‘Friends’ and ‘Seinfeld’ actor Richard Roat dies at 89. Take a look at his life journey

Richard Roat, a veteran actor, died in Orange County, California, on August 5. A family obituary published in the LA Times announced the death of the veteran actor with a prolific career spanning about 50 years and 135 roles. The cause of Roat's death was not mentioned by the family in his obituary.

Long career starting in the early '60s

Richard Roat began his career in 1960 with the sitcom Car 54- Where are you? Since then, Roat has had an impressive list of credits across iconic TV shows till the mid-2000. Besides acting, Roat also had a separate profession, running an entertainment tax preparation business for over 50 years.

Gaining popularity with the audience

In the daytime series, The Doctors, he established his credentials as a character actor. In the serial, he became well-known for his recurring part as Dr Jerry Chandler.


He has since starred in several popular television shows in significant character roles and left his mark as an actor. Some of them are Colombo, Dallas, Charlie's Angels, Dynasty, and Hill Street Blues, among others. Senior viewers still remember his performances in Columbo and Hawaii-Five-O in the '70s.



Roat gained fame for his Seinfeld portrayal as the physician Dr Berg in Seinfeld in the 90s. His characterisation of Burt, a paleontologist, in Friends earned him the rave attention of the viewers. Similarly, he was appreciated for his performance in the Golden Girls (as Al Beatty).

Basketball enthusiast

In his spare time, he was a dedicated supporter of the Los Angeles Angels and an avid basketball follower. Richards’s family will miss him and fondly remember the various character roles played by Roat in his lifetime.

FAQs

Q. What are Roat’s most famous works?
A. Roat, being a veteran actor, has several famous roles to his credit. But many fans still remember his roles in the serials Friends and Seinfeld.

Q. Did Roat perform on Broadway?
A. Yes, Roat has performed in several shows on Broadway, like Sunday in New York, Any Wednesday, Moon Over Buffalo, and more.