Theodore Roberts (October 8, 1861 – December 14, 1928) was an American film and stage actor.
Early life Roberts was born in San Francisco, California. He was a cousin of the stage actress Florence Roberts. His choice of a career disappointed his mother (who wanted him to become a minister) and his father (who wanted him to learn a trade).
Career Roberts debuted on stage at the Baldwin Theatre in San Francisco in 1880. He went on to act with a barnstorming troupe on the West Coast but tired of that lifestyle after several years and left acting for a time to command a schooner owned by his father.
On stage again in the 1890s he acted with Fanny Davenport in her play Gismonda (1894) and later in The Bird of Paradise (1912). His Broadway career began with We'Uns of Tennessee (1899) and ended with Believe Me Xantippe (1913).
He started his film career in the 1910s in Hollywood, and was often associated in the productions of Cecil B. DeMille. He portrayed Moses in the biblical prologue of DeMille's The Ten Commandments (1923). One of his last film appearances was as the heroine's father in The Cat's Pajamas (1926).
Roberts also performed in vaudeville. After the end of a marriage, he spent six months in a New York jail because he refused to pay alimony.
Death Roberts died of uremic poisoning in Hollywood, California at age 67 and is buried in Hollywood Forever Cemetery.
Selected filmography
YearTitle1914The Ghost BreakerThe Man from HomeWhat's His NameThe Call of the North1915TemptationThe ArabThe Wild Goose ChaseThe WomanThe CaptiveThe UnafraidAfter FiveThe Girl of the Golden WestThe Unknown1916The Trail of the Lonesome PineThe Dream GirlCommon GroundThe Storm1917Nan of Music MountainThe Devil-StoneThe Little PrincessJoan the Woman1918The Squaw ManThe Hidden PearlsWe Can't Have EverythingOld Wives for NewM'LissSuch a Little PirateArizona1919Don't Change Your HusbandThe Winning GirlThe Poor BoobFor Better, for WorseThe Woman Thou Gavest MeLove InsuranceMale and FemaleWhat Every Woman LearnsEverywoman1920SudsDouble SpeedJudy of Rogue's HarborSomething to Think About1921Forbidden FruitShamThe Affairs of AnatolMiss Lulu BettHail the WomanYou're Fired1922Across the ContinentOur Leading CitizenSaturday NightNight Life in Hollywood1923GrumpyThe Ten Commandments 1925Locked Doors 1929 Noisy Neighbors
References
External links
Photographs and literature on Theodore Roberts