What's After the Movie
Roy Roberts
Roy Roberts, born Roy Barnes Jones on March 19, 1906, was a prolific American character actor whose career spanned nearly four decades and encompassed more than nine hundred stage, film, and television productions. He began his performing life in Tampa, Florida, joining a local stock company before embarking on five years of touring theater, which honed his versatility and tough‑knuckled work ethic. His Broadway debut came in May 1931, and by 1936 he had transitioned to the silver screen with the two‑reel comedy short Gold Bricks produced by 20th Century‑Fox. Over the next thirty‑plus years Roberts became a familiar face in both noir classics such as Nightmare Alley, Force of Evil, and The Brasher Doubloon, and in mainstream Hollywood spectacles like House of Wax and It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. On television, he carved a niche as a reliable authority figure, portraying judges, bank presidents, and military officers on series ranging from The Lucy Show and The Beverly Hillbillies to Petticoat Junction and Bewitched. His recurring role as the ship’s captain in Oh! Susanna (1956‑1960) and numerous guest spots on westerns such as Gunsmoke, Bonanza, and Laredo cemented his status as one of the most recognizable character actors of the 1960s. In his later years he appeared in neo‑noir films like The Outfit (1973) and the iconic Chinatown (1974), demonstrating an ability to adapt to evolving cinematic styles even as he approached retirement. Roberts’ final screen credit came in 1975 with The Strongest Man in the World; he died of a heart attack on May 28, 1975, in Los Angeles and was interred at Greenwood Memorial Park in Fort Worth, Texas.
Biography, Career & Filmography
Learn more about Roy Roberts, including a detailed biography, career timeline, personal life insights, and complete filmography. Discover how Roy Roberts rose to fame, their major roles, industry impact, and personal milestones in the world of film.
Given Name: Roy Barnes Jones
Born: Tampa, Florida, U.S.
Citizenship: American
Birthday: March 19, 1906
Occupations: Actor
Years Active: 1936-1975
Spouses: Lillian Moore Tainter
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Movies Featuring Roy Roberts
Force of Evil
House of Wax
Hotrod: The Movie
The Man Behind The Gun
Big House, U.S.A
Chain Lightning
Cripple Creek
Wilson
San Antone
Calamity Jane and Sam Bass
Battles of Chief Pontiac
The Shocking Miss Pilgrim
The Cimarron Kid
The Underwater City
The Boss
The Glory Brigade
Skirts Ahoy!
Fury at Furnace Creek
No Minor Vices
The Reckless Moment
Santa Fe
The Foxes of Harrow
Captain from Castile
The Enforcer
Tumbleweed
Joan of Arc
The White Squaw
The Big Trees
The King and Four Queens
The Fighting Sullivans
Circumstantial Evidence
Hotel
Gentleman’s Agreement
The Killer That Stalked New York
I Was a Communist for the FBI
Strange Triangle
Tampico
The Munsters: Family Portrait
Sierra
Wyoming Renegades
Stranger on Horseback
The Lone Hand
The Chapman Report
A Kiss for Corliss
My Darling Clementine
The Man with a Cloak
The Second Face
Colonel Effingham’s Raid
The First Texan
Backlash
The Brasher Doubloon
Borderline
Chicago Deadline
Wyoming Mail
Guadalcanal Diary
He Walked by Night
Second Chance
The Tanks Are Coming
Hoodlum Empire
Behind Green Lights
Those Calloways
Dawn at Socorro
Disneyland ’59
Kid Galahad
Stage to Tucson
Smoky
A Bell for Adano
The Outfit
Career Timeline
Track the complete movie timeline of Roy Roberts, including all film releases, career breakthroughs, and notable roles. Follow their journey from early performances to recent blockbusters and upcoming projects.
1956
The Boss
Tim Brady
The White Squaw
Edward Purvis, Indian Agent
The King and Four Queens
Sheriff Tom Larrabee
The First Texan
Col. Sam Sherman
Backlash
Major Carson
1953
House of Wax
The Man Behind The Gun
Sen. Mark Sheldon
San Antone
John Chisum
The Glory Brigade
Sgt. Chuck Anderson
Tumbleweed
Nick Buckley
The Lone Hand
Mr. Skaggs
Second Chance
Charley Malloy
1952
Cripple Creek
Marshal John Tetheroe
Battles of Chief Pontiac
Maj. Gladwin
The Cimarron Kid
Pat Roberts
Skirts Ahoy!
Captain Graymont
The Big Trees
Judge Crenshaw
Hoodlum Empire
Police Chief
1951
Santa Fe
Cole Sanders
The Enforcer
Captain Frank Nelson
I Was a Communist for the FBI
Father Novac
The Man with a Cloak
Policeman
The Tanks Are Coming
Major General
1950
Chain Lightning
Maj. Gen. Hewitt
The Killer That Stalked New York
Mayor of New York
Sierra
Sheriff Knudsen
The Second Face
Allan Wesson
Borderline
Harvey Gumbin
Wyoming Mail
Charles De Haven
Stage to Tucson
Jim Maroon
1949
Force of Evil
Calamity Jane and Sam Bass
Marshal Peak
The Reckless Moment
Nagel
A Kiss for Corliss
Uncle George
Chicago Deadline
Jerry Cavanaugh
1948
Fury at Furnace Creek
Al Shanks
No Minor Vices
Mr. Felton (uncredited)
Joan of Arc
Wandamme, a Burgundian Captain
He Walked by Night
Police Captain Breen
1947
The Shocking Miss Pilgrim
Mr. Foster
The Foxes of Harrow
Tom Warren
Captain from Castile
Capt. Alvarado
Gentleman’s Agreement
Mr. Calkins
The Brasher Doubloon
Lt. Breez
1946
Strange Triangle
Harry Matthews
My Darling Clementine
Mayor
Colonel Effingham’s Raid
Army Captain Rampey
Behind Green Lights
Max Calvert
Smoky
Jeff Nix
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