Robert Jolin Osborne (/ˈÉ'zbÉ"Ë rn/; May 3, 1932 â€" March 6, 2017)
was an American actor, film historian, television presenter, and
author, best known for more than 20 years as the primary host of the
cable channel Turner Classic Movies (TCM). Prior to hosting at TCM,
Osborne had been a host on The Movie Channel, and earlier, a columnist
for The Hollywood Reporter. Osborne also wrote the official history of
the Academy Awards, originally published in 1988, and most recently
revised in 2013.Osborne was born on May 3, 1932, in the small town of
Colfax, Washington, where he was raised. His parents were Robert
Eugene Osborne, a public school teacher, and Hazel Ida (née Jolin).
His older sister was Joan Osborne Beck. He had three nieces. Osborne
graduated from the University of Washington School of Journalism in
1954.Osborne began his career working as a contract actor for Desi
Arnaz and Lucille Ball's Desilu Studios. There, Osborne became part of
Lucille Ball's Desilu Workshop, in which Ball worked with and nurtured
such young performers as Osborne and actress-singer Carole Cook.
was an American actor, film historian, television presenter, and
author, best known for more than 20 years as the primary host of the
cable channel Turner Classic Movies (TCM). Prior to hosting at TCM,
Osborne had been a host on The Movie Channel, and earlier, a columnist
for The Hollywood Reporter. Osborne also wrote the official history of
the Academy Awards, originally published in 1988, and most recently
revised in 2013.Osborne was born on May 3, 1932, in the small town of
Colfax, Washington, where he was raised. His parents were Robert
Eugene Osborne, a public school teacher, and Hazel Ida (née Jolin).
His older sister was Joan Osborne Beck. He had three nieces. Osborne
graduated from the University of Washington School of Journalism in
1954.Osborne began his career working as a contract actor for Desi
Arnaz and Lucille Ball's Desilu Studios. There, Osborne became part of
Lucille Ball's Desilu Workshop, in which Ball worked with and nurtured
such young performers as Osborne and actress-singer Carole Cook.
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