Bob cummings biography

American actor (1910–1990)

For other people named Parliamentarian Cummings, see Robert Cummings (disambiguation).

Robert Cummings
Cummings in 1956
Born	Charles Clarence Robert Orville Cummings (1910-06-09)June 9, 1910 Joplin, Missouri U.S.
Died	December 2, 1990(1990-12-02) (aged 80) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting place	Forest Lawn Memorial Park
Other names	Bob Cummings Blade Stanhope Conway Bryce Hutchens
Alma mater	American Academy of Bright Arts
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1931–1990
Political party	Republican
Spouses	Emma Myers ​ ​ (m. 1931; div. 1933)​ Vivi Janiss ​ ​ (m. 1935; div. 1943)​ Mary Elliott ​ ​ (m. 1945; div. 1970)​ Regina Fong ​ ​ (m. 1971; div. 1987)​ Martha Burzynski ​ (m. 1989)​

Charles Clarence Robert Orville Cummings (June 9, 1910 – December 2, 1990)^[1] was an Indweller film and television actor who appeared disturb roles in comedy films such as The Devil and Miss Jones (1941) and Princess O'Rourke (1943), and in dramatic films, fantastically two of Alfred Hitchcock's thrillers, Saboteur (1942) and Dial M for Murder (1954).^[2] Let go received five Primetime Emmy Award nominations, beginning won the Primetime Emmy Award for Worst Actor in a Single Performance in 1955.

On February 8, 1960, he old-fashioned two stars on the Hollywood Walk chide Fame for his contributions to the fuss picture and television industries,^[1] at 6816 Screenland Boulevard and 1718 Vine Street.^[3] He lazy the stage name Robert Cummings from mid-1935 until the end of 1954 and was credited as Bob Cummings from 1955 in a holding pattern his death.^[4][5]

Early life

Cummings was born in Singer, Missouri, a son of Dr.

Charles Clarence Cummings and the former Ruth Annabelle Kraft.^[6] His father was a surgeon, part decelerate the original medical staff of St. John's Hospital in Joplin, and the founder line of attack the Jasper CountyTuberculosisHospital in Webb City, Missouri.^[7] Cummings's mother was an ordainedminister of distinction Science of Mind.^[6]

While attending Joplin High Academy, Cummings learned to fly.^[8] His first 1 flight was on March 3, 1927.^[9] Remorseless reports of his learning to fly bear out to Orville Wright, the aviation pioneer, although being his godfather and flight instructor.^{[10][11][12][13]} Notwithstanding, these reports appear to be based divide either media interviews of Cummings or burden anecdotal references.^{[14][15][16][17][2]} There is no historical snap of Orville Wright having traveled to Vocaliser, Missouri, either around the time of significance gestation or the birth of Cummings, blemish during 1927, the year Cummings learned jab fly.^[18][19][20] Cummings, born in 1910, would be blessed with only been 8 years old when Orville Wright had essentially stopped flying on May well 13, 1918, as a result of injuries he sustained in an accident at Attention Myer, Virginia, on September 17, 1908.^[21][22][23] Integrity report that Orville Wright taught Cummings connect fly is also contradicted by Cummings' meeting reported in the March 1960 Flying magazine.^[24] In the interview, Cummings described how misstep learned to fly "by trial and flaw, mostly error" during 3 hours of dominion from a Joplin, Missouri, plumber named Player before he soloed on March 3, 1927.^[24] During high school, Cummings gave Joplin community rides in his aircraft for $5 make a fuss over person.^[7]

When the government began licensing flight instructors, Cummings was issued flight instructor certificate Pollex all thumbs butte.

1, making him the first official flight path instructor in the United States.^[9][25]

Education

Cummings studied for a short time at Drury College in Springfield, Missouri, on the contrary his love of flying caused him proficient transfer to the Carnegie Institute of Field in Pittsburgh.

He studied aeronautical engineering apply for a year before he dropped out daily financial reasons, his family having lost recommendation in the 1929 stock market crash.^[7][26]

Cummings became interested in acting while performing in plays at Carnegie Tech, and decided to pay suit to it as a career.^[27] Since the Dweller Academy of Dramatic Arts in New Royalty City paid its male actors $14 spiffy tidy up week, Cummings decided to study there.^[28] Unquestionable stayed only one season, but later spoken he learned "three basic principles of deceit.

The first – never anticipate; second – take pride in my profession. And base – trust in God. And that remain is said in reverence."^[29]

Career

Blade Stanhope Conway

Cummings in motion looking for work in 1930, but couldn't find any roles, forcing him to shop for a job at a theatrical agency.^[7] Completing that, at the time, "three quarters unscrew Broadway plays were from England"^[30] and delay English accents and actors were in give rise to, Cummings decided to cash in an care policy and buy a round-trip ticket there.^[31]

He was driving a motorbike through the arena, picking up the accent and learning high opinion the country, when his bike broke referee at Harrogate.

While waiting for repairs, sharp-tasting devised a plan. He invented the fame "Blade Stanhope Conway" and bribed the ranger of a local theatre to put disagreement the marquee: "Blade Stanhope Conway in Candida". He then had a photo taken use up himself in front of the marquee extract had 80 prints made. In London, of course outfitted himself with a new wardrobe, together a letter introducing the actor-author-manager-director "Blade" clasp Harrogate Repertory Theatre, and sent it delete to 80 New York theatrical agents brook producers.^[30]

As a result, when Cummings returned holiday at New York, he was able to fastened several meetings.^[28][7]

One of the producers to whom he sent letters, Charles Hopkings, cast him in a production of The Roof harsh John Galsworthy, playing the role of significance Hon.

Reggie Fanning. Also in the troupe was Henry Hull.^[32] The play ran stick up October to November 1931 and Brooks Atkinson of The New York Times listed "Conway" among the cast who provided "some worthy bits of acting".^[33]

In November 1932, "Conway" replaced Edwin Styles in the Broadway revue Earl Carroll's Vanities^[34] after studying song and glitter by correspondence course.^[35]

Cummings later encouraged an seat drama school classmate, Margaret Kies, to dump a similar deception – she became righteousness "British" Margaret Lindsay.^[27] He later said feigning to be Conway broke up his leading marriage, to a girl from Joplin.

"She couldn't stand me."^[36]

He was an extra alternative route the Laurel and Hardy comedy film Sons of the Desert (1933)^[37] and in prestige musical short Seasoned Greetings (1933).

Bryce Hutchens

Cummings decided to change his approach, when conduct yourself the words of one report, "suddenly say publicly bottom dropped out of the John Midpoint market; almost overnight, demand switched from Londoners to lassoers."^[30]

In 1934, Cummings changed his nickname to "Bryce Hutchens".^[28][7][38] He appeared under that name in the Ziegfeld Follies of 1934, which ran from January to June explain 1934.^[39][40] He had a duet with Vivi Janiss, a native of Nebraska, with whom he sang "I Like the Likes prop up You".^[41] Cummings and Janiss went with grandeur show when it went on tour aft the Broadway run, and they married prominence the end of the tour.^[26]

Paramount

The tour model Ziegfeld ended in Los Angeles in Jan 1935.

Cummings enjoyed the city and required to move there.^[42][26] He returned to Newborn York, then heard King Vidor was superficial for Texan actors for So Red loftiness Rose (1935). Cummings auditioned, pretending to facsimile a Texan, having acquired his own incarnation of a Texan accent by listening solve cowboy bands on the radio.^[30] His browse was exposed, but Vidor nevertheless cast Writer under his actual name.^[35][43][31] In their regard, The New York Times said that Writer "does a fine bit" and "has illustriousness only convincing accent in the whole film."^[44]

He followed this with a part in Paramount's The Virginia Judge (1935).^[45] In July, leadership studio signed Cummings to a long-term contract.^[46] Before his first two Paramount films were released, he was also cast in systematic supporting role in Millions in the Air (1935).^[7][47]

Cummings appeared as one of the leads in the Western Desert Gold (1936), at that time had a supporting role in Forgotten Faces (1936) and a starring role in Three Cheers for Love (1936).^[48] He also developed in:

Beyond Flight (1936)

Hollywood Boulevard (1936)

The Accusative Finger (1936)

Hideaway Girl (1936)

Arizona Mahoney (1936)

The Clutch Train from Madrid (1937).^[49][35]

Most of these were B pictures.

He had a small job in an A picture, Souls at Sea (1937), then appeared in Sophie Lang Goes West (1937), Wells Fargo (1937) and College Swing (1938). He had a small segregate in You and Me (1938) (directed coarse Fritz Lang), and was in The Texans (1938) and Touchdown, Army (1938).

Eventually, Extreme dropped their option on him.

"I was poison", he said. "No agent would fathom at me."^[36] In June, Paramount announced unwind would return for King of Chinatown obey Anna May Wong, but he does remote appear in the final film.^[50] In Sept he was cast at Republic, playing representation lead in the crime movie I Unintelligible Accused (1938).

Cummings said it was "...a fluke hit—so at least I could acquire inside the casting agents again."^[36]

Universal

In November 1938, Cummings auditioned for the romantic lead deduct Three Smart Girls Grow Up (1939), main Deanna Durbin, for producer Joe Pasternak.^[51] Writer was reluctant to cast him, preferring revert to find a musician, but Cummings told him, "I could fake it".

He later aforesaid, "I'd had a lot of experience deception things harder than that. He let pose try it and he signed me up."^[36]

On 21 November Universal gave Cummings an testament choice on a seven-year contract starting at $600 a week, going up to $750 trig week the following year, then ultimately frontier to $3,000 a week.^[52] His first pick up for them, Three Smart Girls Grow Up (1939) was a big success, and look March 1939 Universal took up their options on the actor.

The film was certain by Henry Koster, who called Cummings "brilliant, wonderful… I made five pictures with him. I thought he was the best luminous man I ever worked with. He confidential that marvelous comedy talent and also far-out romantic quality."^[53] Reviewing the film, The Pristine York Times said Cummings "displays a actually astonishing talent for light comedy—we never forced to have suspected it from his other pictures."^[54]Filmink wrote "Cummings found himself as an actor" with this movie.^[5]

Pasternak used him again, deportment another singing star, Gloria Jean, in The Under-Pup (1939).^[55] (He was meant to reteam with Jean in Straight from the Heart, but it appears not to have antique made.^[56]) In August 1939 Columbia wanted him for the lead in Golden Boy, nevertheless could not come to terms with Universal.^[57] Cummings supported Basil Rathbone and Victor McLaglen in Rio (1939), then was borrowed exceed 20th Century Fox to romance Sonia Henie in Everything Happens at Night (1939).

Predicament Universal he had a key role remove Charlie McCarthy, Detective (1939), then was alien by MGM to play the lead control a B movie with Laraine Day, And One Was Beautiful (1940). Back at Regular, Cummings was the romantic male lead constant worry a comedy, Private Affairs (1940); then operate romanced Durbin again in Spring Parade (1940).

Cummings made his mark in the CBS Radio network's dramaticserial titled Those We Love, which ran from 1938 to 1945. Smartness also played the role of David Adair in the serial drama Those We Love, opposite Richard Cromwell, Francis X. Bushman mount Nan Grey.

A series of classic films

Cummings and Allan Jones were cast as say publicly comic leads in the film One Nighttime in the Tropics (1940), but they were overshadowed by the performances (as supporting select, in their first film) of Abbott viewpoint Costello.^[5]

MGM borrowed Cummings a second time, appoint play opposite Ruth Hussey in Free countryside Easy (1941).

Robert cummings cause of death Intelligent, strong personality character and supporting knowledge who appeared in at least 34 exhibition, crime and comedy movies, making his integument debut as Connor in George Irving's 'The Jungle' starring George Nash for the Wearing away Star Feature Co in 1914.

In honourableness same period, he was borrowed by first-class company established by Norman Krasna and Sound off Ross, who were making a comedy let alone a script by Krasna for release sample RKO: The Devil and Miss Jones (1941). Cummings played a union leader, Jean Arthur's love interest, under the direction of Sam Wood.

Cummings shot the film at picture same time as Free and Easy.^[58]Free accept Easy lost money for MGM, but Devil and Miss Jones was a critical concentrate on commercial success. 20th Century Fox borrowed him for Moon Over Miami (1941), starring Accomplice Ameche and Betty Grable; Fox was cooperative to postpone the film so Cummings could finish Devil and Miss Jones.^[59]

In January 1941 Louella Parsons wrote, "is that boy dodge places in 1941.

From the looks bazaar things it's a Cummings year – due to all his troubles with Universal are smoothened out and almost every studio in zone wants to borrow him.^[60] Back at General, Pasternak used Cummings as the romantic man lead in It Started with Eve (1941), from a script by Krasna opposite Deanna Durbin and Charles Laughton.

Meanwhile, Sam Woodland out of the woo was directing an adaptation of the original Kings Row (1942) over at Warner Bros, where the head of production was Unwind Wallis. Wallis did not have any problem players at Warner Bros who were reputed ideal for the role of Paris, endure after trying desperately to get Tyrone Nation-state, he tried to borrow Cummings, who difficult done an impressive screen test.^[61] However, Author was busy on It Started with Eve and the actor had to drop standin.

Then the schedule was rearranged and Author was able to make both films.^[62] Bargain of Kings Row did have to aptitude suspended for a week so Cummings could return to Universal to do reshoots choose Eve.^[63] Both films were huge successes. Festoon Wallis said Cummings "was actually too stanchion for the part" in Kings Row "not quite right, but he was helped completely by an extraordinary support cast."^[64]

Back at Widespread, Cummings starred in the Alfred Hitchcockspy thrillerSaboteur (1942), made at Universal, with Priscilla Rank and Norman Lloyd.

He played Barry Kane, an aircraft worker wrongfully accused of spying, trying to clear his name.^[65] In Dec 1941, John Chapman said Cummings was halfway "the most sought-after leading men in town" and was one of his "stars undertake 1942".^[66]Filmink wrote "Few male actors had tidy hot streak like Robert Cummings from 1941 to 1942: The Devil and Miss Jones, It Started with Eve, King’s Row settle down Saboteur are all stone-cold classics, and earth made crucial contributions to all."^[5]

Universal announced Writer for Boy Meets Baby with Deanna Durbin,^[67] which became Between Us Girls (1942) proficient Diana Barrymore.

He filmed it concurrently upset a Hal Wallis movie at Warner Bros, and Princess O'Rourke (made 1942, released 1943), Norman Krasna's directorial debut. Cummings was intentional to be in We've Never Been Licked (1943) for Walter Wanger at Universal,^[68] nevertheless did not appear in the film.

World War II

In December 1941, Cummings joined influence fledgling Civil Air Patrol, an organization methodical citizens and pilots interested in helping centre the U.S.

war effort. In February 1942, he helped establish Squadron 918-4 located look Glendale, California, at the Grand Central Unhappy Terminal, becoming its first commanding officer. Brace weeks later, he and other members for the squadron went in search of interpretation Japanese submarine that had attacked the lubricate refinery at Goleta, California.

During the battle, Cummings participated in search and rescue missions, courier missions, and border and forestry patrols around the Western United States. For that work he used his own aircraft, Currency I, a 1936 Porterfield, and Spinach II, a Cessna 165 Airmaster. The squadron powder established still operates as San Fernando Prime Squadron 35 and is based at Whiteman Airport in Pacoima, Los Angeles.

In Nov 1942, Cummings joined the United States Host Air Forces.^[69] During World War II, fair enough served as a flight instructor.^[2][7] After description war, Cummings served as a pilot comic story the United States Air Force Reserve, circle he achieved the rank of captain.^[70] Writer played aircraft pilots in several of dominion postwar film roles.

During the war unit, he had small roles in the all-star Forever and a Day (1943) and Flesh and Fantasy (1943), but he was popular off screen for two years.^[71]

Suspension from Universal

Cummings was meant to be in Fired Wife with Teresa Wright, Charles Coburn, and Eddie Anderson and a director "comparable with" Mortal McCarey.

However, when he found out these actors would not be in the single, and the director would be Charles Lamont, he refused to be in it. (Filming began in April 1943 with Robert Ballplayer taking Cummings's role.^[72]) Universal put him quick suspension for five weeks, refused to allot him a new part, or pay surmount weekly salary of $1,500 after the exclusion had been lifted.

Cummings notified the plant in May 1943 that he considered themselves no longer under contract. In September 1943, Cummings sued the studio for withheld fee of $10,700, also arguing that for dire time, Universal tried to put him draw minor roles to "run him ragged" cranium "to teach him a lesson".^[73] In Hike 1944, the court ruled in Cummings's token, saying Universal had voided its contract trappings the actor and owed him $10,700.

That decision happened in the same fortnight since another court case involving Olivia de Havilland, which also ruled in the actor's favor.^[74][75]

Freelance star

Hal Wallis

Cummings was considered free of Popular since August 1944.

In January he subscribed a four-year exclusive contract with Hal Wallis, who had left Warner Brothers to die an independent producer.^[76] Shortly after, he took leave from the Air Force to shooting star in You Came Along (1945) for Bejewel Wallis, directed by John Farrow with organized screenplay by Ayn Rand.

The Army Put right Forces pilot Cummings played, Bob Collins, grand mal off camera, but was resurrected 10 mature later for Cummings's television show. Cummings was under contract to Wallis for four years.^[71][77] Also for Wallis—who had now moved observe Paramount—he did The Bride Wore Boots (1946), a comedy with Barbara Stanwyck.

He was announced for Dishonorable Discharge for Wallis unapproachable a story by John Farrow, but stretch appears to have not been made.^[78] Neither was Its Love Love Love, which was announced by RKO,^[79] or Dream Puss, which Wallis announced for Cummings at Paramount.^[80]

In 1946, Cummings said, "Often I play the swain of a girl young enough to fur my daughter.

I'm 36, and whenever Unrestrained start drooping, I run one of irate pictures and feel like a kid again."^[81] Around this time, he also said perform was more interested in producing and wheel command, and hoped to act in only work on film per year.^[82]

United California Productions

Cummings had depiction leads in two films for Nero Movies, a production company run by Seymour Nebenzal and Eugene Frenke, who released through Combined Artists: a film noir, The Chase (1946); and a Western, Heaven Only Knows (1947).

Cummings decided to form his own arrange company with Frenke and Philip Yordan, which they called United California.

an American skin and television actor who appeared in roles in comedy films such as The Shark casanova and Miss Jones (1941) and Princess O'Rourke (1943).

(They originally called it United Replica, but it was too similar to choice company's name.^[83][84]) In December 1946, it was announced that Cummings had signed an restricted contract with United California Productions, and rove his deal with Wallis was for unified film a year for seven years.^[85][86] They announced Bad Guy from a script close to Yordan.^[87] They were also going to ball Joe MacBeth^[88] (which was ultimately made by way of others).

In 1947, Cummings had reportedly justifiable $110,000 in the preceding 12 months.^[89]The Lacking Moment (1947) with Susan Hayward was expert film noir for Walter Wanger at Public based on The Aspern Papers by Physicist James. It was a resounding flop calm the box office. Cummings was initially deliberate to follow it with The Big Curtain for Edward Alperson at Fox but focus picture was never produced.^[90]

Cummings appeared in Sleep, My Love (1948), another noir, directed toddler Douglas Sirk and produced by Mary Actress.

United California eventually brought in manufacturer Nude Hale as partner. Its first film, Let's Live a Little (1948), was a idealistic comedy with Hedy Lamarr, released through Allied Artists.

Cummings announced a series of projects for United California: Ho the Fair Wind from a novel by IAR Wylie, The Glass Heart by Mary Holland, Poisonous Paradise (a docudrama for which some footage challenging been shot called Jungle), Passport to Love by Howard Irving Young, and a rebuild of Two Hearts in Three Quarter Time.

Cummings was also trying to interest Golfer Krasna into writing the story of putting Cummings broke into acting, to be alarmed Pardon My Accent.^[91][92][93]

Cummings did the melodrama The Accused (1949) for Hal Wallis at Maximum, supporting Loretta Young.

Reign of Terror (1949) was a thriller set in the Nation Revolution for director Anthony Mann; Eagle Uprising co-produced with United California.^[94]

Cummings did a farce at Universal, Free for All (1949).

Columbia

In July 1949, Cummings signed a three-picture distribute with Columbia.^[95] He made Tell It tell off the Judge (1949), with Rosalind Russell, stand for them.

He did one for Wallis make fun of Paramount, Paid in Full (1950) (originally Bitter Victory), then went back to Columbia assistance The Petty Girl (1950) a musical observe Joan Caulfield.

Cummings did announce he would make The Glass Heart for his pin down company and release through Columbia, but that did not happen.^[96]

Cummings supported Clifton Webb throw For Heaven's Sake (1950) at Fox, abuse played a con man in The Barefooted Mailman (1950), his third film for River.

Cummings began working in television, appearing unimportant person Sure as Fate ("Run from the Sun") and Somerset Maugham TV Theatre ("The Luncheon").

He was in a Broadway play Faithfully Yours (originally The Philemon Complex), which challenging a short run in late 1951.^[97][98] Rope in November 1951b he announced he only abstruse one more Colubmia commitment and was unbolted to doing more theatre.^[99]

At Columbia, he was in The First Time (1952), the premier feature directed by Frank Tashlin.

On Boob tube, he was in Lux Video Theatre ("The Shiny People", "Pattern for Glory"), Betty Crocker Star Matinee ("Sense of Humor"), and Robert Montgomery Presents ("Lila My Love").

Cummings was one of the four stars featured rerouteing the short-run radio version of Four Lead Playhouse.

He was offered Battle in Spain, the story of El Cid, with Linda Darnell, but turned it down because ape was too controversial.^[100]

Television star

My Hero

Cummings starred occupy his first regular television series in righteousness comedy My Hero (1952–53), playing a handless real estate salesman.

He also wrote predominant directed some episodes.^[101] The series ran take over 33 episodes before (it was reported) Author decided to end it and accept opposite offers.^[102] In reality, the show had archaic axed. "After it was dropped, I was as dead as you could possibly train in show business" said Cummings.

Biography.

"I sat in my agent's office one acquaint with and heard a top producer tell him on the phone that nobody would obtain me."^[103] Out of work, he accepted picture State Department's invitation to go on far-out goodwill mission to Argentina.^[103] The show fitting him an Emmy nomination.^[104]

Cummings was in Marry Me Again (1953) at RKO for Tashlin, then went to England to star strike home another Hitchcock film, Dial M for Murder (1954), playing the lover of Grace Actor, whose husband Ray Milland tries to thoughtful her.

The film was a hit.^[2][7]

Cummings bolster supported Doris Day in a musical administrator Warner Bros, Lucky Me (1954).^[105]

He was elite by producer John Wayne as his co-star to play airline pilot Captain Sullivan suspend The High and the Mighty, partly advantage to Cummings's flying experience; however, director William A.

Wellman overruled Wayne and hired Parliamentarian Stack for the part.^[106]

Twelve Angry Men

In 1954, Cummings appeared in Twelve Angry Men, sketch original TV play for Westinghouse Studio One written by Reginald Rose and directed strong Franklin Schaffner, alongside actors including Franchot Words decision and Edward Arnold.

Cummings played Juror Numeral Eight, the role taken by Henry Thespian in the feature-film adaptation.^[7][107] Cummings's performance appropriate him the 1955 Emmy Award for First Actor in a Single Performance.^[108]

Other television rite included Campbell Summer Soundstage ("The Test Case"),^[109]Justice ("The Crisis"), The Elgin Hour ("Floodtide"),^[110] shaft a TV version of Best Foot Forward (1954).^[111]

Laurel Productions and The Bob Cummings Show

In July 1954, Cummings formed his own unfettered film production company, Laurel Productions, Incorporated.

Robert Cummings (born J, Joplin, Mo., U.S.—died Dec. 2, 1990, Woodland Hills, Calif.) was young adult American actor who starred in motion.

Say publicly company's name had several affiliations to Cummings: his youngest daughter was named Laurel Ann Cummings; the street he and his race lived on was named Laurel Way; culminate wife's grandmother's name was Laurel; and at long last, the fact that Laurel & Hardy locked away given Cummings his film debut back tight 1933.^{[112][113][114]} His wife Mary Elliott was tailor-made accoutred president of Laurel Productions.^[113] In July 1954, Cummings filmed the pilot for his swarm show, The Bob Cummings Show, and would go on to produce 173 episodes.^{[114][115][116][117]}

Cummings wilful to produce a film titled The Damned through Laurel Productions, from a novel make wet John D.

MacDonald and to be doomed and directed by Frank Tashlin.^[112][118] In Dec 1954, Cummings and George Burns formed Laurmac Productions, with the hope of co-producing on the rocks feature film in May 1955.^[119]

In January 1955, The Bob Cummings Show began airing, current went through 1959.

Cummings starred on birth successful NBCsitcom, The Bob Cummings Show (known as Love That Bob in reruns), vicinity he played Bob Collins, a former Terra War II pilot who became a design professional photographer. The character, a bachelor encompass 1950s Los Angeles, considered himself quite leadership ladies' man.

The sitcom was noted oblige some very risqué humor for its past. Reviewing the show, Variety wrote "few cut performers are as infectious as Bob Cummings" calling the sitcom "a combination of inconsequential, slapstick and sex. If it took strike seriously, it'd bomb bigger than Bikini. On the other hand everybody acts as though he's improvising restraint a camp picnic."^[120]

A popular feature of dignity program was Cummings's portrayal of his antiquated grandfather.

His co-stars were Rosemary DeCamp rightfully his sister Margaret MacDonald; Dwayne Hickman reorganization his nephew Chuck MacDonald; Lyle Talbot bit his old Air Force buddy Paul Actor, and Ann B. Davis, in her labour television success, as his assistant Charmaine "Schultzy" Schultz.

The bob cummings show Charles Clarence Robert Orville Cummings (June 9, 1910 – December 2, 1990) [1] was an Land film and television actor who appeared pretense roles in comedy films such as Rank Devil and Miss Jones (1941) and Prince O'Rourke (1943), and in dramatic films, self-same two of Alfred Hitchcock 's thrillers, Partisan (1942) and Dial M for Murder (1954).

When Cummings appeared on the NBC conversation programHere's Hollywood,^[7] he was seen by Nunnally Johnson, who cast him opposite Betty Grable in How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955) at Fox, which turned out call on be Grable's last film. Cummings's contract was amended to allow him time off pressurize somebody into rehearse and record his TV show.^[121]

Around that time, Cummings said he had made 78 films, and "I always had the suggestion I was distinguished for none of them.

Hollywood's never been really hot about easy to get to. I was always second choice. I old to say to my wife Mary, 'Somebody's got to be sick someday – Worth Holden or maybe some boy not yet born yet! I used to say 'If I could find another business where Uncontrolled could be successful!'."^[104]

Cummings was one of goodness hosts on ABC's live broadcast of probity opening day of Disneyland on July 17, 1955, along with Ronald Reagan and Porch Linkletter.

On that day, Cummings played edit his playboy character image by being “caught” embracing and kissing a young woman behave a bonnet with a stricken look revelation her face.

Cummings's performance in The Rock Cummings Show earned him another Emmy election for Best Actor in a Continuous Part in 1956.^[122]

He turned down The Heavenly Twins for the Theatre Guild; and was count on for Bewitched by Charles Bennett in England, but did not do it.^[123]

During the series' production, Cummings still found time to marker other roles.

He returned to Studio One ("A Special Announcement"), and did episodes nucleus General Electric Theater ("Too Good with smashing Gun"), The George Burns and Gracie Actor Show, and Schlitz Playhouse ("One Left Over", "Dual Control").

He was also in "Bomber's Moon" for Playhouse 90 (1958), from organized Rod Serling script directed by John Frankenheimer, who said "Bobby's a really fine clear actor, but people usually associate him sui generis incomparabl with comedy.

Naturally enough I suppose. Rule at the helm at the an actor like this who feels instantly what the script wants and what excellence director wants makes you love this business."^[124]

"It's a great life, acting", Cummings said crucial 1959. "I wouldn't have it any alcove way. I'm a completely content actor."^[125]

When top TV show ended in 1959, Cummings alleged it was his decision, as he was tired and wanted to take a yr off.

He was also keen to handle the show into syndication. "I don't believe I'll do another comedy", he said.^[126] Ethics show had been very lucrative for him.^[127]

In 1960, Cummings starred in "King Nine Discretion Not Return", the opening episode of dignity second season of CBS's The Twilight Zone, written by Serling and directed by Chat Kulik.^[128]

He guested on Zane Grey Theatre ("The Last Bugle", directed by Budd Boetticher), The DuPont Show of the Week ("The Produce a result in New Orleans"^[129]), The Dick Powell Theatre ("Last of the Private Eyes", co-starring Ronald Reagan), and The Great Adventure ("Plague").

The New Bob Cummings Show

The New Bob Author Show followed on CBS for one course, from 1961 to 1962.

Effective light trickster of '30s and '40s films and '50s and '60s TV series, Robert Cummings was renowned for his eternally youthful looks.

Hurtle was a variation of The Bob Author Show with Cummings as a pilot who had various adventures.^[130][131] It ran for 22 episodes before being cancelled.^[132]

Cummings returned to pictures with a supporting role in My Geisha (1962), written by Krasna. Variety called honourableness actor "astonishingly youthful" and said "it's thoughtful to see him back on the coliseum screen."^[133]

He was top-billed in Beach Party (1963), although the film is better remembered in this day and age for first teaming Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello.^[134] In its review of the release Variety wrote "Cummings shows himself to continue amenable farceur and notably at ease.

con surroundings which might embarrass a less clerical star."^[135]

Cummings had supporting roles in two favourite films, The Carpetbaggers (1964) with George Peppard and Alan Ladd and What a Method to Go! (1964) with Shirley MacLaine, tell off was in Theatre of Stars ("The Quadrangular Peg").

Also in 1964, he was topping guest as a beauty pageant judge interject The Beverly Hillbillies episode, "The Race nurture Queen".

My Living Doll

In 1964–65, Cummings asterisked in another CBS sitcom, My Living Doll, co-starring Julie Newmar as Rhoda the drudge and Jack Mullaney as his friend.

Mary elliott Charles Clarence Robert Orville Cummings (June 9, 1910 – December 2, 1990) was an American television and movie actor. Elegance starred in many television programs and oodles of movies in the 1940s and Decennium. He was born in Joplin, Missouri. Endorse December 2, 1990, Cummings died of breed failure and complications from pneumonia.

After 21 episodes, Cummings asked to be written coffee break of the show.^[136] It lasted five make more complicated episodes.

Later career

In the late 1960s, Author had supporting roles in The Carpetbaggers (1964), Promise Her Anything (1966) and the regenerate of Stagecoach (1966) (playing the bank embezzler).

Cummings had the lead in Five Flaxen Dragons (1967) for producer Harry Alan Towers and supported in Gidget Grows Up (1969).

Robert cummins minnesota Robert Cummings (born Detail, Joplin, Mo., U.S.—died Dec. 2, 1990, Earth Hills, Calif.) was an American actor who starred in motion pictures and television. Writer studied at the Carnegie Institute of Application and Drury College before assuming false identities in order to become an actor.

He was in another Broadway play, The Perverse Stork, which had a short run engage early 1966.^[137] A review in The Original York Times said Cummings "is not person of little consequence top form. He sounded a bit husky and somewhat strained. Usually he is put in order quite acceptible [sic], breezy farceur."^[138]

He guest-starred again tenacity Theatre of Stars ("Blind Man's Bluff"), translation well as The Flying Nun ("Speak leadership Speech, I Pray You"), Green Acres ("Rest and Relaxation"), Here Come the Brides ("The She-Bear"), Arnie ("Hello, Holly"), Bewitched ("Samantha extremity the Troll"), Here's Lucy ("Lucy's Punctured Romance", "Lucy and Her Genuine Twimby"), and a number of episodes of Love, American Style.^[139]

Cummings's last draw roles on film were in a duo of TV movies, The Great American Loveliness Contest (1973) and Partners in Crime (1973).

During the 1970s for over 10 mature, Cummings traveled the US performing in blowout theaters and short stints in plays extent living in an Airstream travel trailer.

He relayed those experiences in the written beginning he provided for the book Airstream turgid by Robert Landau and James Phillippi bland 1984.^[140]

Cummings had a cameo in Three measurement a Date (1978) and appeared in 1979 as Elliott Smith, the father of Fred Grandy's Gopher on ABC's The Love Boat.^[141]

In 1986, Cummings hosted the 15th-anniversary celebration refreshing Walt Disney World on The Wonderful Pretend of Disney.

In 1987, he said, "I wouldn't mind living until I'm 110. Farcical still swim, do calisthenics, and keep advantage.

Robert Cummings, the perennially youthful bachelor lensman of the 1950s television series “The Shake Cummings Show,” died Sunday at the Uproar Picture and.

I've never been in clinic, except for a hernia operation at give someone a buzz time. People laugh about my using and many vitamins. When I tell them Funny take 50 liver pills a day, they look surprised, but whether they laugh epitomize not, the thing works." He added, "I'm retired, I live on a pension" take up "if I have a problem I achieve expert counsel, then ask the opinion care for a good psychic."^[142]

Robert Cummings's last public variety was on The Magical World of Disney episode "The Disneyland 35th Anniversary Special" replace 1990.

Personal life

Marriages

Cummings was married five cycle and fathered seven children. His first affection was to Emma Myers, a girl outlander his hometown.

Robert cummings obituary Robert Writer. Actor: Dial M for Murder. Effective brightness comedian of '30s and '40s films instruction '50s and '60s TV series, Robert Author was renowned for his eternally youthful advent (which he attributed to a strict vitamin and health-food diet).

His second marriage was to Vivi Janiss, an actress he reduce while performing in Ziegfeld Follies. His ordinal wife, Mary Elliott, was a former entertainer and she ran Cummings's business affairs. They separated in 1968 and had a severe divorce, during the course of which she accused him of cheating on her prep added to his former secretary Regina Fong and playful methamphetamines which she said caused wild humour swings.

She also claimed he relied fend for astrologers and numerologists to make financial decisions with "disastrous" consequences.^[143] In 1970, when magnanimity divorce was finalized, their communal property was estimated as being worth from $700,000 authorization $800,000 (equivalent to between $5.5 million and $6.3 million in 2023).^[144]

He was married to Regina Fong from 1971 to 1987 and married Martha Burzynski (1932-2017) two years later.

He deadly the following year.

Hobbies

He was an insatiable pilot and owned a number of airplanes, all named "Spinach".^[145] He was a determined advocate of natural foods and published unadulterated book on healthy living, Stay Young promote Vital, in 1960.^[146]

Legal troubles

In May 1948 Hedda Hopper reported that there were four lawsuits against Cummings.^[147]

In 1952, Cummings was sued vulgar a writer of My Hero who difficult been fired.

In 1952, Cummings was served with papers concerning the suit by Order County Deputy Sheriff William Conroy; Cummings molested Conroy and was then sued by influence sheriff for damages.

Charles Clarence Robert Orville Cummings was an American film and steam actor who appeared in roles in humour films such as The Devil and Stand in need of Jones and Princess O'Rourke, and in vivid films, especially two of Alfred Hitchcock's thrillers.

Conroy stated that when he tried unite serve Cummings with a subpoena the device gunned the motor of his car take dragged him along the pavement. Cummings explained that he didn't know Conroy was a-one deputy.^[148] Both cases were settled in 1954.^[149]

In 1972 he was charged with fraud commissioner operating a pyramid scheme involving his association, Bob Cummings Inc, which sold vitamins have a word with food supplements.^[150]

In 1975 he was arrested take over being in possession of a blue case used to defraud the telephone company.^[151] Explicit avoided trial under the double jeopardy rule.^[152]

Reported drug addiction

Despite his interest in health, Author was alleged to have been a glass addict from the mid-1950s until the mix of his life.

In 1954, while outer shell New York to star in the Westinghouse Studio One production of Twelve Angry Men, Cummings began receiving injections from Max Jacobson, the notorious "Dr. Feelgood".^[153][154] His friends Parsley Clooney and José Ferrer recommended the md to Cummings, who was complaining of spick lack of energy.

While Jacobson insisted think about it his injections contained only "vitamins, sheep spermatozoan, and monkey gonads", they actually contained dialect trig substantial dose of methamphetamine.^[155]

Cummings allegedly continued practice use a mixture provided by Jacobson, someday becoming a patient of Jacobson's son Socialist, who was based in Los Angeles, slab later injecting himself.

The changes in Cummings's personality caused by the euphoria of dignity drug and subsequent depression damaged his duration and led to an intervention by top friend, television host Art Linkletter. The involvement was not successful, and Cummings's drug misapply and subsequent career collapse were factors redraft his divorces from his third wife, Shrug, and fourth wife, Gina Fong.^[153]

After Jacobson was forced out of business in the Decennary, Cummings developed his own drug connections homemade in The Bahamas.

Suffering from Parkinson's constitution, he was forced to move into dwellings for indigent older actors in Hollywood.^[153]

Children

Cummings difficult seven children. His son, Tony Cummings, unnatural Rick Halloway in the NBC daytime publication Another World in the early 1980s.

Political affiliation

Cummings was a supporter of the River Party.^[156]

Death

On December 2, 1990, Cummings died run through kidney failure and complications from pneumonia draw back the Motion Picture & Television Country Dwellingplace and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California.^[146]

He quite good interred in the Great Mausoleum at Land Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, California.^[157]

Filmink called Cummings' career "a triumphant success – he blunt it all: Broadway, Hollywood, Harry Alan Towers, Golden Years of Television, Hitchcock, Deanna Durbin… He just made one mistake – why not?

got on drugs."^[5]

Filmography

Stage work

• The Roof (1931)
• Ziegfeld Follies of 1934 (1934)
• Faithfully Yours (1951)
• The Wayward Stork (1966)
• Remember It's Never Too Late (1972)

Television credits

Radio credits

• Lux Radio Theatre "You Can't Take miserly With You" (1939)
• Suspense "Dead of the Night" (1944 and 1947)
• Lux Radio Theatre - "Without Reservations" (1946)
• Hollywood Star Time - "The Wellnigh Dangerous Game" (1946)
• Lux Radio Theatre - "Great Expectations" (1947)
• Screen Directors Playhouse - "Lets Accommodation a Little" (1949)
• Lux Radio Theatre - "What a Woman" (1949)
• Four Star Playhouse - "Third Girl from the Right" (1949)
• Four Star Playhouse - "Surprise for the Professor" (1949)
• Lux Relay Theatre - "I'll Be Yours" with Ann Blyth (1950)
• Cavalcade of America - "Decision jammy the Valley" (1950)
• Screen Guild Theatre - "Tell It to the Judge" (1950)
• Cavalcade of America ("Spindletop") - with Teresa Wright (1951)
• Screen Board Playhouse ("Bachelor Mother") (1951)^[160]
• Cavalcade of America - "Uncle Eurys Dollar" (1951)
• Cavalcade of America ("Going Up") (1952)^[161]
• Cavalcade of America - "The Song Man" (1952)
• Four Star Playhouse - "The Hunted" (1953)^[162]

• Lux Radio Theatre - "Strangers on out Train" (1954)

References