Tony Roberts was a two-time Tony Award-nominated stage star who was also known for his work in a series of Woody Allen films, most notably 1977’s “Annie Hall.”
- Died: February 7, 2025 (Who else died on February 7?)
- Details of death: Died in New York City of lung cancer at the age of 85.
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Tony Roberts’ legacy
Roberts is best known to audiences as a frequent sidekick to Woody Allen in Allen’s films, most notably his turn in 1977’s “Annie Hall,” but Roberts’ career highlights extended off the screen and onto the stage, where he was a two-time Tony Award-nominated performer.
The Manhattan native made his Broadway debut in 1962 in “Something About a Soldier.” He spent most of the decade on stage, performing in “Never Too Late,” “Barefoot in the Park,” and other productions. In 1968 and ’69, Roberts was nominated for successive Tony Awards, for “How Now, Dow Jones” and “Play It Again, Sam,” respectively. Even after later transitioning to screen work, he never fully stepped away from the stage, performing in dozens of musicals and comedies over the years, most recently in “Xanadu” in 2007-2008, and “The Royal Family” in 2009.
He made his screen debut in the ‘60s, too, with a few small television roles, but it was Roberts’ acting in the 1972 screen version of “Play It Again, Sam,” written by Allen, that began the long collaborative link for which he is best known. His other performances with the writer-director include “Stardust Memories,” “A Midsummer Night’s Sex Comedy,” “Hannah and Her Sisters,” and “Radio Days.”
Other highlights of Roberts on screens both big and small include him playing Bob Blair in 1973’s cop classic, “Serpico” and being featured in “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three” the following year, as well as television appearances on “Matlock,” “Murder, She Wrote,” and “All My Children.” Roberts also did extensive radio work, especially for the 1970s drama series, “CBS Radio Mystery Theater.”
Tributes to Tony Roberts
Full obituary: The New York Times
