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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?

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by Anonymousreply 22July 6, 2025 10:12 AM

Oops. Osborne was not the geologist but appears later in the pilot.

by Anonymousreply 1July 5, 2025 10:44 PM

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 Anonymousreply 2July 5, 2025 10:47 PM

[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 Anonymousreply 3July 5, 2025 10:48 PM

And the network has been in a nosedive since. He was the absolute best.

by Anonymousreply 4July 5, 2025 10:51 PM

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!

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by Anonymousreply 5July 5, 2025 10:55 PM

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 Anonymousreply 6July 5, 2025 11:08 PM

Classy guy

by Anonymousreply 7July 5, 2025 11:44 PM

I always felt he was kind of a modern day American Alistair Cooke.

by Anonymousreply 8July 5, 2025 11:44 PM

He was a walker.

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by Anonymousreply 9July 6, 2025 12:48 AM

Robert was the absolute best and is still TCM for me. Ben Mank is growing on me but I miss Robert

by Anonymousreply 10July 6, 2025 1:19 AM

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 Anonymousreply 11July 6, 2025 1:42 AM

r11 Wow. It doesn't feel like 8 years ago!

by Anonymousreply 12July 6, 2025 1:48 AM

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 Anonymousreply 13July 6, 2025 1:53 AM

^as he, too, matures… (apologies)

by Anonymousreply 14July 6, 2025 1:54 AM

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 Anonymousreply 15July 6, 2025 2:07 AM

I wonder how he would've handled introducing "Brokeback Mountain," which they recently showed for the first time.

by Anonymousreply 16July 6, 2025 2:13 AM

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 Anonymousreply 17July 6, 2025 8:51 AM

I think that, specifically, Lucy suggested that he become an entertainment reporter.

by Anonymousreply 18July 6, 2025 9:05 AM

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 Anonymousreply 19July 6, 2025 9:47 AM

Ben too insecure/lost his looks.

by Anonymousreply 20July 6, 2025 10:02 AM

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 Anonymousreply 21July 6, 2025 10:11 AM

^^^^ oops - wrong thread ^^^^ Should get more coffee and wake up before typing!

by Anonymousreply 22July 6, 2025 10:12 AM
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