TLDR: Daniel Roebuck played investigator Cliff Lewis on Matlock before building one of the most prolific character-actor careers in Hollywood, with roles spanning The Fugitive, Lost, and The Munsters. He was also very nearly cast in a much different kind of holiday classic first.
Daniel Roebuck played investigator Cliff Lewis on Matlock, part of the rotating cast of lawyers and investigators who worked alongside Ben Matlock through the show’s later seasons, taking on a role that required both legal savvy and the kind of dogged legwork the show’s courtroom reveals always depended on.
He Was Almost the Burglar in Home Alone
Before his run on Matlock, Roebuck was actually cast as Marv, one of the two bumbling burglars in the 1990 holiday classic Home Alone. He filmed for two days before producers decided he lacked the right comedic chemistry with co-star Joe Pesci, and he was replaced by Daniel Stern, a swap that means one of the most beloved comedic duos in holiday movie history very nearly looked completely different.
He Became One of Television’s Most Reliable Character Actors
Roebuck went on to rack up more than 250 acting credits after Matlock. He played Deputy Marshal Bob Biggs in both The Fugitive and U.S. Marshals, portrayed Jay Leno in the HBO movie The Late Shift, and took on the role of Dr. Arzt on Lost and Arnold Walker on The Man in the High Castle, building a reputation as exactly the kind of dependable, versatile actor who shows up across decades of prestige and genre television alike.
More recently, he played Grandpa Munster in Rob Zombie’s 2022 film The Munsters, and Santa Claus in the 2024 horror film Terrifier 3, proof that a career built on this kind of range only seems to keep finding new corners of the genre spectrum to occupy.
He’s Also Become a Filmmaker Focused on Faith-Based Stories
Beyond acting, Roebuck writes, directs, and stars in his own faith-based family films, including Getting Grace and The Hail Mary, produced through his nonprofit production company, A Channel of Peace.
Much of that work is rooted in his local community in the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania, giving his filmmaking career a distinctly different character from the studio and streaming projects that make up the rest of his resume.
He’s also stayed close with former Matlock co-star Carol Huston, the two of them still trading stories from the set decades later, including one about having to eat heavy Chinese food at seven in the morning to film a Matlock dining room scene.
You can read more about the rest of the classic Matlock cast in our full guide to the show.
Daniel Roebuck, Frequently Asked Questions
Was Daniel Roebuck really cast in Home Alone?
Yes. He was originally cast as the burglar Marv and filmed for two days before producers replaced him with Daniel Stern, feeling he lacked the right comedic chemistry with co-star Joe Pesci.
What is Daniel Roebuck best known for besides Matlock?
He’s built one of television’s most prolific character-actor careers, with notable roles in The Fugitive, U.S. Marshals, Lost, The Man in the High Castle, and more recently The Munsters and Terrifier 3.
Does Daniel Roebuck still act?
Yes, he remains highly active, including recent roles in horror films, while also writing and directing his own faith-based family films.
What is A Channel of Peace?
It’s Daniel Roebuck’s nonprofit production company, through which he writes, directs, and stars in faith-based family films rooted in his local Pennsylvania community.
