Tony Roberts dead at 85: Woody Allen collaborator who shot to fame in Annie Hall passes away in NYC

Annie Hall and Serpico actor Tony Roberts has died aged 85.

The Tony Award nominated star and frequent Woody Allen collaborator died from lung cancer on Friday, February 7, with his death announced by his daughter Nicole Burley to the New York Times.   

His marriage to Jennifer Lyons ended in divorce. He is survived by his daughter.

He originated roles in Broadway musicals including How Now, Dow Jones (1967); Sugar (1972), an adaptation of the movie Some Like It Hot, and Victor/Victori (1995), in which he co-starred with Julie Andrews when she returned to Broadway in the stage version of her popular film. 

He also was in the campy, roller-disco Xanadu in 2007 and The Royal Family in 2009.

He first met Allen backstage when he was starring in Barefoot in the Park, having replaced Robert Redford. 

Roberts had unsuccessfully auditioned four times for Allen´s first Broadway play, Don´t Drink the Water. 

Annie Hall and Serpico actor Tony Roberts has died aged 85

The Tony Award nominated theater star and frequent Woody Allen collaborator died from lung cancer, with his death announced by his daughter Nicole Burley Friday to the New York Times – pictured 2011 with Allen

After seeing Roberts perform in Barefoot in the Park, Allen changed his mind and cast him. 

According to his memoir, Allen told him: ‘You were great. How come you´re such a lousy auditioner?’

He  appeared on Broadway in the 1966  Allen comedy 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 movie.

A close friend of Allen’s and often playing his best friend on screen, Roberts is known for his turn in 1977 hit Annie Hall as Alvy Singer’s best friend Rob.

He also appeared in Allen’s Stardust Memories” (1980), A Midsummer Night’s Sex Comedy (1982), Hannah and Her Sisters (1986) and Radio Days (1987).

Among his other movies were Serpico (1973) and The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974). 

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

In Eric Lax’s book Woody Allen: A Biography. Roberts recalled a complicated scene in A Midsummer Night’s Sex Comedy”that Allen shot over and over – even after the film had been edited.

A close friend of Allen’s and often playing his best friend on screen, Roberts is known for his turn in 1977 hit Annie Hall as Alvy Singer’s best friend Rob – pictured with Allen and Diane Keaton

Roberts is pictured with Julie Andrews in 1995 on Broadway

Roberts is pictured second left in 1971 at the New York Ballet School

‘When you go back to see (Allen’s work) two, three, four times, you begin to see the amazing amount of art in it, that nothing is accidental’ Roberts said.

Roberts’ television credits include the short-lived series The Four Seasons (1984) and The Lucie Arnaz Show’ (1985) as well as guest spots on such well-known shows as Murder, She Wrote and Law & Order.

Roberts was born in New York on Oct. 22, 1939, the son of radio and television announced Ken Roberts.

He attended the High School of Music and Art in New York and graduated from Northwestern University in Illinois.