Conversations with Robert Osborne

As primetime host and anchor of Turner Classic Movies (TCM), Robert Osborne brought viewers out of their living rooms and into the world of classic Hollywood , providing insider information, facts and trivia on TCM movie presentations.
Osborne was also a columnist-critic for The Hollywood Reporter, the daily show business trade paper. He was known as the official biographer of Oscar®, thanks to a series of books he wrote on the subject of Hollywood ’s annual Academy Awards®. His book, 80 Years Of the Oscar, written at the request of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, has been called “the most comprehensive and definitive book ever done on the subject.”
Osborne was born in Colfax, Wash., and graduated from the University of Washington ’s School of Journalism, appearing in local plays in his non-study hours. He eventually went to Hollywood as an actor under contract to Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. It was Lucy who encouraged him to pursue writing, which he considered “the best advice at the best time” he had ever been given. Lucy remained a friend and mentor to him until her death.
Osborne joined the staff of The Hollywood Reporter in 1977 and six years later began writing the paper’s influential “Rambling Reporter” column, which covers all aspects of the movie and television business. In 1982, he also began as the on-air entertainment reporter for the nightly news on Los Angeles ’ KTTV. In 1987, he was signed by CBS to make daily appearances on the CBS Morning Program, and from 1986-1993, he was also a regular host of The Movie Channel cable network.
From 1981-83, Osborne served as president of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA). He was a frequent guest on Entertainment Tonight, Good Morning America and other network shows; was twice a Cable ACE nominee for his “Osborne Report” segments for The Movie Channel; and was nominated for an Emmy® as Best Host Moderator. Osborne was also the winner of the 1984 Press Award from the Publicists Guild of America. On Feb. 1, 2006, he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and in January 2008, he received a special award from the National Board of Review for his contributions as a film historian.
In addition to his hosting duties for TCM, Osborne has also done several specials for the network, including Private Screenings, an hour-long interview series with such Hollywood luminaries as Shirley MacLaine, Lauren Bacall, Angela Lansbury, James Garner, Jane Fonda, Sidney Lumet, Norman Jewison, and Tony Curtis. He also hosted TCM’s Guest Programmer series, in which he has been joined in introducing movie line-ups by an eclectic mix, including David Mamet, Alec Baldwin, Mia Farrow, Martha Stewart, Whoopi Goldberg, Tom Ford, Liz Smith, Bill Cosby, Donald Trump, James Elroy, Evander Holyfield, Danny DeVito, Renee Feming, Gore Vidal and Kermit the Frog.
Moderated by Kathy Connell.

[@llynnie888]

It was clear TCM lovers went through grief when Robert Osborne passed. To me he was TCM💕

[@monicaclark9581]

I totally agree. Yes, he had information to share, but it was his gentlemanly decorum that made the program appealing.

[@johnnytoobad7785]

Mr. Osborne was a walking & talking movie encylopedia...A class act. I'll miss his articulate commentary.

[@calvinnme2]

This was uploaded three days after RO's death. He probably had an agreement with the SAG folks that he would talk completely candidly about his life and the stars he knew as long as this did not become public during his lifetime because he did not want his personal observations to somehow hurt TCM. I never in his life heard him call Jerry Lewis or Lauren Bacall nightmares. Can you imagine the firestorm that would have erupted if his comments had become public during his lifetime. If he had nothing good to say, in public he said nothing at all. I'm glad we have this record of his true thoughts, and I'm glad the aspiring actors and actresses got this opportunity to interact with him when he was still healthy. RIP RO. TCM has not been the same without you.

[@johnmoore9614]

I never realized how great Robert Osbourne was on TCM. I do miss him. He was essential.

[@dixiehefner9980]

Robert Osborne brought classic films back to the forefront for younger viewers to love and appreciate the talents of artists in the industry, and to pass it along to later generations. Thank you for all you have brought to us. RIP

[@dianeparr4518]

dixie hefner Yes, such a great guy. My mother who has now passed away, had such a crush on him!!!! Fell in love with TMC since it's start and can't imagine it without it.

[@PKStefanini]

I was a loyal fan of TCM primarily because of his presence. The world was a better place with him on board.

[@beverlyhadley6127]

i loved him so much. I also watched because of him. I miss him more than I can say.

[@adadumitrescu412]

LittleRexie you are so right.I miss him.

[@michaelcoy311]

The fact that they never show his introductions is an absolute discrace.

[@kjgammon1658]

@@adadumitrescu412 the new ones bore me... all with an agenda...just show great films please...

[@believer7280]

Yep, I agree. I think that's why we all clicked on this video. I even ordered that big catalog with all those movies in it. haha

[@italiamia1000]

Unfortunately, I never met Robert. But he is beloved by millions of classic film fans. Most of us are replaceable in whatever endeavors we may engage in professionally. Robert is irreplaceable. I dearly love and miss this great man.

[@williamstolley2165]

I miss him so much. He brought such a great and varied non-judgmental background where he knew so many big named stars before they left us; he knew their private lives; their private thoughts; he'd met them in their homes or at parties, in relaxed atmospheres. He telegraphed that relaxed style to everyone and made them feel comfortable enough to open up and reveal interesting parts to their lives which they shared on TCM. No one can ever replace him. He was that unique.

[@rhaimondesuggs5127]

There really is no one like Mr. Osborne. His knowledge, enthusiasm, humility, and old fashioned good manners were impeccable and unsurpassed, even to this day. The world of classic movies and the world in general were made better by his presence. I miss him.

[@wesleyedwards3031]

Osborne had the rare quality of being both a tremendous fan of movies and someone who understood the frailties and gifts of the people who make them. He was not starstruck, not vapid and not mean: Jobs in movies, whether as a star, a crew member, a writer or a character actor, require skill and commitment and Osborne appreciated those who developed that skill and put it to good use. Without Osborne, a lot of their work would be unseen or unappreciated by viewers today.

[@KJ-xc6qs]

A true gentleman and scholar, RIP.

[@ToughXArmy69]

Robert Osborne was a true genius. I liked his special interview of Kim Novak on TCM

[@carolynkingsley4421]

Love Robert Osborne. He is irreplaceable. No one could do a better interview. Thanks for doing this.

[@emmylou-y4b]

Robert Osborne was one of the kindest and most compassionate interviewers. He knew how to draw people out without the "gotcha" attitude of today's journalists. We really need someone like him today. God bless him.

[@jennysparks7232]

Robert was a class act. Miss him.

[@ellejay2021]

I miss Robert Osborne so much! I've watched TCM from their earliest days and I'm still watching. Ben Mankiewicz has come a long way and is good but Robert's presence is sorely missed. He was a wealth of knowledge regarding classic film and I agree with the commenter below; the world was a better place with him on board. Rest in peace, Mr Osborne.

[@robertjackson6424]

Osborne had such a quiet, gentlemanly confidence, and such charm. Great raconteur with expansive knowledge. No doubt he totally loved his chosen vocation.

[@jr42a1]

Talk about an uncut interview...This is like gold !!!

[@ericthered760]

When I first tuned into Turner in about 1999 and saw Robert I was hooked on classic movies. I loved his informative, yet easy-going style. Later, when TCM started its film festival, I got to see him in person every year I attended, which was most years between 2010 and when he passed in 2017. Also went on the TCM cruise with him in 2013. There will never be another Robert Osborne. Miss him more than I can say -

[@ellenkole9186]

Loved him...

[@samaraosborne1585]

@@ellenkole9186 -> Ditto!! Divine Angelic Safeguarding & Many Blessings, ALL!! 🖖🏼📖🙌🏼🙇🏻‍♀️🙏🏼🕊️👼🏻🌄

[@gregt2022]

He made me aware of rare films and long forgotten actors that I may have missed otherwise. We and TCM have lost a rare gentleman.

[@eddierushing8707]

A truly sweet man that enriched my love of classic films and I'm only 25. I miss this man dearly. Thanks for posting this last interview of the great Robert Osborne.

[@cinemaholic730]

He's done the same thing for me since I was like 17 and I'm 29 now.

[@paulakpacente]

Loved Robert Osborne! RIP BRAVO that he was not political! Thank you SO MUCH for sharing this!

[@katherinehogan578]

Mr. Osborne truly was a class act!!! I do miss him. Someone else has written a book specifically about Osborne. Anyone who doesn't know enough about " Hollywood " should definitely watch these recaps, or someone who truly wants to appreciate & understand actors, the studio's etc., Can appreciate the entire process much better! I was so stunned when I heard of his death. A real human being who was geared & guided by most of the best!!!!!!! We shall miss you !!!!!!!

[@retroryu]

Robert Osborne introduced me to so many wonderful films. He is very missed.

[@jc0730]

Robert Osborne was and will forever be remembered as a class act !

[@ginnylorenz5265]

What A Dear Man!!!!! Intelligent, kind, good hearted, humble. And what a terrifically interesting, fascinating interview. THANK YOU!!

[@katylake212]

FANTASTIC interview! For anyone interested, I believe this was recorded in 2009 (the 100th anniversary of Johnny Mercer, which Bob Osborne references.) All this did was made me realize how MUCH I miss this guy!

[@jdburch7402]

Such a great interview of a man who illuminated the behind-the-scenes of movies so well he became a blockbuster Star in his own right. R.I.P. Robert Osborne, I gauge every host on TCM by the high bar you have set.

[@wbradburn8871]

It was a sad loss, when Mr. Osborne died.

[@titasantiniE]

Miss you Robert Osborne! RIP

[@KJ-xc6qs]

The Betty Hutton interview was especially riveting...a must see!

[@lauraberendson4032]

This is the most fantastic interview! He is sharing information so freely like never before in the best part is the questions at the end that are giving us even more info that he gave in the beginning of the interview. I'm gonna go watch all of his stuff out here on KZbin because I so miss him. Am so happy I accidentally happened upon this interview.

[@SophyaAgain]

Yeap, Mr. Osborne is a very handsome gentleman!

[@rumplestilskin5776]

ROBERT OSBORNE WAS A REAL GENTLEMAN

[@user-ow1ky5oq7y]

A man truly loved and missed by everyone.

[@lauraberendson4032]

I miss Robert Osborne.

[@stantheman1610]

A Class Act RIP

[@calvinnme2]

This is fascinating. Thanks for uploading. R.O. was full of so many great stories. I had never heard about how obnoxious Jerry Lewis was.

[@gmaureen]

I met Jerry Lewis at a cocktail party in the mid 1980's. My impression of him was very much the same as Osborne's.

[@kak7440]

Well documented -a very trying individual to say the least.

[@andyroo9381]

His stories are timeless. This is the sort of guest you want on your talk show. Just sit him down and let him tell stories. Fascinating!

[@kevinbertke5677]

I was a BIG Lucy fan as a kid but as an adult I'm an even BIGGER Lucille Ball fan. That woman was one smart cookie when it came to the Business of Show. I love hearing stories of her desire to relate her experienced advice to people desiring to be in the biz.

[@kevinbertke5677]

And... Thank goodness she plucked Robert out of the farmtown per say and encouraged him to be the ROBERT we love. I'm always touched by her influence.

[@user-ow1ky5oq7y]

A magnificent gentleman whom I mourn the fact that I never had the chance to meet him.

[@MacLeanLauri]

Excellent interview. One of the best I’ve heard from this Foundation. ❤

[@suzeauster2223]

Gone To Glory 🌈 R.I.P...and Sorely Missed! Thank You for sharing this priceless taping. Shout out from florida; Stay Safe Beloveds ❤️

[@bluet6898]

Have watched TCM since it started, like all the hosts like the new ones especially, glad TCM shows the classics-really good movies from golden age of Hollywood.

[@rjddurhamnc]

I miss him. Class act.

[@timsika7655]

Superb interview! Fascinating guy.

[@peterandreadakis3851]

Amusing guy who had the gift of gab and relentless curiosity about celebrity. Always liked his schtick....

[@darlenetillie]

I love Lucy forever..she seemed like a great person..jus surrounded by the wrong ppl at times..such a great lady..neva giving up no matter what..what life threw at her..she took it with a smile..champ in my book..and nothing else

[@jasonws1972]

Still enjoyable to watch, years after the fact.

[@Ripplin]

This is great! Thank you!

[@PhilippinesFarmLife]

He is missed. Thank you for uploading this video.

[@bbrown333]

So sad to think that he never got to do the interview with Olivia De Havilland and Sophia Loren.

[@Diana-jx1ju]

Great exploration of the evolution of professionalism!

[@MA-yh2ko]

He had a Robert Wagner kinda look.

[@poetcomic1]

Never knew Osborne was an actor and a devastatingly handsome one too.

[@Stevebaby123]

Classic films with a classy guy.

[@gentleoldmoviefan5680]

Very interesting segment (in this video) starts at 29:20 , where he describes how the Betty Hutton 'Private Screenings' was prepared for and set up. She was very "fragile" according to Osborne, and lots of thoughtful technique and planning was employed (successfully) to get a reluctant guest to actually sit down in the studio and answer some questions! The result was one of the best Private Screenings, according to Robert Osborne. One of the most memorable, given how personal it was. From 29:20 to 35:01 is an outstanding segment of this video, IMHO. The first part is about Betty Hutton, as described above. In the second part of those few minutes mentioned, Robert talks about what people went to the movies for back then. Illuminating to hear it!

[@carolglover3582]

Miss him.

[@oliviaduke6939]

This is just a fabulous interview.

[@monicaclark9581]

I never had cable TV so through years I'd catch TCM when I'm at other people's homes or even a video someone taped from a TCM movie including commentary from Mr. Osborne. I loved his intelligent and gentlemanly personality. He's part of an era that I will greatly miss. Never political, cocky, or critical. I'm very capable of making judgment calls in what I like or don't approve about a movie. I was disappointed with the new commentators who insert political correctness and the cancel culture mentality to everything.

[@maxlinder5262]

HE IS SO PRESENT.......... HIS MIND FOR REMBERANCE IS AMAZING.......A L L ...OF HIS STORYS SHOULD HAVE BEEN PUT IN BOOKS OF THESE STARS ..AS A HISTORY OF SUCH A TIME THAT IS NO LONGER HERE...............................................

[@tommyryan1311]

Happy birthday Robert! RIP

[@jamesdean6478]

true rober acting keeps u young im going to be over 100 young still acting half my age then

[@steveburrus2611]

Ya I saw many movie intros done by Robert Osborne on TCM by the late/great Osborne.

[@gforceeatingcorrect]

Heaven pure Heaven !! No more of that Hollywood anymore !! Gone With The Wind !!!!{{{{{{{{{{{{{{

[@danbaranowski]

11:55 imagine seeing Robert Osborne as a librarian 🤩 12:09-16:00 Robert Osborne, the Oscars and SAGS vs. the Golden Globes 42:24-45:16 Robert Osborne vs. Robert Mitchum 53:37 that audience man’s loud laugh had me dying 😂 59:18-1:00:56 that’s what Dan Curtis thought of Dark Shadows at the time 1:05:01-1:07:58 nobody was better at playing Judah Ben-Hur than Charlton Heston was 1:10:15-1:11:55 Robert Osborne vs. Jerry Lewis and Mickey Rourke 1:14:20-1:17:20 Cary Grant was so down to Earth and a class act. Topper is my favorite film in his filmography. Grant was Frank Sinatra’s co-star in The Pride & The Passion; Sinatra gave Grant his Honorary Oscar in 1970. Grant was Eva Marie Saint’s co-star in North by Northwest. Due to being on Truth or Consequences sometime in the 1960s, Grant became a good friend of The Price Is Right host/executive producer Bob Barker 1:17:21-1:21:30 Olivia de Havilland vs. Warner Bros. 1:21:31-1:24:22 Alfred Hitchcock vs. David O. Selznick 1:31:11-1:32:36 Bob’s picks

[@bbrown333]

btw, the Dinah show he is referring to is on youtube.

[@kevinquinn3851]

Watched it. Great show.

[@leschacoory7089]

Kevin Qu

[@josharagon4618]

A very classy man

[@thomasbernecky2078]

What a great interview!

[@jmeekselectric]

I’m am glad to see him call out the Golden Globes. They are star fuckers and try to make movie stars. SAG, BAFTA and the Oscars are legit.

[@silentotto5099]

Osborne is one of the few interviewers who had a story just as interesting as those of the people he interviewed.

[@direfranchement]

Not a bad looking man in his day.

[@kellybrown8638]

What a treasure

[@chill6594]

What a Life!

[@genethejeep]

I LOVED when Osborne commented on watching trailers and saying the movies advertised all looked the same and that he'd say to himself well, i just saved ten bucks. I've been saying such myself for ages as I sit there. I'll lean over to a friend during previews and say, well there's four movies and four ticket costs I've saved, "cause I sure ain't gonna see any of that crap. It also does not help when one hears that same damn obnoxious voice over actor narrating on each trailer...

[@GeeBee909]

He is dead-on about his comment about Jerry Lewis. Just look at his appearances on Password here on You Tube.

[@oohyllab]

I just don't like TCM NEar as much anymore! It's not the same without Robert. They seem to be veering off of all old movies all the time, bringing in more newer. Maybe that's good, Idk. I like Ben, but think maybe that Eddie Mueller is as close to a Robert type as they can scare up around there. He only does that Saturday and Sunday Noir alley tho. Love & miss Robert. Classy guy.

[@nellzach667]

I agree

[@kjgammon1658]

Eddie reigns supreme on TCM!

[@annmacleod1099]

This is good interviews of movie stars better than micheal parkinson on the movie stars and film he had interviewed .

[@519djw6]

*When I first saw the "thumbnail" for this I thought Robert Osborne was Gig Young!*

[@lynnturman8157]

I met Robert Osborne once. It was at a Monster Truck rally in Dumas, Texas. In real life, he was nothing like his public persona.

[@jeffsmith2022]

I did not know that he was gay...

[@ronniedelahoussayechauvin6717]

I don’t know anything about TCM.