TV Radio Mirror (Jan - Jun 1963)

ON October 15th, 1962, we learned that Pernell Roberts had applied for a wedding license. The bride's name: Judy LeBreque. The news startled many of Pernell's closest friends, as well as the publicists of NBC-TV's "Bonanza," on which he is a co-star. Pernell has always been "close-rnouthed" about his personal life. Now that he was marrying again, he stuck close to form. The following Friday, Pernell notified the production office that he'd need a little longer lunch hour than usual — to take care of a personal matter. By 1 :30, he was back on the set. A production assistant remarked casually that Pernell hadn't taken as much extra time as expected. Pernell replied, just as casually, "Well, it doesn't take that long to get married. It was all over by 12:45." Later, a reporter asked for the details. The actor shrugged and said, "I don't know what you're talking about." The reporter persisted : Pernell had just gotten married, hadn't he? Pernell said : "Maybe yes — maybe no. It's strictly between theyoung lady and me." Did Pernell and the dark-haired Judy, whom he has steady-dated for over a year, actually tie the knot? Even their best friends didn't know for sure. According to one friend, Pernell had stated some time ago that he and Judy would marry as soon as they could legally do so. But he refused to say what technicality was holding up the ceremony. Pernell has never divulged details of his marriage and separation from his first wife, Dr. Vera Mowry, by whom he has a son, Jonathan Christopher, going on eleven. They had met in 1951. when Pernell was affiliated with the Arena Stage in Washington, D.C. Dr. Mowry was a speech teacher at Washington University, and also a consultant for the Arena Stage. They reportedly wed sometime in 1952, but Pernell has always refused to say where or when. He has heen just as reticent about any discussion of a divorce, but they separated before he went to New York late in 1953 to join the "Shakespearewrights," an offBroadway group. During his next four years in New York, before he came West for Paramount's "Desire Under the Elms," Pernell dated many girls. When Pernell came to Hollywood, his most frequent date was Jan Far PERNELL ROBERTS' MARRIAGE! rand, who had made somewhat of a name for herself on Broadway. She and Pernell had appeared together in productions of "Othello" and "Henry IV," and they had headed West to try their luck at about the same time. For a number of months, Pernell went about introducing Jan as "Mrs. Roberts." For over two years they were almost constant companions, and neither dated anyone else. Then, suddenly, Jan seemed to disappear from the picture. One of her friends said she left Hollywood after breaking up with ^ernell. About the middle of 1961, Pernell first appeared in public with Judy LeBreque, an attractive brunette who seems almost the opposite of both Vera and Jan. On several occasions, he has introduced her as "Mrs. Roberts." The title, says one of Pernell's friends, was meant as a joke at the time. But, just as with Jan, Pernell wanted no one asking Judy questions about them. At parties — the ^are times they went to them — Pernell stayed close by her side. In fact. Pernell was even more secretive about Judy than Jan. Where Jan. had occasionally joined him at the Paramount commissary for lunch, Judy had never done so. All of the permanent cast members had met her at one time or other and knew she was the Number One girl in Pernell's life, but their co-star had never confided any marriage plans to them. "We all get along fine and have a great working friendship," reports Lome Greene. "But we respect each other's privacy. What Pernell doesn't tell us is none of our business." Michael Landon reports he has met Judy and she's a lovely, quiet-spoken brunette with lively eyes and a sense of humor. Dan Blocker also met Judy and thinks her a charming young girl. Pernell has told various stories about Judy. He has at times said she is 1) a schoolteacher, 2) an actress, 3) a socialite and 4) an opera singer. It was this last that she listed as "occupation" on their marriage license. As we go to press, Pernell himself is still not giving out with any details. He's not saying "yes" and he's not saying "no." We pass along an opinion from one crew member, obviously not a Roberts fan. "I don't think he'd have spent the money for a license if he didn't intend to use it." — Milt Johnson