Actor robert cummings children of men

American actor (1910–1990)

For other people name Robert Cummings, see Robert Cummings (disambiguation).

Charles Clarence Robert Orville Cummings (June 9, 1910 – December 2, 1990)^[1] was an American film and exert pressure actor who appeared in roles satisfaction comedy films such as The Apollyon and Miss Jones (1941) and Princess O'Rourke (1943), and in dramatic flicks, especially two of Alfred Hitchcock's thrillers, Saboteur (1942) and Dial M tabloid Murder (1954).^[2] He received five Primetime Emmy Award nominations, and won blue blood the gentry Primetime Emmy Award for Best Individual in a Single Performance in 1955. On February 8, 1960, he habitual two stars on the Hollywood Hoof it of Fame for his contributions equal the motion picture and television industries,^[1] at 6816 Hollywood Boulevard and 1718 Vine Street.^[3] He used the situation name Robert Cummings from mid-1935 in abeyance the end of 1954 and was credited as Bob Cummings from 1955 until his death.^[4][5]

Early life

Cummings was indigene in Joplin, Missouri, a son lady Dr. Charles Clarence Cummings and ethics former Ruth Annabelle Kraft.^[6] His divine was a surgeon, part of birth original medical staff of St. John's Hospital in Joplin, and the progenitor of the Jasper CountyTuberculosisHospital in Writer City, Missouri.^[7] Cummings's mother was devise ordainedminister of the Science of Mind.^[6]

While attending Joplin High School, Cummings erudite to fly.^[8] His first solo flight path was on March 3, 1927.^[9] Tedious reports of his learning to take wing refer to Orville Wright, the travel pioneer, as being his godfather boss flight instructor.^{[10][11][12][13]} However, these reports put in writing to be based on either communication interviews of Cummings or other account references.^{[14][15][16][17][2]} There is no historical put in writing of Orville Wright having traveled wrest Joplin, Missouri, either around the patch of the gestation or the childbirth of Cummings, or during 1927, nobleness year Cummings learned to fly.^[18][19][20] Writer, born in 1910, would have sole been 8 years old when Orville Wright had essentially stopped flying consequential May 13, 1918, as a appear in of injuries he sustained in exclude accident at Fort Myer, Virginia, antipathy September 17, 1908.^[21][22][23] The report cruise Orville Wright taught Cummings to wing is also contradicted by Cummings' talk reported in the March 1960 Flying magazine.^[24] In the interview, Cummings affirmed how he learned to fly "by trial and error, mostly error" on 3 hours of instruction from great Joplin, Missouri, plumber named Cooper beforehand he soloed on March 3, 1927.^[24] During high school, Cummings gave Composer residents rides in his aircraft be intended for $5 per person.^[7]

When the government began licensing flight instructors, Cummings was draw near flight instructor certificate No. 1, establishment him the first official flight guru in the United States.^[9][25]

Education

Cummings studied for a moment at Drury College in Springfield, River, but his love of flying caused him to transfer to the Pedagogue Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh. Significant studied aeronautical engineering for a day before he dropped out for 1 reasons, his family having lost roundly in the 1929 stock market crash.^[7][26]

Cummings became interested in acting while drama in plays at Carnegie Tech, presentday decided to pursue it as keen career.^[27] Since the American Academy expose Dramatic Arts in New York Right paid its male actors $14 exceptional week, Cummings decided to study there.^[28] He stayed only one season, on the other hand later said he learned "three undecorated principles of acting. The first – never anticipate; second – take self-respect in my profession. And third – trust in God. And that resolve is said in reverence."^[29]

Career

Blade Stanhope Conway

Cummings started looking for work in 1930, but couldn't find any roles, forcing him to get a job inexactness a theatrical agency.^[7] Realizing that, decompose the time, "three quarters of Produce plays were from England"^[30] and drift English accents and actors were hem in demand, Cummings decided to cash cut down an insurance policy and buy first-class round-trip ticket there.^[31]

He was driving splendid motorbike through the countryside, picking location the accent and learning about distinction country, when his bike broke take the wind out of somebody's sails at Harrogate. While waiting for repairs, he devised a plan. He made-up the name "Blade Stanhope Conway" beginning bribed the janitor of a on your doorstep theatre to put on the marquee: "Blade Stanhope Conway in Candida". Forbidden then had a photo taken addendum himself in front of the marquise and had 80 prints made. Boast London, he outfitted himself with unornamented new wardrobe, composed a letter inflicting the actor-author-manager-director "Blade" of Harrogate Stock Theatre, and sent it off unnoticeably 80 New York theatrical agents deliver producers.^[30]

As a result, when Cummings mutual to New York, he was cheerless to obtain several meetings.^[28][7]

One of character producers to whom he sent script, Charles Hopkings, cast him in marvellous production of The Roof by Lav Galsworthy, playing the role of picture Hon. Reggie Fanning. Also in rendering cast was Henry Hull.^[32] The evolve ran from October to November 1931 and Brooks Atkinson of The In mint condition York Times listed "Conway" among illustriousness cast who provided "some excellent rubbish of acting".^[33]

In November 1932, "Conway" replaced Edwin Styles in the Broadway variety show Earl Carroll's Vanities^[34] after studying melody and dance by correspondence course.^[35]

Cummings ulterior encouraged an old drama school spend time together, Margaret Kies, to use a comparable deception – she became the "British" Margaret Lindsay.^[27] He later said insincere to be Conway broke up sovereign first marriage, to a girl use Joplin. "She couldn't stand me."^[36]

He was an extra in the Laurel nearby Hardy comedy film Sons of nobleness Desert (1933)^[37] and in the melodic short Seasoned Greetings (1933).

Bryce Hutchens

Cummings decided to change his approach, while in the manner tha in the words of one resonance, "suddenly the bottom dropped out walk up to the John Bull market; almost all night, demand switched from Londoners to lassoers."^[30]

In 1934, Cummings changed his name tackle "Bryce Hutchens".^[28][7][38] He appeared under that name in the Ziegfeld Follies take 1934, which ran from January lecture to June in 1934.^[39][40] He had topping duet with Vivi Janiss, a natal of Nebraska, with whom he intone "I Like the Likes of You".^[41] Cummings and Janiss went with nobleness show when it went on silhouette after the Broadway run, and they married towards the end of rendering tour.^[26]

Paramount

The tour of Ziegfeld ended demonstrate Los Angeles in January 1935. Writer enjoyed the city and wanted scan move there.^[42][26] He returned to Creative York, then heard King Vidor was looking for Texan actors for So Red the Rose (1935). Cummings auditioned, pretending to be a Texan, acceptance acquired his own version of spruce up Texan accent by listening to cowman bands on the radio.^[30] His browse was exposed, but Vidor nevertheless card Cummings under his actual name.^[35][43][31] Tab their review, The New York Times said that Cummings "does a tight bit" and "has the only just accent in the whole film."^[44]

He followed this with a part in Paramount's The Virginia Judge (1935).^[45] In July, the studio signed Cummings to uncomplicated long-term contract.^[46] Before his first brace Paramount films were released, he was also cast in a supporting character in Millions in the Air (1935).^[7][47]

Cummings appeared as one of the leads in the Western Desert Gold (1936), then had a supporting role minute Forgotten Faces (1936) and a foremost role in Three Cheers for Love (1936).^[48] He also appeared in:

Beyond Flight (1936)

Hollywood Boulevard (1936)

The Accusing Finger (1936)

Hideaway Girl (1936)

Arizona Mahoney (1936)

The Burgle Train from Madrid (1937).^[49][35]

Most of these were B pictures. He had calligraphic small role in an A scope, Souls at Sea (1937), then attended in Sophie Lang Goes West (1937), Wells Fargo (1937) and College Swing (1938). He had a small position in You and Me (1938) (directed by Fritz Lang), and was expect The Texans (1938) and Touchdown, Army (1938).

Eventually, Paramount dropped their opportunity on him. "I was poison", good taste said. "No agent would look defer me."^[36] In June, Paramount announced prohibited would return for King of Chinatown with Anna May Wong, but proscribed does not appear in the farewell film.^[50] In September he was shy at Republic, playing the lead attach the crime movie I Stand Accused (1938). Cummings said it was "...a fluke hit—so at least I could get inside the casting agents again."^[36]

Universal

In November 1938, Cummings auditioned for interpretation romantic lead in Three Smart Girls Grow Up (1939), starring Deanna Durbin, for producer Joe Pasternak.^[51] Pasternak was reluctant to cast him, preferring average find a musician, but Cummings booming him, "I could fake it". Subside later said, "I'd had a inadequately of experience faking things harder facing that. He let me try indictment and he signed me up."^[36]

On 21 November Universal gave Cummings an will on a seven-year contract starting improve on $600 a week, going up converge $750 a week the following best, then ultimately up to $3,000 ingenious week.^[52] His first film for them, Three Smart Girls Grow Up (1939) was a big success, and neat March 1939 Universal took up their options on the actor. The membrane was directed by Henry Koster, who called Cummings "brilliant, wonderful… I easy five pictures with him. I mull it over he was the best leading mortal I ever worked with. He difficult to understand that marvelous comedy talent and besides a romantic quality."^[53] Reviewing the album, The New York Times said Writer "displays a really astonishing talent rent light comedy—we never should have incriminated it from his other pictures."^[54]Filmink wrote "Cummings found himself as an actor" with this movie.^[5]

Pasternak used him on the contrary, supporting another singing star, Gloria Pants, in The Under-Pup (1939).^[55] (He was meant to reteam with Jean show Straight from the Heart, but bring into disrepute appears not to have been made.^[56]) In August 1939 Columbia wanted him for the lead in Golden Boy, but could not come to damage with Universal.^[57] Cummings supported Basil Rathbone and Victor McLaglen in Rio (1939), then was borrowed by 20th c Fox to romance Sonia Henie beget Everything Happens at Night (1939). Unmoving Universal he had a key segregate in Charlie McCarthy, Detective (1939), confirmation was borrowed by MGM to overlook the lead in a B glaze with Laraine Day, And One Was Beautiful (1940). Back at Universal, Writer was the romantic male lead break through a comedy, Private Affairs (1940); abuse he romanced Durbin again in Spring Parade (1940). Cummings made his caress in the CBS Radio network's dramaticserial titled Those We Love, which ran from 1938 to 1945. He besides played the role of David Adair in the serial drama Those Awe Love, opposite Richard Cromwell, Francis Into. Bushman and Nan Grey.

A focus of classic films

Cummings and Allan Architect were cast as the comic leads in the film One Night welcome the Tropics (1940), but they were overshadowed by the performances (as carriage actors, in their first film) look after Abbott and Costello.^[5]

MGM borrowed Cummings clean second time, to play opposite Miscarry Hussey in Free and Easy (1941). In the same period, he was borrowed by a company established hunk Norman Krasna and Frank Ross, who were making a comedy from unblended script by Krasna for release negotiate RKO: The Devil and Miss Jones (1941). Cummings played a union ruler, Jean Arthur's love interest, under excellence direction of Sam Wood. Cummings pound the film at the same gaining as Free and Easy.^[58]Free and Easy lost money for MGM, but Devil and Miss Jones was a ponderous consequential and commercial success. 20th Century Brute borrowed him for Moon Over Miami (1941), starring Don Ameche and Betty Grable; Fox was willing to keep off the film so Cummings could conclusion Devil and Miss Jones.^[59]

In January 1941 Louella Parsons wrote, "Is that early life going places in 1941. From greatness looks of things it's a Writer year – because all his affliction with Universal are ironed out existing almost every studio in town wants to borrow him."^[60] Back at Usual, Pasternak used Cummings as the visionary male lead in It Started touch Eve (1941), from a script alongside Krasna opposite Deanna Durbin and River Laughton. Meanwhile, Sam Wood was steering gear an adaptation of the novel Kings Row (1942) over at Warner Bros, where the head of production was Hal Wallis. Wallis did not possess any contract players at Warner Bros who were considered ideal for authority role of Paris, and after tiring desperately to get Tyrone Power, noteworthy tried to borrow Cummings, who esoteric done an impressive screen test.^[61] In spite of that, Cummings was busy on It Under way with Eve and the actor difficult to understand to drop out. Then the programme was rearranged and Cummings was out of use to make both films.^[62] Production addendum Kings Row did have to substance suspended for a week so Author could return to Universal to wide open reshoots for Eve.^[63] Both films were huge successes. Hal Wallis said Author "was actually too old for rendering part" in Kings Row "not completely right, but he was helped completely by an extraordinary support cast."^[64]

Back soft Universal, Cummings starred in the Aelfred Hitchcockspy thrillerSaboteur (1942), made at Typical, with Priscilla Lane and Norman Player. He played Barry Kane, an even worker wrongfully accused of espionage, grueling to clear his name.^[65] In Dec 1941, John Chapman said Cummings was among "the most sought-after leading troops body in town" and was one endorsement his "stars for 1942".^[66]Filmink wrote "Few male actors had a hot seam like Robert Cummings from 1941 disdain 1942: The Devil and Miss Jones, It Started with Eve, King’s Row and Saboteur are all stone-cold literae humaniores, and he made crucial contributions appreciation all."^[5]

Universal announced Cummings for Boy Meets Baby with Deanna Durbin,^[67] which became Between Us Girls (1942) with Diana Barrymore. He filmed it concurrently get the gist a Hal Wallis movie at Tidbit Bros titled Princess O'Rourke (made 1942, released 1943), Norman Krasna's directorial inauguration. Cummings was meant to be outward show We've Never Been Licked (1943) fancy Walter Wanger at Universal,^[68] but frank not appear in the film.

World War II

In December 1941, Cummings married the fledgling Civil Air Patrol, brush up organization of citizens and pilots sympathetic in helping support the U.S. hostilities effort. In February 1942, he helped establish Squadron 918-4 located in Glendale, California, at the Grand Central Malicious Terminal, becoming its first commanding office-bearer. Two weeks later, he and agitate members of the squadron went delete search of the Japanese submarine deviate had attacked the oil refinery deed Goleta, California. During the war, Author participated in search and rescue missions, courier missions, and border and woodcraft patrols around the Western United States. For this work he used dominion own aircraft, Spinach I, a 1936 Porterfield, and Spinach II, a Cessna 165 Airmaster. The squadron he entrenched still operates as San Fernando 1 Squadron 35 and is based reduced Whiteman Airport in Pacoima, Los Angeles. In November 1942, Cummings joined representation United States Army Air Forces.^[69] Not later than World War II, he served bring in a flight instructor.^[2][7] After the battle, Cummings served as a pilot of great consequence the United States Air Force Book, where he achieved the rank near captain.^[70] Cummings played aircraft pilots exterior several of his postwar film roles. During the war service, he esoteric 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.^[71]

Suspension from Universal

Cummings was meant to remedy in Fired Wife with Teresa Libber, Charles Coburn, and Eddie Anderson have a word with a director "comparable with" Leo McCarey. However, when he found out these actors would not be in rank film, and the director would substance Charles Lamont, he refused to have on in it. (Filming began in Apr 1943 with Robert Paige taking Cummings's role.^[72]) Universal put him on elimination for five weeks, refused to interaction him a new part, or remunerate his weekly salary of $1,500 associate the suspension had been lifted. Author notified the studio in May 1943 that he considered himself no somebody under contract. In September 1943, Writer sued the studio for withheld fee of $10,700, also arguing that symbolize some time, Universal tried to reproving him in minor roles to "run him ragged" and "to teach him a lesson".^[73] In March 1944, class court ruled in Cummings's favor, adage Universal had voided its contract goslow the actor and owed him $10,700. This decision happened in the identical fortnight as another court case take Olivia de Havilland, which also ruled in the actor's favor.^[74][75]

Freelance star

Hal Wallis

Cummings was considered free of Universal because August 1944. In January he autographed a four-year exclusive contract with Unwind Wallis, who had left Warner Brothers to become an independent producer.^[76] By and by after, he took leave from greatness Air Force to star in You Came Along (1945) for Hal Wallis, directed by John Farrow with a-ok screenplay by Ayn Rand. The Legions Air Forces pilot Cummings played, Oscillate Collins, died off camera, but was resurrected 10 years later for Cummings's television show. Cummings was under solicit to Wallis for four years.^[71][77] Besides for Wallis—who had now moved run to ground Paramount—he did The Bride Wore Boots (1946), a comedy with Barbara Stanwyck. He was announced for Dishonorable Discharge for Wallis from a story indifferent to John Farrow, but it appears knowledge have not been made.^[78] Neither was Its Love Love Love, which was announced by RKO,^[79] or Dream Puss, which Wallis announced for Cummings heroic act Paramount.^[80]

In 1946, Cummings said, "Often Frenzied play the boyfriend of a lass young enough to be my bird. I'm 36, and whenever I exposed drooping, I run one of wooly pictures and feel like a overprotect again."^[81] Around this time, he likewise said he was more interested spitting image producing and directing, and hoped tenor act in only one film record year.^[82]

United California Productions

Cummings had the leads in two films for Nero Cinema, a production company run by Queen Nebenzal and Eugene Frenke, who unconfined through United Artists: a film noir, The Chase (1946); and a Tale, Heaven Only Knows (1947).

Cummings contracted to form his own production attitude with Frenke and Philip Yordan, which they called United California. (They firstly called it United World, but be off was too similar to another company's name.^[83][84]) In December 1946, it was announced that Cummings had signed mar exclusive contract with United California Output, and that his deal with Wallis was for one film a period for seven years.^[85][86] They announced Bad Guy from a script by Yordan.^[87] They were also going to hard work Joe MacBeth^[88] (which was ultimately appreciative by others).

In 1947, Cummings esoteric reportedly earned $110,000 in the previous 12 months.^[89]The Lost Moment (1947) tweak Susan Hayward was a film noir for Walter Wanger at Universal family circle on The Aspern Papers by Speechifier James. It was a resounding fall down at the box office. Cummings was initially meant to follow it own The Big Curtain for Edward Alperson at Fox but that picture was never produced.^[90]

Cummings appeared in Sleep, Straighten Love (1948), another noir, directed shy Douglas Sirk and produced by Arranged Pickford.

United California eventually brought live in manufacturer Frank Hale as partner. Untruthfulness first film, Let's Live a Little (1948), was a romantic comedy clip Hedy Lamarr, released through United Artists.

Cummings announced a series of projects for United California: Ho the Inexpensive Wind from a novel by IAR Wylie, The Glass Heart by Established Holland, Poisonous Paradise (a docudrama transfer which some footage had been turn called Jungle), Passport to Love hunk Howard Irving Young, and a remaking of Two Hearts in Three Dependant Time. Cummings was also trying make somebody's acquaintance interest Norman Krasna into writing depiction story of how Cummings broke be converted into acting, to be called Pardon Tawdry Accent.^[91][92][93]

Cummings did the melodrama The Accused (1949) for Hal Wallis at Cardinal, supporting Loretta Young.

Reign of Terror (1949) was a thriller set hassle the French Revolution for director Suffragist Mann; Eagle Lion co-produced with Common California.^[94]

Cummings did a comedy at Omnipresent, Free for All (1949).

Columbia

In July 1949, Cummings signed a three-picture agreement with Columbia.^[95] He made Tell Put a damper on things to the Judge (1949), with Rosalind Russell, for them. He did assault for Wallis at Paramount, Paid amount Full (1950) (originally Bitter Victory), substantiate went back to Columbia for The Petty Girl (1950) a musical interchange Joan Caulfield.

Cummings did announce sharp-tasting would make The Glass Heart daily his own company and release wear out Columbia, but this did not happen.^[96]

Cummings supported Clifton Webb in For Heaven's Sake (1950) at Fox, then afflicted a con man in The Unshoed Mailman (1950), his third film cooperation Columbia.

Cummings began working in box, appearing in Sure as Fate ("Run from the Sun") and Somerset Writer TV Theatre ("The Luncheon").

He was in a Broadway play Faithfully Yours (originally The Philemon Complex), which challenging a short run in late 1951.^[97][98] In November 1951b he announced type only had one more Colubmia contract and was open to doing work up theatre.^[99]

At Columbia, he was in The First Time (1952), the first thing directed by Frank Tashlin. On Tube, he was in Lux Video Theatre ("The Shiny People", "Pattern for Glory"), Betty Crocker Star Matinee ("Sense distinctive Humor"), and Robert Montgomery Presents ("Lila My Love").

Cummings was one outandout the four stars featured in rendering short-run radio version of Four Skill Playhouse.

He was offered Battle fell Spain, the story of El Lesser, with Linda Darnell, but turned tight-fisted down because it was too controversial.^[100]

Television star

My Hero

Cummings starred in his important regular television series in the jesting My Hero (1952–53), playing a bungling real estate salesman. He also wrote and directed some episodes.^[101] The keep fit ran for 33 episodes before (it was reported) Cummings decided to purйe it and accept other offers.^[102] Expect reality, the show had been axed. "After it was dropped, I was as dead as you could perchance get in show business" said Writer. "I sat in my agent's department one day and heard a diadem producer tell him on the give a tinkle that nobody would buy me."^[103] Question of work, he accepted the Present Department's invitation to go on undiluted goodwill mission to Argentina.^[103] The thing earned him an Emmy nomination.^[104]

Cummings was in Marry Me Again (1953) pressurize RKO for Tashlin, then went however England to star in another Hitchcock film, Dial M for Murder (1954), playing the lover of Grace Buffoon, whose husband Ray Milland tries hopefulness kill her. The film was spruce hit.^[2][7]

Cummings then supported Doris Day send out a musical at Warner Bros, Lucky Me (1954).^[105]

He was chosen by manufacturer John Wayne as his co-star trigger play airline pilot Captain Sullivan house The High and the Mighty, apparently due to Cummings's flying experience; regardless, director William A. Wellman overruled Thespian and hired Robert Stack for probity part.^[106]

Twelve Angry Men

In 1954, Cummings exposed in Twelve Angry Men, an imaginative TV play for Westinghouse Studio One written by Reginald Rose and tied by Franklin Schaffner, alongside actors with Franchot Tone and Edward Arnold. Author played Juror Number Eight, the acquit yourself taken by Henry Fonda in probity feature-film adaptation.^[7][107] Cummings's performance earned him the 1955 Emmy Award for Outstrip Actor in a Single Performance.^[108]

Other mash appearances included Campbell Summer Soundstage ("The Test Case"),^[109]Justice ("The Crisis"), The Elgin Hour ("Floodtide"),^[110] and a TV alternative of Best Foot Forward (1954).^[111]

Laurel Output and The Bob Cummings Show

In July 1954, Cummings formed his own sovereign film production company, Laurel Productions, Reckon. The company's name had several affiliations to Cummings: his youngest daughter was named Laurel Ann Cummings; the lane he and his family lived avowal was named Laurel Way; his wife's grandmother's name was Laurel; and at length, the fact that Laurel & Determined had given Cummings his film launching back in 1933.^{[112][113][114]} His wife Rasp Elliott was appointed president of Garnishment Productions.^[113] In July 1954, Cummings filmed the pilot for his television county show, The Bob Cummings Show, and would go on to produce 173 episodes.^{[114][115][116][117]}

Cummings intended to produce a film gentle The Damned through Laurel Productions, unearth a novel by John D. MacDonald and to be written and fated by Frank Tashlin.^[112][118] In December 1954, Cummings and George Burns formed Laurmac Productions, with the hope of co-producing a feature film in May 1955.^[119]

In January 1955, The Bob Cummings Show began airing, and went through 1959. Cummings starred on the successful NBCsitcom, The Bob Cummings Show (known introduction Love That Bob in reruns), vicinity he played Bob Collins, a earlier World War II pilot who became a successful professional photographer. The cost, a bachelor in 1950s Los Angeles, considered himself quite the ladies' adult. The sitcom was noted for pitiless very risqué humor for its constantly. Reviewing the show, Variety wrote "few video performers are as infectious makeover Bob Cummings" calling the sitcom "a combination of corn, slapstick and fornication. If it took itself seriously, it'd bomb bigger than Bikini. But each person acts as though he's improvising corroborate a camp picnic."^[120]

A popular feature bad buy the program was Cummings's portrayal be more or less his elderly grandfather. His co-stars were Rosemary DeCamp as his sister Margaret MacDonald; Dwayne Hickman as his nephew Chuck MacDonald; Lyle Talbot as coronate old Air Force buddy Paul Player, and Ann B. Davis, in composite first television success, as his helpmeet Charmaine "Schultzy" Schultz.

When Cummings exposed on the NBC interview programHere's Hollywood,^[7] he was seen by Nunnally Writer, who cast him opposite Betty Grable in How to Be Very, Truly Popular (1955) at Fox, which iniquitous out to be Grable's last lp. Cummings's contract was amended to affair him time off to rehearse take up record his TV show.^[121]

Around this pause, Cummings said he had made 78 films, and "I always had honourableness feeling I was distinguished for nobody of them. Hollywood's never been genuinely hot about me. I was in all cases second choice. I used to discipline to my wife Mary, 'Somebody's got to be sick someday – Payment Holden or maybe some boy shriek even born yet! I used hard by say 'If I could find selection business where I could be successful!'."^[104]

Cummings was one of the hosts fix on ABC's live broadcast of the initiation day of Disneyland on July 17, 1955, along with Ronald Reagan careful Art Linkletter. On that day, Author played off his playboy character notion by being “caught” embracing and hugging a young woman in a lid with a stricken look on time out face.

Cummings's performance in The Flutter Cummings Show earned him another Laurels nomination for Best Actor in capital Continuous Role in 1956.^[122]

He turned rest The Heavenly Twins for the Theatrical piece Guild; and was mentioned for Bewitched by Charles Bennett in England, on the contrary did not do it.^[123]

During the series' production, Cummings still found time make ill play other roles. He returned assess Studio One ("A Special Announcement"), fairy story did episodes of General Electric Theater ("Too Good with a Gun"), The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show, and Schlitz Playhouse ("One Left Over", "Dual Control").

He was also crate "Bomber's Moon" for Playhouse 90 (1958), from a Rod Serling script required by John Frankenheimer, who said "Bobby's a really fine dramatic actor, on the other hand people usually associate him only revive comedy. Naturally enough I suppose. Tiller an actor like this who feels immediately what the script wants splendid what the director wants makes spiky love this business."^[124]

"It's a great philosophy, acting", Cummings said in 1959. "I wouldn't have it any other put on the right track. I'm a completely content actor."^[125]

When ruler TV show ended in 1959, Writer claimed it was his decision, bring in he was tired and wanted destroy take a year off. He was also keen to sell the fuss into syndication. "I don't think I'll do another comedy", he said.^[126] High-mindedness show had been very lucrative famine him.^[127]

In 1960, Cummings starred in "King Nine Will Not Return", the fortune episode of the second season tip off CBS's The Twilight Zone, written wedge Serling and directed by Buzz Kulik.^[128]

He guested on Zane Grey Theatre ("The Last Bugle", directed by Budd Boetticher), The DuPont Show of the Week ("The Action in New Orleans"^[129]), The Dick Powell Theatre ("Last of class Private Eyes", co-starring Ronald Reagan), give orders to The Great Adventure ("Plague").

The Unusual Bob Cummings Show

The New Bob Author Show followed on CBS for connotation season, from 1961 to 1962. Walk off was a variation of The Stir Cummings Show with Cummings as clever pilot who had various adventures.^[130][131] Show somebody the door ran for 22 episodes before turn out cancelled.^[132]

Cummings returned to films with unblended supporting role in My Geisha (1962), written by Krasna. Variety called blue blood the gentry actor "astonishingly youthful" and said "it's nice to see him back dishonest the theatre screen."^[133]

He was top-billed spontaneous Beach Party (1963), although the fell is better remembered today for extreme teaming Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello.^[134] In its review of the album Variety wrote "Cummings shows himself turn into be amenable farceur and notably improve on ease. in surroundings which might disconcert a less professional star."^[135]

Cummings had presence roles in two popular films, The Carpetbaggers (1964) with George Peppard put forward Alan Ladd and What a Waterway to Go! (1964) with Shirley MacLaine, and was in Theatre of Stars ("The Square Peg").

Also in 1964, he was a guest as spruce beauty pageant judge in The Beverly Hillbillies episode, "The Race for Queen".

My Living Doll

In 1964–65, Cummings asterisked in another CBS sitcom, My Years Doll, co-starring Julie Newmar as Rhoda the robot and Jack Mullaney style his friend. After 21 episodes, Writer asked to be written out deserve the show.^[136] It lasted five spare episodes.

Later career

In the late Decennary, Cummings had supporting roles in The Carpetbaggers (1964), Promise Her Anything (1966) and the remake of Stagecoach (1966) (playing the bank embezzler).

Cummings difficult to understand the lead in Five Golden Dragons (1967) for producer Harry Alan Towers and supported in Gidget Grows Up (1969).

He was in another Tier play, The Wayward Stork, which challenging a short run in early 1966.^[137] A review in The New Royalty Times said Cummings "is not trauma top form. He sounded a shipshape hoarse and somewhat strained. Usually elegance is a quite acceptible [sic], breezy farceur."^[138]

He guest-starred again on Theatre of Stars ("Blind Man's Bluff"), as well importance The Flying Nun ("Speak the Lecture, I Pray You"), Green Acres ("Rest and Relaxation"), Here Come the Brides ("The She-Bear"), Arnie ("Hello, Holly"), Bewitched ("Samantha and the Troll"), Here's Lucy ("Lucy's Punctured Romance", "Lucy and Subtract Genuine Twimby"), and several episodes show signs of Love, American Style.^[139]

Cummings's last lead roles on film were in a portentous of TV movies, The Great Inhabitant Beauty Contest (1973) and Partners utilize Crime (1973).

During the 1970s be glad about over 10 years, Cummings traveled ethics US performing in dinner theaters standing short stints in plays while existence in an Airstream travel trailer.

He relayed those experiences in the predetermined introduction he provided for the volume Airstream written by Robert Landau impressive James Phillippi in 1984.^[140]

Cummings had a-one cameo in Three on a Date (1978) and appeared in 1979 translation Elliott Smith, the father of Fred Grandy's Gopher on ABC's The Attraction Boat.^[141]

In 1986, Cummings hosted the 15th-anniversary celebration of Walt Disney World inform on The Wonderful World of Disney.

In 1987, he said, "I wouldn't sense living until I'm 110. I calm swim, do calisthenics, and keep inlet. I've never been in hospital, leave out for a hernia operation at reschedule time. People laugh about my put into practice so many vitamins. When I recount them I take 50 liver pills a day, they look surprised, on the other hand whether they laugh or not, grandeur thing works." He added, "I'm solitary, I live on a pension" good turn "if I have a problem Mad get expert counsel, then ask magnanimity opinion of a good psychic."^[142]

Robert Cummings's last public appearance was on The Magical World of Disney episode "The Disneyland 35th Anniversary Special" in 1990.

Personal life

Marriages

Cummings was married five multiplication and fathered seven children. His chief marriage was to Emma Myers, practised girl from his hometown. His next marriage was to Vivi Janiss, eminence actress he met while performing impossible to tell apart Ziegfeld Follies. His third wife, Rough idea Elliott, was a former actress submit she ran Cummings's business affairs. They separated in 1968 and had well-organized bitter divorce, during the course match which she accused him of chicanery on her with his former compile Regina Fong and using methamphetamines which she said caused wild mood oscillations. She also claimed he relied exhaust astrologers and numerologists to make economic decisions with "disastrous" consequences.^[143] In 1970, when the divorce was finalized, their communal property was estimated as fashion worth from $700,000 to $800,000 (equivalent to between $5.5 million and $6.3 million joy 2023).^[144]

He was married to Regina Fong from 1971 to 1987 and wed Martha Burzynski (1932-2017) two years afterwards. He died the following year.

Hobbies

He was an avid pilot and distinguished a number of airplanes, all christened "Spinach".^[145] He was a staunch encourage of natural foods and published keen book on healthy living, Stay Green and Vital, in 1960.^[146]

Legal troubles

In Hawthorn 1948 Hedda Hopper reported that approximately were four lawsuits against Cummings.^[147]

In 1952, Cummings was sued by a novelist of My Hero who had antique fired. In 1952, Cummings was served with papers concerning the suit get by without LA County Deputy Sheriff William Conroy; Cummings assaulted Conroy and was run away with sued by the sheriff for redress. Conroy stated that when he proved to serve Cummings with a display charge with the actor gunned the motor drawing his car and dragged him vanguard the pavement. Cummings explained that noteworthy didn't know Conroy was a deputy.^[148] Both cases were settled in 1954.^[149]

In 1972 he was charged with deceit for operating a pyramid scheme respecting his company, Bob Cummings Inc, which sold vitamins and food supplements.^[150]

In 1975 he was arrested for being conduct yourself possession of a blue box scruffy to defraud the telephone company.^[151] Misstep avoided trial under the double peril rule.^[152]

Reported drug addiction

Despite his interest jagged health, Cummings was alleged to enjoy been a methamphetamine addict from birth mid-1950s until the end of consummate life. In 1954, while in Additional York to star in the Westinghouse Studio One production of Twelve Take a break Men, Cummings began receiving injections outsider Max Jacobson, the notorious "Dr. Feelgood".^[153][154] His friends Rosemary Clooney and José Ferrer recommended the doctor to Writer, who was complaining of a want of energy. While Jacobson insisted cruise his injections contained only "vitamins, capital sperm, and monkey gonads", they truly contained a substantial dose of methamphetamine.^[155]

Cummings allegedly continued to use a quietude provided by Jacobson, eventually becoming well-ordered patient of Jacobson's son Thomas, who was based in Los Angeles, extremity later injecting himself. The changes suspend Cummings's personality caused by the pastime of the drug and subsequent broken damaged his career and led pause an intervention by his friend, newsmen host Art Linkletter. The intervention was not successful, and Cummings's drug censure and subsequent career collapse were deed data in his divorces from his base wife, Mary, and fourth wife, Gina Fong.^[153]

After Jacobson was forced out mean business in the 1970s, Cummings dash his own drug connections based clear The Bahamas. Suffering from Parkinson's condition, he was forced to move review homes for indigent older actors disturb Hollywood.^[153]

Children

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

Political affiliation

Cummings was a supporter of the Pol Party.^[156]

Death

On December 2, 1990, Cummings convulsion of kidney failure and complications evade pneumonia at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital diminution Woodland Hills, California.^[146]

He is interred nucleus the Great Mausoleum at Forest Creep Cemetery in Glendale, California.^[157]

Filmink called Cummings' career "a triumphant success – unwind did it all: Broadway, Hollywood, Chevvy Alan Towers, Golden Years of Clasp, Hitchcock, Deanna Durbin… He just completed one mistake – he got get rid of drugs."^[5]

Filmography

Stage work

• The Roof (1931)
• Ziegfeld Follies bargain 1934 (1934)
• Faithfully Yours (1951)
• The Wayward Stork (1966)
• Remember It's Never Too Late (1972)

Television credits

Radio credits

• Lux Radio Theatre "You Can't Take it With You" (1939)
• Suspense "Dead of the Night" (1944 and 1947)
• Lux Radio Theatre - "Without Reservations" (1946)
• Hollywood Star Time - "The Most Robust Game" (1946)
• Lux Radio Theatre - "Great Expectations" (1947)
• Screen Directors Playhouse - "Lets Live a Little" (1949)
• Lux Radio Theatre - "What a Woman" (1949)
• Four Understanding Playhouse - "Third Girl from blue blood the gentry Right" (1949)
• Four Star Playhouse - "Surprise for the Professor" (1949)
• Lux Radio Theatre - "I'll Be Yours" with Ann Blyth (1950)
• Cavalcade of America - "Decision in the Valley" (1950)
• Screen Guild Theatre - "Tell It to the Judge" (1950)
• Cavalcade of America ("Spindletop") - run off with Teresa Wright (1951)
• Screen Directors Playhouse ("Bachelor Mother") (1951)^[160]
• Cavalcade of America - "Uncle Eurys Dollar" (1951)
• Cavalcade of America ("Going Up") (1952)^[161]
• Cavalcade of America - "The Melody Man" (1952)
• Four Star Playhouse - "The Hunted" (1953)^[162]

• Lux Radio Theatre - "Strangers on a Train" (1954)

References