Mark Roberts (actor)

Early years

A native of Denver, Colorado, Roberts began acting when he was 4, appearing in a play in kindergarten. "The smell of greasepaint got me," he said years later. During his childhood, the family moved to Lakewood, Ohio, and later to Kansas City, Missouri. Roberts attended Southwest High School in Kansas City and the University of Arizona at Tucson, where he majored in English.

Film

Soon after Roberts graduated from college, a screen test at Columbia Pictures led to a long-term contract for him.

He made his film debut in Brother Rat, a 1938 film directed by William Keighley and starring Ronald Reagan. Roberts played an uncredited bit role as Tripod Andrews. After that, he was billed as Robert Scott in three films before obtaining his first and only leading role in the 1944 Columbia serial Black Arrow. He also served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II. Following discharge, he acted under the name of Mark Roberts.

Roberts appeared (uncredited) in It’s a Wonderful Life, the 1946 classic Frank Capra film. He and Carl (Alfalfa) Switzer played Mickey and Freddie Othello, respectively, the two guys who unlock the gym floor at the high school dance, exposing the pool below, into which George Bailey (James Stewart) and Mary Hatch (Donna Reed) tumble.

Stage

Roberts played the role of Dunbar in the Broadway production of Stalag 17 (1951). Concurrently, he was a member of the cast of Miss Susan, a television serial. The dual responsibilities meant that Roberts usually left New York City via train at 8 a.m., going to Philadelphia for rehearsals and the program's live broadcast, then he would catch a 6:06 p.m. train back to New York to perform in the play.

Television

Roberts later became a familiar face in selected drama and action television series. He starred as reporter Hildy Johnson in the 1949-1950 syndicated television series The Front Page. In the 1960-1961 season, he joined Stephen Dunne (1918–1977) playing brothers who were private detectives in the syndicated television series, The Brothers Brannagan, which aired 39 episodes. Roberts played Bob Brannagan; Dunne, Mike Brannagan. He made seven guest appearances on Perry Mason, including two 1962 roles as the murder victim: title character Otto Gervaert/Gabe Phillips in "The Case of the Absent Artist," and Tod Richards in "The Case of the Playboy Pugilist."

Roberts made his last screen appearance in the short-lived 1994 sitcom Monty.

Personal life

Roberts married Audrey Von Clemm in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1953.

Death

Roberts died at the age of 84 in Los Angeles, California. He is survived by his three children.

Serials

Television