Tony Roberts, the veteran character actor known for his roles in Annie Hall and several other classic films of the 1970s, has passed away at the age of 85.
Roberts died at his Manhattan home on Friday due to complications from lung cancer, his daughter, Nicole Burley, confirmed to The New York Times.
Recognized for his steady and confident screen presence, Roberts was a frequent collaborator of Woody Allen, often portraying the filmmaker’s best friend in films like Annie Hall, Stardust Memories, and Hannah and Her Sisters. His composed demeanor made him a perfect foil to Allen’s neurotic characters, while his authoritative presence saw him cast in roles such as a police officer in Serpico and a deputy mayor in The Taking of Pelham One Two Three.
Born in Manhattan in 1939, Roberts honed his craft at the borough’s High School of Music & Art before attending Northwestern University on the advice of family friend Lee Strasberg. He graduated in 1961 and made his Broadway debut the following year in Something About a Soldier. He later starred in productions of Barefoot in the Park and How Now, Dow Jones, earning a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Play for the latter.
Tony Roberts in 2015.
Roberts’ long-running collaboration with Woody Allen began when he was cast in the filmmaker’s 1966 play Don’t Drink the Water. He later starred alongside Diane Keaton in the 1969 Broadway production of Play It Again, Sam, earning a Tony nomination. Both actors reprised their roles in the 1972 film adaptation, marking one of Roberts’ many on-screen performances in Allen’s films.
His most iconic role came in Annie Hall (1977), his first time working with Allen as a director. Playing the easygoing Rob, Roberts provided a stark contrast to Allen’s neurotic Alvy Singer, particularly as his character found success in Los Angeles—a place Alvy despised. The film won Best Picture at the 1978 Academy Awards and remains one of the most influential romantic comedies of all time.
Roberts continued his partnership with Allen in Stardust Memories (1980), A Midsummer Night’s Sex Comedy (1982), Hannah and Her Sisters (1986), and Radio Days (1987). Outside of Allen’s films, he played one of his few leading roles in the 1983 horror sequel Amityville 3-D and later appeared in Switch with Ellen Barkin and The Longest Week with Jason Bateman.
On television, Roberts had roles in The Edge of Night, The Love Boat, Matlock, The Carol Burnett Show, and Law & Order. His final screen credit was in the 2017 made-for-TV remake of Dirty Dancing.
Roberts leaves behind a legacy of memorable performances across film, television, and theater, with a career that spanned more than five decades.
