Bobby Van | |
|---|---|
 Van in 1975 | |
| Born | Robert Jack Stein (1928-12-06)December 6, 1928 The Bronx, New York, U.S. |
| Died | July 31, 1980(1980-07-31) (aged 51) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Resting place | Mount Sinai Memorial Park |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1949–1980 |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 2 |
Robert Jack Stein (December 6, 1928 – July 31, 1980), known by his legalized stage nameBobby Van, was an actor and dancer, best known for his career onBroadway, in film musicals and television from the 1950s through the 1970s. He was also a game show host and panelist.
Van was born to Jewishvaudeville parents inThe Bronx, New York City,[1] and grew upbackstage, witnessing many memorableDepression-era acts. Originally, Van tookKing as his stage name (after his father's stage name, from thetrio "Gordon, Reed and King"). He finally opted forVan, after seeing aVan Johnson poster hanging in his sister's bedroom.[2] In a 1976 interview, Van said he had legalized his name change from 'Stein'.[3]
Van began his career as a musician, playing trumpet. When his band played a venue in theCatskills,[1] Van was asked to fill in as a song and dance man for another act. His act drew rave reviews and gave Van a thrill performing live as a solo act. He went on to appear in severalBroadway musicals.[4]
In the early 1950s, Van received a contract withMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer and appeared in several films there, including the title role inThe Affairs of Dobie Gillis in 1953[5] and roles in the musicalsBecause You're Mine andKiss Me, Kate.[1] In 2010, reviewer Hal Erickson noted that "Van will always be remembered as the ecstatic young fellow who made like a human pogo stick during an expansive production number inSmall Town Girl (1953)."[6]
Van appeared withMickey Rooney[6] in films and television during the 1960s, including three episodes of Rooney'sABC sitcomMickey, as a freeloading brother-in-law. Van also did some choreography, as had his father years earlier.
In the 1970s, Van and his second wife,Elaine Joyce, made several appearances on game shows such asTattletales andMatch Game. Van also hosted the TV game showsShowoffs,[7]The Fun Factory, andMake Me Laugh.[8]
Van starred in the 1971 Broadway revival ofNo, No, Nanette, for which he was nominated for aTony Award.[4] In 1973, he appeared in the musical remake ofLost Horizon,[1] his final appearance in a film musical. His novelty dance number fromSmall Town Girl (1953) was featured in the MGM retrospectiveThat's Entertainment, Part II (1976). In 1978, Van portrayed swindler Warren Custer in the episode "The Two-Million-Dollar Stowaway" of theNBC crime drama seriesThe Eddie Capra Mysteries. In 1979, he appeared in the originalBattlestar Galactica episode "Greetings from Earth" as the robot Hector, working alongside veteran song and dance manRay Bolger (Vector).
In June 1977, Van appeared in the musicalAnything Goes as Billy Crocker at theKenley Players in Dayton, Ohio.[9]
In August 1979, Van appeared in the musicalDamn Yankees as Young Joe with the San Jose Civic Light Opera in San Jose, California. His co-star was Van Johnson. Bobby Van and wife Elaine Joyce appeared inLove Boat S2 E16 "Gopher's Opportunity", as Phil and Melody Livingston, hoteliers who want to hire Gopher. The episode was originally broadcast on January 20, 1979.
Van married starlet Diane Garrett in September 1952, though the marriage was kept secret until January 1953.[10][11]
Van and Garrett attempted to have children for several years and, after losing a baby in 1956,[12] they adopted son Peter in 1961, nine months after taking him in as a five-day-old baby.[13]
In 1959, both Van and Garrett were injured when their car was rear-ended, and sued the other driver, seeking $107,000.[14] Garrett said she was unable to move for three weeks after the accident; both she and Van claimed back injury. Van was awarded $1,500 and Garrett was awarded $5,000.[15]Judy Garland, who was a passenger in the Vans' vehicle, testified in court for them.[14]
The couple separated in January 1964[16] and a divorce was final on September 27, 1966,[citation needed] despite rumors of an early reconsideration and a reconciliation in July 1964.[17][18] Van had returned to town as his son was undergoing emergency hip surgery, not to reconcile.[18] In November 1964,Walter Winchell wrote in his column that Van "(recently divorced after a dozen years) hopes to persuade actressEmmaline Henry to be his new spouse."[19]
Van married Broadway actressElaine Joyce in 1968. An announcement was issued on October 30, 1967,[20][full citation needed] that they had wed, but they had not. In November, a Hollywood column mentioned that Van said that he and Joyce planned to marry on December 2, 1967.[21][full citation needed] In February 1968, it was announced that they would marry in Los Angeles on March 21.[22] Van and Joyce were finally married in Las Vegas on May 1, 1968.[23] One week later, Van filed for an annulment citing "fraud" and a lack of consummation, claiming that Joyce "told him she wanted to have children but this was only to induce him into marriage".[23] An article states that Van said that Joyce felt "so unhappy and insecure, it's the only thing to do."[24] A preliminary divorce was filed in 1968, with Joyce listed as Elaine Pinchot.[citation needed] The divorce was never finalized, and the couple remained married until Van's death in 1980.[25] Their daughter Taylor was born in 1976.[8][26]
In February 1980, Van began to experience headaches that continued for two weeks before being diagnosed with a malignantbrain tumor. Van hid his illness and continued to work, including as host of that year'sMrs. America Pageant. He later lost control of his left side and used a wheelchair.
Van died in Los Angeles on July 31, 1980.[25][27] He is interred atMount Sinai Memorial Park Cemetery,[28] aJewish cemetery in Los Angeles. In an interview from December 1981, Joyce said, "Bobby and I would have been married forever. There was no question about it".[29]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | Skirts Ahoy! | Himself | Uncredited |
| Because You're Mine | Artie Pilcer | ||
| 1953 | Small Town Girl | Ludwig Schlemmer | |
| The Affairs of Dobie Gillis | Dobie Gillis | ||
| Kiss Me Kate | 'Gremio' | ||
| 1961 | The Ladies Man | Choreographer | |
| 1961 | Yves Montand on Broadway | Himself | Guest performer[30] |
| 1962 | It's Only Money | Choreographer | |
| 1966 | The Navy vs. the Night Monsters | Ens. Rutherford Chandler | |
| 1972 | Doomsday Machine | Danny | |
| 1973 | Lost Horizon | Harry Lovett | |
| 1975 | The Lion Roars Again | MGM short subject |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | TheGeorge Gobel Show | Himself | Season 4, episode 4 |
| 1960 | The Revlon Revue | Himself | Season 1, episode 5 |
| 1962 | The Tonight Show | Himself | 1 episode (between hostsPaar and Carson) |
| 1963, 1976 | The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson | Himself | 2 episodes |
| 1969 | TheJonathan Winters Show | Himself | Season 2, episode 14 |
| 1975 | 29th Annual Tony Awards | Himself | One of several hosts |
| 1975 | The Invisible Man | Tony Bernard | Episode: "Eyes Only" |
| 1976 | Wonder Woman | Monty Burns | Episode: "Beauty on Parade"[31] |
| 1978 | The Hardy Boys | Tom | Season 3, 2 episodes |
| 1978 | CHiPs | Eddie | Episode: "Trick or Trick" |
| 1978 | Vega$ | Eddie Banning | Episode: "Love, Laugh, and Die" |
| 1978 | Flying High | Meltzer | Episode: "The Marcy Connection" |
| 1979 | Battlestar Galactica | Hector | Episode: "Greetings from Earth"[32] |
| 1979 | The Love Boat | Phil Livingston | Episode: "Gopher's Opportunity" |
| 1980 | Beyond Westworld | Danny | Episode: "My Brother's Keeper" |
| 1980 | The Hustler of Muscle Beach | Emcee | TV movie |
| 1980 | Mrs. America Pageant | Himself | Host |
Her medics have given Diana restored-to-health certificate following the cancellation of the Vans' stork date.
