---
name: "Michael D. Roberts"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/michael-d-roberts"
fi1m_id: "michael-d-roberts"
imdb_id: "nm0731426"
tmdb_id: 5146
wikidata_id: "Q3308135"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "25 December 1947"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 3
average_fi1m_score: 81
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 3
updated: "2026-09-17T23:45:40.747696+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Michael D. Roberts

## Identity

Michael D. Roberts

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/michael-d-roberts
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** michael-d-roberts
- **IMDb ID:** nm0731426
- **TMDB ID:** 5146
- **Wikidata ID:** Q3308135
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_D._Roberts, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3308135, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0731426/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/5146

Actor. Born 25 December 1947 in Brooklyn, New York,  USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 25 December 1947, Brooklyn, New York,  USA
- **Active:** 1986–2018
- **Average Fi1m score:** 81, as actor, over 3 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 80 (2), 2010s 82 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 81 to 77 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 2, Crime 1, Horror 1, Music 1, Romance 1, Thriller 1
- **Screen time:** 7 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $800m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_D._Roberts, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3308135, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0731426/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/5146

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*Rain Man*](https://film.one/film/rain-man.md) (76)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Michael D. Roberts is an American actor. Born on 25 December 1947 in Brooklyn, New York, he began his career with a guest role on the television series Good Times in 1974 and gained prominence as Rooster on Baretta (1975–1978).

He appeared in feature films including The Hunter (1980), The Ice Pirates (1984) as Roscoe, Manhunter (1986) as The Runner, and Rain Man (1988) as Vern. Roberts has made numerous guest appearances on series such as Knight Rider (1982), MacGyver (1985), Seinfeld (1989), Friends (1994), Hostage (2005) and A Star Is Born (2018).

He trained at the California Institute of the Arts and married actress Pamela Frey in 1976.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (3)

- *A Star Is Born* (2018), Fi1m 82, as Matty — [page](https://film.one/film/a-star-is-born.md)
- *Rain Man* (1988), Fi1m 76, as Vern — [page](https://film.one/film/rain-man.md)
- *Manhunter* (1986), Fi1m 84, as The Runner — [page](https://film.one/film/manhunter.md)

## Complete filmography (55)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Heathers* (2018), series, as Captain Lehman
- *A Star Is Born* (2018), as Matty — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/a-star-is-born.md)
- *The First Family* (2012), series, as Bernard
- *Make It or Break It* (2009), series, Actor
- *Parks and Recreation* (2009), series, as Joe — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/parks-and-recreation.md)
- *Street Kings* (2008), as Older Black Man
- *The Loop* (2006), series, as Hibbert
- *American Dreamz* (2006), as Journalist
- *Dark Shadows* (2005), as Sheriff George Patterson
- *The Suite Life of Zack & Cody* (2005), series, as Henry
- *Hostage* (2005), as Ridley
- *The Michael Richards Show* (2000), series, as Bert
- *Suckers* (1999), as Eddie
- *Family Law* (1999), series, as Morgan
- *Hitman's Run* (1999), as FBI Director Dean Harris
- *Brooklyn South* (1997), series, as Lieutenant Dandridge
- *Arli$$* (1996), series, as Tony
- *Orientation: A Scientology Information Film* (1996), as Chaplain
- *Sherman Oaks* (1995), series, Actor
- *Sleepstalker* (1995), as The Preacher
- *Friends* (1994), series, as Head Librarian — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/friends.md)
- *Renegade* (1992), series, as Police Detective
- *The Last Halloween* (1991), as Accountant
- *The Commish* (1991), series, Actor
- *Beverly Hills, 90210* (1990), series, as Marton Burnes — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/beverly-hills-90210.md)
- *Doogie Howser, M.D.* (1989), series, as Mr. Alexander
- *Seinfeld* (1989), series, as Ipswich — Fi1m 90, [page](https://film.one/tv/seinfeld.md)
- *Quantum Leap* (1989), series, as Willis Tyler, Isaac King
- *Rain Man* (1988), as Vern — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/rain-man.md)
- *Back to Freedom* (1988), as Sammy Samson
- *Manhunter* (1986), as The Runner — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/manhunter.md)
- *MacGyver* (1985), series, as Booker Wilson, Dr. Pierre Redemteur
- *Crazy like a Fox* (1984), series, as Damon
- *Hunter* (1984), series, as Theo White
- *Double Trouble* (1984), series, as Mr. Arrechia
- *The Ice Pirates* (1984), as Roscoe
- *Airwolf* (1984), series, as Glen Carson
- *Night Court* (1984), series, as Moody
- *Manimal* (1983), series, as Tyrone C. Earl
- *Heartbreaker* (1983), as Hopper
- *Knight Rider* (1982), series, as Jackson
- *Knight Rider: Knight of the Phoenix* (1982), as Jackson
- *Cagney & Lacey* (1982), series, Actor — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/cagney-and-lacey.md)
- *Jessica Novak* (1981), series, as Jack
- *The Fall Guy* (1981), series, Actor
- *Bosom Buddies* (1980), series, Actor
- *The Hunter* (1980), as Poker Player
- *Nightside* (1980), as Greenlight
- *Sanford* (1980), series, Actor
- *B. J. and the Bear* (1979), series, Actor
- *Vega$* (1978), series, Actor
- *The Incredible Hulk* (1977), series, as D.J.
- *Herowork* (1977), as Deputy Johnson
- *Baretta* (1975), series, Actor
- *Good Times* (1974), series, Actor

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/michael-d-roberts