)
  11. 1967HotelFilm: Bailey
  12. 1966That GirlSeries (1 episode)
  13. 1965Green AcresSeries: Governor (2 episodes)
  14. 1965Look HomewardFilm: Mort Morgan
  15. 1964Those CallowaysFilm: E.J. Fletcher
  16. 1964The MunstersSeries: Mr. Morgan (1 episode)
  17. 1964The Addams FamilySeries: Thaddeus Logan (1 episode)
  18. 1964BewitchedSeries: Frank Stephens (4 episodes)
  19. 1963It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad WorldFilm: Policeman Outside Irwin & Ray's Garage
  20. 1963Petticoat JunctionSeries: Norman P. Curtis, Norman Curtis (7 episodes)
  21. 1962Kid GalahadFilm: Jerry Bathgate
  22. 1962McHale's NavySeries: Admiral Rogers (108 episodes)
  23. 1962The Chapman ReportFilm: Alan Roby
  24. 1962The Lucy ShowSeries: Admiral, Mr. Cheever (1 episode)
  25. 1962The Beverly HillbilliesSeries: Judge, John Cushing (1 episode)
  26. 1962The Underwater CityFilm: Tim Graham
  27. 1961The Dick Van Dyke ShowSeries: Henry Bermont, Mr. Boland (1 episode)
  28. 1960The Andy Griffith ShowSeries: J. Howard Jackson (1 episode)
  29. 1960My Three SonsSeries: Jerry Andrews (1 episode)
  30. 1959The Twilight ZoneSeries: Mr. Cooper (1 episode)
  31. 1959The Many Loves of Dobie GillisSeries: Nicholas J. Vanderfeller (1 episode)
  32. 1959BonanzaSeries: George Bristol, Jesse Fillmore (2 episodes)
  33. 1958LawmanSeries: John Kemper (1 episode)
  34. 1957The Restless GunSeries: Kit Springer, Doc (1 episode)
  35. 1957Perry MasonSeries: Arthur Janeel, Harvey Skeen, Henry Thomas, W. L. Picard (1 episode)
  36. 1956Massacre at Sand CreekFilm: Colonel Collery
  37. 1956The King and Four QueensFilm: Sheriff Tom Larrabee
  38. 1956The White SquawFilm: Edward Purvis, Indian Agent
  39. 1956Yaqui DrumsFilm: Matt Quigg
  40. 1956The BossFilm: Tim Brady
  41. 1956The Gale Storm ShowSeries: Capt. Simon P. Huxley (126 episodes)
  42. 1956The First TexanFilm: Col. Sam Sherman
  43. 1956BacklashFilm: Major Carson
  44. 1955CrossroadsSeries: Harvey Wiley (1 episode)
  45. 1955Screen Director's PlayhouseSeries: Gen. Lafferty, Judge (1 episode)
  46. 1955The 20th Century Fox HourSeries: Lowrie, Dan Chancellor (1 episode)
  47. 1955CheyenneSeries: Sen. Matson (1 episode)
  48. 1955GunsmokeSeries: Mr. Bodkin, Mr. Dobie, Billy (15 episodes)
  49. 1955The Life and Legend of Wyatt EarpSeries: A.H. 'Shanghai' Pierce (1 episode)
  50. 1955The Last CommandFilm: Dr. Summerfield
  51. 1955I Cover the UnderworldFilm: District Attorney
  52. 1955Stranger on HorsebackFilm: Sam Kettering
  53. 1955Big House, U.S.AFilm: Chief Ranger Will Erickson
  54. 1954They Rode WestFilm: Sgt. Creever
  55. 1954The Wonderful World of DisneySeries: James Whitfield (1 episode)
  56. 1954The Adventures of Rin Tin TinSeries: Tom Rogers (1 episode)
  57. 1954Studio 57Series: Nick (1 episode)
  58. 1954Dawn at SocorroFilm: Doc Jameson
  59. 1954The Outlaw StallionFilm: Hagen
  60. 1954The StrikeFilm: Chaplain Walker
  61. 1954The Lone WolfSeries: Caradoc (1 episode)
  62. 1954Wyoming RenegadesFilm: Sheriff McVey
  63. 1953TumbleweedFilm: Nick Buckley
  64. 1953Sea of Lost ShipsFilm: Captain of the 'Eagle'
  65. 1953The Pepsi-Cola PlayhouseSeries (1 episode)
  66. 1953Second ChanceFilm: Charley Malloy
  67. 1953The Glory BrigadeFilm: Sgt. Chuck Anderson
  68. 1953The Lone HandFilm: Mr. Skaggs
  69. 1953House of WaxFilm: Matthew Burke
  70. 1953San AntoneFilm: John Chisum
  71. 1953You Are ThereSeries: Dr. Dunn (1 episode)
  72. 1953The Man Behind The GunFilm: Sen. Mark Sheldon
  73. 1952Stars and Stripes ForeverFilm: Maj. George Porter Houston
  74. 1952Battles of Chief PontiacFilm: Maj. Gladwin
  75. 1952Cripple CreekFilm: Marshal John Tetheroe
  76. 1952Skirts Ahoy!Film: Captain Graymont
  77. 1952Hoodlum EmpireFilm: Police Chief
  78. 1952The Big TreesFilm: Judge Crenshaw
  79. 1952The Cimarron KidFilm: Pat Roberts
  80. 1951The Man with a CloakFilm: Policeman

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.