Pernell Roberts

Pernell Roberts (May 18, 1928 - January 24, 2010) was an American actor.

Pernell Roberts
Pernell Roberts in Bonanza episode Showdown (1).jpg
Born
Pernell Elvin Roberts Jr.

(1928-05-18)May 18, 1928
DiedJanuary 24, 2010(2010-01-24) (aged 81)
Cause of deathPancreatic cancer
NationalityAmerican
OccupationActor
Years active1950 – 2001

Career

Early in his career, Roberts got a small role in the film Desire Under the Elms (1958) with Sophia Loren and Anthony Perkins.

He worked in the western film starring Glenn Ford, The Sheepman (1958).

In 1959, Roberts got a co-star role in the western film Ride Lonesome, with Randolph Scott.

In 1959, he contracted with Lorne Greene, Michael Landon and Dan Blocker to star in the NBC television series Bonanza. Roberts played Adam Cartwright, the eldest son of Ben Cartwright (Lorne Greene).

Roberts left the show after starring in 202 episodes between 1959 and 1965

In the 1970s he starred in westerns such as Four Rode Out (1970) and TV Western The Bravos (1972) with George Peppard. He also starred in the television western High Noon, Part II: The Return of Will Kane (1980) with Lee Majors.

His other success in television was in the series Trapper John, M.D. (1979-1986). He played the doctor John McIntyre.

For this series, Pernell Roberts was nominated for an Emmy in 1981.

Roberts was a special guest star in many TV shows like Tombstone Territory (1958), Zane Grey Theater (1958), The Detectives starring Robert Taylor (1960), Jim West, Gunsmoke (1967), Mission Impossible (1967-1973), Banacek (1972), Mannix (1973), Police Story (1974-1975), The Six Million Dollar Man (1976), Baretta (1977), Vega$ (1980) and Diagnosis Murder (1994-1997).

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