Tony Roberts Biography

Fast Facts

• Made Broadway debut in 1962's Something About a Soldier
• Began his long-time association with Neil Simon in the 1962 touring production of Come Blow Your Horn
• Played a regular featured role on the soap The Edge of Night beginning in 1965
• Big break came when he went on for Robert Redford's understudy, due to an injury, in Barefoot in the Park; later took over the lead role
• Working relationship with Woody Allen began in 1966 when he appeared in Allen's Broadway hit Don't Drink the Water; Allen didn't want him because his five auditions were terrible and hired him only after being persuaded to see him in Barefoot in the Park
• Received back-to-back Tony nominations in 1968-69 for How Now, Dow Jones and Play It Again, Sam
• Directing debut came in 1992 when he helmed Charles Grodin's Off-Broadway comedy One of the All-Time Greats
• Served as president of Theatre Authority