Biography

Tony Roberts

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Versatility and ability to portray a variety of characters over four decades on stage, screen, and television have made Tony Roberts one of the busiest actors in America. He is a graduate of the High School of Music and Arts, which merged with the High School of Performing Arts to become LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center, where he majored in theater and studied acting with Alvina Krause. Tony is the son of Radio and Television announcer Ken Roberts, one of the founding members of AFTRA, and has himself served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Screen Actor's Guild and Actor's Equity Association. He is currently the President of Theatre Authority - an organization established by the entertainment unions to oversee benefit performances. Tony has appeared in dozens and dozens of films including Stardust Memories (1980), Star Spangled Girl (1971), The Million Dollar Duck (1971), The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974), Popcorn (1991), Amityville 3-D (1983), Key Exchange (1985), Hannah and Her Sisters (1986), Radio Days (1987) and Switch (1991). His theater credits included "Sugar", "Don't Drink the Water", "Arsenic and Old Lace" and "South Pacific".
- IMDb mini biography by: Anonymous

Suffered a minor seizure during an October 4, 2009 matinée preview performance of "The Royal Family" on Broadway. The rest of the show was canceled that day. Fortunately, the show welcomed his return a few days later after he recuperated and was placed on proper medication to prevent a recurrence.
Was nominated for two Tony Awards in consecutive years: in 1968, as Best Actor (Musical) for "How Now Dow Jones" and in 1969 as Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Dramatic) for "Play It Again, Sam", a part he recreated in the film version of the same name, Play It Again, Sam (1972).
His paternal grandparents were Jewish immigrants (from Latvia and Ukraine). His mother was of Russian Jewish descent.
His favorite pastimes are chess, sailing and photography.
In a scene deleted from Taken (2000), he portrayed Olivia Benson's biological father.

[on Woody Allen] He seems to strive for some kind of excellence for himself in what he does that keeps him from anything that might smell of smugness.

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