I Remember Tony Roberts For His Roles in “Play It Again, Sam” & “Serpico”

Actor Tony Roberts passed away on Friday of lung cancer. He was 85.

Roberts, a tall man with thick cropped curly hair, had leading man looks but often played supporting roles. He collaborated with Woody Allen on half a dozen films including Annie Hall. 

I remember Roberts best for two films - Play It Again, Sam and Serpico co-starring alongside Woody Allen and Al Pacino, respectively. 

In the former, Roberts plays a busy yet ultimately understanding husband whose wife (Diane Keaton) ends up falling in love with Allen. Adapted from Allen’s Broadway play of the same name, Allen and Roberts have as much comedic onscreen chemistry as Allen and Keaton.

In the latter, Roberts plays Bob Blair, an ally of Frank Serpico loosely based on David Durk, the man who persuaded Serpico to come forward as a whistleblower against the NYPD. As with Allen, Roberts had an effective onscreen chemistry with Pacino. It is a shame the two didn’t collaborate further. 

Of course, Roberts enjoyed a 50 year career onstage and in TV and movies. But I shall always remember him for those two film classics from the early 1970s. R.I.P.