sign in sign up
<<
Home , Between Us Girls, It Started with Eve, Judy Canova, My Geisha, Priscilla Lane, Robert Cummings

Robert Cummings 1

Robert Cummings

Cummings in 1979

Born Charles Clarence Robert Orville Cummings June 9, 1910 Joplin, Missouri, USA

Died December 2, 1990 (aged 80) Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, , USA

Cause of death Renal failure; Pneumonia

Resting place Entombment at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California

Other names Bob Cummings Blade Stanhope Conway Bruce Hutchens

Alma mater American Academy of Dramatic Arts

Occupation Actor

Years active 1931–1990

[1] Political party Republican

Spouse(s) Emma Myers (m. 1931–33) [2] Vivian Janis (m. 1933–1945) Mary Elliott (m. 1945–70) Regina Young (m. 1971–?) Martha "Jane" Burzynski (m. 1989–1990)

Charles Clarence Robert Orville Cummings (June 9, 1910 – December 2, 1990), mostly known professionally as Robert Cummings but sometimes as Bob Cummings,[3][4] was an American film and television actor. Cummings performed mainly in comedies, but was effective in his few dramas, especially two films, Saboteur (1942) and (1954).[5] Robert Cummings 2

Early life Cummings was born in Joplin, Missouri, a son of Dr. Charles Clarence Cummings and the former Ruth Annabelle Kraft.[6] His father was a surgeon, who was part of the original medical staff of St. John's Hospital in Joplin. He was the founder of the Jasper County Tuberculosis Hospital in Webb City, Missouri.[7][8] Cummings's mother was an ordained minister of the Science of Mind. While attending Joplin High School, Cummings was taught to fly by his godfather, Orville Wright, the aviation pioneer. His first solo was on 3 March 1927.[9] During high school, Cummings gave Joplin residents rides in his aircraft for $5 per person. When the government began licensing flight instructors, Cummings was issued flight instructor certificate No. 1, making him the first official flight instructor in the United States. Cummings studied briefly at Drury College in Springfield, Missouri, but his love of flying caused him to transfer to the Carnegie Institute of Technology in , Pennsylvania. He studied aeronautical engineering for a year before he dropped out because of financial reasons, his family having lost heavily in the 1929 stock market crash. Since the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City paid its male actors $14 a week, Cummings decided to study there.

Acting career Cummings studied drama for two years before appearing on Broadway in 1931. As British actors were heavily in demand, Cummings traveled to England and learned to mimic an upper-class English accent. He had a brief career on Broadway under the name Blade Stanhope Conway, posing as an Englishman. In 1933, Cummings met and married his second wife, the actress Vivian Janis. They were both appearing in the Ziegfeld Follies, with Cummings as the male lead opposite comedian Fanny Brice.[10] In 1934, he moved to , where he acted at first under the name Bruce Hutchens, having assumed the persona of a wealthy Texan. He made his film debut the following year in The Virginia Judge. Cummings then began to use his own name, acting throughout the 1930s as a contract player in a number of supporting roles.

Achieving stardom

He achieved stardom in 1939 in Grow Up, opposite . His many film comedies include: (1941) with , and The Bride Wore Boots (1946) with Barbara Stanwyck and Moon Over Miami (1941). Cummings gave memorable performances in three notable dramas. In (1942), he played the lead role Parrish Mitchell alongside friend , , and an all-star cast. In spite of its mixed critical reaction, the film was nominated for three , including one for Best Picture. Cummings also starred in the spy thriller Saboteur (1942) with and . He played Barry Kane, an Aircraft worker wrongfully accused of murder, trying to clear his name. Cummings appeared in another Hitchcock film: Dial M for Murder (1954), in which he played Mark Halliday with and . The film was a box-office smash. Cummings also starred in Robert Cummings in the trailer for Saboteur Robert Cummings 3

You Came Along (1945), which featured a screenplay by . The Army Air Forces pilot Cummings played ("Bob Collins") died off camera, but was resurrected ten years later for his television show. Cummings was chosen by producer as his co-star to play airline pilot Captain Sullivan in The High and the Mighty, partly due to Cummings's flying experience. However, director William A. Wellman overruled Wayne and hired for the part.[11] Cummings made his mark in the CBS Radio network's dramatic serial entitled Those We Love, which ran from 1938 to 1945. Cummings played the role of David Adair, opposite , Francis X. Bushman, and Nan Grey. He was also one of the four stars featured in the short-run radio version of Four Star Playhouse.

World War II In November 1942, Cummings joined the United States Army Air Corps.[12] During World War II, he served as a flight instructor. After the war, Cummings served as a pilot in the United States Air Force Reserve, where he achieved the rank of Captain.[13] For a time he was the owner of a Porterfield 35-70 aircraft, named "Spinach",[14] which is still airworthy in the USA.[15]

Television career Cummings began a long career on television in 1952, starring in the comedy My Hero. He received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor for his portrayal of "Juror Number Eight," in the first televised performance of , a live production that aired in 1954 ( played the same role in the feature film adaptation). Cummings was one of the anchors on ABC's live broadcast of the opening day of on July 17, 1955. From 1955 through 1959, Cummings starred on a successful NBC , (list of episodes) (known as Love That Bob in reruns), in which he played Bob Collins, an ex–World War II pilot who became a successful professional photographer. As a bachelor in Los Angeles, the character Bob Collins considered himself to be quite the ladies' man. This sitcom was noted for some very risque humor for its time. A popular feature of the program was Cummings's portrayal of his elderly grandfather. His co-stars were Rosemary DeCamp, as his sister, Margaret MacDonald, , as his nephew, Chuck MacDonald and Ann B. Davis, in her first television success, as his assistant Charmaine "Schultzy" Schultz. Cummings also was a guest on the NBC interview program Here's Hollywood. Robert Cummings 4

In 1960 Cummings starred in "King Nine Will Not Return," the opening episode of the second season of CBS's The Twilight Zone. The New Bob Cummings Show (list of episodes) followed on CBS for one season, from 1961 to 1962. Cummings is depicted as the owner and pilot of Aerocar N102D[16] and this aircraft was featured on his show.[17][18]

Cummings also starred in 1964–65 on another CBS sitcom, (list of episodes), which co-starred as Rhoda the robot. Cummings's last significant role was the 1973 television movie Partners in Crime, co-starring Lee Grant. He also appeared in 1979 as Elliott Smith, the father of 's Gopher on ABC's .[19]

In 1986, Cummings hosted the televised 15th Anniversary Celebration of Walt Disney World in Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color. Bob Cummings and Julie Newmar in a publicity still Robert Cummings's last public appearance was on The 35th for My Living Doll Anniversary Special of Disneyland in 1990.

Personal life

Cummings married five times and fathered seven children. He was a staunch advocate of natural foods and a healthy diet and in 1960 authored a book, Stay Young and Vital, which focused upon health foods and exercise. Cummings's son, Tony Cummings, played Rick Halloway in the NBC daytime serial Another World in the early 1980s.

Death On December 2, 1990, Cummings died of kidney failure and complications from pneumonia at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California.[] He was interred in the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Glendale, California.

Filmography

Stage • The Roof (1931) • Ziegfeld Follies of 1934 (1934) • Faithfully Yours (1951) • The Wayward Stork (1966) Robert Cummings 5

Films

This filmography as actor is believed to be complete. Cummings also served as producer on 1948's Let's Live a Little. • Seasoned Greetings (1933) (short subject) • Sons of the Desert (1933) (extra, credited as "Blade Stanhope Conway") • The Virginia Judge (1935) • So Red the Rose (1935) • Millions in the Air (1935)

• Desert Gold (1936) Robert Cummings, Judy Canova, unknown person, • Forgotten Faces (1936) Fritz Feld and his spouse Virginia Christine at the 1979 • Border Flight (1936) National Film Society Convention • Three Cheers for Love (1936) • Hollywood Boulevard (1936) • The Accusing Finger (1936) • Hideaway Girl (1936) • Arizona Mahoney (1936) • The Outer Gate (1937) • The Last Train from Madrid (1937) • Souls at Sea (1937) • Sophie Lang Goes West (1937) • Wells Fargo (1937) • College Swing (1938) • You and Me (1938) • The Texans (1938) • Touchdown, Army (1938) • I Stand Accused (1938) • Three Smart Girls Grow Up (1939) • The Under-Pup (1939) • Rio (1939) • Everything Happens at Night (1939) • Charlie McCarthy, Detective (1939) • And One Was Beautiful (1940) • Private Affairs (1940) • (1940) • One Night in the Tropics (1940) • Free and Easy (1941) • The Devil and Miss Jones (1941) • Moon Over Miami (1941) • (1941) • Kings Row (1942) • Saboteur (1942) • (1942) • Forever and a Day (1943) • Princess O'Rourke (1943) • Flesh and Fantasy (1943) Robert Cummings 6

• (1945) • The Bride Wore Boots (1946) • The Chase (1946) • Heaven Only Knows (1947) • The Lost Moment (1947) • Sleep, My Love (1948) • Let's Live a Little (1948) • The Accused (1949) • Reign of Terror (1949) • Tell It to the Judge (1949) • Free for All (1949) • Paid in Full (1950) • The Petty Girl (1950) • For Heaven's Sake (1950) • The Barefoot Mailman (1951) • The First Time (1952) • Marry Me Again (1953) • Lucky Me (1954) • Dial M for Murder (1954) • How to Be Very, Very Popular (1955) • (1962) • Beach Party (1963) • The Carpetbaggers (1964) • What a Way to Go! (1964) • Promise Her Anything (1965) • Stagecoach (1966) • Five Golden Dragons (1967)

Television • My Hero (1951-1952) • Justice ("The Crisis") (1954) • Disneyland (1954) • Studio One in Hollywood (1954-1956) • The and Gracie Allen Show ("A Marital Mix-Up) (1957) • ("Too Good with a Gun") (1957) • The Bob Cummings Show (1955-1959) • The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour (1957-1960) ("The Ricardo's Go To Japan) (1959) • Twilight Zone ("King Nine Will Not Return") (1960) • Zane Grey Theater ("The Last Bugle") (1960) • The New Bob Cummings Show (1961-1962) • My Living Doll (1964-1965) • ("Speak the Speech, I Pray You") (1969) • Love, American Style (1969-1973) • Hollywood Squares (1970) • ("Rest and Relaxation") (1970) • ("Samantha and the Troll") (1971) • Partners in Crime (1973) Robert Cummings 7

• The Love Boat ("Third Wheel/Grandmother's Day/Second String Mom") (1979) • Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color ("Walt Disney World's 15th Anniversary Celebration") (1986) • The Disneyland's 35th Anniversasy Special (1990)

References

Notes

[1] "The Republicans of Classic Hollywood." (http:/ / fan. tcm. com/ _The-Republicans-of-Classic-Hollywood/ blog/ 4001537/ 66470. html) fan.tcm.com. Retrieved: January 7, 2013. [2][2]Lyon et al. 1987, p. 164.

[3] "Robert O. Cummings. DOB: June 9, 1910. DOD: December 2, 1990." (http:/ / vitals. rootsweb. ancestry. com/ ca/ death/ search. cgi) California Death Index. Retrieved: April 19, 2009.

[4] "Robert Cummings. DOB: June 9, 1910. DOD: December 2, 1990." (https:/ / familysearch. org/ pal:/ MM9. 1. 1/ JTH2-C6P) Social Security Death Index. Retrieved: October 3, 2012. [5][5]Wise and Wilderson 2000, p. 189.

[6] "Bob Cummings Biography." (http:/ / www. filmreference. com/ film/ 51/ Bob-Cummings. html) Film Reference. Retrieved: August 23, 2013.

[7] watson, John. "John Watson: A tour of Joplin Museum Complex." (http:/ / www. cleburnetimesreview. com/ features/

local_story_131150717. html) Cleburne Times Review (Cleburne, Texas), May 11, 2009. Retrieved: June 1, 2009. [8][8]Christensen 1999, p. 225. [9] "Meet Bob Cummings...Pilot, Actor, Businessman". Flying, March 1960, p. 45. [10][10]H.W. Wilson Company. "Current Biography", page 17. New York: H.W. Wilson Company, 1956. [11][11]McGivern 2006, p. 82. [12][12]Ashbu 2006, p. 265.

[13] "Cummings, Robert Orville ('Bob'), Capt." (http:/ / airforce. togetherweserved. com/ usaf/ servlet/ tws. webapp.

WebApp?cmd=ShadowBoxProfile& type=Person& ID=113400) Togetherweserved.com Inc. Retrieved: October 16, 2012.

[14] "N17029, 1936 Porterfield 35-70 (Of interest -'Spinach' was once owned, flown by the late actor Robert Cummings)." (http:/ / www.

airport-data. com/ articles/ view/ N17029-1936-Porterfield-35-70-FLYABOUT-Spinach-Rev-1:32. html) FLYABOUT 'Spinach,' Rev. 1.

[15] "Airworthiness of N17029". (http:/ / registry. faa. gov/ aircraftinquiry/ NNum_Results. aspx?NNumbertxt=N17029) FAA. Retrieved: August 23, 2013.

[16] "Photographs of and registration data for Aerocar N102D." (http:/ / flightaware. com/ resources/ registration/ N102D) flightaware.com. Retrieved: August 23, 2013.

[17] Gilmore, Susan. "Tired of the commute? All you need is $3.5 million" (http:/ / seattletimes. nwsource. com/ html/ localnews/

2003243681_aerocar05m. html). The Seattle Times, September 5, 2006. Retrieved: October 11, 2012.

[18] Video of Robert Cummings piloting "Aerocar N102D, during an episode of The New Bob Cummings Show, 1961." (http:/ / www. youtube.

com/ watch?feature=endscreen& NR=1& v=f5NKSnKy-30) Youtube. Retrieved: August 23, 2013. [19][19]Maltin 1994, p. 189.

Bibliography • Ashbu, LeRoy. With Amusement For All. Lexington, Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky, 2006. ISBN 978-0-81314-107-7.

• Christensen, Lawrence O., ed. Dictionary of Missouri Biography. (http:/ / books. google. com/

books?id=6gyxWHRLAWgC& pg=PA225& lpg=PA225& dq=Dictionary+ of+ Missouri+ Biography+ Robert+

Cummings& source=bl& ots=D9Slqvm5gZ& sig=y3mKzGDNawoHWzpDV1bbUrHiCXg& hl=en& sa=X&

ei=F8F3UK-MF8fPqgHTnYGYBA& ved=0CDAQ6AEwAA#v=onepage& q=Dictionary of Missouri Biography

Robert Cummings& f=false) Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri Press, 1999. ISBN 978-0-82621-222-1. • Current Biography. New York: H.W. Wilson Company, 1956. • Lyon, Christopher, James Vinson, Susan Doll and Greg S. Faller. The International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers. New York: St. James Press, 1987. ISBN 978-1-55862-041-4. • Maltin, Leonard. "Robert Cummings". Leonard Maltin's Movie Encyclopedia. New York: Dutton, 1994. ISBN 0-525-93635-1. • McGivern, Carolyn.The Lost Films of John Wayne. Nashville, Kentucky: Cumberland House, 2006. ISBN 978-1-58182-567-1. Robert Cummings 8

• Wise, James E. and Paul W. Wilderson. Stars in Khaki: Movie Actors in the Army and the Air Services. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 2000. ISBN 978-1-55750-958-1.

External links

• Robert Cummings (http:/ / www. imdb. com/ name/ nm0191950/ ) at the Internet Movie Database

• Robert Cummings (http:/ / www. allrovi. com/ name/ p16136) at AllRovi

• Robert Cummings (http:/ / www. ibdb. com/ person. asp?ID=36854) at the Internet Broadway Database

• Robert Cummings (http:/ / www. findagrave. com/ cgi-bin/ fg. cgi?page=gr& GRid=5004) at Find a Grave Article Sources and Contributors 9 Article Sources and Contributors

Robert Cummings Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=600171160 Contributors: 1962monroe, 612jeffersonave, 6afraidof7, 7, Aardvarkzz, Ambivalence1999, Antandrus, Anthony Winward, Arbustoo, Avjoska, Badbilltucker, Benscripps, Big iron, Bill37212, Billy Hathorn, Biolumine, Bobo192, Bogdangiusca, BurmaShaver, Bzuk, CDA, COG-528, CanisRufus, Chowbok, Clarityfiend, CommonsDelinker, Courcelles, Croscher, Dbart, Deb, Donald Albury, Dratman, Drbogdan, Edwardx, Eltseb, Emerson7, Fat&Happy, Firsfron, FlugKerl, Foofbun, GFHandel, Hall Monitor, Historybuff2283, Hmains, Hoary, Hobbes Goodyear, Hydrargyrum, IP4240207xx, Icarusgeek, Informationfountain, JGKlein, Jack O'Lantern, JackofOz, JarlaxleArtemis, Jedi94, Jeff Silvers, Jimeree, Jlmorgan, Johnpacklambert, Josh Rumage, JustAGal, Keane4, Khvalamde, Kintetsubuffalo, Klemen Kocjancic, Kumioko (renamed), Legalwatchdog, LiteraryMaven, Lockley, Lugnuts, Mactabilis, Maltmomma, Manoridius, Marigold100, Michael David, Mike Dillon, MikeGurlitz, Mild Bill Hiccup, Monkeyzpop, Moviefan, MusikAnimal, Niceguyedc, Nobunaga24, OS2Warp, Peanutcactus, Pinkadelica, Pizzamaniac09, Pomte, ProfessorPaul, Puldrection, Radiohist, Reedmalloy, Rhindle The Red, Rlquall, [email protected], Rossrs, Sam, SamanthaJF, Sardu3, Savolya, Seduisant, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, Sharpezero4, ShelfSkewed, SimonP, Spoonkymonkey, Stetsonharry, SteveHopson, Sumahoy, TMC1982, Tabletop, Tassedethe, Teblick, The-Pope, Thosetwopeople, Tim!, Tinton5, Tjmayerinsf, Trezjr, User2004, Vanished user zkjnco34jt8weiufh2o3fhnalf, Wayne Miller, We hope, Welsh, WereSpielChequers, Who, Wildhartlivie, Will Beback, Wjhonson, Wmpearl, Woohookitty, Wwoods, Wytzox1, Zephyrad, 95 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors

File:Robert Cummings (1979).jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Robert_Cummings_(1979).jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Contributors: Alan Light File:Robert Cummings in Saboteur trailer.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Robert_Cummings_in_Saboteur_trailer.jpg License: Public Domain Contributors: Trailer screenshot File:Bob Cummings Julie Newmar My Living Doll.JPG Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Bob_Cummings_Julie_Newmar_My_Living_Doll.JPG License: Public Domain Contributors: CBS Television File:Robert Cummings, Judy Canova, ?, Fritz Feld, Virginia Christine (4506015336).jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Robert_Cummings,_Judy_Canova,_?,_Fritz_Feld,_Virginia_Christine_(4506015336).jpg License: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Contributors: Alan Light

License

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 //creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/