‘Radio Days’ Star Passes Away At 85

Tony Roberts, the distinguished actor celebrated for his extensive work on Broadway and his memorable roles in Woody Allen films, passed away on February 7, 2025, at the age of 85.

Roberts was born in 1939 in Manhattan, New York City, to Ken Roberts, a radio announcer, and Norma Finkelstein, an animator. He attended the High School of Music & Art before studying at Northwestern University, where he developed his acting talents.

Roberts made his Broadway debut in 1962 with “Something About a Soldier” and quickly rose to prominence in the theater world. His stage career was marked by two Tony Award nominations: one for “How Now, Dow Jones” and another for “Play It Again, Sam.”

His Broadway roles included performances in “Barefoot in the Park,” “Sugar,” “They’re Playing Our Song,” “Victor/Victoria,” and “The Tale of the Allergist’s Wife.” His daughter and sole immediate survivor, Nicole Burley, reported that he died due to complications from lung cancer to The New York Times.

NEW YORK, NY – MAY 03: Tony Roberts attends the “It Takes A Lunatic” world premiere during the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival at BMCC Tribeca PAC on May 03, 2019 in New York City.

In film, Roberts was especially known for his work with Woody Allen, appearing in six of Allen’s movies, notably as Alvy Singer’s best friend, Rob, in the Oscar-winning “Annie Hall.” He also had roles in “Stardust Memories,” “A Midsummer Night’s Sex Comedy,” “Hannah and Her Sisters,” and “Radio Days.”

Apart from his collaborations with Allen, he showcased his range in movies like “Serpico” (1973), as a police officer, and in “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three” (1974), where he played Deputy Mayor Warren LaSalle. He starred in the horror film “Amityville 3-D” (1983) as well. Roberts and Jennifer Lyons, a dancer, tied the knot in 1969 but went their separate ways in 1975.

LOS ANGELES – APR 12: Tony Roberts arrives at the TCM 40th Anniv of “Cabaret” at Graumans Chinese Theater on April 12, 2012 in Los Angeles, CA

In his 2015 memoir, “Do You Know Me?,” Roberts shared an anecdote from an NBC interview where a critic, struck by the sheer volume of his commitments across television, film, and theater, questioned whether he ever took time off.

“No,” Roberts replied. “I crack under leisure.”

“I think it’s a book that people who want to be actors will be able to learn something from, both in a practical way and in terms of technique,” he told Broadway World in 2015. “It’s more about an actor’s career than it is about my personal life.”

“I was lucky enough to get in on the last years of the Golden Age of Broadway. In that era there was a lot more going on that seemed to have high quality about it and great conviction,” he added. “That’s partly because the producers of that time had their own money and the money of their regular investors in the game.”

“So much of what is produced today is non-profit with a subscription-based audience. Whether a play hits the bullseye or not, it’s still going to have a full house of subscribers. And I think, in many ways, that has not been as wonderful for the theatre as when there are economics at stake for everybody involved, because in the long run it gets better.”

He finished, “It gets better in rehearsals and previews out of town because there’s something at stake financially, and that’s what I think made the Broadway Golden Age so golden.”

On television, Roberts appeared in a variety of series, including “The Edge of Night,” “The Love Boat,” “Matlock,” and “Law & Order.” He was also a preferred narrator for audiobooks, notably for the Stuart Woods’ Stone Barrington series. Known for his steady and confident presence, Roberts was an ideal counterbalance to Allen’s more neurotic characters.

His extensive contributions to both theater and cinema have left a lasting impact on the industry.

Tony Roberts leaves behind his daughter, Nicole Burley. Details about his memorial services have yet to be released.