Roy Roberts

Biography

Roy Roberts was an American character actor whose career spanned more than 40 years and over 900 stage and screen productions. A Florida native, he started in a Tampa stock company, then spent five years in touring stock theater. He reached Broadway in 1931 and made his film debut in the 1936 short Gold Bricks. Roberts worked steadily in secondary film roles and returned to Broadway in productions such as Twentieth Century and My Sister Eileen. In the 1940s and 1950s he was a regular in many films noir, with parts in Nightmare Alley (1947), The Brasher Doubloon (1947), Force of Evil (1948), He Walked by Night, and The Enforcer (1951). He appeared in House of Wax (1953) as Vincent Price's character's crooked business partner. On television he played the ship's captain in Oh! Susanna for four years and had recurring roles on The Lucy Show, The Beverly Hillbillies, Petticoat Junction, and Bewitched. Later films included Chinatown (1974).

69years old at death

Born March 19, 1906Dade City
Died May 28, 1975Los Angeles
Star sign: PiscesThe sign runs February 19 to March 20

Movie Career

Films: 34
Career span: 32 years1943 to 1975

Genres

Drama65%, 22 films
Western26%, 9 films
Crime24%, 8 films
Thriller18%, 6 films
Film-Noir15%, 5 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

First role
Roberts first acted on Broadway in May 1931. His movie debut came in Gold Bricks, a two-reel comedy short from 1936 that 20th Century-Fox released.

Roy Roberts movies on Netflix

The Strongest Man in the World1975IMDb rating 5.9as Mr. Roberts
Chinatown1974IMDb rating 8.1as Mayor Bagby
This Savage Land1969IMDb rating 5.8as Dr. Mordecai Reynolds
Hotel1967IMDb rating 6.6as Bailey
Those Calloways1964IMDb rating 6.5as E.J. Fletcher
Kid Galahad1962IMDb rating 6.1as Jerry Bathgate
The Chapman Report1962IMDb rating 5.5as Alan Roby
Backlash1956IMDb rating 6.6as Major Carson
The King and Four Queens1956IMDb rating 6.1as Sheriff Tom Larrabee
Big House, U.S.A1955IMDb rating 6.6as Chief Ranger Will Erickson
Stranger on Horseback1955IMDb rating 6.6as Sam Kettering
House of Wax1953IMDb rating 7.0as Matthew Burke
Second Chance1953IMDb rating 5.9as Charley Malloy
The Man Behind The Gun1953IMDb rating 6.0as Sen. Mark Sheldon
The Big Trees1952IMDb rating 5.7as Judge Crenshaw
The Cimarron Kid1952IMDb rating 6.3as Pat Roberts
I Was a Communist for the FBI1951IMDb rating 6.1as Father Novac
The Enforcer1951IMDb rating 7.2as Captain Frank Nelson
Chain Lightning1950IMDb rating 6.0as Maj. Gen. Hewitt
Sierra1950IMDb rating 6.4as Sheriff Knudsen
The Killer That Stalked New York1950IMDb rating 6.4as Mayor of New York
A Kiss for Corliss1949IMDb rating 5.8as Uncle George
He Walked by Night1949IMDb rating 7.0as Police Captain Breen
The Reckless Moment1949IMDb rating 7.1as Nagel
Force of Evil1948IMDb rating 7.2as Ben Tucker
Captain from Castile1947IMDb rating 6.8as Capt. Alvarado
Gentleman's Agreement1947IMDb rating 7.2as Mr. Calkins
Nightmare Alley1947IMDb rating 7.7as McGraw / Final Carnival Owner
The Brasher Doubloon1947IMDb rating 6.5as Lt. Breez
Behind Green Lights1946IMDb rating 6.4as Max Calvert
My Darling Clementine1946IMDb rating 7.7as Mayor
Smoky1946IMDb rating 6.7as Jeff
The Fighting Sullivans1944IMDb rating 7.4as Father Francis
Guadalcanal Diary1943IMDb rating 6.6as Capt. Jame Cross

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

House of Wax1953 Crime, Horroras Matthew Burke
IMDb rating 7.023K votes
He Walked by Night1949 Crime, Thrilleras Police Captain Breen
IMDb rating 7.07.6K votes
Force of Evil1948as Ben Tucker
IMDb rating 7.28.6K votes
My Darling Clementine1946as Mayor
IMDb rating 7.729K votes
The Enforcer1951as Captain Frank Nelson
IMDb rating 7.26.2K votes
Chinatown1974as Mayor Bagby
IMDb rating 8.1380K votes
The Reckless Moment1949as Nagel
IMDb rating 7.16.6K votes
The Brasher Doubloon1947as Lt. Breez
IMDb rating 6.51.6K votes

Most often with

Raoul Walsh directed two of these films, Vincent McEveety two and Felix E. Feist two. Robert Adler appears in five of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Robert Adler

Reed Hadley

Charles Bronson

Chet Brandenburg

Ward Bond

Humphrey Bogart

Raoul WalshDirector, 2 films Vincent McEveetyDirector, 2 films Felix E. FeistDirector, 2 films

Films together

Robert Adler5 films together, 1946 to 1947
Robert Adler's page
- Captain from Castile1947IMDb rating 6.8Roberts as Capt. AlvaradoAdler as Reyes
- The Brasher Doubloon1947IMDb rating 6.5Roberts as Lt. BreezAdler as Police Sgt. Spangler
- Behind Green Lights1946IMDb rating 6.4Roberts as Max CalvertAdler as Detective
- My Darling Clementine1946IMDb rating 7.7Roberts as MayorAdler as Stagecoach Driver
- Smoky1946IMDb rating 6.7Roberts as JeffAdler as Scrubby
Reed Hadley4 films together, 1943 to 1955
Reed Hadley's page
- Big House, U.S.A1955IMDb rating 6.6Roberts as Chief Ranger Will EricksonHadley as Special FBI Agent James Madden
- He Walked by Night1949IMDb rating 7.0Roberts as Police Captain BreenHadley as Narratorvoice
- The Brasher Doubloon1947IMDb rating 6.5Roberts as Lt. BreezHadley as Dr. Moss
- Guadalcanal Diary1943IMDb rating 6.6Roberts as Capt. Jame CrossHadley as War Correspondent/ Narrator
Charles Bronson3 films together, 1953 to 1962
Charles Bronson's page
- Kid Galahad1962IMDb rating 6.1Roberts as Jerry BathgateBronson as Lew Nyack
- Big House, U.S.A1955IMDb rating 6.6Roberts as Chief Ranger Will EricksonBronson as Benny Kelly
- House of Wax1953IMDb rating 7.0Roberts as Matthew BurkeBronson as Igor
Chet Brandenburg3 films together, 1947 to 1952
Chet Brandenburg's page
- The Big Trees1952IMDb rating 5.7Roberts as Judge CrenshawBrandenburg as Lumberman
- The Reckless Moment1949IMDb rating 7.1Roberts as NagelBrandenburg as Department Store Customer
- Nightmare Alley1947IMDb rating 7.7Roberts as McGraw / Final Carnival OwnerBrandenburg as Carnival Patron
Ward Bond2 films together, 1944 to 1946
Ward Bond's page
- My Darling Clementine1946IMDb rating 7.7Roberts as MayorBond as Morgan Earp
- The Fighting Sullivans1944IMDb rating 7.4Roberts as Father FrancisBond as Lt. Cmdr. Robinson
Humphrey Bogart2 films together, 1950 to 1951
Humphrey Bogart's page
- The Enforcer1951IMDb rating 7.2Roberts as Captain Frank NelsonBogart as ADA Martin Ferguson
- Chain Lightning1950IMDb rating 6.0Roberts as Maj. Gen. HewittBogart as Lt. Col. Matthew "Matt" Brennan
Raoul WalshDirector, 2 films, 1951 to 1956
All films by Raoul Walsh
- The King and Four Queens1956IMDb rating 6.1Roberts as Sheriff Tom Larrabee
- The Enforcer1951IMDb rating 7.2Roberts as Captain Frank Nelson
Vincent McEveetyDirector, 2 films, 1969 to 1975
All films by Vincent McEveety
- The Strongest Man in the World1975IMDb rating 5.9Roberts as Mr. Roberts
- This Savage Land1969IMDb rating 5.8Roberts as Dr. Mordecai Reynolds
Felix E. FeistDirector, 2 films, 1952 to 1953
All films by Felix E. Feist
- The Man Behind The Gun1953IMDb rating 6.0Roberts as Sen. Mark Sheldon
- The Big Trees1952IMDb rating 5.7Roberts as Judge Crenshaw
Also two films together43 more actors
- Morris AnkrumThe Man Behind The Gun (1953) and Chain Lightning (1950)
- Whit BissellThe Killer That Stalked New York (1950) and He Walked by Night (1949)
- Walter BrennanThose Calloways (1964) and My Darling Clementine (1946)
- John McIntireBacklash (1956) and Stranger on Horseback (1955)
- John IrelandBehind Green Lights (1946) and My Darling Clementine (1946)
- Kevin McCarthyHotel (1967) and Stranger on Horseback (1955)
- Don BeddoeThe Enforcer (1951) and Behind Green Lights (1946)
- J. Farrell MacDonaldMy Darling Clementine (1946) and Smoky (1946)
- Lane ChandlerThe Big Trees (1952) and Behind Green Lights (1946)
- Alan MowbrayCaptain from Castile (1947) and My Darling Clementine (1946)
- Richard ConteHotel (1967) and Guadalcanal Diary (1943)
- Tyrone PowerCaptain from Castile (1947) and Nightmare Alley (1947)
- Alan Hale Jr.The Man Behind The Gun (1953) and The Big Trees (1952)
- Audie MurphyThe Cimarron Kid (1952) and Sierra (1950)
- Harry CarterSmoky (1946) and Guadalcanal Diary (1943)
- John DehnerThe Chapman Report (1962) and He Walked by Night (1949)
- Cesar RomeroThe Strongest Man in the World (1975) and Captain from Castile (1947)
- Barry KelleyThe Killer That Stalked New York (1950) and Force of Evil (1948)
- Anne BaxterSmoky (1946) and The Fighting Sullivans (1944)
- Clancy CooperThe Man Behind The Gun (1953) and Nightmare Alley (1947)
- Eleanor ParkerThe King and Four Queens (1956) and Chain Lightning (1950)
- Thomas GomezForce of Evil (1948) and Captain from Castile (1947)
- Jack LambertBacklash (1956) and The Enforcer (1951)
- Burl IvesSierra (1950) and Smoky (1946)
- John ArcherThe Big Trees (1952) and Guadalcanal Diary (1943)
- John GarfieldForce of Evil (1948) and Gentleman's Agreement (1947)
- Paul PicerniHouse of Wax (1953) and I Was a Communist for the FBI (1951)
- Oliver BlakeHouse of Wax (1953) and Nightmare Alley (1947)
- Linda DarnellSecond Chance (1953) and My Darling Clementine (1946)
- Richard BakalyanThe Strongest Man in the World (1975) and Chinatown (1974)
- Gail BonneyThe Killer That Stalked New York (1950) and The Reckless Moment (1949)
- James BrownThe Man Behind The Gun (1953) and Chain Lightning (1950)
- Philip CareyThe Man Behind The Gun (1953) and I Was a Communist for the FBI (1951)
- Houseley StevensonSierra (1950) and The Brasher Doubloon (1947)
- Kathryn CardA Kiss for Corliss (1949) and The Reckless Moment (1949)
- Lola AlbrightKid Galahad (1962) and The Killer That Stalked New York (1950)
- Dan RissThe Enforcer (1951) and The Killer That Stalked New York (1950)
- Frank LovejoyHouse of Wax (1953) and I Was a Communist for the FBI (1951)
- Gregg MartellBig House, U.S.A (1955) and Sierra (1950)
- Jack OvermanForce of Evil (1948) and The Brasher Doubloon (1947)
- James CardwellHe Walked by Night (1949) and The Fighting Sullivans (1944)
- Stanley PragerForce of Evil (1948) and Behind Green Lights (1946)
- Patrice WymoreThe Man Behind The Gun (1953) and The Big Trees (1952)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.