Pernell Roberts, 'Bonanza' and 'Trapper John' star, dies

[NeoConsSuck]

Source: CNN.COM

Los Angeles, California (CNN) -- Actor Pernell Roberts, who played the eldest Cartwright brother in TV's "Bonanza," died at his Malibu, California, home Sunday at 81, his lawyer said.

Younger TV viewers may remember Roberts from the lead role in "Trapper John, M.D.," a medical drama that aired on CBS for seven years, ending in 1986.

Roberts, a native of Waycross, Georgia, spent much of his adult life "pursuing his dream of equality for all," according to a family statement released by his lawyer, Richard Stone.

Roberts walked alongside the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. in the historic 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery in Alabama, the family said.

"On the set of 'Bonanza,' he protested the use of all white crews and guest stars, finding some support but never enough to satisfy his sense of outrage," the statement said.


Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2010/SHOWBIZ/TV/01/25/pernell.roberts.obit/index.html?hpt=T2

[texastoast]

1. My absolute first crush

Bonanza was 30 minutes long. Adam was SOOOOO handsome. I was four.

May he rest in peace.

[ShortnFiery]

9. Yes Adam was so intelligent and debonair ... I had a crush on him too.

:silly:

[onpatrol98]

11. Crush

I even had a crush on him as "Trapper"...now, that's having a bad crush. He was cute even as an older guy.

[roguevalley]

16. me too. what a shame this is.

[Skittles]

2. awesome guy

:thumbsup:

[Faygo Kid]

3. Already posted it in LBN, and got knocked out to "Entertainment."

Same fate awaits you. Mods take no prisoners anymore, even if the story matters to DUers.

[PSPS]

4. For younger DUers

First, here's some pix from the Bonanza era:





Then, later in life as "Trapper John, M.D."

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. I really liked the guy.

Such a calm exterior.

[sce56]

6. So all of the Cartwright family is now gone! RIP

Hoss, Ben, Adam & Litle Joe,
Members of the Cartwright family on "Bonanza" were played, from left, by Dan Blocker, Lorne Greene, Pernell Roberts and Michael Landon.

[sce56]

12. The picture links keep changing?

A better picture

[uppityperson]

7. RIP. Bonanza was a very good show. RIP Adam.

[PSzymeczek]

8. He was a Decent Human Being.

Marched for Civil Rights and pressured Hollywood to do the right thing.

[Guilded Lilly]

10. "Adam...."

sigh, sad, notstalgic

thanks for all the memories.

[Vidar]

13. RIP Mr. Roberts.

[John Kerry VonErich]

14. Didn't he do those Christian Childrens Fund commercials?

nt

[JenniferJuniper]

15. No, that was some guy that looked a little like him.

He did do some aspirin commercials in the 80's - I'm not a doctor, but I play one on TV sort of thing.