Roberts , 81 , died at his California home , his lawyer says . Roberts played Adam Cartwright , eldest of `` Bonanza '' brothers . He was a former child star who had been cast as the son in an episode of " The Beverly Hillbillies" and later appeared on several TV shows including "The Partridge Family". Roberts , a native of Waycross , Georgia , spent much of his adult life `` pursuing his dream of equality for all , '' according to a family statement released by his lawyer , Richard Stone . He 's known to younger viewers as post-M*A*S*H Dr. `` Trapper '' John McIntyre .
Roberts , 81 , died at his California home , his lawyer says . Roberts played Adam Cartwright , eldest of `` Bonanza '' brothers . He was a former child star who had been cast as the son in an episode of " The Beverly Hillbillies" and later appeared on several TV shows including "The Partridge Family". He 's known to younger viewers as post-M*A*S*H Dr. `` Trapper '' John McIntyre .