Tony Roberts, Broadway star and actor in Woody Allen films, dies

Tony Roberts, the Tony-nominated Broadway star who appeared in several Woody Allen movies, has died. He was 85. 

Roberts’ daughter, actor Nicole Burley, confirmed his death to The New York Times. 

"I’ve never been particularly lucky at card games. I’ve never hit a jackpot. But I have been extremely lucky in life," he wrote in his memoir, "Do You Know Me?" "Unlike many of my pals, who didn’t know what they wanted to become when they grew up, I knew I wanted to be an actor before I got to high school."

Which Broadway shows and movies did Tony Roberts star in? 

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.

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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.

Tony Roberts during Opening Night of Assassins on Broadway at Broadway in New York City, New York, United States. (Photo by Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic)

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).

Among his other movies were "Serpico" (1973) and "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three" (1974).

He was nominated twice for a Tony Award — 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 About 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."

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."

Tony Roberts’ early life

The backstory:

Roberts was born in New York on Oct. 22, 1939, the son of radio and television announcer 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.