Bobs Watson
| Bobs Watson | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Robert B. Watson November 11, 1930 Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Died |
June 27, 1999 (aged 68) Laguna Beach, California, U.S. |
| Cause of death | Prostate cancer |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1932–1993 |
| Spouse(s) | Jaye Watson (1979–1999) (his death) 3 sons |
Robert B. "Bobs" Watson (November 11, 1930 – June 27, 1999) was an American actor and Methodist minister.
Biography
He was a member of the Watson Family, famous in the early days of Hollywood as being a houseful of child actors. Brother to Coy Watson, Jr., Harry, Billy, Delmar, Garry, Vivian, Gloria, and Louise, all of whom acted in motion pictures.[1]
The family, known as "the first family of Hollywood", lived by the Echo Park area of Los Angeles and Bobs attended nearby Belmont High School.
They were honored by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce by placing the Watson family star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 6674 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, California.[2]
He died of prostate cancer in 1999 at Laguna Beach, California.
Child actor
Watson was best known for his role as "Pee Wee" in the 1938 film Boys Town with Spencer Tracy.[3] They became such good friends doing the movie that Watson was reportedly Tracy's last visitor before his death. In 1939, Watson delivered a fine, tear-jerking performance as Pud, Lionel Barrymore's grandson, in the MGM film, On Borrowed Time. Watson also had parts in many television shows, including The Twilight Zone, Lou Grant, The Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, and The Fugitive.
Career
In addition to working in the motion pictures business, Watson went to Claremont School of Theology to become a Methodist minister, inspired from the movie Boys Town. He retired after 30 years of serving in Burbank and La Cañada, California.
References
- ↑ Bobs Watson at the Internet Movie Database
- ↑ Pool, Bob. "Star Shines Brightly for Hollywood's First Family; Movies: The Watson clan of former child actors finally receives recognition for its pioneering contribution to films." The Los Angeles Times. April 23, 1999. Metro Part B Metro Desk Page 1.
- ↑ Pee Wee at IMDb
Bibliography
- Goldrup, Tom and Jim (2002). Growing Up on the Set: Interviews with 39 Former Child Actors of Film and Television. McFarland & Co. pp. 303–313. ISBN 1476613702.
- Holmstrom, John (1996). The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995. Norwich: Michael Russell, p. 171-172.
- Best, Marc (1971). Those Endearing Young Charms: Child Performers of the Screen. South Brunswick and New York: Barnes & Co., pp. 256–259.