Late Monday morning I was crying. A quick look at Twitter let me know something I hoped wouldn’t happen yet had. TCM host and film historian Robert Osborne had died. He’d been on extended medical leave, so I knew he wasn’t well, that he must have been seriously ill to stay away from the network and the job that meant so much to him. He was the rare person who created his own career around what he loved, film. Since he was the even rarer public person who kept his personal life private, fans didn’t know more about his condition than that. I wished like many he’d rebound.
I’m not the sort of person who jumps on the celebrity mourning bandwagon. I don’t write about someone’s passing simply to get blog hits. When I feel the loss of someone like Robert, and I’m going to be presumptuous and call him by his first name since he’s been in my living room many times, I really feel it. Chief among his many gifts was being able to connect and engage with an audience. He made me feel like he was excited to share what he knew and thought about a film because he cared–and he truly did. He wanted to pass on the knowledge and the joy of classic film. Whether you met him in person or watched him on TV, he gave you a personal experience.
I was lucky enough to meet Robert at the San Francisco Silent Film Festival in 2007. He was there to accept an award from the festival for TCM for its contributions “to the preservation, restoration and exhibition of silent film.” He, also, introduced CAMILLE (1921). I didn’t approach him when I saw him in the Castro Theatre‘s auditorium. I don’t think he would’ve minded, but I try to be considerate of famous people’s moments of downtime. My friends and I made sure to go up to the theatre’s mezzanine for his book signing, and that’s the first and last time I met him.
Some of us bought his book, and some didn’t, but that didn’t seem to matter to him. He was friendly and chatted with all of us, and he quickly and happily said yes to a group picture. While we started posing for the picture, I wanted to let him know how much I appreciated him and his work. I don’t remember what I said to him, but whatever I said and how I said it, he paused for a moment and tilted his head, and then he responded with something nice back. I’m sorry to be vague, but I remember the quality of the moment and my emotions more than the words used by either of us.
Robert exemplified generosity. He was a consummate gentleman to all who approached him. He left people feeling good after they interacted with him. He wasn’t only an ambassador for TCM or classic film. He was someone who radiated happiness at his good fortune at being able to live the life he wanted, and he shared that happiness by making himself available until he wasn’t able to anymore.
Thank you, Robert, for giving more than you took, for being an educator and an inspiration, and for being you. You leave behind a rich legacy.
Bruce Carlson
Robert was a regular visitor to my living room for a few years before I moved abroad and I always looked forward to TCM because not only were the movies classic and fun, but there was that true gentleman host with so much enthusiasm for old Hollywood films. He was “one of us” — a true blue fan of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Thank you for your wonderful post about him. RIP Mr. Osborne.
msbethg
Bruce, a lovely memory of a lovely man. Thank you for sharing it!
mercurie80
In my eulogies for celebrities (of which I have written far too many) I always refer to them as “Mister” or “Miss’. Robert marked the first time I ever used a first name. I started out using “Mr. Osborne” and it just did not feel right. I don’t think Robert would have minded. I suspect he regarded his fans and fellow classic movie buffs as friends and would have insisted we call him by his first name anyway!
msbethg
I’m glad you agree it seems right to use his first name! Robert was approachable and friendly. Using his first name feels right.
With classic film era stars, sometimes I use their first names, too. It depends how close I feel to them, but sometimes even if I’m fond of a star I might use his or her last name because of the sound. For example, I’m more likely to call Carole Lombard by her last name versus her first, even though she’s one of my “spirit actresses.”
Patricia Nolan-Hall (@CaftanWoman)
Thank you for sharing your lovely memory.
msbethg
You’re welcome, Patricia! It’s been great reading everyone’s memories of him. They all show what a wonderful man he was and how he’ll live in on everyone’s remembrances.