Richard Roat Explained

Richard Roat
Birth Date:3 July 1933

Richard Roat (July 3, 1933 – August 5, 2022) was an American actor.[1] [2] [3]

Early years

Roat was born on July 3, 1933, in Hartford, Connecticut.[4] He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard D. Roat, and he graduated from Trinity College. He pursued acting as a career despite a lack of encouragement from his dramatic coach at Trinity.[5]

Career

Before he achieved professional status, Roat performed with amateur theatrical groups around Hartford, including the Mark Twain Masquers and Oval in the Grove. He also directed the premiere production of the Tunxis Players. During those years he worked for Aetna Fire and drove a delivery truck for the Newton Robertson Bakery.

In 1957, Roat hitchhiked to New York City to seek work as an actor there. There he studied with Uta Hagen and Herbert Berghof and supported himself with jobs that included working in a gift shop and hanging wallpaper. On January 1, 1961, he replaced Michael Ebert in The Wall at Broadway's Billy Rose Theater. His other Broadway credits included Sunday in New York (1961) and Come on Strong (1962).[6] He also performed for a season in summer stock theater in the Adirondack Mountains.

On television, Roat starred on the daytime drama The Doctors in addition to appearing on Car 54, Where Are You?, Naked City, and other programs.

In addition to his performing, Roat prepared taxes for entertainers for more than 50 years.

Personal life and death

Roat died of a heart attack on August 5, 2022, in Newport Beach, California. At the time of his death, he was married to Kathy Arntzen.

Partial filmography

Film

Television

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Richard Roat Dies: Actor In ‘Seinfeld’, ‘Friends’, ‘Dallas’ & Dozens Of Other Shows Was 89. Erik. Pedersen. Deadline Hollywood. August 30, 2022. September 5, 2022.
  2. Web site: Richard Roat, actor who appeared in 'Friends' and 'Seinfeld,' dead at 89. CNN. Sandra. Gonzalez. August 31, 2022. September 5, 2022.
  3. Web site: Richard Roat, Seen on ‘Cheers,’ ‘Friends’ and ‘Seinfeld,’ Dies at 89. The New York Times. September 2, 2022. September 4, 2022. Richard. Sandomir.
  4. November 2022 . 46 . Richard Roat, 89 . Classic Images.
  5. News: Andersen . H. Viggo . Hartford's 'Lazy' Actor Makes Big Time . November 11, 2022 . Hartford Courant . September 22, 1963 . TV Week - 14.
  6. Web site: Richard Roat . Internet Broadway Database . The Broadway League . November 10, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20211111061151/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/richard-roat-102801 . November 11, 2021 . live.