George Spelvin

See also: Alan Smithee, Walter Plinge, David Agnew. Sinai Memorial Park in Burbank. The one-act play The Actor's Nightmare by Christopher Durang features a main character named George Spelvin. Van is interred at Mt. Georgina Spelvin has fallen out of general use since it was adopted as a screen name by pornographic actress Dorothy May, who was credited by that name in The Devil in Miss Jones and her subsequent films. 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. George Spelvin and Georgina Spelvin are the traditional pseudonyms used in programs in American theatre by actors whose names would otherwise appear twice because they are playing more than one role in a production. America Pageant" in 1980, which he had emceed for several years.

Van's last television appearance was as the host for the "Mrs. Their only child, daughter Taylor, was born 1977. 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.