---
name: "Pernell Roberts"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/pernell-roberts"
fi1m_id: "pernell-roberts"
imdb_id: "nm0731490"
tmdb_id: 98520
wikidata_id: "Q495306"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "18 May 1928"
died: "24 January 2010"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 1
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 1
updated: "2026-09-25T08:49:15.718252+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."
---

# Pernell Roberts

## Identity

Pernell Roberts

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/pernell-roberts
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** pernell-roberts
- **IMDb ID:** nm0731490
- **TMDB ID:** 98520
- **Wikidata ID:** Q495306
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pernell_Roberts, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q495306, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0731490/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/98520

Actor. Born 18 May 1928 in Waycross, Georgia, U.S.. Died 24 January 2010.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 18 May 1928, Waycross, Georgia, U.S.
- **Died:** 24 January 2010
- **Also known as:** Пернелл Робертс
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pernell_Roberts, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q495306, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0731490/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/98520

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Ride Lonesome*](https://film.one/film/ride-lonesome.md) (83)

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

## Biography

Pernell Roberts was an American actor, singer and activist. Born Pernell Elven Roberts Jr. on 18 May 1928 in Waycross, Georgia, he died on 24 January 2010 in Malibu, California. He began his career on the stage in the 1950s, appearing in Shakespearean and classical plays in New York before moving to Hollywood.

Roberts co-starred as Sam Boone in the 1959 western film *Ride Lonesome*. The same year he was cast as Adam Cartwright, the eldest son, in the television series *Bonanza*, a role he played from 1959 to 1965. He later starred as Dr John McIntyre in the series *Trapper John, M.D.* (1979–1986) and appeared in numerous guest roles across television series.

He was known for his activism, including participation in the 1965 Selma to Montgomery marches and efforts to encourage the hiring of minority actors on television.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, nytimes.com, latimes.com.*

## On Fi1m (1)

- *Ride Lonesome* (1959), Fi1m 83, as Sam Boone — [page](https://film.one/film/ride-lonesome.md)

## Complete filmography (88)

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

- *Diagnosis: Murder* (1993), series, as Dr. Elliott Valin, George Fallon
- *FBI: The Untold Stories* (1991), series, Actor
- *Donor* (1990), as Dr. Simon Martingale
- *Checkered Flag* (1990), as Andrew Valiant
- *Perry Mason: The Case of the All-Star Assassin* (1989), as Thatcher Horton
- *Around the World in 80 Days* (1989), series, as Captain Speedy
- *The Night Train to Kathmandu* (1988), as Prof. Harry Hadley-Smithe
- *Desperado* (1987), as Marshal Dancey
- *Realm of the Alligator* (1986), as Narrator
- *Hotel* (1982), series, as Charles Stanton
- *Incident at Crestridge* (1981), as Mayor Hill
- *High Noon, Part II: The Return of Will Kane* (1980), as Marshal J.D. Ward
- *Trapper John, M.D.* (1979), series, as Trapper John McIntyre
- *Hot Rod* (1979), as Sheriff Marsden
- *The Night Rider* (1979), as Alex Sheridan
- *The Immigrants* (1978), series, as Anthony Cassala
- *Centennial* (1978), series, as General Asher
- *Vega$* (1978), series, Actor
- *The Magic of Lassie* (1978), as Jamison
- *The Love Boat* (1977), series, as Brian Mallory
- *Man from Atlantis* (1977), series, as Clint Hollister
- *Charlie Cobb: Nice Night for a Hanging* (1977), as Sherrif Yates
- *The Hardy Boys / Nancy Drew Mysteries* (1977), series, as Detective Superintendant Molly, Fire Chief Madison
- *Battle of the Network Stars* (1976), series, Actor
- *Quincy, M.E.* (1976), series, as Sheriff Connelly
- *Captains and the Kings* (1976), series, as Colonel Elbert Braithwaite
- *Spencer's Pilots* (1976), series, Actor
- *Paco* (1976), as Pompiho
- *Alien Lover* (1975), as Mike
- *The Lives of Jenny Dolan* (1975), as Camera Shop Proprietor
- *The Deadly Tower* (1975), as Lt. Lee
- *Ellery Queen* (1975), series, as Rosh Kalee /Barney Groves /Major George Pearson
- *Switch* (1975), series, as Barnes
- *Medical Story* (1975), series, as Dr. Louis Kinoy
- *Bronk* (1975), series, as Collicos
- *Dead Man on the Run* (1975), as Brock Dillon
- *Baretta* (1975), series, Actor
- *The Rockford Files* (1974), series, as B.J. Anderson — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-rockford-files.md)
- *Police Woman* (1974), series, Actor
- *The Six Million Dollar Man* (1974), series, as Mark Wharton
- *Police Story* (1973), series, Actor
- *Hawkins* (1973), series, as Senator Griffith
- *Jigsaw* (1972), series, Actor
- *The Streets of San Francisco* (1972), series, as Charley Finn
- *Banacek* (1972), series, as Matthew Donniger
- *The Adventures of Nick Carter* (1972), as Neal Duncan
- *The Sixth Sense* (1972), series, Actor
- *The Bravos* (1972), as Jackson Buckley
- *Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law* (1971), series, as Ralph Foster
- *Alias Smith and Jones* (1971), series, Actor
- *Night Gallery* (1970), series, Actor
- *San Francisco International* (1970), as Jim Conrad
- *The Odd Couple* (1970), series, as Billy Joe
- *The Silent Gun* (1969), as Sam Benner
- *Marcus Welby, M.D.* (1969), series, as Roger, Tom Boyd
- *The Bold Ones: The New Doctors* (1969), series, as Dr. Frank Bartell
- *The Kashmiri Run* (1969), Actor
- *Hawaii Five-O* (1969), series, as Lon Phillips
- *Four Rode Out* (1969), as Marshall Ross
- *Lancer* (1968), series, Actor
- *The Name of the Game* (1968), series, as Hank, Ernie Subich
- *Mannix* (1967), series, Actor
- *Carousel* (1967), as Jigger Craigin
- *Ironside* (1967), series, as Frank Vincent
- *CBS Playhouse* (1966), series, as Lenny Marshall
- *Mission: Impossible* (1966), series, as President Beyron Rurich, Chief Manuel Corba, Col. Hans Krim — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/mission-impossible-1966.md)
- *The Girl from U.N.C.L.E.* (1966), series, as Joey Celeste
- *The Wild Wild West* (1965), series, as Sean O'Reilley
- *The Big Valley* (1965), series, as Madigan, Ed Tanner
- *The Virginian* (1962), series, as Jim Boyer Sr.
- *The Detectives* (1959), series, Actor
- *Bonanza* (1959), series, as Adam Cartwright
- *Ride Lonesome* (1959), as Sam Boone — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/ride-lonesome.md)
- *One Step Beyond* (1959), series, as Sgt. Vaill
- *77 Sunset Strip* (1958), series, Actor
- *Lawman* (1958), series, as Fent Harley
- *Cimarron City* (1958), series, Actor
- *Bronco* (1958), series, Actor
- *The Sheepman* (1958), as Chocktaw Neal
- *Desire Under the Elms* (1958), as Pierre Cabot
- *Shirley Temple's Storybook* (1958), series, as Count Schoenfeld, Thorabore, Pau-Puk-Keewis, Count DeSpard
- *Trackdown* (1957), series, as Bannion
- *Sugarfoot* (1957), series, as Salt River Smith, Deuce Braden
- *Have Gun, Will Travel* (1957), series, as Maury Travis
- *Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre* (1956), series, as Jet Mason, Lew Banning
- *Matinee Theater* (1955), series, as Hassan
- *Gunsmoke* (1955), series, as Nat Pilcher, Dave Reeves
- *General Electric Theater* (1953), series, as Phil

## Gallery

- ![Photo of Pernell Roberts from an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. (1965)](https://film.one/media/person/3727687/gallery-11f080dd8363.jpg) Photo of Pernell Roberts from an appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. (1965) — CBS Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fb/Pernell_Roberts_1965.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Publicity photo of Pernell Roberts as Adam Cartwright of the television series Bonanza. Press release from NBC, proprietor of this photo, was Fall 1959. w:Field (1968)](https://film.one/media/person/3727687/gallery-b77182d39a4a.jpg) Publicity photo of Pernell Roberts as Adam Cartwright of the television series Bonanza. Press release from NBC, proprietor of this photo, was Fall 1959. w:Field (1968) — NBC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/24/Pernell_Roberts_Bonanza_1959.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Photo of Pernell Roberts as Adam Cartwright from the television series Bonanza. (1961)](https://film.one/media/person/3727687/gallery-6e8deaa5955e.jpg) Photo of Pernell Roberts as Adam Cartwright from the television series Bonanza. (1961) — NBC Photo by Elmer Holloway-faint but visible on back, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/Pernell_Roberts_Bonanza_1961.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Photo of Amanda Blake as Miss Kitty and Pernell Roberts guest-starring as a hired gunfighter from the television series Gunsmoke. (1968)](https://film.one/media/person/3727687/gallery-c2b22067be70.jpg) Photo of Amanda Blake as Miss Kitty and Pernell Roberts guest-starring as a hired gunfighter from the television series Gunsmoke. (1968) — CBS Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/94/Pernell_Roberts_Amanda_Blake_Gunsmoke_1968.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Pernell Roberts](https://film.one/media/person/3727687/gallery-a1ea74accb72.jpg) Pernell Roberts — Image via TMDB
- ![Photo of Pernell Roberts as Adam Cartwright and Anna Lisa from the television series Bonanza. Anna Lisa plays the White Buffalo Woman and the Indians think she' (1960)](https://film.one/media/person/3727687/gallery-07d8cbb7076e.jpg) Photo of Pernell Roberts as Adam Cartwright and Anna Lisa from the television series Bonanza. Anna Lisa plays the White Buffalo Woman and the Indians think she' (1960) — NBC Television, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/aa/Pernell_Roberts_Anna_Lisa_Bonanza_1960.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Publicity photograph of w:Pernell Roberts. This was used to promote his live theatrical performance of both fictional characters in the 1972 play Welcome Home (](https://film.one/media/person/3727687/gallery-c40da971f614.jpg) Publicity photograph of w:Pernell Roberts. This was used to promote his live theatrical performance of both fictional characters in the 1972 play Welcome Home ( — Author: Still unknown, although possibly Gold/Wilson Public Relations, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2d/Pernell_Roberts_Welcome_Home_1972.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)

---
© 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/pernell-roberts