Biography
Joan Roberts was born in Washington, D.C on February 19th and raised in the suburb of McLean, Virginia. She attended West Virginia University and American University majoring in drama and speech.
After touring with the U.S.O. Ms. Roberts joined WRC/NBC radio in Washington, D.C as a staff announcer and local radio personality. She quickly became one of the areas most sought after voice-over talents. While filming on location in Los Angeles she signed with an agent and relocated to California where she began a busy career guest starring in numerous television shows, Movies of the Week, pilots and series including, "Designing Women" in the highly acclaimed episode, "The AIDS Show"," Three's Company", "Archie Bunker", "Fantasy Island", "Matlock", "The Castaway's Return to Gilligan's Island" and many more.
In 1981 Ms. Roberts was cast as one of the stars of the CBS television series, "Pvt. Benjamin". The CBS network executive assigned to the series was Dwayne Hickman, former star of the classic television series, "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis". After meeting at a studio party the couple began dating and married two years later on April 16th 1983. Ms. Roberts continued guest starring in television shows, working in theatre and began pursuing a writing career. Encouraged by Linda Bloodworth Thomason, creator of "Designing Women", she wrote several scripts for the series as well as columns for various magazines and newspapers. In 1992 the couple's son, Albert Thomas, was born and Ms. Roberts devoted her time to her family and concentrating on her writing and voice-over career. In 1994 she co-authored with Dwayne Hickman his critically acclaimed autobiography, "Forever Dobie...The Many Lives of Dwayne Hickman", Birch Lane Press.
Dwayne Hickman left the CBS and began directing half hour comedies and pursuing his love of oil painting. While continuing her busy voiceover career Ms. Roberts signed on as contributing editor of "ArtAffairs Magazine" writing many of the magazines cover stories. By 1999 Hickman's artwork had moved from hobby to a thriving business. The couple formed, Hickman/Roberts Productions, Inc. and began publishing limited edition canvas prints of his artwork. In addition to her on-going show business career, Ms. Roberts launched Dwayne Hickman's artwork in galleries across the country. She created a marketing and promotional program unique in the art industry producing and promoting celebrity artist events nationwide.
Ms. Roberts is one of a small group of successful voice talent to work in the area of political narration. She was the female voice for McCain's 2008 Presidential Campaign, numerous candidates and issues and multiple races in the 2010 mid-terms. Joan Roberts, Dwayne Hickman and their son Albert reside in Los Angeles, California.
