Robert Ivers

Robert Ivers, AKA Bob Ivers, (December 11, 1934 - February 13, 2003) was an American actor who appeared in films and television in the 1950s and 1960s.^[1]

Background

Ivers was born in Seattle, Washington. He attended Tucson High School between 1950 and 1953. He was then was offered scholarships to the Pasadena Playhouse and the University of Arizona. After short time at Pasadena, where the curriculum wouldn't allow him to appear on stage until his second year, he transferred to the University of Arizona where he began appearing in roles during his first year. During this time he had a number of uncredited roles in films such as Broken Lance in 1954 and Violent Saturday in 1955, before finally being signed by Paramount Pictures in 1956 after he was seen performing the lead role in the play Tea and Sympathy.^[1]

Film and television career

Ivers played a major role in the 1957 film The Delicate Delinquent, in which he co-starred with Jerry Lewis.^[2] In 1957 he also starred in Short Cut to Hell, the only film directed by James Cagney.^[3] He also co-starred in 1960 with Elvis Presley in G.I. Blues as 'Cookie', one of Elvis's army buddies stationed with him on base overseas. It was Presley's first film after coming home from the army.^[4] He appeared in a number of television series in the late 1950s and early 1960s, including the syndicated western, Pony Express. The timing of the program coincided with the 1960 centennial of the Pony Express. Ivers also appeared on ABC's The Fugitive starring David Janssen and the war series, Twelve O'clock High. He guest starred too on episodes of The Virginian, Bat Masterson, The Untouchables, and Gunsmoke. Ivers was disappointed that his acting career stalled by the middle 1960s and told the Yakima Herald-Republic in 1978 that he would have enjoyed the excitement of the Hollywood scene and often contemplated what might have been.^[5]

In 1965, he launched a career in television news at KPHO in Phoenix, Arizona, followed by WJIM in Lansing, Michigan, and then (in 1970) KTHI-TV in Fargo, North Dakota. After moving to his home state of Washington in 1972 he became a mainstay of KAPP, Channel 35 in Yakima, where he anchored newscasts and hosted a Saturday morning children's program, the weekday "Morning Moneyman Movie" and the station's annual participation in the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon. After leaving KAPP, Ivers had a stint as newscaster at competing Yakima station KNDO. He then began his own advertising agency in Yakima and hosted a small syndicated radio show in central Washington which provided factual trivia about films and actors along with reviews.^[6]

Personal life

Ivers married Lenore Robert in 1961 but the marriage was annulled later that year; on 7 September 1961 he married actress Marcia Henderson. They had two daughters, Alenda and Mallory. Marcia died 23 November 1987 of lupus. Mallory, who was married to Steve Cangialosi, died 19 October 2005.^[7]

Ivers died on February 13, 2003, at the age of 68 in Yakima. Prior to his death Ivers had been romantically involved with Patsy Peterson until her death.^[1] A memorial tombstone in his honor is located in the Terrace Heights Cemetery in Yakima, Washington. Although his remains are not located there, his memorial is located next to another marker with the same true last name as his, "Prestlien". At the time of this writing, it was not known what the relationship these other two were to Robert, other than possibly his parents. On Robert's tombstone is a slogan captioned, "Green-Go Daddy".

Awards

In August 2003 Ivers was voted Elvis Fans' Choice Award for "Best Male Duo" as best Elvis movie sidekick during the Elvis Week festivities held annually in Memphis, Tennessee.^[8]

Filmography

• Film
  • Stalag 17 (1953)
  • Broken Lance (1954)
  • Ten Wanted Men'
  • Violent Saturday (1955)
  • A Kiss Before Dying'
  • The Delicate Delinquent (1957)
  • Short Cut to Hell (1957)
  • I Married a Monster from Outer Space (1958)
  • G.I. Blues (1960)
  • The Errand Boy (1961)
  • Cattle King (1963)
  • The Young and The Brave (1963)
  • The Patsy

• Television
  • Pony Express (1959)
  • Bachelor Father (1959)
  • Gunsmoke (1959)
  • The Untouchables (1959)
  • 77 Sunset Strip (1959 and 1962)
  • Tombstone Territory (1960)
  • Not For Hire (1960)
  • Hawaiian Eye (1960 and 1961)
  • Bat Masterson (1960 and 1961)
  • Frontier Circus (1962)
  • The Virginian (1964)
  • Town Tamer (1965)
  • Mister Roberts (1966)
  • The Fugitive (1966)
  • The F.B.I. (1966)
  • Twelve O'Clock High (1966)

References

External links

• Robert Ivers at the Internet Movie Database