Pernell Roberts

Photo of Pernell Roberts

Biography

He left the show in 1965 due to conflicts with producers over the show's writing, and became a regular face in guest-starring roles on television and in the occasional film. But in 1979, he returned to television stardom with the lead role in "Trapper John, M.D." (CBS, 1979-1986), a medical drama based on the Korean War doctor played by Elliott Gould in the Robert Altman feature "M*A*S*H" (1970) and by Wayne Rogers in the television version. …
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Job Title

Actor

Born

Pernell Elvin Roberts on May 18, 1928 in Waycross, Georgia, USA

Career Milestones

Enlisted in the US Marine Corps; served two years as a musician with the Marine Corps band

Made professional stage debut with Moss Hart and Kitty Carlisle in "The Man Who Came to Dinner" at the Olney Theatre in Maryland

1944

Worked briefly as an apprentice with the Atlantic Coastline Railroad after graduating from high school

1950

Joined the newly formed Arena Stage in Washington, DC, where he performed in more than a dozen plays

1952

Worked with several off-Broadway theatres in New York, including the American Lyric Theatre and the Equity Library Theatre

1954

Had roles in "Twelfth Night" and "The Merchant of Venice" with New York's Shakespeare Theatre Company

1955

Made Broadway debut in "Tonight in Samarkand"

1955

Won a Drama Desk Award for his performance in the off-Broadway play, "Macbeth"

1957

Made feature film debut with a sizable supporting role in "Desire Under the Elms"

1959

Played stalwart Adam Cartwright on NBC's Western series, "Bonanza"; left after the sixth season due to disagreements with the writers and a desire to return to theatre

1979

Played the title role in the CBS-TV series, "Trapper John M.D."; earned an Emmy nomination for Best Actor in 1981

1988

Co-starred with Milla Jovovich in the TV movie, "The Night Train to Kathmandu"

1991

Hosted the TV series, "FBI: The Untold Stories"

2001

Final TV appearance was on an episode of CBS' "Diagnosis Murder"

Awards

1981

Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in Trapper John, M.D.