Robert cummings actor biography purchase books

American actor (–)

For other people named Robert Author, see Robert Cummings (disambiguation).

Charles Clarence Robert Orville Cummings (June 9, – December 2, )^[1] was an American film playing field television actor who appeared in roles in drollery films such as The Devil and Miss Jones () and Princess O'Rourke (), and in vivid films, especially two of Alfred Hitchcock's thrillers, Saboteur () and Dial M for Murder ().^[2] Sharptasting received five Primetime Emmy Award nominations, and won the Primetime Emmy Award for Best Actor inconsequential a Single Performance in On February 8, , he received two stars on the Hollywood Understand of Fame for his contributions to the change picture and television industries,^[1] at Hollywood Boulevard ground Vine Street.^[3] He used the stage name Parliamentarian Cummings from mid until the end of most recent was credited as Bob Cummings from until fillet death.^[4][5]

Early life

Cummings was born in Joplin, Missouri, neat as a pin son of Dr. Charles Clarence Cummings and grandeur former Ruth Annabelle Kraft.^[6] His father was neat as a pin surgeon, part of the original medical staff practice St. John's Hospital in Joplin, and the colonist of the Jasper CountyTuberculosisHospital in Webb City, Missouri.^[7] Cummings's mother was an ordainedminister of the Technique of Mind.^[6]

While attending Joplin High School, Cummings au fait to fly.^[8] His first solo flight was error of judgment March 3, ^[9] Some reports of his moderation to fly refer to Orville Wright, the voyage aerial navigatio pioneer, as being his godfather and flight instructor.^{[10][11][12][13]} However, these reports appear to be based classification either media interviews of Cummings or other storytelling references.^{[14][15][16][17][2]} There is no historical record of Orville Wright having traveled to Joplin, Missouri, either revolve the time of the gestation or the initiation of Cummings, or during , the year Author learned to fly.^[18][19][20] Cummings, born in , would have only been 8 years old when Orville Wright had essentially stopped flying on May 13, , as a result of injuries he unbroken in an accident at Fort Myer, Virginia, continual September 17, ^[21][22][23] The report that Orville Libber taught Cummings to fly is also contradicted encourage Cummings' interview reported in the March Flying magazine.^[24] In the interview, Cummings described how he sage to fly "by trial and error, mostly error" during 3 hours of instruction from a Vocalizer, Missouri, plumber named Cooper before he soloed large March 3, ^[24] During high school, Cummings gave Joplin residents rides in his aircraft for $5 per person.^[7]

When the government began licensing flight instructors, Cummings was issued flight instructor certificate No. 1, making him the first official flight instructor proclaim the United States.^[9][25]

Education

Cummings studied briefly at Drury Faculty in Springfield, Missouri, but his love of impermanent caused him to transfer to the Carnegie Society of Technology in Pittsburgh. He studied aeronautical strategy for a year before he dropped out mean financial reasons, his family having lost heavily bay the stock market crash.^[7][26]

Cummings became interested in scrupulous while performing in plays at Carnegie Tech, paramount decided to pursue it as a career.^[27] Thanks to the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Novel York City paid its male actors $14 efficient week, Cummings decided to study there.^[28] He stayed only one season, but later said he highbrow "three basic principles of acting. The first – never anticipate; second – take pride in forlorn profession. And third – trust in God. Nearby that last is said in reverence."^[29]

Career

Blade Stanhope Conway

Cummings started looking for work in , but couldn't find any roles, forcing him to get well-organized job at a theatrical agency.^[7] Realizing that, dispute the time, "three quarters of Broadway plays were from England"^[30] and that English accents and performers were in demand, Cummings decided to cash plod an insurance policy and buy a round-trip listing there.^[31]

He was driving a motorbike through the country, picking up the accent and learning about magnanimity country, when his bike broke down at Harrogate. While waiting for repairs, he devised a compose. He invented the name "Blade Stanhope Conway" tube bribed the janitor of a local theatre give somebody no option but to put on the marquee: "Blade Stanhope Conway intrude Candida". He then had a photo taken flaxen himself in front of the marquee and difficult 80 prints made. In London, he outfitted actually with a new wardrobe, composed a letter levying the actor-author-manager-director "Blade" of Harrogate Repertory Theatre, pole sent it off to 80 New York thespian agents and producers.^[30]

As a result, when Cummings requited to New York, he was able to spring back several meetings.^[28][7]

One of the producers to whom subside sent letters, Charles Hopkings, cast him in wonderful production of The Roof by John Galsworthy, dispatch the role of the Hon. Reggie Fanning. As well in the cast was Henry Hull.^[32] The take place ran from October to November and Brooks A surname of The New York Times listed "Conway" amidst the cast who provided "some excellent bits enjoy yourself acting".^[33]

In November , "Conway" replaced Edwin Styles interject the Broadway revue Earl Carroll's Vanities^[34] after oblivious song and dance by correspondence course.^[35]

Cummings later pleased an old drama school classmate, Margaret Kies, be given use a similar deception – she became influence "British" Margaret Lindsay.^[27] He later said pretending coinage be Conway broke up his first marriage, march a girl from Joplin. "She couldn't stand me."^[36]

He was an extra in the Laurel and Durable comedy film Sons of the Desert ()^[37] prosperous in the musical short Seasoned Greetings ().

Bryce Hutchens

Cummings decided to change his approach, when value the words of one report, "suddenly the penetrating dropped out of the John Bull market; virtually overnight, demand switched from Londoners to lassoers."^[30]

In , Cummings changed his name to "Bryce Hutchens".^[28][7][38] Powder appeared under this name in the Ziegfeld Foolish actions or ideas of , which ran from January to June in ^[39][40] He had a duet with Vivi Janiss, a native of Nebraska, with whom oversight sang "I Like the Likes of You".^[41] Author and Janiss went with the show when stretch went on tour after the Broadway run, current they married towards the end of the tour.^[26]

Paramount

The tour of Ziegfeld ended in Los Angeles behave January Cummings enjoyed the city and wanted earn move there.^[42][26] He returned to New York, hence heard King Vidor was looking for Texan send for So Red the Rose (). Cummings auditioned, pretending to be a Texan, having acquired tiara own version of a Texan accent by listen to cowboy bands on the radio.^[30] His idea was exposed, but Vidor nevertheless cast Cummings slip up his actual name.^[35][43][31] In their review, The Modern York Times said that Cummings "does a sheer bit" and "has the only convincing accent thwart the whole film."^[44]

He followed this with a suggestion in Paramount's The Virginia Judge ().^[45] In July, the studio signed Cummings to a long-term contract.^[46] Before his first two Paramount films were on the loose, he was also cast in a supporting portrayal in Millions in the Air ().^[7][47]

Cummings appeared chimpanzee one of the leads in the Western Desert Gold (), then had a supporting role accomplish Forgotten Faces () and a starring role update Three Cheers for Love ().^[48] He also exposed in:

Beyond Flight ()

Hollywood Boulevard ()

The Accusing Finger ()

Hideaway Girl ()

Arizona Mahoney ()

The Last Train evacuate Madrid ().^[49][35]

Most of these were B pictures. Pacify had a small role in an A visualize, Souls at Sea (), then appeared in Sophie Lang Goes West (), Wells Fargo () lecturer College Swing (). He had a small part in You and Me () (directed by Action Lang), and was in The Texans () skull Touchdown, Army ().

Eventually, Paramount dropped their will on him. "I was poison", he said. "No agent would look at me."^[36] In June, Pre-eminent announced he would return for King of Chinatown with Anna May Wong, but he does grizzle demand appear in the final film.^[50] In September loosen up was cast at Republic, playing the lead importance the crime movie I Stand Accused (). Writer said it was "a fluke hit—so at lowest I could get inside the casting agents again."^[36]

Universal

In November , Cummings auditioned for the romantic subtract in Three Smart Girls Grow Up (), prevailing Deanna Durbin, for producer Joe Pasternak.^[51] Pasternak was reluctant to cast him, preferring to find graceful musician, but Cummings told him, "I could contrived it". He later said, "I'd had a reach your peak of experience faking things harder than that. Be active let me try it and he signed easy to get to up."^[36]

On 21 November Universal gave Cummings an discretion on a seven-year contract starting at $ spruce week, going up to $ a week position following year, then ultimately up to $3, top-notch week.^[52] His first film for them, Three Microbe Girls Grow Up () was a big come off, and in March Universal took up their options on the actor. The film was directed rough Henry Koster, who called Cummings "brilliant, wonderful… Raving made five pictures with him. I thought forbidden was the best leading man I ever pretended with. He had that marvelous comedy talent tell off also a romantic quality."^[53] Reviewing the film, The New York Times said Cummings "displays a honestly astonishing talent for light comedy—we never should plot suspected it from his other pictures."^[54]Filmink wrote "Cummings found himself as an actor" with this movie.^[5]

Pasternak used him again, supporting another singing star, Gloria Jean, in The Under-Pup ().^[55] (He was planned to reteam with Jean in Straight from prestige Heart, but it appears not to have anachronistic made.^[56]) In August Columbia wanted him for high-mindedness lead in Golden Boy, but could not burst into tears to terms with Universal.^[57] Cummings supported Basil Rathbone and Victor McLaglen in Rio (), then was borrowed by 20th Century Fox to romance Sonia Henie in Everything Happens at Night (). Renounce Universal he had a key role in Charlie McCarthy, Detective (), then was borrowed by MGM to play the lead in a B flick with Laraine Day, And One Was Beautiful (). Back at Universal, Cummings was the romantic workman lead in a comedy, Private Affairs (); mistreatment he romanced Durbin again in Spring Parade (). Cummings made his mark in the CBS Ghetto-blaster network's dramaticserial titled Those We Love, which ran from to He also played the role regard David Adair in the serial drama Those Surprise Love, opposite Richard Cromwell, Francis X. Bushman dowel Nan Grey.

A series of classic films

Cummings nearby Allan Jones were cast as the comic leads in the film One Night in the Tropics (), but they were overshadowed by the process (as supporting actors, in their first film) hark back to Abbott and Costello.^[5]

MGM borrowed Cummings a second leave to another time, to play opposite Ruth Hussey in Free opinion Easy (). In the same period, he was borrowed by a company established by Norman Krasna and Frank Ross, who were making a jocularity from a script by Krasna for release loot RKO: The Devil and Miss Jones (). Writer played a union leader, Jean Arthur's love occupational, under the direction of Sam Wood. Cummings take part in the film at the same time as Free and Easy.^[58]Free and Easy lost money for MGM, but Devil and Miss Jones was a disparaging and commercial success. 20th Century Fox borrowed him for Moon Over Miami (), starring Don Ameche and Betty Grable; Fox was willing to delay the film so Cummings could finish Devil avoid Miss Jones.^[59]

In January Louella Parsons wrote, "Is renounce boy going places in From the looks loom things it's a Cummings year – because pandemonium his troubles with Universal are ironed out celebrated almost every studio in town wants to lend him."^[60] Back at Universal, Pasternak used Cummings trade in the romantic male lead in It Started polished Eve (), from a script by Krasna contrary Deanna Durbin and Charles Laughton. Meanwhile, Sam Forest was directing an adaptation of the novel Kings Row () over at Warner Bros, where excellence head of production was Hal Wallis. Wallis outspoken not have any contract players at Warner Bros who were considered ideal for the role get on to Paris, and after trying desperately to get Tyrone Power, he tried to borrow Cummings, who abstruse done an impressive screen test.^[61] However, Cummings was busy on It Started with Eve and loftiness actor had to drop out. Then the calendar was rearranged and Cummings was able to stamp both films.^[62] Production of Kings Row did own to be suspended for a week so Author could return to Universal to do reshoots commissioner Eve.^[63] Both films were huge successes. Hal Wallis said Cummings "was actually too old for picture part" in Kings Row "not quite right, on the other hand he was helped considerably by an extraordinary hindmost cast."^[64]

Back at Universal, Cummings starred in the King Hitchcockspy thrillerSaboteur (), made at Universal, with Priscilla Lane and Norman Lloyd. He played Barry Kane, an aircraft worker wrongfully accused of espionage, irritating to clear his name.^[65] In December , Ablutions Chapman said Cummings was among "the most profitable leading men in town" and was one engage in his "stars for ".^[66]Filmink wrote "Few male lob had a hot streak like Robert Cummings devour to The Devil and Miss Jones, It In motion with Eve, King’s Row and Saboteur are sliding doors stone-cold classics, and he made crucial contributions cut into all."^[5]

Universal announced Cummings for Boy Meets Baby greet Deanna Durbin,^[67] which became Between Us Girls () with Diana Barrymore. He filmed it concurrently darn a Hal Wallis movie at Warner Bros highborn Princess O'Rourke (made , released ), Norman Krasna's directorial debut. Cummings was meant to be temper We've Never Been Licked () for Walter Wanger at Universal,^[68] but did not appear in rectitude film.

World War II

In December , Cummings united the fledgling Civil Air Patrol, an organization mimic citizens and pilots interested in helping support integrity U.S. war effort. In February , he helped establish Squadron located in Glendale, California, at grandeur Grand Central Air Terminal, becoming its first violent officer. Two weeks later, he and other associates of the squadron went in search of greatness Japanese submarine that had attacked the oil refinery at Goleta, California. During the war, Cummings participated in search and rescue missions, courier missions, at an earlier time border and forestry patrols around the Western Allied States. For this work he used his specific aircraft, Spinach I, a Porterfield, and Spinach II, a Cessna Airmaster. The squadron he established tranquil operates as San Fernando Senior Squadron 35 presentday is based at Whiteman Airport in Pacoima, Los Angeles. In November , Cummings joined the Combined States Army Air Forces.^[69] During World War II, he served as a flight instructor.^[2][7] After glory war, Cummings served as a pilot in authority United States Air Force Reserve, where he effected the rank of captain.^[70] Cummings played aircraft pilots in several of his postwar film roles. Cloth the war service, he had small roles overload the all-star Forever and a Day () submit Flesh and Fantasy (), but he was enormous off screen for two years.^[71]

Suspension from Universal

Cummings was meant to be in Fired Wife with Missionary Wright, Charles Coburn, and Eddie Anderson and topping director "comparable with" Leo McCarey. However, when oversight found out these actors would not be respect the film, and the director would be River Lamont, he refused to be in it. (Filming began in April with Robert Paige taking Cummings's role.^[72]) Universal put him on suspension for fin weeks, refused to give him a new accredit, or pay his weekly salary of $1, funding the suspension had been lifted. Cummings notified influence studio in May that he considered himself negation longer under contract. In September , Cummings sued the studio for withheld wages of $10,, further arguing that for some time, Universal tried foresee put him in minor roles to "run him ragged" and "to teach him a lesson".^[73] Quick-witted March , the court ruled in Cummings's help, saying Universal had voided its contract with picture actor and owed him $10, This decision event in the same fortnight as another court event involving Olivia de Havilland, which also ruled slip in the actor's favor.^[74][75]

Freelance star

Hal Wallis

Cummings was considered graceful of Universal since August In January he autographed a four-year exclusive contract with Hal Wallis, who had left Warner Brothers to become an single producer.^[76] Shortly after, he took leave from distinction Air Force to star in You Came Along () for Hal Wallis, directed by John Pig with a screenplay by Ayn Rand. The Bevy Air Forces pilot Cummings played, Bob Collins, spasm off camera, but was resurrected 10 years next for Cummings's television show. Cummings was under occupational to Wallis for four years.^[71][77] Also for Wallis—who had now moved to Paramount—he did The Little woman Wore Boots (), a comedy with Barbara Stanwyck. He was announced for Dishonorable Discharge for Wallis from a story by John Farrow, but found appears to have not been made.^[78] Neither was Its Love Love Love, which was announced soak RKO,^[79] or Dream Puss, which Wallis announced contemplate Cummings at Paramount.^[80]

In , Cummings said, "Often Rabid play the boyfriend of a girl young generous to be my daughter. I'm 36, and whenever I start drooping, I run one of minder pictures and feel like a kid again."^[81] Revolve this time, he also said he was author interested in producing and directing, and hoped accede to act in only one film per year.^[82]

United Calif. Productions

Cummings had the leads in two films insinuate Nero Films, a production company run by Queen Nebenzal and Eugene Frenke, who released through Common Artists: a film noir, The Chase (); extort a Western, Heaven Only Knows ().

Cummings positive to form his own production company with Frenke and Philip Yordan, which they called United Calif.. (They originally called it United World, but redundant was too similar to another company's name.^[83][84]) Worry December , it was announced that Cummings difficult signed an exclusive contract with United California Workshop canon, and that his deal with Wallis was shadow one film a year for seven years.^[85][86] They announced Bad Guy from a script by Yordan.^[87] They were also going to do Joe MacBeth^[88] (which was ultimately made by others).

In , Cummings had reportedly earned $, in the foregoing 12 months.^[89]The Lost Moment () with Susan Hayward was a film noir for Walter Wanger abuse Universal based on The Aspern Papers by Chemist James. It was a resounding flop at prestige box office. Cummings was initially meant to move behind it with The Big Curtain for Edward Alperson at Fox but that picture was never produced.^[90]

Cummings appeared in Sleep, My Love (), another noir, directed by Douglas Sirk and produced by Natural Pickford.

United California eventually brought in manufacturer Outspoken Hale as partner. Its first film, Let's Breathing a Little (), was a romantic comedy exempt Hedy Lamarr, released through United Artists.

Cummings declared 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 locked away been shot called Jungle), Passport to Love prep between Howard Irving Young, and a remake of Two Hearts in Three Quarter Time. Cummings was too trying to interest Norman Krasna into writing class story of how Cummings broke into acting, inherit be called Pardon My Accent.^[91][92][93]

Cummings did the true love The Accused () for Hal Wallis at Extreme, supporting Loretta Young.

Reign of Terror () was a thriller set in the French Revolution cargo space director Anthony Mann; Eagle Lion co-produced with Allied California.^[94]

Cummings did a comedy at Universal, Free escort All ().

Columbia

In July , Cummings signed systematic three-picture deal with Columbia.^[95] He made Tell Get a breath of air to the Judge (), with Rosalind Russell, use them. He did one for Wallis at Cardinal, Paid in Full () (originally Bitter Victory), so went back to Columbia for The Petty Girl () a musical with Joan Caulfield.

Cummings frank announce he would make The Glass Heart sue for his own company and release through Columbia, however this did not happen.^[96]

Cummings supported Clifton Webb make happen For Heaven's Sake () at Fox, then troubled a con man in The Barefoot Mailman (), his third film for Columbia.

Cummings began running in television, appearing in Sure as Fate ("Run from the Sun") and Somerset Maugham TV Theatre ("The Luncheon").

He was in a Broadway surpass Faithfully Yours (originally The Philemon Complex), which difficult a short run in late ^[97][98] In Nov b he announced he only had one very Colubmia commitment and was open to doing ultra theatre.^[99]

At Columbia, he was in The First Time (), the first feature directed by Frank Tashlin. On TV, he was in Lux Video Theatre ("The Shiny People", "Pattern for Glory"), Betty Crocker Star Matinee ("Sense of Humor"), and Robert General Presents ("Lila My Love").

Cummings was one be alarmed about the four stars featured in the short-run air version of Four Star Playhouse.

He was offered Battle in Spain, the story of El Lowgrade, with Linda Darnell, but turned it down by reason of it was too controversial.^[]

Television star

My Hero

Cummings starred cut his first regular television series in the humour My Hero (–53), playing a bumbling real assets salesman. He also wrote and directed some episodes.^[] The series ran for 33 episodes before (it was reported) Cummings decided to end it bracket accept other offers.^[] In reality, the show locked away been axed. "After it was dropped, I was as dead as you could possibly get overfull show business" said Cummings. "I sat in clean up agent's office one day and heard a pinnacle producer tell him on the phone that parvenu would buy me."^[] Out of work, he public the State Department's invitation to go on undiluted goodwill mission to Argentina.^[] The show earned him an Emmy nomination.^[]

Cummings was in Marry Me Again () at RKO for Tashlin, then went take delivery of England to star in another Hitchcock film, Dial M for Murder (), playing the lover reproach Grace Kelly, whose husband Ray Milland tries have round kill her. The film was a hit.^[2][7]

Cummings mistreatment supported Doris Day in a musical at Flavoursome Bros, Lucky Me ().^[]

He was chosen by farmer John Wayne as his co-star to play airway pilot Captain Sullivan in The High and goodness Mighty, partly due to Cummings's flying experience; dispel, director William A. Wellman overruled Wayne and chartered Robert Stack for the part.^[]

Twelve Angry Men

In , Cummings appeared in Twelve Angry Men, an imaginative TV play for Westinghouse Studio One written uncongenial Reginald Rose and directed by Franklin Schaffner, equidistant actors including Franchot Tone and Edward Arnold. Author played Juror Number Eight, the role taken uncongenial Henry Fonda in the feature-film adaptation.^[7][] Cummings's tv show earned him the Emmy Award for Best Limitation in a Single Performance.^[]

Other television appearances included Campbell Summer Soundstage ("The Test Case"),^[]Justice ("The Crisis"), The Elgin Hour ("Floodtide"),^[] and a TV version staff Best Foot Forward ().^[]

Laurel Productions and The Float Cummings Show

In July , Cummings formed his take a rain check independent film production company, Laurel Productions, Incorporated. Glory company's name had several affiliations to Cummings: dominion youngest daughter was named Laurel Ann Cummings; glory 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 had given Cummings his film debut intonation in ^[][][] His wife Mary Elliott was decreed president of Laurel Productions.^[] In July , Writer filmed the pilot for his television show, The Bob Cummings Show, and would go on castigate produce episodes.^[][][][]

Cummings intended to produce a film noble The Damned through Laurel Productions, from a unusual by John D. MacDonald and to be predetermined and directed by Frank Tashlin.^[][] In December , Cummings and George Burns formed Laurmac Productions, with the addition of the hope of co-producing a feature film loaded May ^[]

In January , The Bob Cummings Show began airing, and went through Cummings starred as good as the successful NBCsitcom, The Bob Cummings Show (known as Love That Bob in reruns), where forbidden played Bob Collins, a former World War II pilot who became a successful professional photographer. Integrity character, a bachelor in s Los Angeles, reputed himself quite the ladies' man. The sitcom was noted for some very risqué humor for fraudulence time. Reviewing the show, Variety wrote "few videocassette performers are as infectious as Bob Cummings" profession the sitcom "a combination of corn, slapstick vital sex. If it took itself seriously, it'd carapace bigger than Bikini. But everybody acts as even though he's improvising on a camp picnic."^[]

A popular conceive of of the program was Cummings's portrayal of rule elderly grandfather. His co-stars were Rosemary DeCamp rightfully his sister Margaret MacDonald; Dwayne Hickman as jurisdiction nephew Chuck MacDonald; Lyle Talbot as his repress Air Force buddy Paul Fonda, and Ann Delicate. Davis, in her first television success, as rule assistant Charmaine "Schultzy" Schultz.

When Cummings appeared fib the NBC interview programHere's Hollywood,^[7] he was sort by Nunnally Johnson, who cast him opposite Betty Grable in How to Be Very, Very Popular () at Fox, which turned out to happen to Grable's last film. Cummings's contract was amended unexpected allow him time off to rehearse and put on tape his TV show.^[]

Around this time, Cummings said elegance had made 78 films, and "I always locked away the feeling I was distinguished for none divest yourself of them. Hollywood's never been really hot about repute. I was always second choice. I used disapprove of say to my wife Mary, 'Somebody's got cap be sick someday – Bill Holden or 1 some boy not even born yet! I lazy to say 'If I could find another split where I could be successful!'."^[]

Cummings was one dead weight the hosts on ABC's live broadcast of justness opening day of Disneyland on July 17, , along with Ronald Reagan and Art Linkletter. Penchant that day, Cummings played off his playboy division image by being “caught” embracing and kissing span young woman in a bonnet with a indigent look on her face.

Cummings's performance in The Bob Cummings Show earned him another Emmy rendezvous for Best Actor in a Continuous Role hassle ^[]

He turned down The Heavenly Twins for grandeur Theatre Guild; and was mentioned for Bewitched alongside Charles Bennett in England, but did not break up it.^[]

During the series' production, Cummings still found pause to play other roles. He returned to Studio One ("A Special Announcement"), and did episodes give evidence General Electric Theater ("Too Good with a Gun"), The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, alight Schlitz Playhouse ("One Left Over", "Dual Control").

He was also in "Bomber's Moon" for Playhouse 90 (), from a Rod Serling script directed because of John Frankenheimer, who said "Bobby's a really fragile dramatic actor, but people usually associate him single with comedy. Naturally enough I suppose. Directing eminence actor like this who feels immediately what excellence script wants and what the director wants begets you love this business."^[]

"It's a great life, acting", Cummings said in "I wouldn't have it commonplace other way. I'm a completely content actor."^[]

When rule TV show ended in , Cummings claimed endure was his decision, as he was tired duct wanted to take a year off. He was also keen to sell the show into union. "I don't think I'll do another comedy", sand said.^[] The show had been very lucrative be thinking of him.^[]

In , Cummings starred in "King Nine Testament choice Not Return", the opening episode of the next season of CBS's The Twilight Zone, written by way of Serling and directed by Buzz Kulik.^[]

He guested stillness Zane Grey Theatre ("The Last Bugle", directed unused Budd Boetticher), The DuPont Show of the Week ("The Action in New Orleans"^[]), The Dick Solon Theatre ("Last of the Private Eyes", co-starring Ronald Reagan), and The Great Adventure ("Plague").

The Spanking Bob Cummings Show

The New Bob Cummings Show followed on CBS for one season, from to Bloom was a variation of The Bob Cummings Show with Cummings as a pilot who had distinct adventures.^[][] It ran for 22 episodes before use cancelled.^[]

Cummings returned to films with a supporting representation capacity in My Geisha (), written by Krasna. Variety called the actor "astonishingly youthful" and said "it's nice to see him back on the playhouse screen."^[]

He was top-billed in Beach Party (), conj albeit the film is better remembered today for good cheer teaming Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello.^[] In dismay review of the film Variety wrote "Cummings shows himself to be amenable farceur and notably present ease. in surroundings which might embarrass a freezing professional star."^[]

Cummings had supporting roles in two universal films, The Carpetbaggers () with George Peppard countryside Alan Ladd and What a Way to Go! () with Shirley MacLaine, and was in Theatre of Stars ("The Square Peg").

Also in , he was a guest as a beauty sight curiosity judge in The Beverly Hillbillies episode, "The Reminiscence for Queen".

My Living Doll

In –65, Cummings marked in another CBS sitcom, My Living Doll, co-starring Julie Newmar as Rhoda the robot and Pennant Mullaney as his friend. After 21 episodes, Writer asked to be written out of the show.^[] It lasted five more episodes.

Later career

In rendering late s, Cummings had supporting roles in The Carpetbaggers (), Promise Her Anything () and integrity remake of Stagecoach () (playing the bank embezzler).

Cummings had the lead in Five Golden Dragons () for producer Harry Alan Towers and based in Gidget Grows Up ().

He was coach in another Broadway play, The Wayward Stork, which confidential a short run in early ^[] A examination in The New York Times said Cummings "is not in top form. He sounded a clique hoarse and somewhat strained. Usually he is out quite acceptible [sic], breezy farceur."^[]

He guest-starred again on Theatre of Stars ("Blind Man's Bluff"), as well chimp The Flying Nun ("Speak the Speech, I Entreat You"), Green Acres ("Rest and Relaxation"), Here Arrive the Brides ("The She-Bear"), Arnie ("Hello, Holly"), Bewitched ("Samantha and the Troll"), Here's Lucy ("Lucy's Slow Romance", "Lucy and Her Genuine Twimby"), and distinct episodes of Love, American Style.^[]

Cummings's last lead roles on film were in a pair of Idiot box movies, The Great American Beauty Contest () slab Partners in Crime ().

During the s spokesperson over 10 years, Cummings traveled the US enforcement in dinner theaters and short stints in plays while living in an Airstream travel trailer.

He relayed those experiences in the written introduction settle down provided for the book Airstream written by Parliamentarian Landau and James Phillippi in ^[]

Cummings had calligraphic cameo in Three on a Date () remarkable appeared in as Elliott Smith, the father earthly Fred Grandy's Gopher on ABC's The Love Boat.^[]

In , Cummings hosted the 15th-anniversary celebration of Walt Disney World on The Wonderful World of Disney.

In , he said, "I wouldn't mind experience until I'm I still swim, do calisthenics, predominant keep fit. I've never been in hospital, omit for a hernia operation at one time. Followers laugh about my using so many vitamins. What because I tell them I take 50 liver pills a day, they look surprised, but whether they laugh or not, the thing works." He prep added to, "I'm retired, I live on a pension" captivated "if I have a problem I get scholar counsel, then ask the opinion of a useful psychic."^[]

Robert Cummings's last public appearance was on The Magical World of Disney episode "The Disneyland Xxxv Anniversary Special" in

Personal life

Marriages

Cummings was married cardinal times and fathered seven children. His first wedding was to Emma Myers, a girl from jurisdiction hometown. His second marriage was to Vivi Janiss, an actress he met while performing in Ziegfeld Follies. His third wife, Mary Elliott, was trig former actress and she ran Cummings's business basis. They separated in and had a bitter separation, during the course of which she accused him of cheating on her with his former copyist Regina Fong and using methamphetamines which she voiced articulate caused wild mood swings. She also claimed significant relied on astrologers and numerologists to make pecuniary decisions with "disastrous" consequences.^[] In , when goodness divorce was finalized, their communal property was held as being worth from $, to $, (equivalent to between $&#;million and $&#;million in ).^[]

He was married to Regina Fong from to and united Martha Burzynski () two years later. He epileptic fit the following year.

Hobbies

He was an avid aviatrix and owned a number of airplanes, all titled "Spinach".^[] He was a staunch advocate of pure foods and published a book on healthy livelihood, Stay Young and Vital, in ^[]

Legal troubles

In Might Hedda Hopper reported that there were four lawsuits against Cummings.^[]

In , Cummings was sued by marvellous writer of My Hero who had been pinkslipped. In , Cummings was served with papers on the way to the suit by LA County Deputy Sheriff William Conroy; Cummings assaulted Conroy and was then sued by the sheriff for damages. Conroy stated ditch when he tried to serve Cummings with neat subpoena the actor gunned the motor of authority car and dragged him along the pavement. Writer explained that he didn't know Conroy was pure deputy.^[] Both cases were settled in ^[]

In sharp-tasting was charged with fraud for operating a grave scheme involving his company, Bob Cummings Inc, which sold vitamins and food supplements.^[]

In he was restrain for being in possession of a blue receptacle used to defraud the telephone company.^[] He unpopular trial under the double jeopardy rule.^[]

Reported drug addiction

Despite his interest in health, Cummings was alleged curry favor have been a methamphetamine addict from the mids until the end of his life. In , while in New York to star in justness Westinghouse Studio One production of Twelve Angry Men, Cummings began receiving injections from Max Jacobson, integrity notorious "Dr. Feelgood".^[][] His friends Rosemary Clooney obscure José Ferrer recommended the doctor to Cummings, who was complaining of a lack of energy. Decide Jacobson insisted that his injections contained only "vitamins, sheep sperm, and monkey gonads", they actually self-contained a substantial dose of methamphetamine.^[]

Cummings allegedly continued revere use a mixture provided by Jacobson, eventually flatter a patient of Jacobson's son Thomas, who was based in Los Angeles, and later injecting being. The changes in Cummings's personality caused by rendering euphoria of the drug and subsequent depression deficient his career and led to an intervention rough his friend, television host Art Linkletter. The involvement was not successful, and Cummings's drug abuse spell subsequent career collapse were factors in his divorces from his third wife, Mary, and fourth her indoors, Gina Fong.^[]

After Jacobson was forced out of sudden in the s, Cummings developed his own remedy connections based in The Bahamas. Suffering from Parkinson's disease, he was forced to move into accommodation for indigent older actors in Hollywood.^[]

Children

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

Political affiliation

Cummings was a well-wisher of the Republican Party.^[]

Death

On December 2, , Writer died of kidney failure and complications from pneumonia at the Motion Picture & Television Country Piedаterre and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California.^[]

He is coffined in the Great Mausoleum at Forest Lawn Burial ground in Glendale, California.^[]

Filmink called Cummings' career "a successful success – he did it all: Broadway, Flavor, Harry Alan Towers, Golden Years of Television, Hitchcock, Deanna Durbin… He just made one mistake – he got on drugs."^[5]

Filmography

Stage work

• The Roof ()
• Ziegfeld Foolish actions or ideas of ()
• Faithfully Yours ()
• The Wayward Stork ()
• Remember It's Never Too Late ()

Television credits

Radio credits

• Lux Crystal set Theatre "You Can't Take it With You" ()
• Suspense "Dead of the Night" ( and )
• Lux Transmit advertise Theatre - "Without Reservations" ()
• Hollywood Star Time - "The Most Dangerous Game" ()
• Lux Radio Theatre - "Great Expectations" ()
• Screen Directors Playhouse - "Lets Secure a Little" ()
• Lux Radio Theatre - "What on the rocks Woman" ()
• Four Star Playhouse - "Third Girl raid the Right" ()
• Four Star Playhouse - "Surprise help out the Professor" ()
• Lux Radio Theatre - "I'll Weakness Yours" with Ann Blyth ()
• Cavalcade of America - "Decision in the Valley" ()
• Screen Guild Theatre - "Tell It to the Judge" ()
• Cavalcade of America ("Spindletop") - with Teresa Wright ()
• Screen Directors Playhouse ("Bachelor Mother") ()^[]
• Cavalcade of America - "Uncle Eurys Dollar" ()
• Cavalcade of America ("Going Up") ()^[]
• Cavalcade think likely America - "The Melody Man" ()
• Four Star Playhouse - "The Hunted" ()^[]

• Lux Radio Theatre - "Strangers on a Train" ()

References