Robert Board obit

Actor Robert Board Has Died

 He was not on the list.

Actor, artist, filmmaker and puppeteer, Robert "Bob" Board was truly a unique talent in Hollywood throughout its golden years. In the 1930's and 40s, MGM was grooming Bob to become one of their next "leading men", casting him in numerous supporting roles among top stars of the day. Years later Bob chose not to focus entirely on acting, although he continued to take on supporting roles in such films as Gilda (1946), The Magnificent Yankee (1950), The Hurricane at Pilgrim Hill (1950) and D-Day the Sixth of June (1956).

Throughout the 40s and 50s Bob wrote and directed many short films including Call To Arms, The Derelict, Pampas Moon and The Mute, which earned him numerous awards including one from the Cannes Film Festival in 1959. He acted in most of them as well.

He was an avid puppeteer, and handmade all of his puppets. Bob especially enjoyed performing for children at festivals and events. He once performed a private puppet show for actor Ronald Reagan, Ron's mother and girlfriend at the time, Nancy.

Bob was also known to make handmade dolls of numerous stars in their notable character's costumes, and would often give them to the actors as gifts. His gift of a doll to Stan Laurel gave birth to a lasting friendship throughout the years, and they would write each other often. He also befriended Italian director Federico Fellini, after making him dolls of the two major characters from his Oscar winning films (La strada (1954) and Nights of Cabiria (1957)). Fellini later gifted Bob with an original drawing of those 2 characters, signed to him personally. Perhaps one of the greatest moments in Bob's life was when he was able to personally give a doll to his longtime idle and inspiration, actress Marion Davies. During the meeting they shared stories of how they both overcame stuttering as a child. He confessed to her that it was reading about her success that motivated him to overcome his condition as well. They remained friends ever since.

One of Bob's other talents was photography, especially capturing the stars of the day in a very candid fashion. His numerous connections in Hollywood allowed him access to private events where he photographed such celebrities as Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Audrey Hepburn, Lucille Ball, Cary Grant, Bette Davis, Clark Gable and Mae West. He has become known in Hollywood as "one of the original paparazzi", and his photos and film footage have been featured in many documentaries throughout the years, including The People's Hollywood (2003).

Through the years Bob became close with many of the stars he worked with, especially Robert Young, who selected Bob as his stand-in for nearly two decades. He also was a stand-in for such stars and Elvis Presley, Tab Hunter and James Stewart. Bob occasionally modeled as well, and once posed as a fighter pilot in a wartime promotional photo alongside Rita Hayworth.

Bob's boutique theater, Le Petit Cinema, located in the hills under the Hollywood Sign, attracted many luminaries and celebrities for decades. Before the advent of the VCR, his theater was a rare place in which vintage prints could be viewed, and became known as one of the first "revival houses" to exist in Hollywood. Theater attendees include Robert Young, Jane Wyatt, Stan Laurel and Joan Crawford.

In the latter part of Bob's acting career, he became more active in television, and was frequently on the hit show Mission: Impossible (1966). After retiring from acting, Bob went on to produce a documentary about Marion Davies. This led him to be invited to be involved with another documentary about the legendary actress, Captured on Film: The True Story of Marion Davies (2001), which features him and his stories of their special relationship. His enormous collection of Marion Davies movie memorabilia has been donated to Wesleyan University's Cinema Archive in their Special Collections Department. The entire collection will always be referred to as the Bob Board Collection. His remaining dolls of Marion have been donated to the Hollywood Heritage Society, where they will also create exhibits honoring Marion in Bob's name.

Bob's last creative project, which he began at age 91, was a short film he made with his good friend, artist and film composer Billy Mallery. The film, titled "Magical Miniatures" was not fully completed at the time of his death in November 2016. With the help of Bob's extensive notes, Billy was able to complete the film the way Bob had envisioned it. It premiered at Bob's memorial service in March 2017 at the historic Besant Lodge, originally the first Independent Silent Movie Cinema in Los Angeles, located just around the corner from Bob's home in the Hollywood Hills where he lived since 1961.

Plenty has been written about Mr. Board, and he occupies an entire chapter in the essential Paul Zollo reference: "Hollywood Remembered: An Oral History of Its Golden Age".

Actor

The Star Chamber (1983)

The Star Chamber

6.3

Party Guest (uncredited)

1983

 

Bette Davis, Christopher Lee, Kim Richards, and Ike Eisenmann in Return from Witch Mountain (1978)

Return from Witch Mountain

5.7

Museum Patron (uncredited)

1978

 

Kojak (1973)

Kojak

7.1

TV Series

Pedestrian

Detective (uncredited)

1973–1975

3 episodes

 

Anthony Quinn, Robert Forster, Frederic Forrest, and Carlos Romero in The Don Is Dead (1973)

The Don Is Dead

6.2

Restaurant Patron (uncredited)

1973

 

Peter Falk in Columbo (1971)

Columbo

8.3

TV Series

Campaign Worker (uncredited)

1973

1 episode

 

Rock Hudson and Susan Saint James in McMillan & Wife (1971)

McMillan & Wife

7.2

TV Series

Race Spectator (uncredited)

1973

1 episode

 

The F.B.I. (1965)

The F.B.I.

7.4

TV Series

Diner Customer

Paramedic (uncredited)

1966–1972

2 episodes

 

The Young Lawyers (1969)

The Young Lawyers

7.2

TV Series

Bailiff (uncredited)

1969

1 episode

 

Barbara Bain, Martin Landau, Peter Graves, Peter Lupus, and Greg Morris in Mission: Impossible (1966)

Mission: Impossible

7.9

TV Series

Guard

Passerby

Gallery Patron (uncredited) ...

1966–1969

30 episodes

 

The Cool Ones (1967)

The Cool Ones

4.4

Citizen (uncredited)

1967

 

James Drury, Doug McClure, and John McIntire in The Virginian (1962)

The Virginian

7.6

TV Series

Townsman (uncredited)

1966

1 episode

 

Robert Vaughn, Leo G. Carroll, and David McCallum in The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (1964)

The Man from U.N.C.L.E.

7.7

TV Series

Thrush Agent

UNCLE Agent

Scientist (uncredited)

1964–1965

3 episodes

 

Angie Dickinson, James Garner, Dick Van Dyke, Ethel Merman, and Elke Sommer in The Art of Love (1965)

The Art of Love

6.1

Nightclub Patron (uncredited)

1965

 

Allan Lane, Alan Young, and Mister Ed in Mister Ed (1961)

Mister Ed

6.9

TV Series

Show Spectator (uncredited)

1962

1 episode

 

Mary Tyler Moore and Dick Van Dyke in The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961)

The Dick Van Dyke Show

8.4

TV Series

Party Guest (uncredited)

1961

1 episode

 

Julie Adams, Tim Hovey, and Jock Mahoney in Slim Carter (1957)

Slim Carter

6.9

Crew Member (uncredited)

1957

 

David Niven and June Allyson in My Man Godfrey (1957)

My Man Godfrey

6.2

Party Guest (uncredited)

1957

 

Robert Taylor, Edmond O'Brien, Richard Todd, and Dana Wynter in D-Day the Sixth of June (1956)

D-Day the Sixth of June

5.9

American Doctor (uncredited)

1956

 

Polly Bergen, Nina Foch, Howard Keel, and Marjorie Main in Fast Company (1953)

Fast Company

5.2

Intern (uncredited)

1953

 

Jane Powell, Farley Granger, Ann Miller, and Bobby Van in Small Town Girl (1953)

Small Town Girl

6.3

Bidder (uncredited)

1953

 

Battle Circus (1953)

Battle Circus

5.9

Corporal (uncredited)

1953

 

Above and Beyond (1952)

Above and Beyond

6.9

Lieutenant (uncredited)

1952

 

Skirts Ahoy! (1952)

Skirts Ahoy!

5.7

Young Sailor (uncredited)

1952

 

June Allyson and Arthur Kennedy in The Girl in White (1952)

The Girl in White

6.9

Bailey (uncredited)

1952

 

The Pride of St. Louis (1952)

The Pride of St. Louis

6.5

Dennis (uncredited)

1952

 

James Cagney, Gary Cooper, Doris Day, Randolph Scott, Virginia Gibson, Ron Hagerthy, Phil Harris, Frank Lovejoy, Gordon MacRae, Virginia Mayo, Gene Nelson, Lucille Norman, Louella Parsons, Ruth Roman, Janice Rule, Dick Wesson, Jane Wyman, and Patrice Wymore in Starlift (1951)

Starlift

5.8

Marine (uncredited)

1951

 

The Model and the Marriage Broker (1951)

The Model and the Marriage Broker

7.0

Usher (uncredited)

1951

 

Audie Murphy and Gloria Eaton in The Red Badge of Courage (1951)

The Red Badge of Courage

7.1

Soldier (uncredited)

1951

 

Polly Bergen, Jerry Lewis, Dean Martin, and Marion Marshall in That's My Boy (1951)

That's My Boy

6.1

Student (uncredited)

1951

 

Suzanne Dalbert, Alex Nicol, Mark Stevens, Don Taylor, and Gig Young in Target Unknown (1951)

Target Unknown

5.8

Co-Pilot (uncredited)

1951

 

Halls of Montezuma (1951)

Halls of Montezuma

6.6

Marine (uncredited)

1951

 

Louis Calhern in The Magnificent Yankee (1950)

The Magnificent Yankee

6.8

Secretary (uncredited)

1950

 

Clem Bevans in The Hurricane at Pilgrim Hill (1950)

The Magnavox Theater

6.8

TV Series

Steve Terhune (as Bob Board)

1950

1 episode

 

June Allyson, Ricardo Montalban, and Dick Powell in Right Cross (1950)

Right Cross

6.0

Bob (uncredited)

1950

 

A Wonderful Life (1950)

A Wonderful Life

6.8

Short

George

1950

 

Leon Ames, Dean Stockwell, Claudia Barrett, and Margalo Gillmore in The Happy Years (1950)

The Happy Years

6.8

Bert (uncredited)

1950

 

Rita Hayworth in Gilda (1946)

Gilda

7.6

American Cartel Member (uncredited)

1946

 

Mary Carlisle and Buster Crabbe in The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi (1933)

The Sweetheart of Sigma Chi

6.5

Student (uncredited)

1933

 

Additional Crew

The People's Hollywood

TV Movie

archive source

2003

 

Rita Hayworth in Rita (2003)

Rita

7.2

TV Movie

archive source

2003

 

James Brolin, Robert Young, Barbara Sigel, and Elena Verdugo in Marcus Welby, M.D. (1969)

Marcus Welby, M.D.

7.0

TV Series

stand-in: Robert Young (uncredited)

1969–1970

25 episodes

 

Barbara Bain, Martin Landau, Peter Graves, Peter Lupus, and Greg Morris in Mission: Impossible (1966)

Mission: Impossible

7.9

TV Series

stand-in (uncredited)

1966

1 episode

 

Angela Lansbury and Tuesday Weld in The Eleventh Hour (1962)

The Eleventh Hour

7.7

TV Series

stand-in (uncredited)

1963

1 episode

 

Tab Hunter in The Tab Hunter Show (1960)

The Tab Hunter Show

7.5

TV Series

stand-in (uncredited)

1960–1961

32 episodes

 

Father Knows Best (1954)

Father Knows Best

7.4

TV Series

stand-in: Robert Young (uncredited)

1955

1 episode

 

Rita Hayworth in Gilda (1946)

Gilda

7.6

stand-in (uncredited)

1946