RIP: Tony Roberts dead at 85: Woody Allen collaborator who shot to fame in Annie Hall passes away in NYC.

Annie Hall and Serpico actor Tony Roberts has died aged 85.

The Tony Award nominated star and frequent Woody Allen collaborator died from lung cancer on Friday, February 7, with his death announced by his daughter Nicole Burley to the New York Times.

His marriage to Jennifer Lyons ended in divorce. He is survived by his daughter.

He originated roles in Broadway musicals including How Now, Dow Jones (1967); Sugar (1972), an adaptation of the movie Some Like It Hot, and Victor/Victoria (1995), in which he co-starred with Julie Andrews when she returned to Broadway in the stage version of her popular film.

He also was in the campy, roller-disco Xanadu in 2007 and The Royal Family in 2009.

He first met Allen backstage when he was starring in Barefoot in the Park, having replaced Robert Redford.

Roberts had unsuccessfully auditioned four times for Allen’s first Broadway play, Don’t Drink the Water.

After seeing Roberts perform in Barefoot in the Park, Allen changed his mind and cast him.

According to his memoir, Allen told him: ‘You were great. How come you’re such a lousy auditioner?’

He  appeared on Broadway in the 1966  Allen comedy Don’t Drink the Water, repeating his role in the film version, and in Allen’s Play It Again, Sam (1969), for which he also made the movie.

A close friend of Allen’s and often playing his best friend on screen, Roberts is known for his turn in 1977 hit Annie Hall as Alvy Singer’s best friend Rob.

As James Lileks has noted, Roberts was the only character having fun, blissfully free of obvious neuroses, during his multiple co-starring roles in Woody’s movies.