Tanya Roberts
Tanya Roberts | |
---|---|
![]() Roberts in 1982 | |
Born | Victoria Leigh Blum October 15, 1949 New York City, New York, U.S. |
Died | January 4, 2021 Los Angeles, California, U.S. | (aged 71)
Alma mater | Actors Studio |
Occupation | Actress |
Years active | 1975–2005 |
Known for | Charlie's Angels That '70s Show A View to a Kill Sheena The Beastmaster |
Spouse |
Barry Roberts
(m. 1974; died 2006) |
Partner | Lance O'Brien (?–2021) |
Relatives | Theodor Blum (grandfather) |
Tanya Roberts (born Victoria Leigh Blum; October 15, 1949 – January 4, 2021) was an American actress. Some of her credits include playing Julie Rogers in the final season of the television series Charlie's Angels (1980–1981), Stacey Sutton in the James Bond film A View to a Kill (1985), Sheena in Sheena: Queen of the Jungle (1984), Kiri in The Beastmaster (1982) and Midge Pinciotti on That '70s Show (1998–2004).
Early life
[edit]Tanya Roberts was born Victoria Leigh Blum in 1949 (although long given as 1955)[1][2][3] in Manhattan,[4] New York City, to Oscar Blum and his wife Dorothy (née Smith).[5] Oscar Maximilian Blum was born in New York City.[6][7] Oscar's father, Theodor Blum,[8] did pioneering work in local anesthesia and the use of x-rays in dental care.[9] Theodor was born in Vienna, Austria and immigrated to New York in 1904.[6] Oscar earned a bachelor's degree from Cornell University in 1934 and was a first year student in the medical college there.[10] In 1940, Tanya's father was working as an assistant manager for a music publishing house in New York City.[11] He married in 1945 in Weymouth, England, to Dorothy Leigh Smith from Oldham, England.[12][13] At age 22 Dorothy arrived in New York City in April 1945.[14] In 1948, Dorothy returned to New York from a trip to England with Tanya's two-year-old sister, Barbara.[15] Tanya's father was of Jewish descent and her mother was of English or Irish descent.[16][17][1] It has also been reported that her father was of Irish descent and her mother was Jewish.[18] She had one older sister, Barbara.[19] The 1950 U.S. Census shows that, as of April 1950, the Blum family lived in the hamlet of Hewlett in Hempstead, NY and that Oscar Blum was a sales executive for a pen manufacturer.[2] The Blum family were living in Scarsdale, New York in July 1950, purchasing the property in March 1951, and selling it January 1958.[20][21][22][23] Later in the same month in 1958 Tanya's parents obtained a mortgage to buy a property in neighboring Greenburgh, New York and later sold it in July 1961.[24][25]
After meeting psychology student Barry Roberts while waiting in line for a movie, Victoria Blum proposed to him in a subway station and they were soon married in 1973.[26][27] While Barry pursued a career as a screenwriter, she began to study at the Actors Studio with Lee Strasberg and Uta Hagen under the name Tanya Roberts.[16]
Career
[edit]1970s: Early career and Charlie's Angels
[edit]Roberts began her career as a model in TV ads for Excedrin, Ultra Brite, Clairol, and Cool Ray sunglasses.[28] She played serious roles in the off-Broadway productions Picnic and Antigone.[16] She also supported herself as an Arthur Murray dance instructor. Her film debut was in The Last Victim (1975).[29][30] This was followed by the comedy The Yum-Yum Girls (1976).[30] In 1977, as Barry Roberts was securing his own screenwriting career, the couple moved to Hollywood. Roberts was then cast in The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover (1977)[5] and the following year, participated in the drama Fingers.[30] In 1979 Roberts appeared in the cult film Tourist Trap,[31] Racquet,[29][30] and California Dreaming.[30] Roberts was featured in several television pilots which were not picked up: Zuma Beach (a 1978 comedy),[30] Pleasure Cove (1979),[16] and Waikiki (1980).[16]
In the summer of 1980, Roberts was chosen from some 2,000 candidates to replace Shelley Hack in the fifth season of the detective television series Charlie's Angels.[28][29] Roberts played Julie Rogers, a streetwise fighter who used her fists more than her gun. Producers hoped Roberts's presence would revitalize the series's declining ratings and regenerate media interest in the series. Before the season's premiere, Roberts was featured on the cover of People magazine with a headline asking if Roberts would be able to save the declining series from cancellation.[32] Despite the hype of Roberts's debut in November 1980, the series continued to draw dismal ratings and was canceled in June 1981.[33]
1982–1984: B-movies
[edit]Roberts played Kiri, a slave rescued by protagonist Dar (Marc Singer) in the adventure fantasy film The Beastmaster (1982),[28][16] which became a cult film.[18][29][30][31] She was featured in a nude pictorial in Playboy to help promote the film,[5] appearing on the cover of the October 1982 issue.[16] In 1983, Roberts filmed the Italian-made adventure fantasy film Hearts and Armour[34] (also known as Paladini-storia d'armi e d'amori and Paladins — The Story of Love and Arms), based on the medieval novel Orlando Furioso.
She portrayed Velda, the secretary to private detective Mike Hammer, in the television film Murder Me, Murder You (1983),[28][35] based on crime novelist Mickey Spillane's iconic Mike Hammer private detective series. The two-part pilot spawned the syndicated television series Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer.[35] She declined to continue the role in the Mike Hammer series to work on her next project, the 1984 fantasy film Sheena: Queen of the Jungle, in which she played the main character.[28][29][31][18][30][16] The film was a box-office failure, and garnered her a nomination for "Worst Actress" at the Razzie Awards.[36] Writing in The New Yorker, film critic Pauline Kael described Roberts as "[having] a staring, comic-book opaqueness" and "a walking, talking icon".[5]
1985–2005: A View to a Kill and That '70s Show
[edit]Roberts appeared as Bond girl, geologist Stacey Sutton, in A View to a Kill (1985) with Roger Moore;[28][29] the first choice for the role was Priscilla Presley.[5] In the wake of this performance, Roberts was nominated for a second Razzie Award.[37] Roberts's other 1980s films include Night Eyes, an erotic thriller;[29][30] Body Slam (1987), an action film set in the professional wrestling world (another cult favorite);[29][30] and Purgatory, a film about a woman wrongfully imprisoned in Africa.[30] Towards the end of the decade, Roberts recorded the reference footage of The Legend of Zelda used by producers during the creation of the animated adaptation.[38]
Roberts starred in the erotic thriller Inner Sanctum (1991) alongside Margaux Hemingway.[30][39] In 1992, she played Kay Egan in Sins of Desire.[28][30] She appeared on the cable series Hot Line in 1995, and in the video game The Pandora Directive in 1996.[30]
In 1998, Roberts took the role of Midge Pinciotti on the television sitcom That '70s Show.[29][31][30] In her obituary in The Guardian, Ryan Gilbey praises "[h]er knowing performance" in this role, "slow on the uptake but growing dissatisfied with her life as a housewife".[5] She left the series after the 3rd season in 2001, because her husband had become terminally ill,[5] returning for a few special guest appearances in the 6th and 7th seasons in 2004.
Personal life
[edit]Roberts was married to Barry Roberts from 1974 until his death in 2006.[40] They had no children.[41] Roberts lived in Hollywood Hills, California.[41] Some time after his death, she became the partner of Lance O'Brien.[5] Her sister, Barbara Chase, was married to Timothy Leary.[28]
Roberts wrote the foreword to the book The Q Guide to Charlie's Angels (2008).[42] She was described by her publicist as an animal rights activist.[43] During the COVID-19 pandemic, she maintained an active social media presence by hosting video chats on Facebook and Zoom.[44]
Death
[edit]While hiking on December 23, 2020, Roberts developed lower intestinal pain and difficulty breathing. She returned home to rest. Early the next morning, she fell out of bed and found she could not get up.[45] She was taken to Cedars-Sinai Hospital, where it was determined she had developed a urinary tract infection that had advanced to sepsis.[46] The body's immune response to her infection resulted in multi-organ failure.[46] She had to be placed on a ventilator to help her breathe.[31] Her boyfriend, Lance O'Brien, was not allowed to see her due to restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.[47] Her condition deteriorated, and on January 3, 2021, she was taken off life support.[45] O'Brien was finally then allowed to visit her.[48] Her death was prematurely reported early on January 4, though she died that evening at the age of 71.[48][28] In a handwritten will, Roberts left her estate to O'Brien.[49]
Roberts' death was announced prematurely by her publicist; moreover, her age of death was incorrectly given as 65 by multiple sources.[50][51][52]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes | Refs |
---|---|---|---|---|
1975 | Forced Entry | Nancy Ulman | [28][29][30][53] | |
1976 | The Yum Yum Girls | April | [30] | |
1977 | The Private Files of J. Edgar Hoover | Stewardess | [30] | |
1978 | Fingers | Julie | [30] | |
1979 | Tourist Trap | Becky | [31][54] | |
California Dreaming | Stephanie | [30] | ||
Racquet | Bambi | [29][30] | ||
1982 | The Beastmaster | Kiri | [28] | |
1983 | Hearts and Armour | Angelica | [34][54] | |
1984 | Sheena: Queen of the Jungle | Sheena | [28] | |
1985 | A View to a Kill | Stacey Sutton | [28] | |
1986 | Body Slam | Candace Vandervagen | [29][30][54] | |
1988 | Purgatory | Carly Arnold | [30][54] | |
1990 | Twisted Justice | Secretary | [30][54] | |
Night Eyes | Nikki Walker | [29][30][54] | ||
1991 | Inner Sanctum | Lynn Foster | [30][54] | |
Legal Tender | Rikki Rennick | [30][54] | ||
1992 | Almost Pregnant | Linda Alderson | Video | [30][55] |
1993 | Sins of Desire | Kay Egan | [28][30] | |
1994 | Deep Down | Charlotte | [54] | |
1995 | Favorite Deadly Sins | Tanya Roberts | Cameo | [56] |
Television
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes | Refs |
---|---|---|---|---|
1978 | Zuma Beach | Denise | TV movie | [30] |
1979 | Pleasure Cove | Sally | [16] | |
1980 | Vega$ | Officer Britt Blackwell | Episode: "Golden Gate Cop Killer" (Backdoor pilot for unproduced series Ladies in Blue) |
[57] |
Waikiki | Carol | TV movie | [16] | |
1980–1981 | Charlie's Angels | Julie Rogers | Main role | [28][29][16] |
1982 | The Love Boat | Diane Dayton | Episode: "Green, But Not Jolly/Past Perfect Love/Instant Family" | [58] |
Fantasy Island | Amanda Parsons | Episode: "The Ghost's Story" | [29][31] | |
1983 | Murder Me, Murder You | Velda | TV movie | [28][35] |
1993 | Greatest Heroes of the Bible | Bashemath | Episode: "Jacob's Challenge" | [30] |
1994 | Burke's Law | Julie Reardon | Episode: "Who Killed Nick Hazard?" | [59][60] |
1994–1996 | Hot Line | Rebecca | Main role | [61] |
1995 | Silk Stalkings | Callie Callahan | Episode: "Till Death Do Us Part" | [31] |
1997 | The Blues Brothers Animated Series | Toni G. | Voice, recurring role | [62][63] |
High Tide | Rhonda Fogel | Episode: "Girl on the Run" | [64][65] | |
1998 | The Angry Beavers | Marsha | Voice, episode: "Same Time Last Week" | [66] |
1998–2004 | That '70s Show | Midge Pinciotti | Recurring role | [29][30][31] |
2002 | Off Centre | Gretchen | Episode: "Mike & Liz & Chau & Jordan" | [67] |
2003 | Fillmore! | Author | Voice, episode: "The Unseen Reflection" | [68] |
2005 | Eve | Rebecca | Episode: "Kung Fu Divas" | [69] |
Barbershop | Ellie Palmer | 2 episodes | [28][29][31] |
Video games
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Note |
---|---|---|---|
1996 | The Pandora Directive | Regan Madsen | Video game[30] |
References
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- ^ a b "Search 1950 Census". U.S. National Archives. Retrieved April 1, 2022.
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- ^ a b c d e f g h Ryan Gilbey (January 6, 2021). "Tanya Roberts obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved January 7, 2021.
- ^ a b U.S. Dept. of Labor, Naturalization Services. "New York, County Naturalization records, 1791–1980". FamilySearch. U.S. Dept. of Labor, Naturalization Service. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
- ^ U.S. Social Security Administration. "Record for Oscar Blum, August 1971". FamilySearch. U.S. Social Security Administration. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
- ^ Reich, William T. (1963). Theordor Blum. D.D.S., M.D. New York: The New York Institute of Clinical Oral Pathology. p. 1. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
- ^ Reich, William T. (1963). Theodor Blum, D.D.S., M.D. New York: New York Institute of Clinical Oral Pathology. p. 8. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
- ^ Cornell University (August 1, 1934). "Announcement of the Medical College for 1934–35". Cornell University Official Publication. XXVI (3): 114. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
- ^ Bureau of Census. "Oscar M Blum in household of Bertha Blum, Assembly District 15, Manhattan, New York City". FamilySearch. Bureau of Census. Retrieved February 18, 2021.
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- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Toone, Stephanie (January 3, 2021). "'That '70s Show' star, Bond Girl Tanya Roberts dies at age 65". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. 1715.
- ^ Lewis, Dan (August 15, 1980). "Roberts becomes newest Angel". The Paris News. p. 31.
- ^ a b c Appelebaum, Elizabeth (June 12, 1988). "Charlie's Jewish Angel". The Detroit Jewish News.
- ^ Greenfield, Robert (2006). Timothy Leary: A Biography. Harcourt. p. 534. ISBN 978-0151005000.
- ^ "New Neighbors". The Scarsdale Inquirer. No. XXXII, 35. September 1, 1950. p. 11. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
- ^ "Index of Grantees, Scarsdale, NY, vol. 5, 1941-1957". FamilySearch.org. Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City, UT. March 7, 1951. p. Image 42. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
- ^ U.S Dept. of Justice, Immigration & Naturalization Service. "New York City Passenger and Crew Lists, 1909, 1925–1957". FamilySearch.org. National Archives and Records Administration. Retrieved February 19, 2021.
- ^ "Index of Grantees, Scarsdale, NY, vol. 6, 1958-1966". FamilySearch.org. Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City, UT. January 15, 1958. p. Image 184. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
- ^ "Index of Mortgagees, Greenburgh, NY, 1958-1966". FamilySearch.org. Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City, UT. January 20, 1958. p. Image 604. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
- ^ "Index of Grantors, Greenburgh, NY 1958-1966 vol 6, A-M". FamilySearch.org. Genealogical Society, Salt Lake City, UT. July 3, 1961. p. Image 66. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
- ^ Lague, Louise (September 10, 1984). "Critics Call Her Sheena, Shame of the Jungle, but Tanya Roberts Won't Take It Lying Down". People.
- ^ "New York, New York City Marriage Licenses Index, 1950-1995". FamilySearch.org. New York, NY: New York City Clerk's Office. 1973. Retrieved July 10, 2024.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Gates, Anita (January 5, 2021). "Tanya Roberts, a Charlie's Angel and a Bond Girl, Is Dead at 65". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Rahman, Abid; Nordyke, Kimberly (January 3, 2021). "Tanya Roberts, Bond Girl and 'That '70's Show' Star, Dies at 65". The Hollywood Reporter.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag "Tanya Roberts". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on April 9, 2018. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Caruso, Nick (January 3, 2021). "Tanya Roberts, That '70s Show and Charlie's Angels Actress" – via Yahoo!.
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- ^ Reilly, Sue (February 9, 1981). "Is the Jiggle Up?". People. Archived from the original on July 11, 2020. Retrieved July 29, 2015.
- ^ a b "Tanya Roberts' publicist retracts report that said actor had died". The Guardian. January 4, 2021.
The former Bond girl was mistakenly reported dead after being hospitalised following a fall at her home
- ^ a b c Bullard, Benjamin (January 3, 2021). "Tanya Roberts James Bond and That 70's Show Actor Passes Away at 65". syfy.com.
- ^ Vagg, Stephen (November 17, 2020). "John Guillermin: Action Man". Filmink.
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- ^ "Tanya Roberts: Bond girl and Charlie's Angel still alive, agent says". BBC. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
- ^ "After Retracting Premature Report of Her Death, Publicist Now Says Actress Tanya Roberts Has Died". NBC Boston. January 5, 2021. Retrieved January 6, 2021.
- ^ a b "Tanya Roberts Gets Back to Nature in Her Beautiful Hollywood Hills Home". Closer Weekly. March 8, 2015. Retrieved August 2, 2015.
- ^ Hernandez, Greg (July 1, 2008). "New "Charlie's Angels" book offer a fun "gay" look at the 70s detective series…". Los Angeles Daily News, Out in Hollywood. Retrieved January 4, 2021.
- ^ Ryder, Taryn (January 6, 2021). "Yahoo Celebrity: Tanya Roberts's cause of death revealed as her partner speaks out". Yahoo! Entertainment.
- ^ Blistein, Jon (January 4, 2021). "Tanya Roberts, Star of Bond Film 'A View to Kill' and 'That '70s Show,' Dead at 65". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on January 4, 2021.(subscription required)
- ^ a b Byrne, Suzy (January 5, 2021). "Tanya Roberts has died after early, inaccurate death announcement: reports". Yahoo!. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
- ^ a b Carroll, Linda (January 7, 2021). "Tanya Roberts died from urinary tract infection that caused sepsis". NBC News. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
- ^ Kennedy, Mark (January 5, 2021). "Actress Tanya Roberts dies hours after premature death announcement". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved July 13, 2021.
- ^ a b McCarthy, Tyler (January 5, 2021). "Tanya Roberts is dead, partner says after premature death declaration". Fox News. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
- ^ Day, Nate (June 17, 2021). "Late Bond girl Tanya Roberts leaves entire estate to common law husband in handwritten will". Fox News. Retrieved June 18, 2021.
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External links
[edit]- 1949 births
- 2021 deaths
- Age controversies
- 20th-century American actresses
- 21st-century American actresses
- Actors Studio alumni
- Actresses from Manhattan
- American female models
- American film actresses
- American television actresses
- American people of Austrian-Jewish descent
- American people of English descent
- American people of Irish descent
- Female models from New York (state)
- Infectious disease deaths in California
- Jewish American actresses
- 20th-century American Jews
- 21st-century American Jews