Robert Joseph Vila (born June 20, 1946) is an American home
improvement television show host known for This Old House
(1979â€"1989), Bob Vila's Home Again (1990â€"2005), and Bob Vila
(2005â€"2007).Vila, a Cuban-American, is a native of Miami, Florida.
When Vila was a child, his father built the family home by hand. Vila
graduated from Miami Jackson High School and studied journalism at the
University of Florida. After graduating, he served as a volunteer in
the Peace Corps, working in Panama from 1971 to 1973.Vila was hired as
the host of This Old House in 1979 after receiving the "Heritage House
of 1978" award by Better Homes and Gardens, for his restoration of a
Victorian Italianate house in Newton, Massachusetts. On This Old
House, Vila appeared with carpenter Norm Abram as they, and others,
renovated houses. In 1989, he left the show following a disagreement
arising from his involvement with outside commercial endorsements for
New Jersey-based Rickel, and the subsequent retaliatory pulling of
underwriting by Rickel's competitor Home Depot and lumber supplier
Weyerhaeuser. He was replaced by Steve Thomas.
improvement television show host known for This Old House
(1979â€"1989), Bob Vila's Home Again (1990â€"2005), and Bob Vila
(2005â€"2007).Vila, a Cuban-American, is a native of Miami, Florida.
When Vila was a child, his father built the family home by hand. Vila
graduated from Miami Jackson High School and studied journalism at the
University of Florida. After graduating, he served as a volunteer in
the Peace Corps, working in Panama from 1971 to 1973.Vila was hired as
the host of This Old House in 1979 after receiving the "Heritage House
of 1978" award by Better Homes and Gardens, for his restoration of a
Victorian Italianate house in Newton, Massachusetts. On This Old
House, Vila appeared with carpenter Norm Abram as they, and others,
renovated houses. In 1989, he left the show following a disagreement
arising from his involvement with outside commercial endorsements for
New Jersey-based Rickel, and the subsequent retaliatory pulling of
underwriting by Rickel's competitor Home Depot and lumber supplier
Weyerhaeuser. He was replaced by Steve Thomas.
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