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Charles Clarence Robert Orville Cummings (June 9, 1910 – December 2, 1990) was an American film and television actor who appeared in roles in
comedy film A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending ( black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the o ...
s such as '' The Devil and Miss Jones'' (1941) and ''
Princess O'Rourke ''Princess O'Rourke'' is a 1943 American romantic comedy film directed and written by Norman Krasna (in Krasna's directorial debut), and starring Olivia de Havilland, Robert Cummings and Charles Coburn. Krasna won the 1944 Oscar for Best Origin ...
'' (1943), and in
dramatic film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular supe ...
s, especially two of
Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featur ...
's thrillers, '' Saboteur'' (1942) and '' Dial M for Murder'' (1954).Wise and Wilderson 2000, p. 189. He received five
Primetime Emmy Award The Primetime Emmy Awards, or Primetime Emmys, are part of the extensive range of Emmy Awards for artistic and technical merit for the American television industry. Bestowed by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (ATAS), the Primetime ...
nominations, and won the Primetime Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Single Performance in 1955. On February 8, 1960, he received two stars on the
Hollywood Walk of Fame The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a historic landmark which consists of more than 2,700 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars embedded in the sidewalks along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, Calif ...
for his contributions to the motion picture and television industries, at 6816
Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood Boulevard is a major east–west street in Los Angeles, California. It begins in the east at Sunset Boulevard in the Los Feliz district and proceeds to the west as a major thoroughfare through Little Armenia and Thai Town, Hollywoo ...
and 1718 Vine Street. He used the stage name Robert Cummings from mid-1935 until the end of 1954 and was credited as Bob Cummings from 1955 until his death.


Early life

Cummings was born in
Joplin, Missouri Joplin is a city in Jasper and Newton counties in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Missouri. The bulk of the city is in Jasper County, while the southern portion is in Newton County. Joplin is the largest city located within both Jas ...
, a son of Dr. Charles Clarence Cummings and the former Ruth Annabelle Kraft.FilmReference.com His father was a
surgeon In modern medicine, a surgeon is a medical professional who performs surgery. Although there are different traditions in different times and places, a modern surgeon usually is also a licensed physician or received the same medical training as ...
, part of the original medical staff of St. John's Hospital in Joplin, and the founder of the Jasper County
Tuberculosis Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by '' Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, ...
Hospital A hospital is a health care institution providing patient treatment with specialized health science and auxiliary healthcare staff and medical equipment. The best-known type of hospital is the general hospital, which typically has an emergen ...
in Webb City, Missouri.Christensen 1999, p. 225. Cummings's mother was an
ordained Ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart and elevated from the laity class to the clergy, who are thus then authorized (usually by the denominational hierarchy composed of other clergy) to perform ...
minister of the Science of Mind. While attending Joplin High School, Cummings was taught to fly by his godfather, aviation pioneer Orville Wright. His first solo was on March 3, 1927.Greenwood 1960, p. 45. During high school, Cummings gave Joplin residents rides in his
aircraft An aircraft is a vehicle that is able to flight, fly by gaining support from the Atmosphere of Earth, air. It counters the force of gravity by using either Buoyancy, static lift or by using the Lift (force), dynamic lift of an airfoil, or in ...
for $5 per person. When the government began licensing
flight instructor A flight instructor is a person who teaches others to operate aircraft. Specific privileges granted to holders of a flight instructor qualification vary from country to country, but very generally, a flight instructor serves to enhance or evaluate ...
s, Cummings was issued flight instructor certificate No. 1, making him the first official flight instructor in the United States.


Education

Cummings studied briefly at Drury College in
Springfield, Missouri Springfield is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and the county seat of Greene County. The city's population was 169,176 at the 2020 census. It is the principal city of the Springfield metropolitan area, which had an esti ...
, but his love of flying caused him to transfer to the
Carnegie Institute of Technology Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is a private research university in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. One of its predecessors was established in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie as the Carnegie Technical Schools; it became the Carnegie Institute of Technolog ...
in
Pittsburgh Pittsburgh ( ) is a city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, United States, and the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, Allegheny County. It is the most populous city in both Allegheny County and Wester ...
. He studied
aeronautical engineering Aerospace engineering is the primary field of engineering concerned with the development of aircraft and spacecraft. It has two major and overlapping branches: aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering. Avionics engineering is sim ...
for a year before he dropped out for financial reasons, his family having lost heavily in the 1929 stock market crash. Cummings became interested in acting while performing in plays at Carnegie Tech, and decided to pursue it as a career. Since the
American Academy of Dramatic Arts The American Academy of Dramatic Arts (AADA) is a private performing arts conservatory with two locations, one in Manhattan and one in Los Angeles. The academy offers an associate degree in occupational studies and teaches drama and related art ...
in New York City paid its male actors $14 a week, Cummings decided to study there.Lyon et al. 1987, p. 164. He stayed only one season, but later said he learned "three basic principles of acting. The first – never anticipate; second – take pride in my profession. And third – trust in God. And that last is said in reverence."


Early acting career


Blade Stanhope Conway

Cummings started looking for work in 1930, but couldn't find any roles, forcing him to get a job at a theatrical agency. Realizing that, at the time, "three quarters of Broadway plays were from England" and that English accents and actors were in demand, Cummings decided to cash in an insurance policy and buy a round-trip ticket there. He was driving a motorbike through the countryside, picking up the accent and learning about the country, when his bike broke down at Harrogate. While waiting for repairs, he devised a plan. He invented the name "Blade Stanhope Conway" and bribed the janitor of a local theatre to put on the marquee: "Blade Stanhope Conway in '' Candida''". He then had a photo taken of himself in front of the marquee and had 80 prints made. In London, he outfitted himself with a new wardrobe, composed a letter introducing the actor-author-manager-director "Blade" of Harrogate Repertory Theatre, and sent it off to 80 New York theatrical agents and producers. As a result, when Cummings returned to New York, he was able to obtain several meetings. One of the producers to whom he sent letters, Charles Hopkings, cast him in a production of ''The Roof'' by
John Galsworthy John Galsworthy (; 14 August 1867 – 31 January 1933) was an English novelist and playwright. Notable works include '' The Forsyte Saga'' (1906–1921) and its sequels, ''A Modern Comedy'' and ''End of the Chapter''. He won the Nobel Prize ...
, playing the role of the Hon. Reggie Fanning. Also in the cast was Henry Hull. The play ran from October to November 1931 and Brooks Atkinson of ''The New York Times'' listed "Conway" among the cast who provided "some excellent bits of acting." In November 1932, "Conway" replaced Edwin Styles in the Broadway revue '' Earl Carroll's Vanities'' after studying song and dance by correspondence course. Cummings later encouraged an old drama school classmate, Margaret Kies, to use a similar deception – she became the "British" Margaret Lindsay. He later said pretending to be Conway broke up his first marriage, to a girl from Joplin. "She couldn't stand me." He was an extra in the
Laurel and Hardy Laurel and Hardy were a British-American comedy duo act during the early Classical Hollywood era of American cinema, consisting of Englishman Stan Laurel (1890–1965) and American Oliver Hardy (1892–1957). Starting their career as a duo in t ...
comedy film ''
Sons of the Desert A son is a male offspring; a boy or a man in relation to his parents. The female counterpart is a daughter. From a biological perspective, a son constitutes a first degree relative. Social issues In pre-industrial societies and some current ...
'' (1933) and in the musical short ''Seasoned Greetings'' (1933).


Bryce Hutchens

Cummings decided to change his approach, when in the words of one report, "suddenly the bottom dropped out of the John Bull market; almost overnight, demand switched from Londoners to lassoers." In 1934, Cummings changed his name to "Bryce Hutchens". He appeared under this name in the '' Ziegfeld Follies of 1934'', which ran from January to June in 1934. He had a duet with
Vivi Janiss Vivi may refer to: People * Vivi Bach (1939–2013), Danish actress and singer * Vivi Fernandez (born 1977), Brazilian model * Vivi Flindt (born 1943), Danish ballerina * Vivi Friedman (1967–2012), Finnish film director * Vivi Gioi (1917–1975 ...
, a native of
Nebraska Nebraska () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is bordered by South Dakota to the north; Iowa to the east and Missouri to the southeast, both across the Missouri River; Kansas to the south; Colorado to the sout ...
, with whom he sang "I Like the Likes of You". Cummings and Janiss went with the show when it went on tour after the Broadway run, and they married towards the end of the tour.


Paramount

The tour of ''Ziegfeld'' ended in Los Angeles in January 1935. Cummings enjoyed the city and wanted to move there. He returned to New York, then heard
King Vidor King Wallis Vidor (; February 8, 1894 – November 1, 1982) was an American film director, film producer, and screenwriter whose 67-year film-making career successfully spanned the silent and sound eras. His works are distinguished by a vivid, ...
was looking for Texan actors for '' So Red the Rose'' (1935). He auditioned, pretending to be a Texan, having acquired his own version of a Texan accent by listening to cowboy bands on the radio. His ruse was exposed, but Vidor nevertheless cast him, under his actual name. In their review, ''The New York Times'' said that Cummings "does a fine bit" and "has the only convincing accent in the whole film." He followed this with a part in Paramount's '' The Virginia Judge'' (1935). In July, the studio signed Cummings to a long-term contract. Before his first two Paramount films were released, he was also cast in a supporting part in ''
Millions in the Air ''Millions in the Air'' is a 1935 American comedy film directed by Ray McCarey and written by Sig Herzig and Jane Storm. The film stars John Howard, Wendy Barrie, Willie Howard, George Barbier, Benny Baker, Eleanore Whitney and Robert Cumming ...
'' (1935). Cummings appeared as one of the leads in the Western '' Desert Gold'' (1936), then had a supporting role in '' Forgotten Faces'' (1936) and a starring part in ''
Three Cheers for Love ''Three Cheers for Love'' is a 1936 American musical film directed by Ray McCarey, written by George Marion, Jr., and starring Eleanore Whitney, Robert Cummings, William Frawley, Elizabeth Patterson, Roscoe Karns and John Halliday. It was rele ...
'' (1936). He also appeared in: : ''
Beyond Flight Beyond may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media Films * ''Beyond'' (1921 film), an American silent film * ''Beyond'' (2000 film), a Danish film directed by Åke Sandgren, OT: ''Dykkerne'' * ''Beyond'' (2010 film), a Swedish film directed ...
'' (1936) :''
Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood Boulevard is a major east–west street in Los Angeles, California. It begins in the east at Sunset Boulevard in the Los Feliz district and proceeds to the west as a major thoroughfare through Little Armenia and Thai Town, Hollywoo ...
'' (1936) : '' The Accusing Finger'' (1936) : '' Hideaway Girl'' (1936) : ''
Arizona Mahoney ''Arizona Mahoney'' is a 1936 American Western film directed by James P. Hogan and written by Stuart Anthony and Robert Yost. The film stars Joe Cook, Robert Cummings, June Martel, Buster Crabbe, Marjorie Gateson and John Miljan. It is based ...
'' (1936) : '' The Last Train from Madrid'' (1937). Most of these were
B pictures A B movie or B film is a low-budget commercial motion picture. In its original usage, during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the term more precisely identified films intended for distribution as the less-publicized bottom half of a double feature ...
. He had a small role in an A picture, '' Souls at Sea'' (1937), then appeared in ''
Sophie Lang Goes West ''Sophie Lang Goes West'' is a 1937 American crime film directed by Charles Reisner, written by Frederick Irving Anderson, Doris Anderson, Brian Marlow and Robert Wyler, and starring Gertrude Michael, Lee Bowman, Sandra Storme, Buster Crabbe, Ba ...
'' (1937), ''
Wells Fargo Wells Fargo & Company is an American multinational financial services company with corporate headquarters in San Francisco, California; operational headquarters in Manhattan; and managerial offices throughout the United States and intern ...
'' (1937) and ''
College Swing ''College Swing'', also known as ''Swing, Teacher, Swing'' in the U.K., is a 1938 comedy film directed by Raoul Walsh and starring George Burns, Gracie Allen, Martha Raye, and Bob Hope. The supporting cast features Edward Everett Horton, Ben Blue ...
'' (1938). He had a small role in '' You and Me'' (1938) (directed by
Fritz Lang Friedrich Christian Anton Lang (; December 5, 1890 – August 2, 1976), known as Fritz Lang, was an Austrian film director, screenwriter, and producer who worked in Germany and later the United States.Obituary '' Variety'', August 4, 1976, p. ...
), and was in ''
The Texans ''The Texans'' is a 1938 American Western film directed by James P. Hogan and starring Joan Bennett and Randolph Scott. The screenplay was written by Bertram Millhauser, Paul Sloane and William Wister Haines and is based on the novel ''North o ...
'' (1938) and '' Touchdown, Army'' (1938). Eventually, Paramount dropped their option on him. "I was poison", he said. "No agent would look at me." In June, Paramount announced he would return for ''
King of Chinatown ''King of Chinatown'' is a 1939 American crime film directed by Nick Grinde and written by Lillie Hayward and Irving Reis. The film stars Anna May Wong, Akim Tamiroff, J. Carrol Naish, Sidney Toler, Philip Ahn, Anthony Quinn and Bernadene Hayes ...
'' with
Anna May Wong Wong Liu Tsong (January 3, 1905 – February 3, 1961), known professionally as Anna May Wong, was an American actress, considered the first Chinese-American movie star in Hollywood, as well as the first Chinese-American actress to gain interna ...
, but he does not appear in the final film. In September he was cast at Republic, playing the lead in the crime movie ''
I Stand Accused ''I Stand Accused'' is a 1938 American drama film directed by John H. Auer and written by Gordon Kahn and Alex Gottlieb. The film stars Robert Cummings, Helen Mack, Lyle Talbot, Thomas Beck, Gordon Jones and Robert Paige. The film was rel ...
'' (1938). Cummings said it was "...a fluke hit—so at least I could get inside the casting agents again."


Universal

In November 1938, Cummings auditioned for the romantic lead in '' Three Smart Girls Grow Up'' (1939), starring Deanna Durbin, for producer Joe Pasternak. Pasternak was reluctant to cast him, preferring to find a musician, but Cummings told him, "I could fake it". He later said, "I'd had a lot of experience faking things harder than that. He let me try it and he signed me up." On 21 November Cummings gave Universal an option on a seven-year contract starting at $600 a week, going up to $750 a week the following year, then ultimately up to $3,000 a week. His first film for them, ''Three Smart Girls Grow Up'' (1939) was a big success, and in March 1939 Universal took up their options on the actor. The film was directed by Henry Koster, who called Cummings "brilliant, wonderful… I made five pictures with him. I thought he was the best leading man I ever worked with. He had that marvelous comedy talent and also a romantic quality." Reviewing the film, ''The New York Times'' said Cummings "displays a really astonishing talent for light comedy—we never should have suspected it from his other pictures." Pasternak used him again, supporting another singing star, Gloria Jean, in ''
The Under-Pup ''The Under-Pup'' is a 1939 American feature film by Richard Wallace that introduced soprano singing star Gloria Jean to the screen. Plot The story, adapted by Grover Jones from a magazine story by Australian author I. A. R. Wylie, casts Gloria ...
'' (1939). (He was meant to reteam with Jean in ''Straight from the Heart'', but it appears not to have been made.) In August 1939 Columbia wanted him for the lead in ''Golden Boy,'' but could not come to terms with Universal. Cummings supported Basil Rathbone and Victor McLaglen in ''
Rio Rio or Río is the Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, and Maltese word for "river". When spoken on its own, the word often means Rio de Janeiro, a major city in Brazil. Rio or Río may also refer to: Geography Brazil * Rio de Janeiro * Rio do Sul, a ...
'' (1939), then was borrowed by
20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Disn ...
to romance
Sonia Henie Sonja Henie (8 April 1912 – 12 October 1969) was a Norwegian figure skater and film star. She was a three-time Olympic champion (1928, 1932, 1936) in women's singles, a ten-time World champion (1927–1936) and a six-time European champion ...
in '' Everything Happens at Night'' (1939). At Universal he had a key role in ''
Charlie McCarthy, Detective ''Charlie McCarthy, Detective'' is a 1939 American comedy film starring Edgar Bergen, Charlie McCarthy and Robert Cummings Charles Clarence Robert Orville Cummings (June 9, 1910 – December 2, 1990) was an American film and television act ...
'' (1939), then was borrowed by MGM to play the lead in a B movie with Laraine Day, '' And One Was Beautiful'' (1940). Back at Universal, Cummings was the romantic male lead in a comedy, '' Private Affairs'' (1940); then he romanced Durbin again in '' Spring Parade'' (1940). Cummings made his mark in the
CBS Radio CBS Radio was a radio broadcasting company and radio network operator owned by CBS Corporation and founded in 1928, with consolidated radio station groups owned by CBS and Westinghouse Broadcasting/Group W since the 1920s, and Infinity Broad ...
network's dramatic serial titled ''Those We Love'', which ran from 1938 to 1945. He also played the role of David Adair in the serial drama ''Those We Love'', opposite
Richard Cromwell Richard Cromwell (4 October 162612 July 1712) was an English statesman who was the second and last Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland and son of the first Lord Protector, Oliver Cromwell. On his father's deat ...
, Francis X. Bushman and Nan Grey.


A series of classic films

Cummings and Allan Jones were cast as the comic team leads in the film '' One Night in the Tropics'' (1940), but were overshadowed by the performances (as supporting actors, in their first film) by
Abbott and Costello Abbott may refer to: People * Abbott (surname) *Abbott Handerson Thayer (1849–1921), American painter and naturalist * Abbott and Costello, famous American vaudeville act Places Argentina * Abbott, Buenos Aires United States * Abbott, Arkansas ...
.. MGM borrowed Cummings a second time, to play opposite Ruth Hussey in '' Free and Easy'' (1941). In the same period, he was borrowed by a company established by Norman Krasna and Frank Ross, who were making a comedy from a script by Krasna for release through RKO: '' The Devil and Miss Jones'' (1941). Cummings played a union leader, Jean Arthur's love interest, under the direction of
Sam Wood Samuel Grosvenor Wood (July 10, 1883 – September 22, 1949) was an American film director and producer who is best known for having directed such Hollywood hits as '' A Night at the Opera'', '' A Day at the Races'', '' Goodbye, Mr. Chips'', '' ...
. Cummings shot the film at the same time as ''Free and Easy''. ''Free and Easy'' lost money for MGM, but ''Devil and Miss Jones'' was a critical and commercial success. 20th Century Fox borrowed him for '' Moon Over Miami'' (1941), starring
Don Ameche Don Ameche (; born Dominic Felix Amici; May 31, 1908 – December 6, 1993) was an American actor, comedian and vaudevillian. After playing in college shows, stock, and vaudeville, he became a major radio star in the early 1930s, which ...
and
Betty Grable Elizabeth Ruth Grable (December 18, 1916 – July 2, 1973) was an American actress, pin-up girl, dancer, model, and singer. Her 42 films during the 1930s and 1940s grossed more than $100 million; for 10 consecutive years (1942–1951) she reign ...
; Fox was willing to postpone the film so Cummings could finish ''Devil and Miss Jones''. In January 1941 Louella Parsons wrote, "is that boy going places in 1941. From the looks of things it's a Cummings year – because all his troubles with Universal are ironed out and almost every studio in town wants to borrow him. Back at Universal, Pasternak used Cummings as the romantic male lead in '' It Started with Eve'' (1941), from a script by Krasna, opposite Deanna Durbin and
Charles Laughton Charles Laughton (1 July 1899 – 15 December 1962) was a British actor. He was trained in London at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and first appeared professionally on the stage in 1926. In 1927, he was cast in a play with his future ...
. Meanwhile, Sam Wood was directing an adaptation of the novel ''
Kings Row ''Kings Row'' is a 1942 film starring Ann Sheridan, Robert Cummings, Ronald Reagan and Betty Field that tells a story of young people growing up in a small American town at the turn of the twentieth century. The picture was directed by Sam Wood ...
'' (1942), over at Warner Bros, where the head of production was Hal Wallis. Wallis did not have any contract players at Warner Bros who were considered ideal for the role of Paris, and, after trying desperately to get
Tyrone Power Tyrone Edmund Power III (May 5, 1914 – November 15, 1958) was an American actor. From the 1930s to the 1950s, Power appeared in dozens of films, often in swashbuckler roles or romantic leads. His better-known films include ''Jesse James (193 ...
, he tried to borrow Cummings, who had done an impressive test. However, Cummings was busy on ''It Started with Eve'' and the actor had to drop out. Then the schedule was rearranged and Cummings was able to make both films. Production of ''Kings Row'' did have to be suspended for a week so Cummings could return to Universal to do reshoots for ''Eve''. Both films were huge successes. Hal Wallis said Cummings "was actually too old for the part" in ''Kings Row'' "not quite right, but he was helped considerably by an extraordinary support cast." Back at Universal, Cummings starred in the
Alfred Hitchcock Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock (13 August 1899 – 29 April 1980) was an English filmmaker. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential figures in the history of cinema. In a career spanning six decades, he directed over 50 featur ...
spy thriller '' Saboteur'' (1942), made at Universal, with Priscilla Lane and
Norman Lloyd Norman Nathan Lloyd (' Perlmutter; November 8, 1914 – May 11, 2021) was an American actor, producer, director, and centenarian with a career in entertainment spanning nearly a century. He worked in every major facet of the industry, including ...
. He played Barry Kane, an aircraft worker wrongfully accused of
espionage Espionage, spying, or intelligence gathering is the act of obtaining secret or confidential information ( intelligence) from non-disclosed sources or divulging of the same without the permission of the holder of the information for a tang ...
, trying to clear his name. In December 1941, John Chapman said Cummings was among "the most sought-after leading men in town" and was one of his "stars for 1942". Universal announced Cummings for ''Boy Meets Baby'' with Deanna Durbin, which became ''
Between Us Girls ''Between Us Girls'' is a 1942 American drama film directed by Henry Koster and starring Diana Barrymore, Kay Francis, Robert Cummings, John Boles (actor), John Boles, Andy Devine, and Scotty Beckett.
'' (1942) with Diana Barrymore. He filmed it concurrently with a Hal Wallis movie at Warner Bros, and ''
Princess O'Rourke ''Princess O'Rourke'' is a 1943 American romantic comedy film directed and written by Norman Krasna (in Krasna's directorial debut), and starring Olivia de Havilland, Robert Cummings and Charles Coburn. Krasna won the 1944 Oscar for Best Origin ...
'' (made 1942, released 1943), Norman Krasna's directorial debut. Cummings was meant to be in '' We've Never Been Licked'' (1943) for
Walter Wanger Walter Wanger (born Walter Feuchtwanger; July 11, 1894 – November 18, 1968) was an American film producer active from the 1910s, his career concluding with the turbulent production of ''Cleopatra,'' his last film, in 1963. He began at Param ...
at Universal, but did not appear in the film.


World War II

In December 1941, Cummings joined the fledgling
Civil Air Patrol Civil Air Patrol (CAP) is a congressionally chartered, federally supported non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force (USAF). CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded mem ...
, an organization of citizens and pilots interested in helping support the U.S. war effort. In February 1942, he helped establish Squadron 918-4 located in
Glendale, California Glendale is a city in the San Fernando Valley and Verdugo Mountains regions of Los Angeles County, California, United States. At the 2020 U.S. Census the population was 196,543, up from 191,719 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth-larges ...
, at the Grand Central Air Terminal, becoming its first commanding officer. Two weeks later, he and other members of the squadron went in search of the Japanese submarine that had attacked the oil refinery at Goleta, California. During the war, Cummings participated in search and rescue missions, courier missions, and border and forestry patrols around the Western United States. For this work he used his own aircraft, Spinach I, a 1936 Porterfield, and Spinach II, a
Cessna Cessna () is an American brand of general aviation aircraft owned by Textron Aviation since 2014, headquartered in Wichita, Kansas. Originally, it was a brand of the Cessna Aircraft Company, an American general aviation aircraft manufacturing ...
165 Airmaster. The squadron he established still operates as San Fernando Senior Squadron 35 and is based at Whiteman Airport in Pacoima, Los Angeles. In November 1942, Cummings joined the
United States Army Air Forces The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...
. During World War II, he served as a
flight instructor A flight instructor is a person who teaches others to operate aircraft. Specific privileges granted to holders of a flight instructor qualification vary from country to country, but very generally, a flight instructor serves to enhance or evaluate ...
. After the war, Cummings served as a pilot in the United States Air Force Reserve, where he achieved the rank of
captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...
. Cummings played aircraft pilots in several of his postwar film roles. During the war service, he had small roles in the all-star '' Forever and a Day'' (1943) and '' Flesh and Fantasy'' (1943), but he was effectively off screen for two years.


Suspension from Universal

Cummings was meant to be in ''
Fired Wife ''Fired Wife'' is a 1943 comedy film directed by Charles Lamont and starring Robert Paige, Diana Barrymore and Louise Allbritton. It was produced and distributed by Universal Pictures. This was one of the final films in Barrymore's short-lived Un ...
'' with Teresa Wright, Charles Coburn, and Eddie Anderson and a director "comparable with" Leo McCarey. However, when he found out these actors would not be in the film, and the director would be Charles Lamont, he refused to be in it. (Filming began in April 1943 with Robert Paige taking Cummings's role.) Universal put him on suspension for five weeks, refused to give him a new part, or pay his weekly salary of $1,500 after the suspension had been lifted. Cummings notified the studio in May 1943 that he considered himself no longer under contract. In September 1943, Cummings sued the studio for withheld wages of $10,700, also arguing that for some time, Universal tried to put him in minor roles to "run him ragged" and "to teach him a lesson". In March 1944, the court ruled in Cummings's favor, saying Universal had voided its contract with the actor and owed him $10,700. This decision happened in the same fortnight as another court case involving
Olivia de Havilland Dame Olivia Mary de Havilland (; July 1, 1916July 26, 2020) was a British-American actress. The major works of her cinematic career spanned from 1935 to 1988. She appeared in 49 feature films and was one of the leading actresses of her time. ...
, which also ruled in the actor's favor.


Freelance star


Hal Wallis

Cummings was considered free of Universal since August 1944. In January he signed a four-year exclusive contract with Hal Wallis, who had left Warner Brothers to become an independent producer. Shortly after, he took leave from the Air Force to star in '' You Came Along'' (1945) for Hal Wallis, directed by
John Farrow John Villiers Farrow, KGCHS (10 February 190427 January 1963) was an Australian film director, producer, and screenwriter. Spending a considerable amount of his career in the United States, in 1942 he was nominated for the Academy Award for B ...
with a screenplay by
Ayn Rand Alice O'Connor (born Alisa Zinovyevna Rosenbaum;, . Most sources transliterate her given name as either ''Alisa'' or ''Alissa''. , 1905 – March 6, 1982), better known by her pen name Ayn Rand (), was a Russian-born American writer and p ...
. The
Army Air Forces The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...
pilot Cummings played, Bob Collins, died off camera, but was resurrected 10 years later for Cummings's television show. Cummings was under contract to Wallis for four years. Also for Wallis—who had now moved to Paramount—he did '' The Bride Wore Boots'' (1946), a comedy with Barbara Stanwyck. He was announced for ''Dishonorable Discharge'' for Wallis from a story by
John Farrow John Villiers Farrow, KGCHS (10 February 190427 January 1963) was an Australian film director, producer, and screenwriter. Spending a considerable amount of his career in the United States, in 1942 he was nominated for the Academy Award for B ...
, but it appears to have not been made. Neither was ''Its Love Love Love'', which was announced by RKO, or ''Dream Puss'', which Wallis announced for Cummings at Paramount. In 1946, Cummings said, "Often I play the boyfriend of a girl young enough to be my daughter. I'm 36, and whenever I start drooping, I run one of my pictures and feel like a kid again." Around this time, he also said he was more interested in producing and directing, and hoped to act in only one film per year.


United California Productions

Cummings had the leads in two films for Nero Films, a company of Seymour Nebenzal and
Eugene Frenke Eugene Frenke (1 January 1895- 10 March 1984) was a Ukrainian-born film producer, director and writer. He twice collaborated with the director John Huston on the films '' Heaven Knows, Mr. Allison'' and ''The Barbarian and the Geisha''. He was mar ...
, who released through United Artists: a
film noir Film noir (; ) is a cinematic term used primarily to describe stylish Hollywood crime dramas, particularly those that emphasize cynical attitudes and motivations. The 1940s and 1950s are generally regarded as the "classic period" of American '' ...
, '' The Chase'' (1946); and a Western, '' Heaven Only Knows'' (1947). Cummings decided to form his own production company with Frenke and Philip Yordan, which they called United California. (They originally called it United World, but it was too similar to another company's name.) In December 1946, it was announced that Cummings had signed an exclusive contract with United California Productions, and that his deal with Wallis was for one film a year for seven years. They announced ''Bad Guy'' from a script by Yordan. They were also going to do ''
Joe MacBeth ''Joe MacBeth'' is a 1955 British–American crime drama, directed by Ken Hughes and starring Paul Douglas, Ruth Roman and Bonar Colleano. It is a modern retelling of Shakespeare's ''Macbeth'', set in a 1930s American criminal underworld. Th ...
'' (which was ultimately made by others). In 1947, Cummings had reportedly earned $110,000 in the preceding12 months. '' The Lost Moment'' (1947) with
Susan Hayward Susan Hayward (born Edythe Marrenner; June 30, 1917 – March 14, 1975) was an American film actress, best known for her film portrayals of women that were based on true stories. After working as a fashion model for the Walter Thornton Model A ...
was a film noir for
Walter Wanger Walter Wanger (born Walter Feuchtwanger; July 11, 1894 – November 18, 1968) was an American film producer active from the 1910s, his career concluding with the turbulent production of ''Cleopatra,'' his last film, in 1963. He began at Param ...
at Universal based on ''
The Aspern Papers ''The Aspern Papers'' is a novella by American writer Henry James, originally published in '' The Atlantic Monthly'' in 1888, with its first book publication later in the same year. One of James's best-known and most acclaimed longer tales, ' ...
'' by Henry James. It was a resounding flop at the box office. Cummings was initially meant to follow it with ''The Big Curtain'' for Edward Alperson at Fox but that picture was never produced. Cummings appeared in '' Sleep, My Love'' (1948), another noir, directed by
Douglas Sirk Douglas Sirk (born Hans Detlef Sierck; 26 April 1897 – 14 January 1987) was a German film director best known for his work in Hollywood melodramas of the 1950s. Sirk started his career in Germany as a stage and screen director, but he left for ...
and produced by
Mary Pickford Gladys Marie Smith (April 8, 1892 – May 29, 1979), known professionally as Mary Pickford, was a Canadian-American stage and screen actress and producer with a career that spanned five decades. A pioneer in the US film industry, she co-founde ...
. United California eventually brought in manufacturer Frank Hale as partner. Its first film, '' Let's Live a Little'' (1948), was a romantic comedy with
Hedy Lamarr Hedy Lamarr (; born Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler; November 9, 1914 January 19, 2000) was an Austrian-born American film actress and inventor. A film star during Hollywood's golden age, Lamarr has been described as one of the greatest movie actress ...
, released through United 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 had been shot called ''Jungle''), ''Passport to Love'' by Howard Irving Young, and a remake of ''Two Hearts in Three Quarter Time''. Cummings was also trying to interest Norman Krasna into writing the story of how Cummings broke into acting, to be called ''Pardon My Accent''. Cummings did '' The Accused'' (1949) for Hal Wallis at Paramount, supporting Loretta Young. ''
Reign of Terror The Reign of Terror (french: link=no, la Terreur) was a period of the French Revolution when, following the creation of the First French Republic, First Republic, a series of massacres and numerous public Capital punishment, executions took pl ...
'' (1949) was a thriller set in the French Revolution for director
Anthony Mann Anthony Mann (born Emil Anton Bundsmann; June 30, 1906 – April 29, 1967) was an American film director and stage actor. Mann initially started as a theatre actor appearing in numerous stage productions. In 1937, he moved to Hollywood where ...
;
Eagle Lion Eagle Lion 1985-2013 was an event horse that has competed at the highest level of the sport with great success. He stood 16.1  hh (169 cm). Eagle Lion was out of the famous mare Stream Lion, a producer of excellent event horses, incl ...
co-produced with United California. Cummings did a comedy at Universal, '' Free for All'' (1949).


Columbia

In July 1949, Cummings signed a three-picture deal with Columbia. He made ''
Tell It to the Judge ''Tell It to the Judge'' is a 1949 American romantic comedy film directed by Norman Foster and starring Rosalind Russell as a divorcee who tries to get back her ex-husband, played by Robert Cummings. Plot Appointed to be a federal judge, Marsha ...
'' (1949), with Rosalind Russell, for them. He did one for Wallis at Paramount, '' Paid in Full'' (1950) (originally ''Bitter Victory''), then went back to Columbia for ''
The Petty Girl ''The Petty Girl'' (1950), known in the UK as ''Girl of the Year'', is a musical romantic comedy Technicolor film starring Robert Cummings and Joan Caulfield. Cummings portrays painter George Petty who falls for Victoria Braymore (Caulfield), th ...
'' (1950) a musical with Joan Caulfield. Cummings did announce he would make ''The Glass Heart'' for his own company and release through Columbia, but this did not happen. Cummings supported
Clifton Webb Webb Parmelee Hollenbeck (November 19, 1889 – October 13, 1966), known professionally as Clifton Webb, was an American actor, singer, and dancer. He worked extensively and was known for his stage appearances in the plays of Noël Coward, i ...
in '' For Heaven's Sake'' (1950) at Fox, then played a con man in '' The Barefoot Mailman'' (1950), his third film for Columbia. Cummings began working in television, appearing in ''
Sure as Fate ''Sure as Fate'' is a 60-minute American anthology mystery drama series that aired on CBS from 1950–51. It was produced live and was narrated by Paul Lukas. Its guest stars included Robert Cummings, E.G. Marshall, Kim Stanley, John Carradin ...
'' ("Run from the Sun") and ''
Somerset Maugham TV Theatre ''Somerset Maugham TV Theatre'' (originally known as ''Teller of Tales'' for the first three episodes) is an American anthology drama program. The series aired on CBS October 18, 1950 – March 28, 1951, and on NBC April 2, 1951 – Decem ...
'' ("The Luncheon"). He was in a Broadway play ''Faithfully Yours'' (originally ''The Philemon Complex''), which had a short run in late 1951. At Columbia, he was in '' The First Time'' (1952), the first feature directed by
Frank Tashlin Frank Tashlin (born Francis Fredrick von Taschlein, February 19, 1913 – May 5, 1972), also known as Tish Tash and Frank Tash, was an American animator, cartoonist, children's writer, illustrator, screenwriter, and film director. He was best k ...
. On TV, he was in ''
Lux Video Theatre ''Lux Video Theatre'' is an American television anthology series that was produced from 1950 until 1957. The series presented both comedy and drama in original teleplays, as well as abridged adaptations of films and plays. Overview The ''Lux Vid ...
'' ("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 in the short-run radio version of '' Four Star Playhouse''. He was offered ''Battle in Spain'', the story of
El Cid Rodrigo Díaz de Vivar (c. 1043 – 10 July 1099) was a Castilian knight and warlord in medieval Spain. Fighting with both Christian and Muslim armies during his lifetime, he earned the Arabic honorific ''al-sīd'', which would evolve into El C ...
, with Linda Darnell, but turned it down because it was too controversial.


Television star


''My Hero''

Cummings starred in his first regular television series in the comedy '' My Hero'' (1952–53), playing a bumbling real estate salesman. He also wrote and directed some episodes. The series ran for 33 episodes before (it was reported) Cummings decided to end it and accept other offers. In reality, the show had been axed. "After it was dropped, I was as dead as you could possibly get in show business" said Cummings. "I sat in my agent's office one day and heard a top producer tell him on the phone that nobody would buy me." Out of work, he accepted the State Department's invitation to go on a goodwill mission to Argentina. The show earned him an Emmy nomination. Cummings was in ''
Marry Me Again ''Marry Me Again'' is a 1953 comedy film written and directed by Frank Tashlin. It stars Robert Cummings and Marie Wilson. Plot Bill has an unusual dilemma when he returns home from the war in Korea, where he had been a pilot. Out of pride, h ...
'' (1953) at RKO for Tashlin, then went to England to star in another Hitchcock film, '' Dial M for Murder'' (1954), playing the lover of
Grace Kelly Grace Patricia Kelly (November 12, 1929 – September 14, 1982) was an American actress who, after starring in several significant films in the early to mid-1950s, became Princess of Monaco by marrying Prince Rainier III in April 1956. Kelly ...
, whose husband
Ray Milland Ray Milland (born Alfred Reginald Jones; 3 January 1907 – 10 March 1986) was a Welsh-American actor and film director. His screen career ran from 1929 to 1985. He is remembered for his Academy Award and Cannes Film Festival Award-winning ...
tries to kill her. The film was a hit. Cummings then supported
Doris Day Doris Day (born Doris Mary Kappelhoff; April 3, 1922 – May 13, 2019) was an American actress, singer, and activist. She began her career as a big band singer in 1939, achieving commercial success in 1945 with two No. 1 recordings, " Sent ...
in a musical at Warner Bros, '' Lucky Me'' (1954). He was chosen by producer
John Wayne Marion Robert Morrison (May 26, 1907 – June 11, 1979), known professionally as John Wayne and nicknamed The Duke or Duke Wayne, was an American actor who became a popular icon through his starring roles in films made during Hollywood's Go ...
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 Robert Stack for the part.


''Twelve Angry Men''

In 1954, Cummings appeared in ''Twelve Angry Men'', an original TV play for '' Westinghouse Studio One'' written by
Reginald Rose Reginald Rose (December 10, 1920 – April 19, 2002) was an American screenwriter. He wrote about controversial social and political issues. His realistic approach was particularly influential in the anthology programs of the 1950s. Rose w ...
and directed by Franklin Schaffner, alongside actors including
Franchot Tone Stanislaus Pascal Franchot Tone (February 27, 1905 – September 18, 1968) was an American actor, producer, and director of stage, film and television. He was a leading man in the 1930s and early 1940s, and at the height of his career was known ...
and Edward Arnold. Cummings played Juror Number Eight, the role taken by
Henry Fonda Henry Jaynes Fonda (May 16, 1905 – August 12, 1982) was an American actor. He had a career that spanned five decades on Broadway and in Hollywood. He cultivated an everyman screen image in several films considered to be classics. Born and ra ...
in the feature-film adaptation. Cummings's performance earned him the 1955 Emmy Award for Best Actor in a Single Performance. Other television appearances included ''
Campbell Summer Soundstage ''The Campbell Playhouse'' (also known as ''Campbell Soundstage'', ''TV Soundstage'', and ''Campbell Summer Soundstage'', (summer hiatus only, see ''below'')) was an American anthology series and television drama that originally aired on NBC from ...
'' ("The Test Case"), ''
Justice Justice, in its broadest sense, is the principle that people receive that which they deserve, with the interpretation of what then constitutes "deserving" being impacted upon by numerous fields, with many differing viewpoints and perspective ...
'' ("The Crisis"), '' The Elgin Hour'' ("Floodtide"), and a TV version of '' Best Foot Forward'' (1954).


Laurel Productions and ''The Bob Cummings Show''

'' In July 1954, Cummings formed his own independent film production company, Laurel Productions, Incorporated. The company's name had several affiliations to Cummings: his youngest daughter was named Laurel Ann Cummings; the street he and his family lived on was named Laurel Way; his wife's grandmother's name was Laurel; and finally, the fact that
Laurel & Hardy Laurel and Hardy were a British-American comedy duo act during the early Classical Hollywood era of American cinema, consisting of Englishman Stan Laurel (1890–1965) and American Oliver Hardy (1892–1957). Starting their career as a duo in t ...
had given Cummings his film debut back in 1933. His wife Mary Elliott was appointed president of Laurel Productions. In July 1954, Cummings filmed the pilot for his television show, '' The Bob Cummings Show,'' and would go on to produce 173 episodes. Cummings intended to produce a film titled ''The Damned'' through Laurel Productions, from a novel by
John D. MacDonald John Dann MacDonald (July 24, 1916December 28, 1986) was an American writer of novels and short stories. He is known for his thrillers. MacDonald was a prolific author of crime and suspense novels, many set in his adopted home of Florida. On ...
and to be written and directed by
Frank Tashlin Frank Tashlin (born Francis Fredrick von Taschlein, February 19, 1913 – May 5, 1972), also known as Tish Tash and Frank Tash, was an American animator, cartoonist, children's writer, illustrator, screenwriter, and film director. He was best k ...
. In December 1954, Cummings and George Burns formed Laurmac Productions, with the hope of co-producing a feature film in May 1955. In January 1955, ''The Bob Cummings Show'' began airing, and went through 1959. Cummings starred on the successful NBC
sitcom A sitcom, a portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troupe may use ...
, '' The Bob Cummings Show'' (known as ''Love That Bob'' in reruns), where he played Bob Collins, a former World War II pilot who became a successful professional photographer. As a bachelor in 1950s Los Angeles, the character considered himself quite the
ladies' man A ladies' man or lady's man is a man who enjoys spending time socially with women, who strives to please them and that women find attractive. Ladies' man or lady's man may also refer to: Literature * ''Ladies' Man'' (novel), a 1978 novel by R ...
. The sitcom was noted for some very risqué 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; Dwayne Hickman as his nephew Chuck MacDonald; and
Ann B. Davis Ann Bradford Davis (May 3, 1926 – June 1, 2014) was an American actress. She achieved prominence for her role in the NBC situation comedy ''The Bob Cummings Show'' (1955–1959), for which she twice won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outs ...
, in her first television success, as his assistant Charmaine "Schultzy" Schultz. When Cummings appeared on the NBC interview program '' Here's Hollywood'', 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 to be Grable's last film. Cummings's contract was amended to allow him time off to rehearse and record his TV show. Around this time, Cummings said he had made 78 films, and "I always had the feeling I was distinguished for none of them. Hollywood's never been really hot about me. I was always second choice. I used to say to my wife Mary, 'Somebody's got to be sick someday – Bill Holden or maybe some boy not even born yet! I used to say 'If I could find another business where I could be successful!'." Cummings was one of the hosts on ABC's live broadcast of the opening day of
Disneyland Disneyland is a theme park in Anaheim, California. Opened in 1955, it was the first theme park opened by The Walt Disney Company and the only one designed and constructed under the direct supervision of Walt Disney. Disney initially envisio ...
on July 17, 1955, along with
Ronald Reagan Ronald Wilson Reagan ( ; February 6, 1911June 5, 2004) was an American politician, actor, and union leader who served as the 40th president of the United States from 1981 to 1989. He also served as the 33rd governor of California from 1967 ...
and
Art Linkletter Arthur Gordon Linkletter (born Gordon Arthur Kelly or Arthur Gordon Kelly; sources differ; July 17, 1912 – May 26, 2010) was a Canadian-born American radio and television personality. He was the host of ''House Party'', which ran on CBS radio a ...
. On that day, Cummings played off his playboy character image by being “caught” embracing and kissing a young woman in a bonnet with a stricken look on her face. Cummings's performance in ''The Bob Cummings Show'' earned him another Emmy nomination for Best Actor in a Continuous Role in 1956. He turned down ''The Heavenly Twins'' for the Theatre Guild; and was mentioned for ''Bewitched'' by Charles Bennett in England, but did not do it. During the series' production, Cummings still found time to play other roles. He returned to ''Studio One'' ("A Special Announcement"), and did episodes of ''
General Electric Theater ''General Electric Theater'' was an American anthology series hosted by Ronald Reagan that was broadcast on CBS radio and television. The series was sponsored by General Electric's Department of Public Relations. Radio After an audition show ...
'' ("Too Good with a Gun"), ''
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show ''The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show'', sometimes called ''The Burns and Allen Show'', was a half-hour television situation comedy broadcast from 1950 to 1958 on CBS. It starred George Burns and Gracie Allen, one of the most enduring acts i ...
'', and '' Schlitz Playhouse'' ("One Left Over", "Dual Control"). He was also in " Bomber's Moon" for ''
Playhouse 90 ''Playhouse 90'' was an American television anthology drama series that aired on CBS from 1956 to 1960 for a total of 133 episodes. The show was produced at CBS Television City in Los Angeles, California. Since live anthology drama series of th ...
'' (1958), from a
Rod Serling Rodman Edward Serling (December 25, 1924 – June 28, 1975) was an American screenwriter, playwright, television producer, and narrator/on-screen host, best known for his live television dramas of the 1950s and his anthology television series ...
script directed by
John Frankenheimer John Michael Frankenheimer (February 19, 1930 – July 6, 2002) was an American film and television director known for social dramas and action/suspense films. Among his credits were ''Birdman of Alcatraz'' (1962), '' The Manchurian Candidate'' ( ...
, who said "Bobby's a really fine dramatic actor, but people usually associate him only with comedy. Naturally enough I suppose. Directing an actor like this who feels immediately what the script wants and what the director wants makes you love this business." "It's a great life, acting", Cummings said in 1959. "I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm a completely content actor." When his TV show ended in 1959, Cummings claimed it was his decision, as he was tired and wanted to take a year off. He was also keen to sell the show into syndication. "I don't think I'll do another comedy", he said. In 1960, Cummings starred in "
King Nine Will Not Return "''King Nine'' Will Not Return" is the season two premiere episode, and 37th overall, of the American television anthology series '' The Twilight Zone''. It originally aired on September 30, 1960 on CBS. This was the first episode where Rod Ser ...
", the opening episode of the second season of CBS's ''
The Twilight Zone ''The Twilight Zone'' is an American media franchise based on the anthology television series created by Rod Serling. The episodes are in various genres, including fantasy, science fiction, absurdism, dystopian fiction, suspense, horror, sup ...
'', written by Serling and directed by Buzz Kulik. He guested on ''
Zane Grey Theatre ''Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre'' is an American Western anthology television series that was broadcast on CBS from October 5, 1956, until September 20, 1962. Format Many episodes were based on novels by Zane Grey, to all of which Four Star F ...
'' ("The Last Bugle", directed by
Budd Boetticher Oscar "Budd" Boetticher Jr. ( ; July 29, 1916 – November 29, 2001) was an American film director. He is best remembered for a series of low-budget Westerns he made in the late 1950s starring Randolph Scott. Early life Boetticher was born in C ...
), '' The DuPont Show of the Week'' ("The Action in New Orleans"), ''
The Dick Powell Theatre ''The Dick Powell Show'' is an American television anthology series that ran on NBC from September 26, 1961, until September 17, 1963, primarily sponsored by the Reynolds Metals Company. Overview The series was an anthology of various drama ...
'' ("Last of the Private Eyes", co-starring Ronald Reagan), and '' The Great Adventure'' ("Plague").


''The New Bob Cummings Show''

'' The New Bob Cummings Show'' followed on CBS for one season, from 1961 to 1962. It was a variation of ''The Bob Cummings Show'' with Cummings as a pilot who had various adventures. It ran for 22 episodes before being cancelled. Cummings returned to films with a supporting role in '' My Geisha'' (1962), written by Krasna. He was top-billed in '' Beach Party'' (1963), although the film is better remembered today for first teaming Frankie Avalon and
Annette Funicello Annette Joanne Funicello (October 22, 1942 – April 8, 2013) was an American actress and singer. Funicello began her professional career as a child performer at the age of twelve. She was one of the most popular Mouseketeers on the orig ...
. Cummings had supporting roles in two popular films, '' The Carpetbaggers'' (1964) with George Peppard and
Alan Ladd Alan Walbridge Ladd (September 3, 1913 – January 29, 1964) was an American actor and film producer. Ladd found success in film in the 1940s and early 1950s, particularly in films noir and Westerns. He was often paired with Veronica Lake ...
and '' What a Way to Go!'' (1964) with
Shirley MacLaine Shirley MacLaine (born Shirley MacLean Beaty, April 24, 1934) is an American actress, author, and former dancer. Known for her portrayals of quirky, strong-willed and eccentric women, MacLaine has received numerous accolades over her seven-dec ...
, and was in ''
Theatre of Stars ''Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre'' is an American anthology series, sponsored by Chrysler Corporation, which ran on NBC from 1963 through 1967. The show was hosted by Bob Hope, but it had a variety of formats, including musical, dramatic ...
'' ("The Square Peg"). Also in 1964, he was a guest as a beauty pageant judge in ''
The Beverly Hillbillies ''The Beverly Hillbillies'' is an American television sitcom that was broadcast on CBS from 1962 to 1971. It had an ensemble cast featuring Buddy Ebsen, Irene Ryan, Donna Douglas, and Max Baer Jr. as the Clampetts, a poor, backwoods family f ...
'' episode, "The Race for Queen".


''My Living Doll''

In 1964–65, Cummings starred in another CBS sitcom, ''
My Living Doll ''My Living Doll'' is an American science-fiction sitcom that aired for 26 episodes on CBS from September 27, 1964, to March 17, 1965. It was produced by Jack Chertok and filmed at Desilu studios by Jack Chertok Television Productions, in associa ...
'', co-starring Julie Newmar as Rhoda the robot and Jack Mullaney as his friend. After 21 episodes, Cummings asked to be written out of the show. It lasted five more episodes.


Later career

In the late 1960s, Cummings had supporting roles in '' The Carpetbaggers'' (1964), ''
Promise Her Anything ''Promise Her Anything'' is a 1965 British-American romantic comedy film directed by Arthur Hiller and starring Warren Beatty and Leslie Caron. The screenplay by William Peter Blatty is based on a story by Arne Sultan and Marvin Worth. The sup ...
'' (1966) and the remake of ''
Stagecoach A stagecoach is a four-wheeled public transport coach used to carry paying passengers and light packages on journeys long enough to need a change of horses. It is strongly sprung and generally drawn by four horses although some versions are dra ...
'' (1966) (playing the bank embezzler). Cummings had the lead in ''
Five Golden Dragons ''Five Golden Dragons'' is a 1967 international co-production comedy action film set in Hong Kong and photographed in Techniscope on location in September 1966 at the Tiger Balm Pagoda and Shaw Brothers studios. It was directed by Jeremy Summer ...
'' (1967) for producer
Harry Alan Towers Harry Alan Towers (19 October 1920 – 31 July 2009) was a British radio and independent film producer and screenwriter. He wrote numerous screenplays for the films he produced, often under the pseudonym Peter Welbeck. He produced over 80 f ...
and supported in '' Gidget Grows Up'' (1969). He was in another Broadway play, ''The Wayward Stork'', which had a short run in early 1966. A review in ''The New York Times'' said Cummings "is not in top form. He sounded a bit hoarse and somewhat strained. Usually he is a quite , breezy farceur." He guest-starred again on ''Theatre of Stars'' ("Blind Man's Bluff"), as well as ''
The Flying Nun ''The Flying Nun'' is an American sitcom about a community of nuns which included one who could fly when the wind caught her cornette. It was produced by Screen Gems for ABC based on the 1965 book '' The Fifteenth Pelican,'' written by Tere ...
'' ("Speak the Speech, I Pray You"), ''
Green Acres ''Green Acres'' is an American television sitcom starring Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor as a couple who move from New York City to a country farm. Produced by Filmways as a sister show to '' Petticoat Junction'', the series was first broadc ...
'' ("Rest and Relaxation"), '' Here Come the Brides'' ("The She-Bear"), '' Arnie'' ("Hello, Holly"), ''
Bewitched ''Bewitched'' is an American fantasy sitcom television series that originally aired for eight seasons on ABC from September 17, 1964, to March 25, 1972. It is about a witch who marries an ordinary mortal man and vows to lead the life of a typ ...
'' ("Samantha and the Troll"), ''
Here's Lucy ''Here's Lucy'' is an American sitcom starring Lucille Ball. The series co-starred her long-time comedy partner Gale Gordon and her real-life children Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. It was broadcast on CBS from 1968 to 1974. It was Ball's th ...
'' ("Lucy's Punctured Romance", "Lucy and Her Genuine Twimby"), and several episodes of ''
Love, American Style ''Love, American Style'' is an anthology comedy television series that aired on ABC from 1969 to 1974. The series was produced by Paramount Television. During the 1971–72 and 1972–73 seasons, it was a part of ABC's Friday primetime lineup ...
''. Cummings's last lead roles on film were in a pair of TV movies, '' The Great American Beauty Contest'' (1973) and '' Partners in Crime'' (1973). During the 1970s for over 10 years, Cummings traveled the US performing in
dinner theater Dinner theater (sometimes called dinner and a show) is a form of entertainment that combines a restaurant meal with a staged play or musical. "Dinner and a show" can also refer to a restaurant meal in combination with live concert music, where pat ...
s and short stints in plays while living in an
Airstream Airstream is an American brand of travel trailer ("caravan" in British English) easily recognized by the distinctive shape of its rounded and polished aluminum coachwork. This body shape dates back to the 1930s and is based on the Bowlus Road ...
travel trailer. He relayed those experiences in the written introduction he provided for the book ''Airstream'' written by Robert Landau and James Phillippi in 1984. Cummings had a cameo in ''
Three on a Date ''Three on a Date'' is a 1978 American made-for-television romantic comedy film directed by Bill Bixby. This movie-of-the-week premiered on ABC on February 17, 1978. Premise Four couples are winners on a dating show. Cast (in alphabetical orde ...
'' (1978) and appeared in 1979 as Elliott Smith, the father of
Fred Grandy Fredrick Lawrence Grandy (born June 29, 1948) is an American actor who played "Gopher" on the sitcom ''The Love Boat'' and who later became a member of the United States House of Representatives from the state of Iowa. Grandy was most recently th ...
's Gopher on ABC's ''
The Love Boat ''The Love Boat'' is an American romantic comedy/drama television series that aired on ABC from 1977 to 1986; in addition, four three-hour specials aired in 1986, 1987, and 1990. The series was set on the luxury passenger cruise ship MS ''Pa ...
''. In 1986, Cummings hosted the 15th-anniversary celebration of
Walt Disney World The Walt Disney World Resort, also called Walt Disney World or Disney World, is an entertainment resort complex in Bay Lake and Lake Buena Vista, Florida, United States, near the cities of Orlando and Kissimmee. Opened on October 1, 1971, ...
on ''
The Wonderful World of Disney The Walt Disney Company has produced an anthology television series since 1954 under several titles and formats. The program's current title, ''The Wonderful World of Disney'', was used from 1969 to 1979 and again from 1991 to the present. The pr ...
''. In 1987, he said, "I wouldn't mind living until I'm 110. I still swim, do calisthenics, and keep fit. I've never been in hospital, except for a hernia operation at one time. People laugh about my using so many vitamins. When I tell them I take 50 liver pills a day, they look surprised, but whether they laugh or not, the thing works." He added, "I'm retired, I live on a pension" and "if I have a problem I get expert counsel, then ask the opinion of a good psychic." Robert Cummings's last public appearance was on '' The Magical World of Disney'' episode "The
Disneyland Disneyland is a theme park in Anaheim, California. Opened in 1955, it was the first theme park opened by The Walt Disney Company and the only one designed and constructed under the direct supervision of Walt Disney. Disney initially envisio ...
35th Anniversary Special" in 1990.


Personal life


Marriages

Cummings got married five times and fathered seven children. His first marriage was to Emma Myers, a girl from his hometown. His second marriage was to
Vivi Janiss Vivi may refer to: People * Vivi Bach (1939–2013), Danish actress and singer * Vivi Fernandez (born 1977), Brazilian model * Vivi Flindt (born 1943), Danish ballerina * Vivi Friedman (1967–2012), Finnish film director * Vivi Gioi (1917–1975 ...
, an actress he met while performing in ''Ziegfeld Follies''. His third wife, Mary Elliott, was a former actress and she ran Cummings's business affairs. They separated in 1968 and had a bitter divorce, during the course of which she accused him of cheating on her with his former secretary Regina Fond and using methamphetamines which she said caused wild mood swings. She also claimed he relied on astrologers and numerologists to make financial decisions with "disastrous" consequences. In 1970, when the divorce was finalized, their communal property was estimated as being worth from $700,000 to $800,000 (equivalent to between $ million and $ million in ). He was married to Gina Fong from 1971 to 1987 and married Martha Burzynski two years later. He died the following year.


Hobbies

He was an avid pilot and owned a number of airplanes, all named "Spinach." He was a staunch advocate of
natural foods Natural food and all-natural food are terms in food labeling and marketing with several definitions, often implying foods that are not manufactured by processing. In some countries like the United Kingdom, the term "natural" is defined and reg ...
and published a book on healthy living, ''Stay Young and Vital'', in 1960.


Legal troubles

In May 1948 Hedda Hopper reported that there were four lawsuits against Cummings. In 1952, Cummings was sued by a writer of ''My Hero'' who had been fired. In 1952, Cummings was served with papers concerning the suit by LA County Deputy Sheriff William Conroy; Cummings assaulted Conroy and was then sued by the sheriff for damages. Conroy stated that when he tried to serve Cummings with a subpoena the actor gunned the motor of his car and dragged him along the pavement. Cummings explained that he didn't know Conroy was a deputy. Both cases were settled in 1954. In 1972 he was charged with fraud for operating a pyramid scheme involving his company, Bob Cummings Inc, which sold vitamins and food supplements. In 1975 he was arrested for being in possession of a
blue box A blue box is an electronic device that produces tones used to generate the in-band signaling tones formerly used within the North American long-distance telephone network to send line status and called number information over voice circuits. ...
used to defraud the telephone company. He avoided trial under the double jeopardy rule.


Reported drug addiction

Despite his interest in health, Cummings was alleged to have been a
methamphetamine Methamphetamine (contracted from ) is a potent central nervous system (CNS) stimulant that is mainly used as a recreational drug and less commonly as a second-line treatment for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and obesity. Methamp ...
addict from the mid-1950s until the end of his life. In 1954, while in 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". His friends
Rosemary Clooney Rosemary Clooney (May 23, 1928 – June 29, 2002) was an American singer and actress. She came to prominence in the early 1950s with the song " Come On-a My House", which was followed by other pop numbers such as " Botch-a-Me", " Mambo Italiano" ...
and José Ferrer recommended the doctor to Cummings, who was complaining of a lack of energy. While Jacobson insisted that his injections contained only "vitamins, sheep
sperm Sperm is the male reproductive cell, or gamete, in anisogamous forms of sexual reproduction (forms in which there is a larger, female reproductive cell and a smaller, male one). Animals produce motile sperm with a tail known as a flagellum, ...
, and monkey
gonads A gonad, sex gland, or reproductive gland is a mixed gland that produces the gametes and sex hormones of an organism. Female reproductive cells are egg cells, and male reproductive cells are sperm. The male gonad, the testicle, produces sper ...
", they actually contained a substantial dose of methamphetamine.Lertzman and Birnes 2013, pp. 79–82. Cummings allegedly continued to use a mixture provided by Jacobson, eventually becoming a patient of Jacobson's son Thomas, who was based in Los Angeles, and later injecting himself. The changes in Cummings's personality caused by the euphoria of the drug and subsequent depression damaged his career and led to an intervention by his friend, television host
Art Linkletter Arthur Gordon Linkletter (born Gordon Arthur Kelly or Arthur Gordon Kelly; sources differ; July 17, 1912 – May 26, 2010) was a Canadian-born American radio and television personality. He was the host of ''House Party'', which ran on CBS radio a ...
. The intervention was not successful, and Cummings's drug abuse and subsequent career collapse were factors in his divorces from his third wife, Mary, and fourth wife, Gina Fong.Lertzman and Birnes 2013, pp. 83–89. After Jacobson was forced out of business in the 1970s, Cummings developed his own drug connections based in
The Bahamas The Bahamas (), officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an island country within the Lucayan Archipelago of the West Indies in the North Atlantic. It takes up 97% of the Lucayan Archipelago's land area and is home to 88% of the a ...
. Suffering from
Parkinson's disease Parkinson's disease (PD), or simply Parkinson's, is a long-term degenerative disorder of the central nervous system that mainly affects the motor system. The symptoms usually emerge slowly, and as the disease worsens, non-motor symptoms beco ...
, he was forced to move into homes for indigent older actors in
Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywoo ...
.


Children

Cummings had seven children. His son, Tony Cummings, played Rick Halloway in the NBC daytime serial '' Another World'' in the early 1980s.


Political affiliation

Cummings was a supporter of the
Republican Party Republican Party is a name used by many political parties around the world, though the term most commonly refers to the United States' Republican Party. Republican Party may also refer to: Africa * Republican Party (Liberia) *Republican Party ...
.


Death

On December 2, 1990, Cummings died of
kidney failure Kidney failure, also known as end-stage kidney disease, is a medical condition in which the kidneys can no longer adequately filter waste products from the blood, functioning at less than 15% of normal levels. Kidney failure is classified as eit ...
and complications from
pneumonia Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severit ...
at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in
Woodland Hills, California Woodland Hills is a neighborhood bordering the Santa Monica Mountains in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California. Geography Woodland Hills is in the southwestern region of the San Fernando Valley, which is located east of Ca ...
. He is interred in the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Cemetery in
Glendale, California Glendale is a city in the San Fernando Valley and Verdugo Mountains regions of Los Angeles County, California, United States. At the 2020 U.S. Census the population was 196,543, up from 191,719 at the 2010 census, making it the fourth-larges ...
.


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

* '' My Hero'' (1951–1952) as Robert S. Beanblossom * ''
Justice Justice, in its broadest sense, is the principle that people receive that which they deserve, with the interpretation of what then constitutes "deserving" being impacted upon by numerous fields, with many differing viewpoints and perspective ...
'' ("The Crisis") (1954) * ''
Disneyland Disneyland is a theme park in Anaheim, California. Opened in 1955, it was the first theme park opened by The Walt Disney Company and the only one designed and constructed under the direct supervision of Walt Disney. Disney initially envisio ...
'' (1954) as Himself * '' Studio One in Hollywood'' (1954–1956) as George Lumley / Juror No. 8 * ''
The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show ''The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show'', sometimes called ''The Burns and Allen Show'', was a half-hour television situation comedy broadcast from 1950 to 1958 on CBS. It starred George Burns and Gracie Allen, one of the most enduring acts i ...
'' ("A Marital Mix-Up") (1957) as Bob Collins / Bob Cummings * ''
General Electric Theater ''General Electric Theater'' was an American anthology series hosted by Ronald Reagan that was broadcast on CBS radio and television. The series was sponsored by General Electric's Department of Public Relations. Radio After an audition show ...
'' ("Too Good with a Gun") (1957) as Russ Baker * '' The Bob Cummings Show'' (1955–1959) as Bob Collins / Grandpa Josh Collins / Josh Collins * ''
The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour ''The'' () is a grammatical Article (grammar), article in English language, English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite ...
'' (1957–1960) ("The Ricardos Go To Japan") (1959) as Himself * ''
The Twilight Zone ''The Twilight Zone'' is an American media franchise based on the anthology television series created by Rod Serling. The episodes are in various genres, including fantasy, science fiction, absurdism, dystopian fiction, suspense, horror, sup ...
'' ("
King Nine Will Not Return "''King Nine'' Will Not Return" is the season two premiere episode, and 37th overall, of the American television anthology series '' The Twilight Zone''. It originally aired on September 30, 1960 on CBS. This was the first episode where Rod Ser ...
") (1960) as Capt. James Embry * ''
Zane Grey Theater ''Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre'' is an American Western anthology television series that was broadcast on CBS from October 5, 1956, until September 20, 1962. Format Many episodes were based on novels by Zane Grey, to all of which Four Star F ...
'' ("The Last Bugle") (1960) as Lt. Charles Gatewood * '' The New Bob Cummings Show'' (1961–1962) as Bob Carson * ''
My Living Doll ''My Living Doll'' is an American science-fiction sitcom that aired for 26 episodes on CBS from September 27, 1964, to March 17, 1965. It was produced by Jack Chertok and filmed at Desilu studios by Jack Chertok Television Productions, in associa ...
'' (1964–1965) as Dr. Robert McDonald * ''
The Flying Nun ''The Flying Nun'' is an American sitcom about a community of nuns which included one who could fly when the wind caught her cornette. It was produced by Screen Gems for ABC based on the 1965 book '' The Fifteenth Pelican,'' written by Tere ...
'' ("Speak the Speech, I Pray You") (1969) as Father Walter Larson * '' Gidget Grows Up'' (1969) as Russ Lawrence * ''
Love, American Style ''Love, American Style'' is an anthology comedy television series that aired on ABC from 1969 to 1974. The series was produced by Paramount Television. During the 1971–72 and 1972–73 seasons, it was a part of ABC's Friday primetime lineup ...
'' (1969–1973) as Walding (segment "Love and the Secret Spouse") / Grandpa (segment "Love and the Second Time") / Bert Palmer (segment "Love and the Pill") * ''
Hollywood Squares ''Hollywood Squares'' (originally ''The Hollywood Squares'') is an American game show in which two contestants compete in a game of tic-tac-toe to win cash and prizes. The show Television pilot, piloted on NBC in 1965 and the regular series debut ...
'' (1970) as Guest Appearance * ''
Green Acres ''Green Acres'' is an American television sitcom starring Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor as a couple who move from New York City to a country farm. Produced by Filmways as a sister show to '' Petticoat Junction'', the series was first broadc ...
'' ("Rest and Relaxation") (1970) as Mort Warner * '' Here Come the Brides'' ("The She-Bear") (1970) as Jack Crosse * ''
Bewitched ''Bewitched'' is an American fantasy sitcom television series that originally aired for eight seasons on ABC from September 17, 1964, to March 25, 1972. It is about a witch who marries an ordinary mortal man and vows to lead the life of a typ ...
'' ("Samantha and the Troll") (1971) as Roland Berkley * ''
Here's Lucy ''Here's Lucy'' is an American sitcom starring Lucille Ball. The series co-starred her long-time comedy partner Gale Gordon and her real-life children Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. It was broadcast on CBS from 1968 to 1974. It was Ball's th ...
'' ("Lucy's Punctured Romance") (1972) as Bob Collins * ''Partners in Crime'' (1973) as Ralph Elsworth * ''
The Love Boat ''The Love Boat'' is an American romantic comedy/drama television series that aired on ABC from 1977 to 1986; in addition, four three-hour specials aired in 1986, 1987, and 1990. The series was set on the luxury passenger cruise ship MS ''Pa ...
'' ("Third Wheel/Grandmother's Day/Second String Mom") (1979) as Eliott Smith * '' Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color'' ("Walt Disney World's 15th Anniversary Celebration") (1986) as Host / Narrator / Himself * ''Disneyland's 35th Anniversary Special'' (1990) as Himself (final film role)


Radio credits

* '' Screen Directors Playhouse'' ("
Bachelor Mother ''Bachelor Mother'' (1939) is an American romantic comedy film directed by Garson Kanin, and starring Ginger Rogers, David Niven, and Charles Coburn. The screenplay was written by Norman Krasna from an Academy Award-nominated story by Felix Jac ...
") (1951) * '' Cavalcade of America'' ("Going Up") (1952)


References


Bibliography

* Ashbu, LeRoy. ''With Amusement For All''. Lexington, Kentucky: University Press of Kentucky, 2006. . * Christensen, Lawrence O., ed
''Dictionary of Missouri Biography''.
Columbia, Missouri: University of Missouri Press, 1999. . * Critchlow, Donald T.
When Hollywood Was Right: How Movie Stars, Studio Moguls, and Big Business Remade American Politics
'. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2013. . * Gilmore, Susan

''The Seattle Times'', September 5, 2006. * Greenwood, James R.
Meet Bob Cummings...Pilot, Actor, Businessman
. '' Flying'', 66:3, March 1960, pp. 44–46, 54, 56. * Lertzman, Richard A. and William J. Birnes. ''Dr. Feelgood: The Shocking Story of the Doctor Who May Have Changed History by Treating and Drugging JFK, Marilyn, Elvis, and Other Prominent Figures''. New York: Skyhorse Publishing, 2013. . * Lyon, Christopher, James Vinson, Susan Doll and Greg S. Faller. ''The International Dictionary of Films and Filmmakers''. New York: St. James Press, 1987. . * Maltin, Leonard. "Robert Cummings". ''Leonard Maltin's Movie Encyclopedia''. New York: Dutton, 1994. . * McGivern, Carolyn. ''The Lost Films of John Wayne''. Nashville, Kentucky: Cumberland House, 2006. . * Tucker, David C.
Eve Arden: A Chronicle of All Film, Television, Radio and Stage Performances
'. Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland& Company, 2011. . * 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. . * Woog, Adam. ''Sexless Oysters and Self-Tipping Hats: 100 Years of Invention in the Pacific Northwest''. Sasquatch Books, 1991. .


External links

* * * *


Robert Cummings papers
L. Tom Perry Special Collections The L. Tom Perry Special Collections is the special collections department of Brigham Young University (BYU)'s Harold B. Lee Library in Provo, Utah. Founded in 1957 with 1,000 books and 50 manuscript collections, as of 2016 the Library's special ...
,
Harold B. Lee Library The Harold B. Lee Library (HBLL) is the main academic library of Brigham Young University (BYU) located in Provo, Utah. The library started as a small collection of books in the president's office in 1876 before moving in 1891. The Heber J. Gran ...
,
Brigham Young University Brigham Young University (BYU, sometimes referred to colloquially as The Y) is a private research university in Provo, Utah. It was founded in 1875 by religious leader Brigham Young and is sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-d ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cummings, Robert 1910 births 1990 deaths Male actors from Missouri American male comedians 20th-century American comedians American male dancers American male film actors American male musical theatre actors American male radio actors American male stage actors American male television actors American television directors Outstanding Performance by a Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie Primetime Emmy Award winners American television personalities Male television personalities Deaths from kidney failure Deaths from pneumonia in California People from Joplin, Missouri People from Greater Los Angeles Military personnel from Missouri United States Army Air Forces officers United States Army Air Forces pilots of World War II California Republicans Burials at Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Glendale) 20th-century American male actors 20th-century American singers Carnegie Mellon University College of Engineering alumni People of the Civil Air Patrol United States Air Force officers United States Air Force reservists 20th-century American male singers Television producers from Missouri