How tall was Pernell Roberts

Gerald S said on 23/Sep/24
Rob, a fraction over six feet may be a suitable adjustment for Roberts.

He could pass for near 6’1” in the 60s and 70s.

avi said on 12/Sep/23
It's hard to say he was over 6'0

On Bonanza he slouches a bit
Next to 6'2 people who starred on show seems to be less than 2 inches shorter.
I think Blocker and Roberts were equal footing (meaning didn't wear lift in boot or wore a small one) compared to Landon and Greene.
Roberts next to 6'3ish Blocker can look 2.5-3 inches smaller.

So it would make sense to liat Roberts at 6'0.25 at least for now. Maybe 6'0.5

A full 6'1 I don't think

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 23/May/23
Rob, I think Pernell should be looked at again?

w/h Gregory Harrison (5ft10¾): Click Here Click Here Click Here Click Here Click Here Click Here

w/h Lorne Greene (5ft11¾-6ft, alleged lift-wearer): Click Here Click Here Click Here

w/h George Peppard (solid 6ft himself, if not 6ft0¼) Click Here Click Here


184-185cm range is my guess, nearer 6ft1. Looked comfortably over 6ft in Trapper John. Average guess has him at the full 6ft1, for crying out loud! Roughly 2in below Dan Blocker as well (solid 6ft3)

Beau Dare said on 23/Feb/23
Pernell Roberts was truly one of a kind. I had the pleasure of writing him and James Garner a Western film script in 2002. Roberts was a real gentleman and stood a shade under 6'1" with great posture and bearing. He was also a thoughtful, perceptive individual and a very gifted actor..

Ben Solomon said on 15/Jul/22
@avi

The face to face isn't the only thing that convinces me that Roberts is 6'1. It's how he looks directly next to Alan Hale, James Coburn, Peter Breck etc on Bonanza and other shows at times that Pernell wasn't trying to make himself look shorter or taller.
I agree with 6'3 for Blocker, but believe that when he actually stands straight up that he can go a little over that.
Also agree with your estimate for Greene.
I think that Landon was closer to 5'9, but can see that it's possible that he is closer to 5'8".
The heights on this show are the toughest to estimate because the two tallest stars are consistently tying to look shorter and the other two are trying to appear taller than they are.
Whenever Blocker or Roberts are next to Greene and sometimes even Landon, they are usually hunched at the upper back or neck or most painfully, even have their necks sticking out forward. Add in that Blocker and Roberts didn't wear lifts. I'd give Greene 5'11 1/2 in the early years of the show with Roberts an inch and a half taller.

avi said on 14/Jul/22
@Ben Solomon said on 1/Jul/22

I don't know if that list is accurate...
You think Greene was almost two inches shorter than Roberts??

I do believe Greene was not a full 6'0 guy it you see my comments on his page there was reports he was weak 5'11 by a family member. Maybe later in life?

Assume green was 5'11.5 most his life
And wore bigger lifts than Roberts
It would appear Roberts was a strong 6'0 at most

For Blocker I presented evidence to Rob a few years ago and he changed the listing from 6'4 to 6'3 which seems more appropriate for Blocker
He struggled looking much more than 6'2 guys at times

Landon I think was 5'8 territory
Like 5'8.5

The comment about someone seeing Roberts , it true, is hard to judge without talking face to face for some time

Sometimes ppl seem taller at first then find out maybe not

I just can't see 6'1 for Roberts barefoot

Though a strong 6'0 can be argued I guess.

Ben Solomon said on 1/Jul/22
I'm now agreeing with @Scott B. and anyone that estimated the following barefoot heights during the Bonanza years:
Blocker 6'3
Roberts 6'1
Green 5'11 3 inch Lifts during Bonanza.
Landon 5'9 3 inch Lifts " ".
I agree with the average guess and Rob's choice of 6' for Lorne because he seemed to be taller as a young man. Also think that Dan was somewhat over 6'3", but closer to that than his billed 6'4.

Synn said on 16/Jun/22
@Ben Solomon
Yes, at a restaurant in Malibu that my uncle took us to. My brother and I were visiting a cousin that was attending Pepperdine U. Pernell was there with family/ friends and walked by our table as we were getting up to leave. He was only a few feet from us and looked to be the same height as my 6'1" brother. We said hi and Pernell reciprocated. My brother said that he thought that Pernell was a little taller than him. Pernell had basic 1/2 inch looking shoes on. No way he had a lift. Also, no toupee.

Ben Solomon said on 8/Jun/22
@Synn
Although I think that your estimate is on target, I'm curious as to how close you were and if your estimate takes into account footwear, etc.

Synn said on 26/Apr/22
I have seen him in person during the years of Trapper John and trust me, he is 6'1 plus.

Ben Solomon said on 17/Feb/22
It seems that Pernell is closer to 6"1 when standing next to the likes of James Coburn, Lee Marvin, and even Alan Hale.

Gazza said on 26/Jan/22
Just watched Pernell in The Virginian -- seemed an inch shorter than James Drury (6ft-0) in close-up shots. So, my guess is between 5-11 and 6-0.

Ian C. said on 19/Oct/20
Here is my (admittedly whimsical) evidence that Roberts did not wear lifts: He wore a hairpiece as Adam Cartwright, but he often left it off in his daily life, and in fact went bald as Trapper John, M.D. There was a man who was not overly burdened with vanity. He wouldn't fake having hair, so why would he fake being a few inches taller?

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 9/Feb/20
Rob, maybe a bit over this?

Beau Dare said on 1/Feb/20
I recently saw Pernell Roberts underrated Western "Ride Lonesome". Next to 6'1" James Coburn, Roberts seemed abut the same size. About 6'1/2". Roberts was truly one of a kind, not only was he a fine actor, but he had a wonderful view of life, "to move gently, and be at ease with the mystery of what it's all about."

greg99 said on 31/Jan/20
With apologies to the almost infallible Frank2, I'm going to side with those who think he was about 6'1". Just saw a no-name 70's movie in which he looks about 2" taller than another actor whom I've met and was 5'11". What confuses all this is Bonanza where it sounds like half the cast were wearing lifts :)

Ben Solomon said on 9/Sep/19
Sometimes he did seem to stand as if he were 6', but maybe that was because he was one of the few on the show that didn't wear big boots or lifts.
In the "Springtime" episode of Bonanza, Pernell looked a good half inch taller than 6'1" Denver Pyle. They both looked to have one inch boots on and were standing straight up eye to eye.

avi said on 24/Jul/19
He doesn't look 6'1
Barefoot 6'0 flat.

@Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 12/Jul/19
I agree he can sometimes look close to 6'3ish Blocker.
Blocker was not 6'4 barefoot.
Some even say he was 6'2 zone.
I think around 6'3 is fair.

It's weird. Roberts can look 5'11 range one minute than look close to 6'2 as Ben Solomon said.
Probably posture, camera angles and footwear.
He was not a solid 6'1 guy.
6'0 suits him well

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 12/Jul/19
Both this guy and Lorne Greene were an anomaly. Could look barely shorter than Blocker at times.

Ben Solomon said on 10/Jul/19
He was recently on an episode of The Big Valley and appeared to be the same height or a half inch less than Peter Breck who was 6'1 1/2. Both seemed to have just an inch or less on their heals, so I agree that Pernell was either 6'1" or 6'1 1/2".

Mike Akins said on 20/Jun/19
Roberts was no taller than 5'10",maybe best 5'10'5 but that's it. I believe his sister's story of him being 5'10". You see Landon wore two inch lifts in his heeled boots as well as Greene. Why wouldn't Roberts have done the same? He was 5'10".

Ian C. said on 12/Apr/19
Same height as James Coburn in the movie Ride Lonesome. So, at least six foot one, and maybe six foot tow.

Sue Chilcote said on 23/Jun/18
Wrong. Landon was 5'9" but started wearing boots w/ lifts so he would look taller next to his co-stars. Roberts btw 6' & 6'1". Blocker 6'4" & Greene btw 6' & 6'1". All heights approx depending on what footwear they had on.

Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 5/Apr/18
This one is underbilled. I reckon that 6ft1 holds some validity.

184cm upgrade, Rob?

Ian C. said on 18/Mar/18
Roberts was in episode of Bronco with Ty Hardin, whom I am pretty sure was six foot one, and Roberts was about an inch taller than Hardin. And in fact in most of the stills I have seen of the cast of Bonanza, Roberts is within an inch of Dan Blocker, who I think was six foot three. So six foot two for Roberts.

avi said on 10/Oct/17
@Rob
Can you add he was a star in Bonanza and Trapper John MD

Mike said on 19/Apr/16
I say that Pernell Roberts was at least 6'1 or 6'2. He was the exact same height as Charles Siebert his costar on Trapper John MD.

Barker said on 27/Dec/14
Pernell was 5' 10 1/2" in bare feet. Was a little better than 6 ' in cowboy heels.

Mike said on 4/Aug/14
He was 3 inches shorter than Dan Blocker on Bonanza. He was about the same height as Charles Siebert on Trapper John MD. I would say that he was about 6'1 or 6'2'' tall.

avi said on 3/Jan/14
@Rob
Why isn't he 6'0.5 or 6'1?
Didn't he always seem a weak 6'1?

Michael Voisinet said on 5/Oct/13
I say that Pernell Roberts was 6'1'' tall.

avi said on 27/Jul/13
Yeah strong 6'0 maybe 6'0.5

hoss said on 28/Dec/12
dan blocker was a big man 275 in 1959 and 300 to 320 1967.1972 he was not 6'4'' he was 6'2''or 6'3''

dave said on 14/Aug/11
dan block high is 62 and boot lifts 64

Joanie said on 20/Jul/11
Pernell was 6ft.2in. 195lbs. I know this because he was a friend of mine and dearly missed

Mark said on 31/May/11
6'2 was very tall in the mid 60's, much less now. Roberts never towered over anyone on Bonanza, or any other show he was on. 6' sounds right. Liz says her brother says he was 5'10 or a bit over, and Johnee says he was 6'2. That's a 4 inch difference. Again, I go with 6'.

Johnee said on 1/Dec/10
Pernell is 6'2, I met Him , He is very tall, and weighs 198, and very, very Handsome and a wonderful , caring and generous,Man, there is no other Man like Him.

Shadow2 said on 15/Nov/10
In "Trapper John MD" Pernell was close to the same height as Gregory Harrison, and shorter than Charles Siebert. I met Harrison and Siebert during the show's run, Harrison was 6' and Siebert 6'2". I agree with Joanee, Pernell is sadly missed.

Ashley C said on 13/Aug/08
I read somewhere that Michael was 5'9" and Pernell was 6'1" and I don't remember the others height.

Scott B said on 7/Jul/08
I saw an episode of Bonanza today. There was a scene where Roberts was Barefoot standing next to Landon in Boots. Landon was 5'9 and 6'0 in boots. Roberts was and inch taller putting him at 6'1. Roberts and Blocker did several scenes barfoot, but Landon and Green always had their Botts on.
Roberts 6'1
Blocker 6'3
Green 5'11 3 inch Lifts.
Landon 5'9 3 inch Lifts.

Scott B said on 3/Jun/08
I saw a Movie the other day with Charlton Heston and Loren Green. Heston Towered over Green. Green wore 3 inch Lifts on Bonanza as did Landon.

Scott B. said on 2/Apr/08
Landon wore HUGE Lifts on Bonaza. Loren Green also wore Lifts. Roberts Boots were normal. I saw a movie the other day with Roberts called Ride Lonesome. He was standing next to James Coburn who was 6'2 and they looked about the same height. Roberts is 6'1 Barefoot. Dan Blocker was 6'3. NO less.

Marcelo C. said on 28/Feb/08
Glenn: Evidently, the heights mentioned in the upper highlights, taken from the 60

Scott B. said on 29/Dec/07
I agree with michael Roberts was at least 6'1.

michael voisinet said on 24/Jul/07
6' for pernell roberts is a very inaccurate depiction.he is more than 6'tall.on an episode of hawaii five o he looked the same height as jack lord who was 6'1.5''tall.i say that pernell roberts is 6'1.5''tall.

Brad said on 2/Nov/06
6'. He wore a big wig on Bonanza.

Frank2 said on 25/Apr/06
as did Pernell.

Frank2 said on 25/Apr/06
Landon was 5'9". I met him on several occasions. He wore lifts. Pernell was 6', Blocker was not 6'4" but was at the very most about 6'3" and Lorne Greene was 6'1" when he was younger, but as he got older he shrank down by two inches. By the time he appeared in Earthquake (1974) playing of all things, Ava Gardner's father (Greene was only seven years older in real life!) he was about my height. Green wore lifts in Bonanza. He also wore a rug.