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.