Daniel Roebuck says he has given himself the title of “Ambassador At Large to the Lehigh Valley.”

He certainly deserves it.

“I just finished filming seven days for ‘Saint Nick of Bethlehem.’ It includes scenes in the Hotel Bethlehem, Christkindlmarkt and the Kiffle Kitchen Bakery,” says Roebuck.

“The finale shows the lights of downtown Bethlehem. It is my fourth movie in the Valley with the same crew.”

Many of the actors and crew in Roebuck’s films are local.

“Saint Nick of Bethlehem” is a collaborative directing and writing project with Roebuck and filmmaker Spencer Folmar. It stars Roebuck as a man who dresses as Santa Claus. The family-oriented tale is inspired by the real life story of Allen Smith, who spread joy as Santa, but lost his son during the holidays.

Roebuck’s Valley-based films include “Getting Grace,” “Lucky Louie,” set for video release March 1, 2024, and “The Hail Mary,” with a release date to be announced.

Actor-writer-director-producer Roebuck talks on the road on his way to Mt. Airy, N.C., where he played Scrooge in a production of Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol,” Dec. 9 - 18, Andy Griffith Playhouse.

Roebuck has visited Andy Griffith’s hometown many times. Roebuck was Griffith’s sidekick for three seasons on television’s “Matlock” (55 episodes, 1987-1995) after playing three other parts in other episodes of the series.

Roebuck was born and raised in Bethlehem and graduated from Bethlehem Catholic High School. Now based in Los Angeles and Florida, he hopes to move back to the Valley in spring.

He reminisces about traveling as a youth playing a clown with the Lions Club Circus, appearing as Spider-Man and Darth Vader at the Westgate Mall, and mentions local landmarks, including the former Mac’s Hobby Hall and the Boyd Theatre.

Roebuck appeared in stage plays at The Pennsylvania Playhouse, Bethlehem, and Civic Theatre of Allentown.

The Boyd is where he saw many of the classic horror films he loves. He is a collector of monster memorabilia. “I always had an interest in the Universal Studios monsters. I love that. There are only a few rooms in my home that don’t have any.”

Roebuck played Grandpa Munster in director Rob Zombie’s 2022 film “The Munsters.”

One of the biggest changes that Roebuck notices over the years in the Valley is the growth of the arts. “Lehigh Valley arts have come to the top of the heap. All the arts are thriving, not just theatrical but also music and visual.”

Roebuck formed a Young Filmmakers Program based at Bethlehem Catholic High School, which is part of Channel of Peace, a non-profit which produces and supports films and other multimedia works based on themes about family and faith in God.

Roebuck has a list of 248 previous and 25 upcoming movie and television actor credits on the Internet Movie Database, including the TV shows, “Lost” (2005-2010) and “The Man in the High Castle” (2015-2016) and the movies, “The Fugitive” (1993) and “U.S. Marshals” (1998).

He recalls how he starred in the first film he auditioned for.

“I was called in to audition for a small part in ‘Cavegirl’ [1985]. All the other actors who read for the lead were good-looking guys, but none of them were funny. At the end, the director asked if anyone else wanted to read and I raised my hand.”

His breakout role was in the film “River’s Edge” (1986), opposite Dennis Hopper and Keanu Reeves, because he was seen in “Cavegirl.”

Roebuck says of that critical reading, “You have to be ready. When God speaks to you, you have to listen.”

Roebuck continues, “I always intended to bring a movie to Bethlehem. The Valley is first and foremost in my eye. I will always promote it.”

He says a divorce opened a door for him to be centered here, as he later met his wife Tammy, who is also a filmmaker. The two began collaborating on making Lehigh Valley-based films.

“I am constantly bragging about the Lehigh Valley. People always ask me, ‘Is it as beautiful as it looks in your films?’ I tell them that it is. Some people take a depressing viewpoint, like seeing the loss of the Steel. I’ll never make a movie like that.”

Roebuck is grateful for the help he has gotten in the Lehigh Valley:

“The Lehigh Valley rose up to our call. I would like to thank the Valley for always supporting what we do.”