Robert Osborne facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Robert Osborne
At the 73rd Annual Peabody Awards, 2014
Born	Robert Jolin Osborne (1932-05-03)May 3, 1932 Colfax, Washington, U.S.
Died	March 6, 2017(2017-03-06) (aged 84) New York City, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Washington
Occupation	Film historian television presenter author actor
Years active	1958–2016
Partner(s)	David Staller

Robert Jolin Osborne (born May 3, 1932 – died March 6, 2017) was an American film expert, TV host, and writer. He was best known as the main host for over 20 years on the TV channel Turner Classic Movies (TCM). Before TCM, Osborne also hosted shows on The Movie Channel. He was also a writer for The Hollywood Reporter newspaper. Osborne wrote the official history of the Academy Awards, which was first published in 1988.

Early Life and Beginnings

Robert Osborne was born on May 3, 1932, in Colfax, Washington. He grew up there and later went to the University of Washington. He graduated from their School of Journalism in 1954.

After college, Osborne joined the U.S. Air Force for two years. He was stationed in Seattle, where he spent his free time acting in local plays. An actress he worked with, Jane Darwell, suggested he go to Hollywood. So, in the late 1950s, after his military service, he moved to Hollywood to try acting.

Career in Entertainment

Becoming an Actor

Osborne started his career as an actor for Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball's Desilu Studios. He joined Lucille Ball's Desilu Workshop, where she helped young actors like him.

He appeared in some early TV shows. For example, he was in an episode of Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse in 1959. He also had small parts in shows like The Californians. He even appeared in the first episode of The Beverly Hillbillies in 1962. However, he decided not to join that show full-time. He thought it wouldn't be a hit and chose to act in TV commercials instead.

Lucille Ball later suggested that Osborne should focus on writing and journalism. Osborne often joked that she said this "especially after she saw me act." In 1965, he published his first book, Academy Awards Illustrated.

Writing and Reporting

In 1977, Osborne began writing a regular column for The Hollywood Reporter. The next year, he released his book 50 Golden Years of Oscar. This book won an award in 1979. He also became president of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association in 1981.

In 1982, Osborne started working as an entertainment reporter for KTTV Channel 11 in Los Angeles. He also continued his popular "Rambling Reporter" column for The Hollywood Reporter.

In 1984, he began hosting shows for The Movie Channel. He also won an award from the Publicists Guild of America. The next year, he started working with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). This is the group that gives out the Oscars. He hosted a special event for actress Shirley Temple. In 1988, AMPAS asked him to write 60 Years of the Oscar. He updated this book several times, with the last one being 85 Years of the Oscar in 2013.

Hosting Turner Classic Movies

Robert Osborne in 2007

In 1994, Ted Turner started Turner Classic Movies (TCM). This new channel showed classic movies without commercials. Robert Osborne was chosen to be the main host. On TCM, he introduced four movies every night. He also hosted special "Private Screening" interviews with famous actors and directors.

Starting in 2006, Osborne also co-hosted TCM's show The Essentials. He had several co-hosts over the years, including Carrie Fisher, Alec Baldwin, Drew Barrymore, and Sally Field.

Osborne also took part in events that celebrated the TV careers of stars like Lucille Ball. From 2005 to 2010, he hosted his own "Robert Osborne's Classic Film Festival" in Athens, Georgia. In 2010, he hosted the first TCM Classic Film Festival, which became a yearly event.

In 2011, Osborne became ill and took a break from hosting. He continued to host The Essentials on Saturday nights with Alec Baldwin. In 2012, Ben Mankiewicz began to share some of Osborne's hosting duties. Osborne said he would keep working as long as he felt healthy and looked good on camera. He also said he would quit if he couldn't do it with excitement.

In 2013, Osborne presented an Honorary Academy Award to Dame Angela Lansbury. He said it was "one of the best decisions the Academy has ever made." Lansbury thanked Osborne and TCM for keeping her early films alive for new audiences.

In 2014, TCM partnered with Disney to sponsor The Great Movie Ride at a theme park. Osborne hosted a new pre-show and post-show for the ride. He also provided the narration during the ride itself. These changes were shown on May 29, 2015.

In 2015, near the end of his career, TCM held a surprise 20th Anniversary Tribute in his honor. This special show has been replayed many times on TCM.

Later Life and Passing

Osborne retired in early 2016 because of his health. He passed away from natural causes at his apartment in New York City on March 6, 2017. He was 84 years old.

Many people in the entertainment world shared their sadness after his death. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said they were thankful for his friendship and his important work in film history. Actors like Alec Baldwin, Liza Minnelli, and Bryan Cranston also shared their tributes. Angela Lansbury said, "He was also the ultimate fan — and the ultimate friend — and our friendship will endure in my memory always."

Favorite Films

In a 2009 interview, Robert Osborne shared some of his favorite movies:

• A Place in the Sun (1951)
• All About Eve (1950)
• The Third Man (1949)
• Sunset Boulevard (1950)
• Singin’ in the Rain (1952)
• Rebecca (1940)
• Random Harvest (1942)
• Red River (1948)
• Stagecoach (1939)
• The Razor's Edge (1946)
• This is Spinal Tap (1984)

He also liked some more recent films, such as Martin Scorsese's The Age of Innocence (1993) and The Departed (2006). He also enjoyed Christopher Guest's Best in Show (2000).

Film Appearances

Awards and Special Honors

Robert Osborne received several awards and honors for his work. He won the Publicists Guild of America Press Award in 1984. He also received an honorary degree from the Academy of Art University in 2005. In 2006, he got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Vine Street. The National Board of Review gave him the William K. Everson Award in 2007.

In January 2016, he received the first William Cameron Menzies Award from the Art Directors Guild. This award recognized his 35 years as a film historian, writer, and supporter of visual entertainment.

In March 2018, Turner Classic Movies created the Robert Osborne Award. This award is given to someone whose work helps keep classic films alive for future generations. The first person to receive this award was film director Martin Scorsese for his work with The Film Foundation.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences also honored Osborne. They included him in their "In Memoriam" tribute during the Oscars TV show.

The Robert Osborne Award

The TCM Film Festival created the Robert Osborne Award in 2018. It honors people who help keep classic films important.

Winners include:

• 2018: Martin Scorsese
• 2019: Kevin Brownlow
• 2020: Leonard Maltin

The Robert Osborne Collection

In 2021, the American Film Institute started the Robert Osborne Collection. This is an online collection of many of Osborne’s famous introductions to films. You can find them on AFI.com.

Images for kids

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  Robert Osborne at the 73rd Annual Peabody Awards, 2014

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  Robert Osborne in 2007

See also

In Spanish: Robert Osborne para niños