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Pernell Roberts (1928–2010)

Actor | Soundtrack

Best recalled as the eldest son and first member of the "Bonanza" Cartwright clan to permanently leave the Ponderosa in the hopes of greener acting pastures, dark, deep-voiced and durably handsome Pernell Roberts' native roots lay in Georgia. Born Pernell Elvin Roberts, Jr. on May 18, 1928, in Waycross... See full bio »

Born:

Pernell Elvin Roberts Jr.
in Waycross, Georgia, USA

Died:

(age 81) in Malibu, California, USA
Still of Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Dan Blocker and Pernell Roberts in Bonanza Still of Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Dan Blocker and Pernell Roberts in Bonanza Still of Lorne Greene, Dan Blocker and Pernell Roberts in Bonanza Still of Lorne Greene, Michael Landon, Dan Blocker and Pernell Roberts in Bonanza
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Nominated for Primetime Emmy. Another 1 win & 1 nomination See more awards »

Known For


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Filmography

Hide HideActor (100 titles)
1994-1997 Diagnosis Murder (TV series)
Dr. Elliott Valin / George Fallon
– Hard-Boiled Murder (1997) … George Fallon
– The Last Laugh: Part One (1994) … Dr. Elliott Valin
 
1990 Donor (TV movie)
Dr. Martingale
 
1990 The Young Riders (TV series)
Hezekiah Horn
– Requiem for a Hero (1990) … Hezekiah Horn
 
1990 Checkered Flag
Andrew Valiant
 
1989 Perry Mason: The Case of the All-Star Assassin (TV movie)
Thatcher Horton
 
1989 Around the World in 80 Days (TV mini-series)
Captain Speedy
– Episode #1.2 (1989) … Captain Speedy
– Episode #1.1 (1989) … Captain Speedy
– Episode #1.3 … Captain Speedy
 
1988 The Night Train to Kathmandu (TV movie)
Prof. Harry Hadley-Smithe
 
1987 Desperado (TV movie)
Marshal Dancey
 
1979-1986 Trapper John, M.D. (TV series)
Dr. John Francis Xavier 'Trapper' McIntyre
– Elusive Butterfly (1986) … Dr. John Francis Xavier 'Trapper' McIntyre
– Strange Bedfellows (1986) … Dr. John Francis Xavier 'Trapper' McIntyre
– Research and Destroy (1986) … Dr. John Francis Xavier 'Trapper' McIntyre
– Self-Diagnosis (1986) … Dr. John Francis Xavier 'Trapper' McIntyre
– The Curmudgeon (1986) … Dr. John Francis Xavier 'Trapper' McIntyre
See all 151 episodes »
 
1983 Hotel (TV series)
Charles Stanton
– Hotel (1983) … Charles Stanton
 
1981 Incident at Crestridge (TV movie)
Mayor Hill
 
1980 High Noon, Part II: The Return of Will Kane (TV movie)
Marshal J.D. Ward
 
1980 The Love Boat (TV series)
Brian Mallory
– The Mallory Quest/Julie, the Vamp/The Offer: Part 1 (1980) … Brian Mallory
– The Mallory Quest/Julie, the Vamp/The Offer: Part 2 (1980) … Brian Mallory
 
1978-1980 Vega$ (TV series)
Mr. Logan / Pete Sedgewick
– Aloha, You're Dead: Part 1 (1980) … Mr. Logan
– Aloha, You're Dead: Part 2 (1980) … Mr. Logan
– Milliken's Stash (1978) … Pete Sedgewick
 
1979 Hot Rod (TV movie)
Sheriff Marsden
 
1979 The Night Rider (TV movie)
Alex Sheridan
 
1979 The Paper Chase (TV series)
Professor Marc Justin
– A Case of Detente (1979) … Professor Marc Justin
 
1978 The Immigrants (TV movie)
Anthony Cassala
 
1978 Centennial (TV mini-series)
General Asher
– The Massacre (1978) … General Asher
– For as Long as the Waters Flow (1978) … General Asher
 
1977-1978 Quincy M.E. (TV series)
Dr. Chester Banning / Sheriff Connelly
– Death by Good Intentions (1978) … Dr. Chester Banning
– Visitors in Paradise (1977) … Sheriff Connelly
 
1978 The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (TV series)
Detective Superintendant Molly / Fire Chief Madison
– Assault on the Tower (1978) … Detective Superintendant Molly
– Arson and Old Lace (1978) … Fire Chief Madison
 
1978 The Magic of Lassie
Jamison
 
1978 The Rockford Files (TV series)
B.J. Anderson
– The House on Willis Avenue (1978) … B.J. Anderson
 
1977 Man from Atlantis (TV series)
Clint Hollister
– Shoot-Out at Land's End (1977) … Clint Hollister
 
1977 Westside Medical (TV series)
Walt Dahlman
– Risks (1977) … Walt Dahlman
 
1977 Charlie Cobb: Nice Night for a Hanging (TV movie)
Sheriff Yates
 
1977 The Feather and Father Gang (TV series)
Meminger
– The Golden Fleece (1977) … Meminger
 
1977 The Streets of San Francisco (TV series)
Charley Finn
– Breakup (1977) … Charley Finn
 
1977 Police Woman (TV series)
Wagner
– Deadline: Death (1977) … Wagner
 
1977 Most Wanted (TV series)
Bailey
– The Driver (1977) … Bailey
 
1977 Baretta (TV series)
Johnny Hillman
– The Reunion (1977) … Johnny Hillman
 
1977 Switch (TV series)
Barnes
– Camera Angles (1977) … Barnes
 
1977 Barnaby Jones (TV series)
Daniel Matthews
– Testament of Power (1977) … Daniel Matthews
 
1976 Captains and the Kings (TV mini-series)
Braithwaite
– Chapter II (1976) … Braithwaite
 
1976 The Quest (TV series)
– The Last of the Mountain Men
 
1976 Paco
Pompiho
 
1976 Bert D'Angelo/Superstar (TV series)
– A Concerned Citizen (1976)
 
1976 Jigsaw John (TV series)
Roger
– Death at the Party (1976) … Roger
 
1976 The Six Million Dollar Man (TV series)
Mark Wharton
– Hocus-Pocus (1976) … Mark Wharton
 
1976 Cannon (TV series)
Cleary / Phil Denton
– The House of Cards (1976) … Cleary/Phil Denton
 
1975 Bronk (TV series)
Collicos
– Deception (1975) … Collicos
 
1975 The Wide World of Mystery (TV series)
Mike
– Alien Lover (1975) … Mike
 
1975 The Lives of Jenny Dolan (TV movie)
Camera Shop Proprietor
 
1975 Ellery Queen (TV series)
Barney Groves / Maj. George Pearson / Rosh Kaleel
– The Adventure of Colonel Nivin's Memoirs (1975) … Rosh Kaleel/Barney Groves/Maj. George Pearson
 
1975 The Deadly Tower (TV movie)
Lieutenant Lee
 
1975 Medical Story (TV series)
Dr. Louis Kinoy
– Test Case (1975) … Dr. Louis Kinoy
 
1975 Dead Man on the Run (TV movie)
Brock Dillon
 
1974-1975 Police Story (TV series)
Charlie Rivas / Sgt. Sal Grosser
– To Steal a Million (1975) … Sgt. Sal Grosser
– Chief (1974) … Charlie Rivas
 
1968-1975 Ironside (TV series)
Frank Vincent / Harry Blocker
– The Organizer (1975) … Harry Blocker
– To Kill a Cop (1968) … Frank Vincent
 
1974 Nakia (TV series)
– Roots of Anger (1974)
 
1974 The Odd Couple (TV series)
Billy Joe
– Strike Up the Band or Else (1974) … Billy Joe
 
1974 Hawkins (TV series)
Senator Griffith
– Candidate for Murder (1974) … Senator Griffith
 
1973 Mannix (TV series)
George Fallon
– Little Girl Lost (1973) … George Fallon
 
1967-1973 Mission: Impossible (TV series)
Boomer / Chief Manuel Corba / Colonel Hans Krim / …
– Imitation (1973) … Boomer
– Death Squad (1970) … Chief Manuel Corba
– The Mercenaries (1968) … Colonel Hans Krim
– Operation 'Heart' (1967) … President Beyron Rurich
 
1971-1973 Marcus Welby, M.D. (TV series)
Roger / Tom Boyd
– The Day After Forever (1973) … Tom Boyd
– Tender Comrade (1971) … Roger
 
1972 Banacek (TV series)
Matthew Donniger
– To Steal a King (1972) … Matthew Donniger
 
1972 The Sixth Sense (TV series)
Paul Pettigrew
– I Did Not Mean to Slay Thee (1972) … Paul Pettigrew
 
1972 Rod Serling's Night Gallery (TV series)
Joe Bellman
– I Did Not Mean to Slay Thee (1972) … Joe Bellman
– Green Fingers/The Funeral/The Tune in Dan's Cafe (1972) … Joe Bellman
 
1972 Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law (TV series)
– The Trouble with Ralph (1972)
 
1972 Assignment: Munich (TV movie)
C.C. Bryan
 
1972 Adventures of Nick Carter (TV movie)
Neal Duncan
 
1972 The Bravos (TV movie)
Jackson Buckley
 
1971-1972 Alias Smith and Jones (TV series)
Sam Finrock / Terence Tynan
– 21 Days to Tenstrike (1972) … Terence Tynan
– Exit from Wickenburg (1971) … Sam Finrock
 
1966-1971 The Virginian (TV series)
Jim Boyer Sr. / Stranger
– Wolf Track (1971) … Stranger
– The Long Way Home (1966) … Jim Boyer Sr.
 
1971 Hawaii Five-O (TV series)
Lon Phillips
– The Grandstand Play: Part II (1971) … Lon Phillips
– The Grandstand Play: Part I (1971) … Lon Phillips
 
1969-1971 The Name of the Game (TV series)
Ernie Subich / Hank
– Beware of the Watchdog (1971) … Ernie Subich
– Chains of Command (1969) … Hank
 
1971 The Bold Ones: The New Doctors (TV series)
Dr. Bartell
– A Matter of Priorities (1971) … Dr. Bartell
 
1970 San Francisco International Airport (TV series)
Jim Conrad
– San Francisco International (1970) … Jim Conrad
 
1970 Four Rode Out
U.S. Marshal Ross
 
1970 The Kashmiri Run
 
1969 The Silent Gun (TV movie)
Sam Benner
 
1969 Lancer (TV series)
Banning
– Welcome to Genesis (1969) … Banning
 
1967-1968 The Big Valley (TV series)
Ed Tanner / Patrick Madigan
– Run of the Cat (1968) … Ed Tanner
– Cage of Eagles (1967) … Patrick Madigan
 
1967 CBS Playhouse (TV series)
Lenny Marshall
– Dear Friends (1967) … Lenny Marshall
 
1957-1967 Gunsmoke (TV series)
Dave Reeves / Nat Pilcher
– Stranger in Town (1967) … Dave Reeves
– How to Kill a Woman (1957) … Nat Pilcher
 
1967 The Wild Wild West (TV series)
Sean O'Reilley
– The Night of the Firebrand (1967) … Sean O'Reilley
 
1967 Carousel (TV movie)
Jigger Craigin
 
1966 The Girl from U.N.C.L.E. (TV series)
Joey Celeste
– The Little John Doe Affair (1966) … Joey Celeste
 
1959-1965 Bonanza (TV series)
Adam Cartwright
– Patchwork Man (1965) … Adam Cartwright (credit only)
– The Spotlight (1965) … Adam Cartwright (credit only)
– The Jonah (1965) … Adam Cartwright (credit only)
– The Return (1965) … Adam Cartwright
– Lothario Larkin (1965) … Adam Cartwright
See all 199 episodes »
 
1960 The Detectives (TV series)
Rod Halleck
– House Call (1960) … Rod Halleck
 
1959 Buckskin (TV series)
Oscar
– A Question of Courage (1959) … Oscar
 
1959 77 Sunset Strip (TV series)
Tony Gray
– Abra-Cadaver (1959) … Tony Gray
 
1959 Alcoa Presents: One Step Beyond (TV series)
Sgt. Vaill
– The Vision (1959) … Sgt. Vaill
 
1959 Bronco (TV series)
Reverend David Clayton
– The Belles of Silver Flat (1959) … Reverend David Clayton
 
1959 Cimarron City (TV series)
O'Hara
– Have Sword - Will Duel (1959) … O'Hara
 
1959 Lawman (TV series)
Fent Harley
– The Posse (1959) … Fent Harley
 
1959 Ride Lonesome
Sam Boone
 
1958-1959 G.E. True Theater (TV series)
Abner / Phil
– The Stone (1959) … Abner
– No Hiding Place (1958) … Phil
 
1958 Zane Grey Theater (TV series)
Jet Mason / Lew Banning
– Pressure Point (1958) … Lew Banning
– Utopia, Wyoming (1958) … Jet Mason
 
1958 Shirley Temple's Storybook (TV series)
Count DeSpard / Count Schoenfeld / Thorabore
– The Emperor's New Clothes (1958) … Count DeSpard
– Hiawatha (1958)
– The Sleeping Beauty (1958) … Thorabore
– Rumpelstiltskin (1958) … Count Schoenfeld
 
1958 Northwest Passage (TV series)
Captain Jacques Chavez
– The Assassin (1958) … Captain Jacques Chavez
 
1957-1958 Matinee Theatre (TV series)
Don John / Hassan
– Much Ado About Nothing: Part 2 (1958) … Don John
– Much Ado About Nothing: Part 1 (1958) … Don John
– The Heart's Desire (1957) … Hassan
 
1958 Tombstone Territory (TV series)
Johnny Coster
– Pick up the Gun (1958) … Johnny Coster
 
1958 The Sheepman
Chocktaw Neal
 
1958 Have Gun - Will Travel (TV series)
Maury Travis
– Hey Boy's Revenge (1958) … Maury Travis
 
1958 Desire Under the Elms
Peter Cabot
 
1958 Whirlybirds (TV series)
Reynolds
– Search for an Unknown Man (1958) … Reynolds
 
1957-1958 Sugarfoot (TV series)
Deuce Braden / Salt River Smith
– Man Wanted (1958) … Deuce Braden
– Misfire (1957) … Salt River Smith
 
1958 Trackdown (TV series)
Bannion
– The Reward (1958) … Bannion
 
1956 Kraft Theatre (TV series)
– Shadow of Suspicion (1956)
 
Show ShowSoundtrack (1 title)
1961-1964 Bonanza (TV series)
– The Cheating Game (1964) ("A Mighty Fortress is Our God Ein' Feste Burg" - uncredited)
– Song in the Dark (1963) (performer: "Under The Red Rock Rim")
– The Wooing of Abigail Jones (1962) (performer: "Early One Morning")
– Broken Ballad (1961) (performer: "Broken Ballad" - uncredited, "Until I Find the Only One for Me" - uncredited)
 
Show ShowThanks (1 title)
2004 The Last Shot (special thanks)
 
Show ShowSelf (15 titles)
1991-1993 FBI: The Untold Stories (TV series)
Himself - Host
– Dapper Drew (1993) … Himself - Host
– The Miller Extortion (1993) … Himself - Host
– Copnap (1993) … Himself - Host
– Breakpoint (1993) … Himself - Host
– Ring of Hostages (1992) … Himself - Host
See all 27 episodes »
 
1986 Realm of the Alligator (documentary)
Himself - Narrator (voice)
 
1985 Circus of the Stars #10 (TV special documentary)
Himself
 
1985 Night of 100 Stars II (TV movie)
Himself
 
1982 Battle of the Network Stars XII (TV special)
Himself - CBS Team Captain
 
1982 Night of 100 Stars (TV special)
Himself
 
1981 Battle of the Network Stars XI (TV special)
Himself - CBS Team Captain
 
1981 The 33rd Annual Emmy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Nominee: Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series
 
1972 The David Frost Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #4.124 (1972) … Himself
 
1968 The Joey Bishop Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #2.211 (1968) … Himself
 
1965 The Merv Griffin Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #3.38 (1965) … Himself
– Episode #2.51 (1965) … Himself
– Episode #2.23 (1965) … Himself
 
1965 The Ed Sullivan Show (TV series)
Himself
– Episode #18.34 (1965) … Himself
 
1964 Chevrolet's Bewitching Bonanza (short)
Himself
 
1964 You Don't Say (TV series)
Himself
– Episode dated 2 March 1964 (1964) … Himself
 
1961 The Errand Boy
Himself - Cameo Appearance as Adam Cartwright (uncredited)
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (3 titles)
2010 The 62nd Primetime Emmy Awards (TV special)
Himself - Memorial Tribute
 
2008 The O'Reilly Factor (TV series)
 
1993 Back to Bonanza (TV movie)
Adam Cartwright
 

Related Videos

Ellery Queen: Season 1: Episode 7 -- While on a book tour, WWII spy Colonel Alec Nivin is found dead in his hotel room. The Young Riders: Season 2: Episode 8 -- Cody's hero (Pernell Roberts), a legendary figure from the Old West, teaches him about responsibility. Alias Smith and Jones: Season 2: Episode 15 -- Heyes and Curry join a cattle drive that evolves into a murder spree.
See all 4 »
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Personal Details

Other Works:

Narrated the 2-hour History Channel program titled The Mountain Men [1999]. See more »

Publicity Listings:

4 Articles  | See more »

Height:

6' 1" (1.85 m)
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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

When questioned if he was sorry for leaving his role on Bonanza: God no! I'm just sorry I wasn't able to get out of my contract and leave sooner. So the other made millions. How much does one person need to live? I've never needed or wanted that much. See more »

Trivia:

Had one son, Jonathan Christopher Roberts (b. October 1951, d. 1989), with 1st wife Vera Mowry. See more »

Trademark:

Baritone voice See more »

Nickname:

The Liberal Cartwright See more »

Star Sign:

Taurus