Robert Cummings

Studied briefly at Drury College in Springfield, Missouri, but his love of flying caused him to transfer to the Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He studied aeronautical engineering for a year before being forced to drop out for financial reasons, his family having lost heavily in the 1929 stock market crash.

Moved to Los Angeles in 1935, and broke into films by faking a Southern drawl and presenting himself as Brice Hutchens, a Texan.

Had appeared on a successful radio serial, "Those We Love", from 1938 to 1945, opposite Richard Cromwell, Francis X. Bushman and Nan Grey.

In 1942 he joined the United States Army Air Force and was made a flight instructor. He had worked in that capacity for many years prior to enlisting.

Beginning in 1946, he served as executive producer of United World Productions.

Chosen by producer John Wayne as his co-star in The High and the Mighty (1954), though director William A. Wellman replaced him with Robert Stack.

His Love That Bob - Starring Bob Cummings "Grandpa's Christmas Visit" (1955) co-star, Dwayne Hickman, was a huge fan of Cummings' movies as a child in the 1940s.

His second series The Bob Cummings Show (1961) was canceled because it was too expensive.

Son Tony Cummings is a former soap actor. He was best known for playing Rick Halloway on Another World (1964) in 1981.

Was accused by his estranged wife, Mary Elliott, of using the drug methedrine or "speed" and carrying on an adulterous affair with his former secretary, and future wife, Regina Fong [29 October 1969].

After guest-starring on The Love Boat (1977), he retired from acting at age 69.

Had his 80th birthday party just six months before his death.