Don Roberts

By DOUG GALLOWAY

Don Roberts, a prolific production designer whose designs for the sets of the legendary TV series "All In the Family" are now on display at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., died Sunday of a brain tumor at the Motion Picture & Television Hospital in Woodland Hills. He was 64.

In addition to "All In the Family," Roberts designed the pilots and numerous episodes of 46 popular TV series including "The Jeffersons," "Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman," "Three's Company," "Spenser for Hire," "One Day at a Time," "Sanford and Son," "Who's the Boss?" and "Married With Children."

He also designed the game shows "The Price Is Right" and "The Joker's Wild."

In 1986, Roberts' productivity was at a peak as he was responsible for the production design on 92-1/2 half-hour programs airing in primetime, syndication and daytime.

Born and reared in Southern California, Roberts began his career directing musicals for the Santa Monica Civic Light Opera. He then moved into production design and art design with the Players Ring Theater in Hollywood and the Pasadena Playhouse.

He later teamed with lighting director Conrad Penrod, garnering critical acclaim for production design and lighting on numerous stage productions throughout Los Angeles including "Kataki," "Under the Yum Yum Tree" and "Sweet Bird of Youth."

Additional legit credits included "Sweet Bird of Youth, " the Allan Carr production of "Sunday in New York" (which first brought Marlo Thomas to fame), "The Little Foxes" starring Carroll O'Connor, and the Gloria Swanson production of "Reprise" at the Huntington Hartford Theater.

He is survived by a brother, Kenneth, and his companion of 40 years, producer/director Bernie Wiesen.

Services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at Forest Lawn in the Hollywood Hills.

Donations in his name may be made to the Bowmer Fund for Education, Oregon Shakespeare Festival Endowment Fund, P.O. Box 158, Ashland, OR 97520.