Anthony Kalani “Kal” Roberts, 65, of Wilhort, Ariz., died Monday, March 21, 2005 in Phoenix of prostate cancer.
He was born July 14, 1939 in Pearl Harbor.
Mr. Roberts was a photographer, writer and actor, winning the Pulitzer Prize in 1974 for spot news photography.
Roberts and his family lived in Idyllwild in the mid-1970s and early 1980s. He was part-owner of Home Sweet Home.
Roberts first worked as an actor in beach movies such as “Monster From the Surf.”
He later turned to photography. In 1973, he took seven pictures of a woman’s attempted murder in a Hollywood parking lot that ended with the assailant’s death.
The photographs, published in the Los Angeles Times and distributed around the world by the Associated Press, won him the 1974 Pulitzer for spot news photography and the Society of Professional Journalists’ Sigma Delta Chi Award.
Roberts freelanced as a news photographer for many years. His photos were published in Time, Newsweek, People and others.
He photographed Nixon’s resignation, Patty Hearst’s surrender and Bruce Springsteen’s West Coast debut.
He was buried at 3 p.m. Friday, March 15 in Wapanucka, Okla.
Mr. Roberts is survived by his wife, Gloria; a daughter, Moana, of Truckee; a son, Jason, of Sausalito; and a granddaughter, Eden. He also is survived by a brother, Michael, of Skull Valley, Ariz. and a sister, Patty.
