Pernell Elven Roberts, Jr. was an American actor and singer who is best remembered for his performance in the western TV series ‘Bonanza’ (1959–1965). The show featured him as the character ‘Ben Cartwright’s son, ‘Adam Cartwright.’ The role made audiences notice him. His other prominent performance was in the series ‘Trapper John, M.D.’ (1979–1986), where he played the eponymous character ‘Trapper John McIntyre.’ Though Roberts made guest appearances in more than 60 TV series, his acting career was not limited to the small screen. He was an equally proficient actor on stage and had worked in a number of movies. Roberts also made it to the news due to his activism, such as his participation in the ‘Selma to Montgomery marches’ in 1965, where the marchers demanded that ‘NBC’ stop casting white actors in the roles of minorities. Roberts had an elaborate career as an artist. He died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 81.
