Robert Osborne

Known to movie lovers everywhere as the knowledgeable and genial host of nightly programming on Turner Classic Movies, Robert Osborne was born in Colfax, Washington. He studied journalism at the University of Washington, but his love of movies was too strong to keep him away from Hollywood. He relocated to Los Angeles soon after graduating, and was eventually hired by Lucille Ball to work as an actor at her company, Desilu Productions, beginning what Osborne would later describe as a lifetime mentorship with the comedian, who he credited with teaching him much about the world of film and TV. He would make a number of appearances throughout the '50s and early '60s on shows like "The Californians" (NBC, 1957-59) and "The Beverly Hillbillies" (CBS, 1962-1971) before turning his attention toward writing. He published his first book, Academy Awards Illustrated in 1965, and began what would become a multiple-decade career writing for The Hollywood Reporter in 1977, first writing movie reviews and then eventually, a column called "The Rambling Reporter." Osborne became a host on the TV station The Movie Channel in 1984, where he could combine his knowledge of film with his charismatic presence on screen. In 1994, when Turner Broadcasting launched the channel Turner Classic Movies, they asked Osborne to become the channel's face. In addition to his primetime hosting duties on the station, he also began hosting "Private Screenings" (TCM, 1995-), an intimate interview series that found him probing the minds of Hollywood greats like Mickey Rooney and Jane Russell. Osborne continued to publish books, including 60 Years of Oscar and its five updated editions, and hosted live events like the non-profit Robert Osborne's Classic Film Festival at Georgia University. Osborne passed away in March 2017. He was 84 years old.