As primetime host and anchor of Turner Classic Movies (TCM) since its launch in 1994, Robert Osborne brings viewers into the world of classic Hollywood, providing insider information, facts, and trivia about TCM movie presentations. His specials for the network include “Private Screenings,” hour-long interviews with such Hollywood luminaries as Shirley MacLaine, Lauren Bacall, Angela Lansbury, James Garner, Jane Fonda, Sidney Lumet, Norman Jewison, and Tony Curtis. He also hosts TCM’s “Guest Programmer” series, in which he has been joined in introducing movie line-ups by an eclectic mix, including David Mamet, Mia Farrow, Martha Stewart, Whoopi Goldberg, Tom Ford, Liz Smith, Bill Cosby, Donald Trump, James Elroy, Evander Holyfield, Danny DeVito, Renée Fleming, Gore Vidal, and Kermit the Frog. With Alec Baldwin, Osborne also co-hosts TCM’s “Essentials” series, a weekly look at movies he and Alec consider essential viewing. Osborne is also well known as a columnist and critic. Thanks to a series of books he has written on the subject of Hollywood’s annual Academy Awards, he is known as the official biographer of Oscar. His latest 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 has also appeared as a host-moderator with the National Symphony Orchestra, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and has hosted events in venues including New York’s Radio City Music Hall, Town Hall, City Center, Alice Tully Hall, the Museum of Modern Art and Jazz at Lincoln Center; Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles and the Academy’s Samuel Goldwyn Theatre; Wolf Trap in Vienna, Virginia; Chastain and the Verizon Amphitheatre in Atlanta; and the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Upcoming engagements include appearances with the Boston Pops Orchestra in Boston, with John Williams at Tanglewood, and a return to the Hollywood Bowl. Osborne has received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and a special award from the National Board of Review for his contributions as a film historian. Born in Colfax, Wash., Robert Osborne 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 and soon after was signed to a contract by Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz for their Desilu studios. It was Lucy who encouraged him to pursue writing. In 1977 Osborne joined the staff of The Hollywood Reporter and six years later began writing the paper’s influential “Rambling Reporter” column. In 1982 he also became the on-air entertainment reporter for the nightly news on KTTV in Los Angeles. In 1987 he was signed by CBS to make daily appearances on the CBS Morning Program, and from 1986 to 1993, he was also a regular host of The Movie Channel cable network. From 1981 to 1983, Osborne served as president of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association (LAFCA). He has been a frequent guest on Good Morning America and other network shows; was twice a CableACE nominee for his “Osborne Report” segments for The Movie Channel; and was nominated for an Emmy as Best Host Moderator.
![[Robert Osborne]](/images/_images/_musicians/RobertOsbornex95.jpg)
