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Pernell Roberts said ''boredom'' drove him to quit Bonanza
"I use my talent and my intelligence, and do my job as I see it," said Roberts.
Though the Western was surprisingly popular, Pernell Roberts made the enormous decision to leave Bonanza behind when the series was still airing new episodes.
When pressed as to why he left the series in 1965, Roberts came up at a loss.
“I really don’t know,” said Roberts during an interview with the Standard-Star. “It was boredom, I suppose. If you were to look at what you do and say, ‘I don’t want to do that anymore…’ There are other things out there. Life is too short…Time is too precious.”
Despite his departure, fans continued to see the actor as Adam Cartwright.
“They [fans] recognize me as an actor they have seen on television whose name is Pernell Roberts,” said the actor. “And they will refer to whatever comes to them in terms of the ‘association game.’ You know…putting the round peg in the round hole.”
Roberts took little issue with the consistent comparisons. “Most people associate in the past,” said Roberts. “That’s how it is with people. It does vary a great deal depending on the lifestyle of the person who recognizes you and asks the question…but people usually think in terms of the past.”
Roberts didn’t care for comparisons to other actors either. “I use my talent and my intelligence, and do my job as I see it,” said Roberts. “Comparisons don’t interest me. It is not part of my style or my reality. I have too much confidence in myself in terms of who and what I am. It doesn’t matter to me what anyone else does.”
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