Robert Osborne
American film historian and actor (1932–2017)
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Key Takeaways
- Robert Jolin Osborne ( ; May 3, 1932 – March 6, 2017) was an American film historian, author, actor and the primary television host for the premium cable channel Turner Classic Movies (TCM) for over twenty years.
- He had also worked as a news columnist for The Hollywood Reporter .
- Early life Osborne was born on May 3, 1932, in Colfax, Washington.
- In 1941, Osborne's fascination with Hollywood began when his mother purchased for him the August edition of Modern Screen magazine featuring Lana Turner; inside, there was an advertisement for Kiss the Boys Goodbye , in which Mary Martin's lips were colored red in a black-and-white spread.
- After a year, he became a theatre usher and when was 15, he was reassigned as a ticket taker.
Robert Jolin Osborne (; May 3, 1932 – March 6, 2017) was an American film historian, author, actor and the primary television host for the premium cable channel Turner Classic Movies (TCM) for over twenty years. Prior to hosting at TCM, Osborne had been a host on The Movie Channel. He had also worked as a news columnist for The Hollywood Reporter. Osborne wrote the official history of the Academy Awards, with the first edition published in 1988.
Early life
Osborne was born on May 3, 1932, in Colfax, Washington. His parents were Robert Eugene Osborne, a public school teacher, and Hazel Ida (née Jolin). In 1941, Osborne's fascination with Hollywood began when his mother purchased for him the August edition of Modern Screen magazine featuring Lana Turner; inside, there was an advertisement for Kiss the Boys Goodbye, in which Mary Martin's lips were colored red in a black-and-white spread.
At twelve years old, Osborne landed a summer job at the Rose Theatre, where he changed the posters in the glass cases and changed the film titles on the marquee using a step ladder. After a year, he became a theatre usher and when was 15, he was reassigned as a ticket taker. In 1948, his family relocated to Everett, Washington. There, he attended Everett High School. He graduated in 1950, and gave a commencement speech titled "Youth Views the Schools."
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