# Michael D. Roberts

Michael D. Roberts is an American actor.

## Career

Roberts played the role of Rooster in the 1970s television series Baretta. Roberts starred in the short-lived 1983 television series Manimal, appearing in five of the eight episodes which aired, as Tyrone C. Earl. His first television role was a guest appearance on the series Good Times in 1974. In 1977, he moved to feature films when he played Deputy Johnson in Herowork.
Roberts went on to appear in many other TV shows and films. He appeared in the final Steve McQueen film The Hunter (1980). Later on, he starred in the 1984 science fiction film The Ice Pirates as Roscoe. In 1988, Roberts played the role of Vern in the hit film Rain Man. More recently, he appeared in the 2006 film American Dreamz and the 2008 film Street Kings.
Roberts has made many guest appearances on television shows. In the 1980s TV series Knight Rider, he appeared in the pilot episode "Knight of the Phoenix" as Jackson, one of the two car thieves who ended up stealing KITT. His other appearances include Bosom Buddies, Quantum Leap, The Incredible Hulk, Double Trouble, Friends, MacGyver, and Seinfeld. Roberts has made appearances in several made-for-TV films.

## Personal life

On September 18, 1976, Roberts married actress Pamela Frey, whom he met in an acting class taught by Lillian Randolph. The couple has two children together. Roberts is a Scientologist.

## Filmography
### Films

| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1977 | Herowork | Deputy Johnson | |
| 1980 | The Hunter | Poker Player | |
| 1983 | Heartbreaker | Hopper | |
| 1984 | The Ice Pirates | Roscoe | |
| 1984 | Earthlings | D.J. Young | TV movie |
| 1986 | Manhunter | The Runner | |
| 1988 | Rain Man | Vern | |
| 1988 | Back to Freedom | Sammy Samson | |
| 1990 | Sunset Beat | Maurice Smith | Pilot |
| 1991 | The Last Halloween | The Accountant | TV movie |
| 1991 | A Mother's Justice | Nick (as Michael Roberts) | TV movie |
| 1992 | Live! From Death Row | Silsbee | TV movie |
| 1992 | Wishman | Ted Taylor |
| 1993 | In the Shadows, Someone's Watching | Driscolle | TV movie |
| 1995 | Sleepstalker$^{:574}$ | The Preacher | |
| 1997 | Most Wanted | Homeless Man | |
| 1999 | Hitman's Run | FBI Director Dean Harris | |
| 1999 | Suckers | Eddie | |
| 2005 | Hostage | Bob Ridley, Paramedic | |
| 2006 | American Dreamz | The Journalist | |
| 2008 | Street Kings | Older Black Man | |
| 2018 | A Star Is Born | Matty | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1974 | Good Times | Neck-Bone | Episode "The Gang: Part 1" |
| 1975 | Lucas Tanner | Lonnie | Episode "What's Wrong with Bobbie?" |
| 1975–1978 | Baretta | 'Rooster' | 27 episodes |
| 1976 | Jigsaw John | Unknown | Episode "Eclipse" |
| 1979 | The Incredible Hulk | D.J. | Episode "Like a Brother" |
| 1979 | Vegas | Chickie | Episode "Demand and Supply" |
| 1979 | Quincy, M.E. | Police Officer Ed Waters | Episode "Dark Angel" |
| 1980 | B.J. and the Bear | Shades | Episode "The 18-Wheel Rip-Off" |
| 1981 | Sanford | Sam | Episode "Cal the Coward" |
| 1981 | Bosom Buddies | Mr. Norton | Episode "Amy's Career" |
| 1981 | Jessica Novak | Jack | Episode "Closeup News" |
| 1982 | Knight Rider | Jackson | Episode "Knight of the Phoenix" |
| 1982 | The Fall Guy | Jackson | Episode "The Reluctant Traveling Companion" |
| 1983 | Manimal | Tyrone C. Earl | Four episodes |
| 1984–1985 | Double Trouble | Mr. Arrechia | 15 episodes |
| 1985 | Airwolf | Glen Carson | Episode "Half-Pint" |
| 1986 | Crazy Like a Fox | Unknown | Episode "A Fox at the Races" |
| 1987 | Cagney & Lacey | Eddie Hanks | Episode "The City Is Burning" |
| 1987 | Night Court | Moody | Episode "Constitution: Part 2" |
| 1988 | 227 | Lee Wilton | Episode "Best Friends" |
| 1988 | Hunter | Theo White | Episode "Dead on Target: Part 1" |
| 1989–1991 | MacGyver | Dr. Pierre Redemteur / Booker Wilson | Two episodes |
| 1989–1993 | Quantum Leap | Isaac King / Willis Tyler | Two episodes |
| 1990 | Agatha Christie's Poirot | Tindermans | Episode "The Mysterious Affair at Styles" |
| 1991 | Doogie Howser, M.D. | Mr. Alexander | Episode "A Kiss Ain't Just a Kiss" |
| 1992 | The Commish | Franklin Sharpe | Episode "True Believers" |
| 1995 | Live Shot | Unknown | Episode "What Price Episode?" |
| 1996 | Renegade | Police Detective | Episode "Mr. Success" |
| 1996 | Sparks | Walter | Episode "Goode for the Gander" |
| 1996 | Seinfeld | Ipswich | Episode "The Chicken Roaster" |
| 1997 | Beverly Hills, 90210 | Marton Burns | Two episodes |
| 1998 | Brooklyn South | Lieutenant Dandridge | Episode "Cinnamon Buns" |
| 1999 | Wasteland | Lester | Episode "Indian Summer" |
| 2000 | City of Angels | Commander Milton Archer | Episode "Assume the Position" |
| 2000 | Friends | Head Librarian | Episode "The One with Ross' Library Book" |
| 2000 | The Michael Richards Show | Bert | Episode "The Nursing Home" |
| 2001 | Family Law | Morgan | Episode "The Quality of Mercy" |
| 2001 | Arliss | Tony | Episode "Question of Character" |
| 2003 | The District | Anderson Henderson | Episode "Ella Mae" |
| 2006 | The Suite Life of Zack & Cody | Henry | Episode "Free Tippy" |
| 2007 | The Loop | Hibbert | Episode "Crazy Goat" |
| 2009 | Make It or Break It | Pastor Harold | Episode "Sunday, Bloody Sasha, Sunday" |
| 2012–2015 | The First Family | Bernard | Series Regular |
| 2014 | Girl Meets World | Coach Gleason | Episode "Girl Meets World: of Terror" |
| 2018 | Heathers | Inspector Lehman | Episode "Reindeer Games" |