Why Did Pernell Roberts Not Like Bonanza? The Real Reason He Walked Away From Millions
When Bonanza launched in 1959, it became one of the biggest TV hits of its time.
At its peak, the show pulled in over 400 million viewers worldwide and helped define the family-friendly Western format. But not everyone was thrilled to be part of it — including one of its stars.
Pernell Roberts, who played the eldest Cartwright son, Adam, lasted six seasons before walking away. The reason? He hated doing it.
"The thing became a real crusher, mentally, for me," Roberts said in an interview with The Daily News Leader. "I even went to a doctor for help."
A classically trained actor with a Shakespeare background, Roberts had big ambitions. He'd earned stage acclaim (winning a Drama Desk Award for Macbeth in 1955) and wanted to be taken seriously. But Bonanza, despite its popularity, didn't give him the room to grow. It gave him money — but not much else.
"I left Bonanza because I wanted to expand as an actor," he explained. "Playing the same character week after week no longer was a challenge to me. The money was great, sure, but I had to decide if I wanted just the money or a chance to prove myself as an actor. I chose the latter and found that almost everyone thought I was crazy."
He left the show in 1967 and headed straight back to the stage. His next big move was a role in Vincente Minnelli's Broadway production of Mata Hari, which flopped despite praise for his performance. His film career never really took off either — a few forgettable movies and guest TV spots here and there.
It wasn't until 1979, more than a decade after leaving Bonanza, that Roberts finally found his footing again with the medical drama Trapper John, M.D., a MASH spinoff where he played the title role. The series lasted seven seasons, outliving even AfterMASH, and gave Roberts something Bonanza never did — creative balance.
He got to perform on a hit show and do theater during hiatus. According to fans and friends, that made all the difference.
By the time he retired in 1997, Roberts had worked steadily for nearly five decades. He died in 2010 at the age of 81.
Key figures:
- Bonanza ran from 1959 to 1973
- Roberts appeared from Season 1 to Season 6
- He left the show in 1967
- Trapper John, M.D. ran from 1979 to 1986
- Roberts retired from acting in 1997
- He passed away in 2010, aged 81
And as some fans have noted since, Bonanza just wasn't quite the same after he left.
As one put it, "I still watch them on occasion since it's Bonanza, but it just wasn't the same after he left."
Roberts may not have become a movie star, but he walked away on his own terms — even if it meant giving up a fortune to do it.