Biography of Bobby Van:
Robert Jack Stein, better known as Bobby Van, was a talented triple-threat performer born on December 6, 1928, in the Bronx, New York. Growing up backstage, he made his stage debut at the age of four as part of his parents' vaudeville act. He attended New York City schools and developed a passion for music, initially focusing on the trumpet.
However, a last-minute song-and-dance job at a Catskill Mountains resort changed his destiny. Bobby's natural talent on stage, combined with his ability to tell jokes and do impressions, led him to pursue a career in entertainment.
World War II interrupted his nascent career, but he eventually regained momentum, appearing regularly in nightclubs, on radio, and television. He earned Broadway attention in the musical "Alive and Kicking" and the revival of "On Your Toes" in 1950.
In 1952, Bobby married musical actress Diane Garrett, and they adopted a son, Peter, in 1959. That year, he joined MGM and began appearing in films, partnering with Debbie Reynolds in Skirts Ahoy! and starring in Because You're Mine, which featured him in a dance solo.
Bobby's subsequent films included Small Town Girl, The Affairs of Dobie Gillis, and the musical classic Kiss Me Kate, showcasing his exceptional dancing prowess. Although Kiss Me Kate should have solidified his status as a movie star, it marked the end of his MGM era.
With the "Golden Age" of MGM behind him, Bobby transitioned to working in nightclubs, as a choreographer, and on television. He appeared regularly on the small screen, including a recurring role in the short-lived TV series Mickey, starring Mickey Rooney.
Bobby's personal life saw him divorce Diane Garrett in the early 1960s and remarry singer/comedienne Elaine Joyce in 1968. The couple appeared together on game shows, including Tattletales and Match Game, and Bobby eventually hosted his own game shows, including Showoffs, The Fun Factory, and Make Me Laugh.
On stage, Bobby co-starred in the successful revival of "No, No, Nanette" and was nominated for a Tony Award. He also appeared in the original musicals "Doctor Jazz," "Mack and Mabel," "Anything Goes," and "Dames at Sea."
In 1977, Elaine gave birth to their baby girl, Taylor. However, Bobby's life took a devastating turn when he was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor in 1979. Despite undergoing surgery and continuing to perform, the cancer returned, and he passed away on July 31, 1980, at the age of 51.
