Pernell Roberts, the ruggedly handsome actor who shocked Hollywood by leaving TV’s “Bonanza” at the height of its popularity, then found fame again years later on “Trapper John, M.D.,” died Sunday at age 81 in Malibu, Calif.
Roberts was the last surviving member of the classic Western’s cast.
Although he rocketed to fame in 1959 as Adam Cartwright, eldest son of a Nevada ranching family led by Lorne Greene’s patriarchal Ben Cartwright, Roberts chafed at the limitations he felt his “Bonanza” character was given.
“They told me the four characters would be carefully defined and the scripts carefully prepared,” he complained to The Associated Press in 1964. “None of it ever happened.”
Roberts agreed to fulfill his six-year contract but refused to extend it, and when he left the series in 1965, his character was eliminated with the explanation that he had simply moved away.
For the next 14 years he mainly made appearances on TV shows and in miniseries, or toured with such theatrical productions.
Then, in 1979, he landed another series, “Trapper John, M.D.,” in which he played the title role.
The character, but little else, was spun off from the brilliant Korean War comedy-drama “M-A-S-H,” in which Wayne Rogers had played the offbeat Dr. “Trapper” John McIntire.
James Mitchell, a stage and film actor and dancer who became a soap opera staple in his role as Palmer Cortlandt on the long-running ABC show “All My Children,” has died. He was 89.
Mitchell died Friday at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease complicated by pneumonia, his longtime partner, Albert Wolsky, said Sunday.
Mitchell joined “All My Children” in 1979 as the wealthy patriarch of one of the principal families living in fictional Pine Valley. His final appearance was earlier this month for the show’s 40th anniversary episode. He was nominated for seven Daytime Emmy Awards for his role.
The in Sacramento, Calif., native had leading roles in such Broadway musicals as “Bloomer Girl,” “Billion Dollar Baby,” “Brigadoon” and “Paint Your Wagon.”
He also performed in touring companies of “Funny Girl” with Carol Lawrence, “The Three Penny Opera” with Chita Rivera and “The King and I” with Ann Blyth.
He appeared with the American Ballet Theatre and with the Agnes de Mille Dance Theater.
Mitchell’s movie roles included “The Turning Point” in 1977 with Anne Bancroft and Shirley MacLaine, “The Band Wagon” in 1953 with Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse, “Oklahoma” in 1955 with Gordon MacRae and “Deep in My Heart” in 1954 with Mel Ferrer and including Charisse, who dances with Mitchell.
He had several television appearances, and his other soap operas credits were “Where the Heart Is” from 1969 to 1973 and “The Edge of Night” in 1956.
Grammy-winning pianist Earl Wild, who learned his craft from students of Liszt and Ravel and became one of America’s masters of the keyboard, has died at age 94.
Wild died of congestive heart disease Saturday at his home in Palm Springs, Calif., publicist Mary Lou Falcone said Monday.
Despite his advanced age, Wild continued to teach until last week — he listened to a pupil play his “Porgy and Bess Fantasy,” said Michael Rolland Davis, his companion of 38 years and sole survivor.
He won his Grammy in 1997 for best instrumental soloist performance for his album “The Romantic Master,” which included works by Saint-Saens and Handel.
From Herald news services
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