NEW YORK (AP) 鈥 Tony Roberts, a versatile, Tony Award-nominated theater performer at home in both plays and musicals and who appeared in several Woody Allen movies 鈥 often as Allen's best friend 鈥 has died. He was 85.
Roberts鈥 death to The New York Times by his daughter, Nicole Burley.
Roberts had a genial stage personality perfect for musical comedy and he originated roles in such diverse Broadway musicals as "How Now, Dow Jones" (1967); "Sugar" (1972), an adaptation of the movie "Some Like It Hot," and "Victor/Victoria" (1995), in which he co-starred with Julie Andrews when she returned to Broadway in the stage version of her popular film. He also was in the campy, roller-disco "Xanadu" in 2007 and "The Royal Family" in 2009.
鈥淚鈥檝e never been particularly lucky at card games. I鈥檝e never hit a jackpot. But I have been extremely lucky in life,鈥 he write in his memoir, 鈥淒o You Know Me?鈥 鈥淯nlike many of my pals, who didn鈥檛 know what they wanted to become when they grew up, I knew I wanted to be an actor before I got to high school.鈥
Roberts also appeared on Broadway in the 1966 Woody Allen comedy "Don't Drink the Water," repeating his role in the film version, and in Allen's "Play It Again, Sam" (1969), for which he also made the movie.
Other Allen films in which Roberts appeared were "Annie Hall" (1977), "Stardust Memories" (1980), "A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy" (1982), "Hannah and Her Sisters" (1986) and "Radio Days" (1987).
鈥淩oberts鈥 confident onscreen presence 鈥 not to mention his tall frame, broad shoulders and brown curly mane 鈥 was the perfect foil for AllenB次元官网网址 various neurotic characters, making them more funny and enjoyable to watch,鈥 .
In Eric Lax's book "Woody Allen: A Biography," Roberts recalled a complicated scene in "A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy" that Allen shot over and over 鈥 even after the film had been edited 鈥 to get his intended effect.
"When you go back to see (Allen's work) two, three, four times, you begin to see the amazing amount of art in it, that nothing is accidental," Roberts said.
Among his other movies were "Serpico" (1973) and "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three" (1974).
He was nominated twice for a Tony Award 鈥 for "How Now, Dow Jones" and "Play It Again, Sam," when he was billed as Anthony Roberts.
One of Roberts' biggest Broadway successes was Charles Busch's hit comedy "The Tale of the Allergist's Wife" (2000), in which he played the title character's husband.
Roberts, who made his Broadway debut in 1962 in the short-lived "Something B次元官网网址 a Soldier," also was a replacement in some of its longest-running hits including "Barefoot in the Park," "Promises, "Promises," "They're Playing Our Song," "Jerome Robbins' Broadway," "The Sisters Rosensweig" and the 1998 Roundabout Theatre Company revival of "Cabaret."
鈥淚 was lucky enough to get in on the last years of the Golden Age of Broadway. In that era there was a lot more going on that seemed to have high quality about it and great conviction,鈥 he
In London, he starred with Betty Buckley in the West End production of "Promises, Promises," playing the Jack Lemmon role in this stage version of "The Apartment."
Roberts' television credits include the short-lived series "The Four Seasons" (1984) and "The Lucie Arnaz Show" (1985) as well as guest spots on such well-known shows as "Murder, She Wrote" and "Law & Order."
Roberts was born in New York on Oct. 22, 1939, the son of radio and television announced Ken Roberts.
"I was raised in the middle of a lot of actor talk," he told the AP in 1985. "My cousin was Everett Sloane, who was a very fine actor. My father's friends were mostly actors. I'm sure that in some way I needed to prove myself in their eyes."
He attended the High School of Music and Art in New York and graduated from Northwestern University in Illinois.
His marriage to Jennifer Lyons ended in divorce. He is survived by his daughter, the actor Nicole Burley.
He first met Allen backstage when he was starring in 鈥淏arefoot in the Park,鈥 having replaced Robert Redford. Roberts had unsuccessfully auditioned four times for AllenB次元官网网址 first Broadway play, 鈥淒on鈥檛 Drink the Water.鈥 Seeing Roberts perform in 鈥淏arefoot in the Park鈥 convinced Allen that Roberts was worth casting. According to his memoir, Allen told him, 鈥淵ou were great. How come you鈥檙e such a lousy auditioner?鈥
