Robert Jolin Osborne (/ˈɒzbɔːrn/; May 3, 1932 – March 6, 2017) was an American film historian, author, actor and the primary television host for the premium cable channel Turner Classic Movies (TCM) for over twenty years.

His parents were Robert Eugene Osborne, a public school teacher, and Hazel Ida (née Jolin).

[1] In 1941, Osborne's fascination with Hollywood began when his mother purchased for him the August edition of Modern Screen magazine featuring Lana Turner; inside, there was an advertisement for Kiss the Boys Goodbye, in which Mary Martin's lips were colored red in a black-and-white spread.

[7] Osborne began his show business career working as a contract actor for Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball's Desilu Studios.

[8] Osborne appeared in a 1959 episode of Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse called "Chain of Command", starring Hugh O'Brian.

"[8][9] In 1965, Osborne published his first book, Academy Awards Illustrated with a foreword by Bette Davis.

When his contract with the Movie Channel was to expire, Osborne lunched with actress Dorothy Lamour and then-American Movie Classics (AMC) television executives Brad Siegel and Jim Wise where they offered him the daytime afternoon hosting position, but his hiring was blocked by a management turf war.

Chuck Workman's 1994 documentary short 100 Years at the Movies was followed by Osborne's first on-air introduction for Gone with the Wind (1939).

In 2006, Osborne began co-hosting The Essentials with Molly Haskell (2006 to 2007), Carrie Fisher (2007 to 2008), Rose McGowan (2008 to 2009), Alec Baldwin (2009 to 2011), Drew Barrymore and Sally Field.

[22][23] Meanwhile, in 2006, he was selected to be the Academy's official red carpet greeter, inheriting the position from Variety columnist Army Archerd.

[24] In 2010, Osborne began hosting the TCM Classic Film Festival,[25] with his last appearance occurring in 2014.

The attraction underwent a refurbishment in 2015, with the addition of a new pre-show and post-show hosted by Osborne, who also provided onboard narration for the ride.

[32] Osborne retired in early 2016 due to ill health and missed a number of TCM annual events over the next year.

[1][7] He died from natural causes at his New York City apartment in The Osborne on West 57th Street on March 6, 2017, at the age of 84.

"[33] Others in the industry who mourned Osborne included Alec Baldwin, Eva Marie Saint, Liza Minnelli, Cher, Larry King, Leonard Maltin, Patricia Arquette, Bryan Cranston, and Patton Oswalt.

[35] In an interview in 2009, with the Screen Actors Guild Foundation,[36] Osborne stated his favorite films included: In 2012, Osborne selected The Big Clock (1948), Dodsworth (1936), Hobson's Choice (1954), Indiscreet (1958), The Mating Season (1951), The Tall Target (1951), My Name Is Julia Ross (1945), Remember the Night (1940), Roughly Speaking (1945), and Vacation from Marriage (1945) as his "secret favorite movies".

[38][39] He also received an honorary doctorate from the Academy of Art University in 2005, and was awarded a star at Vine Street on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006.

[40] In January 2016, Osborne was given the inaugural William Cameron Menzies Award from the Art Directors Guild, recognizing his 35 years as a film historian, columnist, and critic championing visual entertainment.