Robert Ivers, also known as Bob Ivers, (December 11, 1934 – February 13, 2003) was an American actor who appeared in films and television in the 1950s and 1960s.

Background

Ivers was born in

Seattle, Washington Seattle ( ) is the List of municipalities in Washington, most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington (state), Washington and in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. With a population of 780,995 in 2024, it is the List of Unit ...

. He attended Tucson High School from 1950 to 1953. He was offered scholarships to the

Pasadena Playhouse Pasadena Playhouse is a Tony Award-winning historic performing arts venue located 39 S. El Molino Avenue in Pasadena, California. The 686-seat auditorium produces a variety of cultural and artistic events, professional shows, and community engag ...

and the

University of Arizona The University of Arizona (Arizona, U of A, UArizona, or UA) is a Public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Tucson, Arizona, United States. Founded in 1885 by the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature, it ...

. After short time at Pasadena, where the curriculum wouldn't allow him to appear on stage until his second year, he transferred to the University of Arizona where he began appearing in roles during his first year. During this time, he had a number of uncredited roles in films such as ''

Broken Lance ''Broken Lance'' is a 1954 American Western film directed by Edward Dmytryk and produced by Sol C. Siegel. The film stars Spencer Tracy, Robert Wagner, Jean Peters, Richard Widmark and Katy Jurado. Shot in Technicolor and CinemaScope, the film ...

'' in 1954 and '' Violent Saturday'' in 1955. He was signed by

Paramount Pictures Paramount Pictures Corporation, commonly known as Paramount Pictures or simply Paramount, is an American film production company, production and Distribution (marketing), distribution company and the flagship namesake subsidiary of Paramount ...

in 1956 after he was seen performing the lead role in the play '' Tea and Sympathy''.

Film and television career

Ivers played a major role in the 1957 film '' The Delicate Delinquent'', in which he co-starred with

Jerry Lewis Jerry Lewis (born Joseph Levitch; March 16, 1926 – August 20, 2017) was an American comedian, actor, singer, filmmaker and humanitarian, with a career spanning seven decades in film, stage, television and radio. Famously nicknamed as "Th ...

. In 1957 he also starred in '' Short Cut to Hell'', the only film directed by

James Cagney James Francis Cagney Jr. (; July 17, 1899March 30, 1986) was an American actor and dancer. On stage and in film, he was known for his consistently energetic performances, distinctive vocal style, and deadpan comic timing. He won acclaim and maj ...

. He also co-starred in 1960 with

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977) was an American singer and actor. Referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one of the most significant cultural figures of the ...

in '' G.I. Blues'' as Cookie, one of Elvis's army buddies stationed with him on base overseas. It was Presley's first film after coming home from the army. He appeared in a number of television series in the late 1950s and early 1960s, including the syndicated

western Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US *Western, New York, a town in the US *Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that id ...

, ''

Pony Express The Pony Express was an American express mail service that used relays of horse-mounted riders between Missouri and California. It was operated by the Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Company. During its 18 months of opera ...

''. The timing of the program coincided with the 1960 centennial of the

. Ivers also appeared on '' The Fugitive'' starring

David Janssen David Janssen (born David Harold Meyer; March 27, 1931 – February 13, 1980) was an American film and television actor who is best known for his starring role as Richard Kimble in the television series '' The Fugitive'' (1963–1967). Janssen a ...

and '' Twelve O'clock High''. He guest-starred on episodes of '' The Virginian'', ''

Bat Masterson Bartholemew William Barclay "Bat" Masterson (November 26, 1853 – October 25, 1921) was a U.S. Army scout, lawman, professional gambler, and journalist known for his exploits in the late 19th and early 20th-century American Old West. He was bo ...

'', '' The Untouchables'', and ''

Gunsmoke ''Gunsmoke'' is an American radio and television Western drama series created by director Norman Macdonnell and writer John Meston. It centered on Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870s, during the settlement of the American West. The central charact ...

''. Ivers was disappointed that his acting career stalled by the middle 1960s, and he told the '' Yakima Herald-Republic'' in 1978 that he would have enjoyed the excitement of the Hollywood scene and often contemplated what might have been. In 1965, he launched a career in television news at

KPHO KPHO-TV (channel 5) is a television station in Phoenix, Arizona, United States, affiliated with CBS. It is owned by Gray Media alongside independent stations KTVK (channel 3) and KPHE-LD (channel 44), a group known together as "Arizona's Fam ...

in Phoenix, Arizona, followed by WJIM in Lansing, Michigan, and then (in 1970) KTHI-TV in Fargo, North Dakota. After moving to his home state of Washington in 1972, he became a mainstay of KAPP in Yakima, Washington, where he anchored newscasts and hosted a Saturday morning children's program, the weekday ''Morning Moneyman Movie'', and the station's annual participation in the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon. After leaving KAPP, Ivers had a stint as newscaster at competing Yakima station

KNDO KNDO (channel 23) is a television station in Yakima, Washington, United States, affiliated with NBC. It is owned by the Spokane-based Cowles Company as part of the KHQ Television Group. KNDO's studios are located on West Yakima Avenue in downto ...

. He then began his own advertising agency in Yakima and hosted a small syndicated radio show in central Washington which provided factual trivia about films and actors along with reviews.

Personal life

Ivers married Lenore Roberts in 1961, but the marriage was annulled later that year. On 7 September 1961, he married actress

Marcia Henderson Marcia Anne Prestlien (née Henderson; July 22, 1929 – November 23, 1987) was an American actress. She made her Broadway debut as Wendy in the musical ''Peter Pan'' (1950), for which she won a Theatre World Award. Henderson also appeared in ...

. They had two daughters, Alenda and Mallory. Marcia died 23 November 1987 of lupus. Mallory, who was married to Steve Cangialosi, died on 19 October 2005. Ivers died on 13 February, 2003, at the age of 68 in Yakima, Washington.

Awards

In August 2003, Ivers was voted Elvis Fans' Choice Award for Best Male Duo as the best Elvis movie sidekick during the Elvis Week festivities held annually in Memphis, Tennessee."Elvis Fans' Favorite Sidekick". Yakima Herald-Republic September 18, 2003

Filmography

Film *''

'' (1954) - Cowboy Working Cattle (uncredited) *''

Ten Wanted Men ''Ten Wanted Men'' is a 1955 American Western (genre), Western film directed by H. Bruce Humberstone, Bruce Humberstone and starring Randolph Scott. Plot Adam Stewart, a lawyer heading west with grown son Howie, is persuaded by brother John to ...

'' (1955) *'' Violent Saturday'' (1955) - Caddy, at Country Club (uncredited) *'' A Kiss Before Dying'' (1956) - Student at Murder Scene (uncredited) *'' The Delicate Delinquent'' (1957) - Monk *'' Short Cut to Hell'' (1957) - Kyle Niles *'' I Married a Monster from Outer Space'' (1958) - Harry Phillips *'' G.I. Blues'' (1960) - Cookie *'' The Errand Boy'' (1961) - Young NY Director Who Argues with T.P. *''

Cattle King ''Cattle King'' is a 1963 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Tay Garnett. It stars Robert Taylor (American actor), Robert Taylor and Robert Loggia. It was also known by the alternative title of ''Guns of Wyoming'' in some countr ...

'' (1963) - Webb Carter *'' The Young and The Brave'' (1963) - Pvt. Kirk Wilson *'' The Patsy'' (1964) - Boy at Spring Hop (uncredited) *'' Town Tamer'' (1965) - Cowboy Television *''

'' (1959) - Johnny Asper *'' The Untouchables'' (1959) - Herman Barker *''

77 Sunset Strip ''77 Sunset Strip'' is an American private detective crime drama television series created by Roy Huggins and starring Efrem Zimbalist Jr., Roger Smith, Richard Long (from 1960 to 1961) and Edd Byrnes (billed as Edward Byrnes). Each epis ...

'' (1959-1962) - Danny Belmont / Nevin Williams *''

Tombstone Territory ''Tombstone Territory'' is an American Western television series starring Pat Conway and Richard Eastham. The first two seasons aired on ABC from 1957 to 1959. The first season was sponsored by Bristol-Myers (consumer products) and the seco ...

'' (1960) - Eddie Casper *''Not For Hire'' (1960) *''

'' (1960) - Clarence McGroo / McGroo *''

Hawaiian Eye ''Hawaiian Eye'' is an American detective television series that ran from October 1959 to April 1963 on the American Broadcasting Company, ABC television network. Premise Private investigator Tracy Steele (Anthony Eisley) and his half-Hawaiian ...

'' (1960-1961) - Harvey Cross / Bobby Kramer *''

'' (1960-1961) - Charley Boy / Yaqui Kid *''

Frontier Circus ''Frontier Circus'' is an American Westerns on television, Western television series about a traveling circus roaming the American West in the 1880s. Filmed by Revue Productions, the program originally aired on CBS from October 5, 1961, until Sep ...

'' (1962) - Sandy MacNeil *'' Bachelor Father'' (1962) - Joby *'' The Virginian'' (1964) - Vance Clayton *'' Mister Roberts'' (1966) - Kearney / Bob, a seaman *'' The Fugitive'' (1966) - Dave *'' The F.B.I.'' (1966) - First Special Agent *'' Twelve O'Clock High'' (1966) - Reporter / B-17 Pilot

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Ivers, Robert 1934 births 2003 deaths Male actors from Seattle Tucson High School alumni