The late Robert Osborne from TCM
I was watching the pilot of “The Beverly Hillbillies” aka “The Hillbillies of Beverly Hills” as the pilot was called. Young Robert Osborne plays an oil company executive. He was quite cute as a young’un. And before I realized it was him, I thought, “This guy is gay”.
Did anybody know him?
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 22 | July 6, 2025 10:12 AM
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Oops. Osborne was not the geologist but appears later in the pilot.
by Anonymous | reply 1 | July 5, 2025 10:44 PM
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Died in his apartment at The Osborne at 205 West 57th. In 20-year relationship with David Staller, a New York theater producer and director.
by Anonymous | reply 2 | July 5, 2025 10:47 PM
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[quote]He died from natural causes at his New York City apartment in [bold]The Osborne[/bold] on West 57th Street
Whoa!
I always liked him.
by Anonymous | reply 3 | July 5, 2025 10:48 PM
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And the network has been in a nosedive since. He was the absolute best.
by Anonymous | reply 4 | July 5, 2025 10:51 PM
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He was a class act, it's true TCM has never been the same.
He was friends with all the classic Hollywood actreeses when they were in their dotage, like Bette Davis. The stories they must've told him after they'd knocked back a few drinks!
Offsite Linkby Anonymous | reply 5 | July 5, 2025 10:55 PM
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Everyone who knew him or even just met him says he was a total gentleman, a lovely man.
However, he was a terrible actor, stiff and self-conscious, it’s no wonder that his career never took off.
by Anonymous | reply 6 | July 5, 2025 11:08 PM
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I always felt he was kind of a modern day American Alistair Cooke.
by Anonymous | reply 8 | July 5, 2025 11:44 PM
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Robert was the absolute best and is still TCM for me. Ben Mank is growing on me but I miss Robert
by Anonymous | reply 10 | July 6, 2025 1:19 AM
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He died eight years ago. TCM is doing fine. They are showing a lot of more recent, adult movies of which I suspect Robert Osborne would not approve. Especially when shown during the day. A little too Lucille Ball-ish sometimes. Osborne was very good, as is Mankiewicz. The rest of the team is pretty good too.
by Anonymous | reply 11 | July 6, 2025 1:42 AM
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r11 Wow. It doesn't feel like 8 years ago!
by Anonymous | reply 12 | July 6, 2025 1:48 AM
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Agree, time marches on, as do the eras of films and the “classics” and their followers who comprise them. I’m liking Ben more now as he, too, natures, and I agree that the team of hosts are pretty likable and solid. For me it just was/is that as for the “main” hosting duties, Robert seemed to complement the film intros and summaries by adding his film stars, studios and community background knowledge and tidbits, while Ben’s intros still often come across to me too much only like Wikipedia-page plot descriptions and modern-politics discussion.
by Anonymous | reply 13 | July 6, 2025 1:53 AM
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^as he, too, matures… (apologies)
by Anonymous | reply 14 | July 6, 2025 1:54 AM
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I met Mr. Osborne at a Norman Jewison retrospective back in 2011. I remember being impressed by his height and how distinguished and pleasant he was--definitely a man of an earlier, classier time. I miss his genius at TCM.
by Anonymous | reply 15 | July 6, 2025 2:07 AM
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I wonder how he would've handled introducing "Brokeback Mountain," which they recently showed for the first time.
by Anonymous | reply 16 | July 6, 2025 2:13 AM
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In the late 1950, Lucille Ball had an acting playhouse that supported people entering show business. Osbourne was in this program. Lucy suggested that he become a writer.
by Anonymous | reply 17 | July 6, 2025 8:51 AM
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I think that, specifically, Lucy suggested that he become an entertainment reporter.
by Anonymous | reply 18 | July 6, 2025 9:05 AM
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Osborne was the best. Try as Ben Mank might, there’s no duplicating Osborne’s charisma, warmth, and charm. He was one of a kind.
by Anonymous | reply 19 | July 6, 2025 9:47 AM
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Ben too insecure/lost his looks.
by Anonymous | reply 20 | July 6, 2025 10:02 AM
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Superman - The Movie was on last night and I was reminded that there were a number of scenes shot in the city... Rockefeller Center/Daily Planet and other locations. Of course, the city is used as a backdrop for Supes flying a number of times.
by Anonymous | reply 21 | July 6, 2025 10:11 AM
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^^^^ oops - wrong thread ^^^^ Should get more coffee and wake up before typing!
by Anonymous | reply 22 | July 6, 2025 10:12 AM
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