Amiable leading man who hit his peak in the early 1940s. Perennially youthful, Cummings started his film career in light comedies but proved his dramatic talents in the two Hitchcock films in which he starred: as the naive, innocent aircraft worker in "Saboteur" (1942) and "Dial M For Murder" (1954) as well as Sam Wood's "King's Row" (1942) and Martin Gabel's "The Lost Moment" (1947).
Although he appeared in dramatic roles in many of the anthology series of early TV and won an Emmy for his starring performance in Reginald Rose's drama "12 Angry Men" (1954), Cummings was best known as the playboy photographer in his popular series "The Bob Cummings Show" (aka "Love That Bob", 1955-59).
Family
FATHER: Charles Cummings. Physician. Nurtured him with a high-protein diet and food supplements that Cummings later credited for maintaining his youth and vigor.
MOTHER: Ruth Cummings. Minister.
SON: Robert Cummings Jr. Doctor. Earned part of medical school expenses by working as his father's stand-in on remake of "Stagecoach" (1966); mother, Edna Myers.
DAUGHTER: Melinda Cummings. Mother, Mary Elliott.
DAUGHTER: Patricia Cummings. Mother, Mary Elliott.
DAUGHTER: Laurel Cummings. Mother, Mary Elliott.
SON: Anthony Cummings. Born in 1957; mother, Mary Elliott.
Companion
WIFE: Edna Emma Myers. Divorced.
WIFE: Vivian Janis. Actor.
WIFE: Mary Elliott. Actor. Married in 1945; divorced in 1969; married by Cummings' mother; died on March 5, 2000 at age 82.
WIFE: Regina Fong. Secretary. Married on March 27, 1971; was Cummings' secretary; one son together; time and date of wedding chosen after consulting three astrologers.
WIFE: Janie Cummings. Married from 1989 until his death.
Milestone
1931: Broadway debut as Blade Stanhope Conway
1935: Film acting debut in "So Red the Rose"
1939: Began playing leading roles in features (date approximate)
Served as flight instructor in WWII
1952 - 1953: TV series debut in "My Hero"
Starred on the popular TV sitcom, "Love That Bob/The Robert Cummings Show"
Education
American Academy of Dramatic Arts - New York, New York - attended one year
Carnegie Institute of Technology - Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - attended one year
Drury College - Springfield, Missouri - attended one year
Bibliography
"How to Stay Young and Vital" Robert Cummings 1960
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