"Bonanza" star Pernell Roberts dies at 81LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Pernell Roberts Jr, who played the introspective eldest son of wealthy rancher Ben Cartwright on the hit TV western "Bonanza" and went on to star in medical drama "Trapper John, M.D.," has died. He was 81.
Roberts died at his Malibu home on Sunday of pancreatic cancer, said his spokesman, Richard Stone.
"Bonanza" first aired in 1959, and Roberts starred in the show from the start, as rancher Ben Cartwright's son.
Roberts earned many fans with the role as the quiet and serious Adam, but he left the show in 1965, even though some at the time said he was ruining his career by doing it.
"Bonanza" ran until 1973, and the popular series is one of the longest running westerns in TV history, behind "Gunsmoke."
After "Bonanza," Roberts mainly appeared in stage musicals and guest starring roles in TV shows, before he returned to series work in 1979 with his title role in "Trapper John, M.D." a part he played for seven seasons.
The actor supported the U.S. civil rights movement, and in 1965 he marched to Selma, Alabama, with Martin Luther King Jr in a campaign for voting rights for blacks.
Roberts was married four times and his only son, Chris, died in 1989. He is survived by his wife Eleanor Criswell.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100126/..._nm/us_roberts
I love this actor. My mom is going to be so sad...she adored him as Trapper John M.D.
ReplyDeleteOne of the reasons he left Bonanza was - allegedly - because he didn't see why a 35 year-old man should have to ask his 'pa' permission to do things.
ReplyDeleteI grew up watching Bonanza with my dad. Adam was my favorite of the brothers. Always dressed in black, knowing he was "meant" to be somewhere other than the Ponderosa, but staying out of family loyalty. I looooooved him! (Wow, I'm such a chick.)
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting this. Somehow, I had not yet heard the sad news.