‘Bonanza’ star Pernell Roberts dead at 81

Published: January 27, 2021

TV star Pernell Roberts passed away yesterday after battling pancreatic cancer. Pernell shot to fame playing the role of Adam Cartwright in one of television’s most successful shows, ‘Bonanza’. He continued his role of the suave, handsome character for six years (from 1959 to 1965), after which he chose to leave the show.

It caused an uproar among ‘Bonanza’ producers and millions of fans across the globe that one of the main charactes would want to leave at the peak of the TV series. The Huffington Post quotes the actor saying of his decision: “Doesn’t it seem a bit silly for three adult males to get Father’s permission for everything they do?”

Pernell continued to guest star in around 60 TV shows, and played the lead role in ‘Trapper John, M.D.’ from 1979 to 1986.

Pernell’s fourth wife, Eleanor Criswell, told the Los Angeles Times the actor passed away at their Malibu home after battling pancreatic cancer for two years.

Pancreatic cancer is a particularly aggressive cancer, with a lower cure rate than most. Patrick Swayze died after a long battle with pancreatic cancer in 2009. Tenor Luciano Pavarotti also lost his battle to pancreatic cancer.

Published January 27, 2021 by Chris in Celebrities
Tags: cancer, death, pancreatic cancer