Pernell Roberts, Adam Cartwright on "Bonanza," dead at 81

Los Angeles Times ^ | January 25, 2010 | Elaine Woo

[DukeBillie]

Pernell Roberts, an original cast member of one of television's classic westerns, "Bonanza," died at his Malibu home Sunday. He was 81.

His death from cancer was confirmed by his wife, Eleanor Criswell.

Roberts was known to fans as the handsome and smart eldest son of the Cartwright clan, Adam. He played the role from its inception in 1959, but tired of the role after six years and left the show to act in films and resume a stage career that had brought him a 1955 Drama Desk Award for best actor in a production of "Macbeth." In 1979, he returned to series television in the popular "Trapper John, M.D.," playing the title character, Dr. John McIntyre, for the show's entire seven seasons.

[11Bush]

Happy trails to the last of the Cartwright clan. It was required watching in my house when I was a youngin’ and I still catch an episode on the tube from time to time.

[MtnMan101]

R.I.P.

[LS]

Loved him in that role. Wow, are we getting old.

[VOA]

Happy trails to Ben Cartwright and his sons.
All four actors gone to their reward now.

[Kartographer]

Bonanza, Cheyenne, Maverick, Have Gun Will Travel... Now that was the 'Golden Age' of TV!

[SevenofNine]

I think Candy Cartwright cousin still alive he is on All My Children

[MrDem]

To think at one point this represented America and now we have the utter garbage of Obama and his ILK trying to spew their vomit and filth all over the place. FIGHT MEN!

[RanGreHad]

Those of us who grew up with the Cartwrights must see this as the end of an era. Though Roberts left “Bonanza” after five seasons, he was always a Cartwright in my book.

[RanGreHad]

Boy, you got it right!

[phredo53]

Roberts was friends with Hop Sing (Victor Sen Yung). He gave a eulogy at Hop Sings funeral in 1980.
All of them are gone now. Thanks for the memories.

[mware]

Forgot Rifleman.

Now there was a tv dad that did not play the fool.

[jessduntno]

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh man do I feel old.....

[WesternPacific]

Bonanza, Cheyenne, Maverick, Have Gun Will Travel... Now that was the 'Golden Age' of TV!

And they were replaced with Cop shows because the enlightened society thought they were too violent. Idiots all!

[SevenofNine]

The show constantly play on TV Land in mid days hour we lost Jean Simmons earlier this weekend and now we lost Adam Cartwright I think to safe to say tell me everybody on this board

We are GETTING OLD

[DukeBillie]

I had the same thought. He was always my favorite brother.

[SevenofNine]

You know what TV going through cycle first it was western then cops then drama then comedy etc etc

That how TV Rolls

[mware]

First it was westerns, then a whole bunch of spy shows (Man from UNCLE, Secret Agent, Prisoner, Get Smart, I SPY, they it went into medical shows followed by law enforcement, and forensic science.

[gussiefinknottle]

yeah, but he showed up later.

[Kartographer]

"Forgot Rifleman."

I didn't list a lot of 'good ones' Gunsmoke, The Rebel, Sons of Will Sonnet, High Chaparral and some even newer like Guns of Paradise and the Desperado movies. And there is such a demmaned out there for these type shows look at how well AMC's "Broken Trail" did, but no they rather crank out trash like American Idol and BS 'reality' shows!