Anyone who loves to escape into great classic movies, anytime during the day or night, and loves the allure of Hollywood — most likely also loves Robert Osborne. Mr. Osborne died on Monday at the age of 84. He’s been the legendary face of the Turner Classic Movie channel for many years.
The Los Angeles Times reports Mr. Osborne was born May 3, 1932, in Colfax, Washington. Growing up, he has said he found his escape at the movies.
Osborne majored in journalism at the University of Washington and then spent two years in the Air Force. While stationed in Seattle, he began acting in local theater in his spare time. At the suggestion of Oscar-winning actress Jane Darwell, with whom he appeared in a play, he headed to Hollywood after completing the service in the late ’50s.
The author of several books on Hollywood, Robert Osborne enjoyed his work on the TCM show.
“I do love it,” he told the Washington Post in 2010, “and the feedback we get from viewers is part of it, from young and old — viewers who say they never knew this or that film existed, or talk about what they had missed until they discovered TCM.
And he enjoyed being humored by well-known entertainment circles.
Making a living off writing and talking about movies — not to mention being satirized on “Saturday Night Live” by Darrell Hammond and Jason Sudeikis and having a bobblehead made in his image — was a dream come true for Osborne.
Along with sharing his knowledge of classic films, The TCM host often brought on guests to add some Hollywood spice to the show.
For more than 23 years, Osborne hosted screenings of classic films such as “Gone with the Wind” and “Vertigo” on TCM, serving as the preeminent expert on all things Hollywood, including films of the golden era and the history of the Academy Awards. He also regularly enlisted A-listers like Carrie Fisher, Drew Barrymore and Alec Baldwin for co-hosting duties and interviews.
Here’s a short clip of Robert Osborne in a rare onscreen acting scene from the 60s/70s sitcom The Beverly Hillbillies.
Among his many awards, Robert Osborne also received a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to the entertainment industry.
Here is a tweet with video from TCM about the passing of their longtime friend — Robert Osborne.
Rest in peace, Mr. Osborne. Your knowledge of classic films, along with your calm and kind demeanor, will live on. You are already greatly missed.
Below are some tweets coming in…