Bobby VanBobby Van (December 6, 1928–July 31, 1980) was probably best known for his musical and acting career on Broadway in the 1960s and 1970s. Van was born Robert Jack Stein to vaudeville parents in The Bronx, New York City, and grew up backstage to many memorable depression-era acts. Originally, Van took King as his stage name (after his father's stage name, from the trio "Gordon, Reed and King"). He finally opted for Van, supposedly after seeing a Van Johnson poster hanging in his sister's bedroom. Van began his career as a musician, playing trumpet. When his band played a venue in the Catskills, 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 out of performing live as a solo act. In the early 1950s, while Van was married to starlet Diane Garrett, he appeared in several films and television shows, including the title role in The Affairs of Dobie Gillis (1953). However, most of Van's roles involving singing and dancing, and the era of the Hollywood musical was waning. In the 1960s, Van did comedy work with Mickey Rooney in films and television. He also did some choreography, as his father had years earlier. In 1968, Van married Broadway actress Elaine Joyce, and together they appeared on 1970s game shows like Tattletales and Match Game. Their only child, daughter Taylor, was born 1977. Van's last television appearance was as the host for the "Mrs. America Pageant" in 1980, which he had emceed for several years. In 1979, Van was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor; he survived the initial surgery, but after a year-long battle with cancer, Van succumbed to the disease in Los Angeles at the age of 51. Van is interred at Mt. Sinai Memorial Park in Burbank. This page about Bobby Van includes information from a Wikipedia article. Additional articles about Bobby Van News stories about Bobby Van External links for Bobby Van Videos for Bobby Van Wikis about Bobby Van Discussion Groups about Bobby Van Blogs about Bobby Van Images of Bobby Van |
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Sinai Memorial Park in Burbank. Previously, he starred in another science fiction TV show, Deepwater Black. Van is interred at Mt. Gordon Michael Woolvett (born June 12, 1970) is a Canadian-born actor currently appearing on the TV show Andromeda with such people as Kevin Sorbo (Hercules: The Legendary Journeys) and Keith Hamilton Cobb (All My Children). In 1979, Van was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor; he survived the initial surgery, but after a year-long battle with cancer, Van succumbed to the disease in Los Angeles at the age of 51. Clutch (1998) - Spit. America Pageant" in 1980, which he had emceed for several years. Bride of Chucky (1998) - David. Van's last television appearance was as the host for the "Mrs. Ultimate Deception (1999) - Frank McThomas. Their only child, daughter Taylor, was born 1977. The Highwayman (1999) - Walter. In 1968, Van married Broadway actress Elaine Joyce, and together they appeared on 1970s game shows like Tattletales and Match Game. He also did some choreography, as his father had years earlier. In the 1960s, Van did comedy work with Mickey Rooney in films and television. In the early 1950s, while Van was married to starlet Diane Garrett, he appeared in several films and television shows, including the title role in The Affairs of Dobie Gillis (1953). However, most of Van's roles involving singing and dancing, and the era of the Hollywood musical was waning. His act drew rave reviews, and gave Van a thrill out of performing live as a solo act. When his band played a venue in the Catskills, Van was asked to fill in as a song and dance man for another act. Van began his career as a musician, playing trumpet. He finally opted for Van, supposedly after seeing a Van Johnson poster hanging in his sister's bedroom. Originally, Van took King as his stage name (after his father's stage name, from the trio "Gordon, Reed and King"). Van was born Robert Jack Stein to vaudeville parents in The Bronx, New York City, and grew up backstage to many memorable depression-era acts. Bobby Van (December 6, 1928–July 31, 1980) was probably best known for his musical and acting career on Broadway in the 1960s and 1970s. |