Robert Osborne has died, TCM announced.He was 84.

A few years before TCM became available in Canada..a friend use to record a lot of TCM content off his satellite feed...i recall buying a Betamax machine so i could borrow some of his recordings...that was my first introduction to Robert Osborne..i always enjoyed his film intros and insight. When TCM became available in Canada i was thrilled..not only a great selection of classic movies ...but more of Robert Osborne...including his interviews with some of Hollywood's great stars!
He will be missed, remembered and never forgotten.
Thank you Mr.Osborne!

 

He was a class act and a great speaker of Cinema. RIP.

 

Gotta agree here.

Side comments -- TCM is one of the only cable stations that assumes its audience isn't a bunch of dumb-asses. Cable should be a wide open field for channels that show so much respect for the art they broadcast and the the audience that watches it. It's sad that TCM's mission and presentation is an outlier and not the norm.

I will miss this dude -- he really knew how to set context and clarify important aspects when setting up the films (to then be shown in their original and uninterrupted form).

 

Ben Mankiewicz
3 hrs ·

 

THANKS FOR EVERYTHING, BOB. Excitement over beginning my new "Noir Alley" show on TCM turned to sorrow this morning with news that Robert Osborne has died. He'd been in failing health for quite a while, but we all held out hope he'd recover and reclaim his rightful place on the TCM throne. I called Bob the "Walter Cronkite of American Cinema," since he so brilliantly had earned the trust of the movie-loving public. He is, frankly, irreplaceable.

I first worked with Bob when he invited me to share hosting duties at his own film festival in Athens, Georgia. I was primarily there to introduce "Double Indemnity," but he surprised me by asking me to co-host a screening of "All About Eve"—his favorite movie! I knew a fraction of what Bob knew about the film, but he masterfully propped me up and made me look better than I deserved. I learned more about "hosting" from Bob in ten minutes onstage than I had in the previous years combined.

We had a great time a few years ago taping a segment for TCM called "A Night in Noir City," and once again I learned a LOT being able to watch him at work in the studio. Since then, it was always a pleasure to share time with him at TCM events, where he proved himself to be even more gracious and generous than anyone who only saw him on TV could really know.

A colleague at TCM called me this morning to share the news—he'd expected the call to be about the tremendous response to "Noir Alley." Instead, we commiserated about the network losing its iconic host, and I choked up when he said, "You know Bob adored you, right?" Well, it was mutual.

Robert Osborne was a wonderful man, and a brilliant light in all our movie-loving lives.

 

Robert Osborne had his heart, mind and soul in his career/job, which basically made it a great hobby for him. A dream job that many would like to have. Unfortunately I don't get TCM as part of my subscription. But when I did get it in the past I viewed it quite often. It's the only channel I miss that I don't have. RIP.

 

I would tape movies I already had in my collection just to see what he had to say about them. Ben is good, too, but this is a sad day for classic movie fans.
I hope he's up there right now watching "Hats Off" with "London After Midnight" as the feature presentation.

 

I always found myself wishing he had more time to share tidbits about the films...RIP good sir, and thank you.

 

They are showing a special short film on Robert right now, which Ben came on with his condolences before they showed it!

RIP Robert, to me, you were as important as the films that you introduced.

 

RIP
For years, for many movies I DVRed from TCM, I've split and deleted the movies but kept Robert's intros and outros. The movies will be back. I may have a few TMC recordings on VHS somewhere.

 

So sad to hear this. He was a class act and provided so much fascinating information on the films shown on TCM.

 

Damn. Glad I recorded so many movies with him doing the introduction.

Thanks Robert!

 

I enjoyed his spots on HBO years back...R>I>P.

 

Classic guy. RIP.

 

He was outstanding and he so excelled at what he did that he made it look effortless. We will not see another Robert Osborne anytime soon. His enthusiasm and love was made visible in his work. He will be sorely missed.

 

RIP. Encyclopedic knowledge, affability, a true ambassador befitting the best of what Hollywood offered. And you could get a sense of the man from the sincere appreciation that often showed through when others discussed him.

 

Ha I do this too. I was surprised they didn't just rerun previous intros for the same films

 

He was absolutely irreplaceable. I was just thinking the other day that his prolonged absence couldn't be good news, but was hoping he'd bounce back. The past year has seen several big names in the classic film community pass on, and with them went a vast store of knowledge cultivated over several lifetimes of film appreciation.

Hail and farewell, Mr. Osborne. Your work shall not be forgotten.

 

Wonderful gentleman. I always looked forward to his commentaries on all those movies. RIP.

 

Lovely piece on Osborne in the Times today:
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/06/movies/robert-osborne-dead-turner-classic-movies-host.html?rref=collection/sectioncollection/obituaries

 

RIP. Just a fantastic host.

 

will be missed.

 

One of the most knowledgeable people in Hollywood. We'll miss ya.