{{Short description|American actor}} {{BLP sources|date=May 2016}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}} {{Infobox person | image = <!-- only free-content images are allowed for depicting living people. Non-free and "fair use" images, e.g. promo photos, CD/DVD covers, posters, screen captures, etc., will be deleted - see WP:NONFREE --> | image_size = | birth_date = <!-- Valid citation required for date of birth for BLP. (WP:BLPPRIVACY) --> | birth_place = | occupation = Actor | years_active = 1974–present | spouse = {{marriage|Pamela Frey Roberts|1976}} | children = 2 }} '''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''.<ref>{{cite book| last = Nichols | first = Peter M. | title = The New York Times Guide to the Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made, Updated & Revised | publisher =St. Martin's Griffin | year = 2004 | page = 802 | isbn =0-312-32611-4 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news| last =Lareau | first = Lise | title = Hit film Rain Man turns the spotlight on autism, its causes | work = The Toronto Star | publisher = Toronto Star Newspapers Limited | page = L3 | date = February 23, 1989}}</ref> 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.{{Citation needed |date=August 2022}}
==Filmography== ===Films=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Film ! Role ! Notes |- | 1977 | ''Herowork'' | Deputy Johnson | |- | 1980 | ''{{sortname|The|Hunter|dab=1980 film}}'' | Poker Player | |- | 1983 | ''Heartbreaker''<ref>{{cite book|last=Maltin|first=Leonard|title=Leonard Maltin's 2009 Movie Guide|year=2008|publisher=Penguin Group|isbn=978-0-452-28978-9|pages=591|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6EgPDierNGUC&pg=PA591}}</ref> | Hopper | |- | rowspan=2 | 1984 | ''{{sortname|The|Ice Pirates}}''<ref name=eff>{{cite book|last=Young|first=R. G.|title=The Encyclopedia of Fantastic Film: Ali Baba to Zombies|pages=298|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QoJ4jTghUPYC&pg=PT305 | publisher = Hal Leonard Corporation | year = 2000 | isbn=1-55783-269-2}}</ref> | Roscoe | |- | ''Earthlings'' | D.J. Young | TV movie |- | 1986 | ''Manhunter'' | The Runner | |- | rowspan=2 | 1988 | ''Rain Man'' | Vern | |- | ''Back to Freedom'' | Sammy Samson | |- | 1990 | ''Sunset Beat'' | Maurice Smith | Pilot |- | rowspan=2 | 1991 | ''The Last Halloween'' | The Accountant | TV movie |- | ''A Mother's Justice'' | Nick (as Michael Roberts) | TV movie |- | rowspan=2 | 1992 | ''Live! From Death Row'' | Silsbee | TV movie |- | ''Wishman'' | Ted Taylor |- | 1993 | ''In the Shadows, Someone's Watching'' | Driscolle | TV movie |- | 1995 | ''Sleepstalker''{{r|eff|page1=574}} | The Preacher | |- | 1997 |''Most Wanted''<ref>{{cite book|title=Screen World 1998 |pages=118 |first1=John|last1=Willis|first2=Barry|last2=Monush |publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation |year=1999 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=a0QhtY4YswQC&pg=PT119 |isbn=1-55783-342-7}}</ref> | Homeless Man | |- | rowspan=2 | 1999 | ''Hitman's Run'' | FBI Director Dean Harris | |- | ''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=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! 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" |- | rowspan=3 | 1979 | ''{{sortname|The|Incredible Hulk|dab=1978 TV series}}'' | D.J. | Episode "Like a Brother" |- | ''Vegas'' | Chickie | Episode "Demand and Supply" |- | ''Quincy, M.E.'' | Police Officer Ed Waters | Episode "Dark Angel" |- | 1980 | ''B.J. and the Bear'' | Shades | Episode "The 18-Wheel Rip-Off" |- | rowspan=3 | 1981 | ''Sanford'' | Sam | Episode "Cal the Coward" |- | ''Bosom Buddies'' | Mr. Norton | Episode "Amy's Career" |- | ''Jessica Novak'' | Jack | Episode "Closeup News" |- | rowspan=2 | 1982 | ''Knight Rider'' | Jackson | Episode "Knight of the Phoenix" |- | ''{{sortname|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" |- | rowspan=2 | 1987 | ''Cagney & Lacey'' | Eddie Hanks | Episode "The City Is Burning" |- | ''Night Court'' | Moody | Episode "Constitution: Part 2" |- | rowspan=2 | 1988 | ''227'' | Lee Wilton | Episode "Best Friends" |- | ''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 | ''{{sortname|The|Commish}}'' | Franklin Sharpe | Episode "True Believers" |- | 1995 | ''Live Shot'' | Unknown | Episode "What Price Episode?" |- | rowspan=3 | 1996 | ''Renegade'' | Police Detective | Episode "Mr. Success" |- | ''Sparks'' | Walter | Episode "Goode for the Gander" |- | ''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" |- | rowspan=3 | 2000 | ''City of Angels'' | Commander Milton Archer | Episode "Assume the Position" |- | ''Friends'' | Head Librarian | Episode "The One with Ross' Library Book" |- | ''{{sortname|The|Michael Richards Show}}'' | Bert | Episode "The Nursing Home" |- | rowspan=2 | 2001 | ''Family Law'' | Morgan | Episode "The Quality of Mercy" |- | ''Arliss'' | Tony | Episode "Question of Character" |- | 2003 | ''{{sortname|The|District}}'' | Anderson Henderson | Episode "Ella Mae" |- | 2006 | ''{{sortname|The|Suite Life of Zack & Cody}}'' | Henry | Episode "Free Tippy" |- | 2007 | ''{{sortname|The|Loop|dab=U.S. TV series}}'' | 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" |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name|0731426}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roberts, Michael D.}} Category:Living people Category:Place of birth missing (living people) Category:American male film actors Category:American male television actors Category:American Scientologists Category:21st-century African-American male actors Category:21st-century American male actors Category:20th-century African-American male actors Category:20th-century American male actors Category:Year of birth missing (living people)