Roy Roberts

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Roy Roberts, born Roy Barnes Jones on March 19, 1906, was an American character actor whose career lasted more than 40 years. He appeared in more than 900 productions on stage and screen. Born in Florida, he began acting with a local stock company, then spent five years touring in stock theater. He made his Broadway debut in May 1931 and his film debut in Gold Bricks (1936).

Roberts often played supporting parts in many films, including film noirs such as Nightmare Alley (1947), Force of Evil (1948), He Walked by Night (1948), The Brasher Doubloon (1947), Borderline (1950), and The Enforcer (1951). He appeared in House of Wax (1953) as Vincent Price’s crooked business partner and had a role in The First Texan (1956). On television, he became well known for Oh! Susanna (1956–1960) as the ship’s captain after earlier appearances on My Little Margie, and he guest-starred on numerous series, including Perry Mason (four episodes).

Roberts also appeared in The Outfit (1973) and Chinatown (1974). A small part he played in It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) was omitted from some versions, but remains on laserdisc and extended editions. His last TV appearance was on Here’s Lucy (January 21, 1974), where he played a veterinarian.

He died of a heart attack on May 28, 1975, in Los Angeles, California, at age 69. He is buried at Greenwood Memorial Park in Fort Worth, Texas. He was married to Lillian Moore Tainter in 1947.