Broadway and movie actor Tony Robert’s death on 85

Tony Roberts, a versatile, Tony Award-nominated theater athlete at home in both acting and musicals, and who appeared in several Woody Allen films as Allen’s best friend’s dead.

He was 85.

Roberts’ death was announced to the New York Times by his daughter, Nicole Burley.

Roberts had a brilliant stage personality perfect for musical comedy, and he stems from roles in such different Broadway musicals as “How Now, Dow Jones” (1967); “Sugar” (1972), an adaptation of the movie “Some as it is hot” and “Victor/Victoria” (1995), where he starred with Julie Andrews as she returned to Broadway in the stage version of her popular film.

He was also in the campy, Roller-Disco “Xanadu” in 2007 and “The Royal Family” in 2009.

“I’ve never been particularly lucky on card games. I’ve never hit a jackpot. But I’ve been extremely lucky in life, “he writes in his memoir,” Do you know me? “” Unlike many of my friends who didn’t know what they would be when they grew up, I knew I would be an actor before I got to high school. “

Roberts also appeared on Broadway in Woody Allen comedy in 1966 “Don’t Drink The Water”, repeating his role in the film version and in Allen’s “Play It Again, Sam” (1969), for which he also made the film.

Other Allen movies in which Roberts appeared were “Annie Hall” (1977), “Stardust Memories” (1980), “A Midsummer Night’s Sex Comedy” (1982), “Hannah and her sisters” (1986) and “Radio Days ”(1987).

“Roberts” confident attachment – not to mention his high frame, wide shoulders and brown curly mane – was the perfect foil for Allen’s various neurotic characters, making them more fun and entertaining to see, “the Jewish daily tips wrote in 2016.

In Eric Lax’s book “Woody Allen: A Biography” Roberts remembered a complicated scene in “A Midsummer Night’s Sex Comedy”, which Allen shot again and again – even after the film was edited – to have his intended effect.

“When you go back to see (Allen’s work) two, three, four times, you start to see the amazing amount of art in that nothing is unintentional,” Roberts said.

Among his other films were “Serpico” (1973) and “The Take of Pelham One Two Three” (1974).

He was nominated twice to a Tony Award – for “How Now, Dow Jones” and “Play It Again, Sam” when he was invoiced as Anthony Roberts.

One of Roberts’ biggest Broadway successes was Charles Busch’s hit comedy “The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife” (2000), where he played the title character’s man.

Roberts, who debuted in Broadway in 1962 in the short -lived “Something about a Soldier”, was also a replacement in some of his longest -running hits, including “Barefoot in the Park” ‘Re Playing Our Song,’ “Jerome Robbins’ Broadway,” “Sisters Rosensweig” and 1998 Roundabout Theater Company Revival of “Cabaret.”

“I was lucky enough to enter the last years of Broadway’s Golden Age. In that era, there was much more that seemed to have high quality around it and great conviction, ”he told Broadway World in 2015.

In London he starred with Betty Buckley in West End -Production of “Lifts, Lifting,” where he played the Jack Lemmon role in this phase version of “The Apartment.”

Roberts’ TV credits include the short-term series “The Four Seasons” (1984) and “The Lucie Arnaz Show” (1985) as well as guest spots on as well-known shows as “Murder, she wrote” and “Law &” order. “

Roberts was born in New York on October 22, 1939, son of radio and TV announced Ken Roberts.

“I was raised in the middle of a lot of actor talk,” he told AP in 1985. “My cousin was Everett Sloane, who was a very fine actor. My father’s friends were mostly actors. I’m sure I somehow needed to prove myself in their eyes. “

He went to the High School of Music and Art in New York and trained from Northwestern University in Illinois.

His marriage to Jennifer Lyons ended up with divorce. He is survived by his daughter, actor Nicole Burley.

He first met Allen Backstage when he starred in “Barefoot in the Park” after replacing Robert Redford.

Roberts had tried without success four times to Allen’s first Broadway act, “Don’t drink the water.” Watching Roberts perform in “Barefoot in the Park” convinced Allen that Roberts was worth throwing.

According to Hans Memoir, Allen told him, “You were great. How do you get such a miserable auditions? “