Tony Roberts, ‘Annie Hall’ and ‘Serpico’ actor, dead at 85

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Tony Roberts, best known for his role in Woody Allen’s "Annie Hall," has died. He was 85. 

Robert's daughter Nicole Barley told The New York Times he died on Friday at his Manhattan home following complications with lung cancer.

The Tony-Award nominated actor appeared in several Woody Allen movies — often as Allen’s best friend.

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Tony Roberts at home with His New Memoir "Do You Know Me?" on October 22, 2015. in New York City. (Walter McBride/Getty Images)

He was featured on Broadway in the 1966 Allen comedy, "Don’t Drink the Water," and 1969’s "Play it Again, Sam." Roberts went on to play the same role in their respective films. 

Roberts was additionally featured in Allen’s "Stardust Memories," "A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy," "Hannah and Her Sisters" and "Radio Days."

"I’ve never been particularly lucky at card games. I’ve never hit a jackpot. But I have been extremely lucky in life," he wrote in his memoir, "Do You Know Me?" 

The Tony-Award nominated actor's daughter Nicole Burley told The New York Times he died on Feb. 7, 2025, at his Manhattan home following complications with lung cancer. (Walter McBride/Getty Images)

"Unlike many of my pals, who didn’t know what they wanted to become when they grew up, I knew I wanted to be an actor before I got to high school."

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

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

Director Woody Allen, right, speaks to actor Tony Roberts during a basketball game. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer)

Roberts went on to make his Broadway debut in 1962, as he graced the stage in "Something About a Soldier," "Barefoot in the Park," "Promises, Promises," "They're Playing Our Song," "Jerome Robbins' Broadway," "The Sisters Rosensweig" and the 1998 Roundabout Theatre Company revival of "Cabaret."

One of Roberts' biggest Broadway successes was Charles Busch's hit comedy "The Tale of the Allergist's Wife."

Roberts was born in New York on Oct. 22, 1939.  (Brent N. Clarke/Invision/AP)

Although Roberts was featured in a myriad of Allen’s projects, he unsuccessfully auditioned four times for the filmmaker’s first Broadway play, "Don’t Drink the Water."

He first met Allen backstage when he starred in "Barefoot in the Park," as he replaced Robert Redford. Robert’s performance eventually convinced Allen that he was worth casting in future projects. 

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Tony Roberts poses for a photo in New York, Oct. 11, 2005, as he joined the cast of "Xanadu." (AP/Stephen Chernin)

According to Roberts’ memoir, Allen told him, "You were great. How come you’re such a lousy auditioner?" 

In Eric Lax's book "Woody Allen: A Biography," Roberts praised his good friend. 

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"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."

Some of Roberts' film credits include, 1973’s "Serpico" and "The Taking of Pelham One Two Three."

He was nominated twice for a Tony Award — for "How Now, Dow Jones" and "Play It Again, Sam."

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Roberts was previously married to Jennifer Lyons, which ended in divorce. He is survived by his daughter, the actor Nicole Burley.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.