Trivia

While serving for two years in the United States Marine Corps, he participated in the Marine Corps Band.

Beat out 2 other actors, Wayne Rogers and John Forsythe, for the lead role of the title character in Hombres de blanco (1979).

Met Lee Majors on one of the two episodes of Valle de pasiones (1965), where the two became friends until Roberts' own death in 2010.

Was also a lifelong activist, which included participation in the Selma to Montgomery Marches in 1965, and pressuring NBC to refrain from hiring whites to portray minority characters.

Attended Michael Landon's funeral in 1991.

Pernell Roberts died on January 24, 2010. He was the longest living Bonanza (1959) cast member, followed by Lorne Greene, who played his TV father in the series.

Second-only to Robert Fuller, Roberts ranked second for guest-starring in a number of Western shows.

His son, Jonathan Christopher Roberts died in 1989 in a motorcycle accident.

Was reunited with his ex-Bonanza (1959) co-star, Lorne Greene, for 2 episodes of Vega$ (1978).

Had left his role on Bonanza (1959), at the end of the sixth season in 1965, were because of two things: He was very unhappy with the way his character was going and for refusing to renegotiate his contract, for the following eight seasons.

After he happily left his role on Bonanza (1959), he turned his back on Hollywood wisdom and well-meant advice, hence, he returned to stage acting. It would take 14 years for Roberts to revitalize his career with a comeback to television with Hombres de blanco (1979).

Before he was a successful actor, he was a Sunday School teacher in church in his hometown of Waycross, Georgia.

Roberts (born May 18, 1928) was only 13 years, 3 months, 6 days younger than Lorne Greene (born February 12, 1915), who played his television father, Ben Cartwright, on Bonanza (1959).

His ex-Bonanza (1959) co-star, Michael Landon, died of pancreatic cancer, the same disease Roberts succumbed to, years after.

After his guest-starring role on Diagnosis Murder (1993), he retired from acting at age 66.

After a 14 year absence from television, he decided to come back to do Hombres de blanco (1979) for financial security.

Had a penchant for martial arts; was known for giving demonstrations at the annual Circus of the Stars (1977), from the 1970s through the 1980s.

Had one son, Jonathan Christopher Roberts (b. October 1951, d. 1989), with 1st wife Vera Mowry.

First wife Dr. Vera Mowry was a professor at Washington State University.

Had always detested his role on Bonanza (1959). He did not detest the show itself, just his role on it. He left over an argument with the producers that the boys should be called sons, at least one of them get married, and have their own family, realistically Adam. He loved his co-stars and didn't want to leave them, but the money just wasn't that important to him at the time. He felt he could do better elsewhere.

He sang in several episodes of Bonanza (1959) and appeared on 2 record albums with the Bonanza (1959) cast as well as 1 solo album.

His fine baritone was put to use frequently on stage in a number of musicals including "The King and I," "The Music Man," 'Kiss Me Kate," "Camelot" and "The Sound of Music". He played Rhett Butler in a short-lived 1973 musical version of "Gone With the Wind".

His second ex-wife Judith Roberts guest-starred with him on an episode of Hombres de blanco (1979).

Before he was a successful actor, he was a butcher, a forest ranger, and a railroad riveter.

An avid political liberal, Roberts often complained about the mostly white complexion of the "Bonanza" cast, and the stereotypical ethnic roles that were displayed (in particularly, "Hop Sing", the house servant, played by Victor Sen Yung).

Prior to his retirement, he updated the George Fallon character on an episode of Diagnosis Murder (1993), he played decades after Mannix (1967).

Roberts (born May 18, 1928) was only 6 months, 22 days older than Dan Blocker (born December 10, 1928), who played his television middle brother, Hoss Cartright, on Bonanza (1959).

Acting mentor was Lorne Greene.

Remained good friends with Gregory Harrison, during and after Hombres de blanco (1979).

When he was interviewed after his career resurgence with Hombres de blanco (1979) in the early 1980s, Roberts identified himself as very much a liberal.

Was the only original cast member of Bonanza (1959) to have become an accomplished singer, though David Canary, who joined the show in 1967, had a background in voice and performed on Broadway.

Longtime friend of James Drury.

Like his ex-Bonanza (1959) co-star, Michael Landon, Roberts himself had also resided in Malibu, California, where he died.

During his high school years, he played the horn, acted in school and church plays, and sang in local USO shows - pursuing a wide range of occupations before pursuing acting.

Played the character of Hombres de blanco (1979) longer than Wayne Rogers would.

Roberts appeared with his ex-Bonanza (1959) co-star's, Michael Landon's, former television daughter, Melissa Gilbert, in Donor (1990).

Had appeared in each and every episode of Hombres de blanco (1979), with the exception of 1.

Was a spokesperson for the National Kidney Foundation in the 1980s.

Flunked out of both Georgia Tech. University and University of Maryland, twice.

Had guest-starred on the first episode of Hotel (1983).

Won a Western Heritage Award for his guest-starring role on Las jovenes jinetes (1989) in 1991.

Before he was a successful actor, he also worked briefly as an apprentice with the Atlantic Coastline Railroad after graduating from high school.

Had made over 40 guest appearances on television.

Acting mentor and friend of Gregory Harrison.

Made his professional stage debut in 1949 with Moss Hart and Kitty Carlisle in 'The Man Who Came To Dinner'.

In 1972, Roberts returned to Broadway and toured with Ingrid Bergman in Captain Brassbound's Conversion, in which he played the title role.

When he won the role as Adam Cartwright on Bonanza (1959), he found the adjustment to a television show difficult.

Friends with: James Drury, Doug McClure, Dan Blocker, Michael Landon, David Wayne, Robert Young, Charles Siebert, Mary McCarty, Madge Sinclair, Sarah Cunningham, Barbara Stanwyck, Lee Majors, Linda Evans, James Best, Larry Hagman, Dick Van Dyke, Brian Keith, Aaron Spelling, Simon Scott, James Arness, Peter Graves, Peter Lupus, Jack Klugman, Rod Serling, Robert Stack, Raymond Burr, Henry Darrow, Robert Conrad, Connie Stevens, Ruta Lee, Stefanie Powers, Will Hutchins, Bart Braverman, Clifton James, Janis Page, R.G. Armstrong, Burl Ives, Quinn Martin, Frank Price and Robert Vaughn.

He had seven hobbies: golfing, swimming, reading literature, playing tennis, cooking and running. He also enjoyed singing in his spare time.

Moved to Washington, D.C., in 1950, taking some odd jobs while performing with the Arena Stage Theater for two years.