{{Short description|American comedian (1923–2016)}} {{Infobox person | name = Bob Elliott | image = Bob Elliott.JPG | caption = Elliott on ''Monitor'' in 1960 | birth_name = Robert Brackett Elliott | birth_date = {{Birth date|1923|3|26}} | birth_place = Winchester, Massachusetts, U.S. | death_date = {{Death date and age|2016|2|2|1923|3|26}} | death_place = Cundy Harbor, Maine, U.S. | occupation = Comedian, actor | years_active = 1946–2008 | spouse = {{unbulleted list|{{marriage|Jane Underwood|1943|1953|end=div}}|{{marriage|Lee Peppers|1954|2012|end=died}}}} | children = 5; including Chris | relatives = {{ubl|Abby Elliott (granddaughter)|Bridey Elliott (granddaughter)}} }}
'''Robert Brackett Elliott''' (March 26, 1923 – February 2, 2016) was an American comedian and actor, one-half of the comedy duo of Bob and Ray. He was the father of comedian/actor Chris Elliott and grandfather of actresses and comedians Abby Elliott and Bridey Elliott. He is most remembered for the character of radio reporter Wally Ballou.<ref name="newyorktimes"/>
==Life and career== Elliott was born in Winchester, Massachusetts,<ref name="Birth">{{cite web|work=The Seattle Times|url=http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/bob-elliott-half-of-the-legendary-radio-comedy-team-bob-and-ray-dies/|first=Dennis|last=McLellan|access-date=February 4, 2016|date=February 3, 2016|title=Bob Elliott, half of legendary radio-comedy team Bob and Ray, dies|via=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> the son of Gail Marguarite (née Brackett), a needleworker, and Fred Russell Elliott, who worked in insurance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=haruspex&id=I148465|access-date=February 4, 2016|work=Ancestry.com|title=Fred Russell Elliott|publisher=Permira}}</ref> Bob Elliott served in the U.S. Army in Northern Europe during World War II. On radio, he appeared in programs with his long-time partner Ray Goulding. These were in different series and time slots over decades, beginning in the late 1940s at Boston's WHDH radio on the show ''Matinee with Bob and Ray''.<ref name="Washington Post">{{Cite news|title = Bob Elliott, master satirist of radio fame, dies at 92|url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/pop-culture-satirist-bob-elliott-dies-at-92/2016/02/03/9ec0f682-ca98-11e5-ae11-57b6aeab993f_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=February 3, 2016|access-date=February 3, 2016|issn=0190-8286|language=en-US|first=Adam|last=Bernstein}}</ref>
{{quote box |width = 25em |border = 1px |align=right |bgcolor= #FAE7B5 |fontsize = 88% |quote = "The funniest people in this country, these guys are also two of the keenest observers of the American scene and the finest interviewers in the business."<ref name="Rolling Stone">{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news/bob-elliott-bob-and-ray-comedian-dead-at-92-20160203#ixzz3zEKxuh46|access-date=February 4, 2016|date=February 3, 2016|magazine=Rolling Stone|first=Daniel|last=Kreps|title=Bob Elliott, 'Bob and Ray' Comedian, Dead at 92}}</ref> |salign = right |source =—David Letterman said of the duo prior to one interview.}}
[[File:Bob and Ray Tedi Thurman Monitor.gif|thumb|right|150px|Bob and Ray in a publicity photo with Tedi Thurman for ''Monitor'', where all were program regulars]] On television, Elliott and Goulding hosted ''Bob and Ray'' from 1951 to 1953. He appeared on a number of other television programs, including ''Happy Days''; ''Newhart''; and ''Bob & Ray, Jane, Laraine & Gilda'' in 1979 (with Goulding, Jane Curtin, Laraine Newman and Gilda Radner); ''The David Steinberg Show''; and ''Saturday Night Live''.<ref name="Rolling Stone"/> In 1982, Elliott was in ''Author! Author!'' as Patrick Dicker.<ref name= "Bennetts">{{cite news|last=Bennetts|first=Leslie |title=''Author! Author!'' Shoots in N.Y., N.Y.|work=The New York Times|date=January 24, 1982|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/01/24/movies/author-author-shoots-in-ny-ny.html?pagewanted=all|access-date=February 3, 2016}}</ref><ref name= "Chase">{{cite news|last=Chase |first=Chris|title=The author of ''Author! Author!''|work=The New York Times|date=July 2, 1982|access-date=February 3, 2016|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/07/02/movies/at-the-movies-the-author-of-author-author.html}}</ref><ref name= "Scott">{{cite news|last=Scott|first=Jay|title=''Author! Author!'' Just a Mish-Mash of Mush|work=The Globe and Mail|date=June 19, 1982|access-date=February 3, 2016|url=http://vhscollector.com/movie/author-author|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160204045902/http://vhscollector.com/movie/author-author|archive-date=February 4, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name= "Kroll">{{cite news|last=Kroll|first=Jack|title=Kingdom of Cute|work=Newsweek|date=July 5, 1982|access-date=February 3, 2016|url=http://rheaven.blogspot.com/2009/12/author-author.html}}</ref><ref name= "Arnold">{{cite news|last=Arnold|first=Gary|title=Al Pacino on the Writer's Block|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=June 19, 1982|access-date=February 3, 2016|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1982/06/19/al-pacino-on-the-writers-block/5bb5072f-e2c5-4ca4-bad9-709cc0f9a75a/}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Wilson|first=John|title=The Official Razzie Movie Guide: Enjoying the Best of Hollywood's Worst|year=2005|publisher=Grand Central Publishing|isbn=0-446-69334-0}}</ref> He would star in made-for-TV-Movie's such as ''Between Time and Timbuktu'' and ''FDR: A One Man Show''. Elliott also made television commercials,<ref name="Washington Post"/> and co-wrote some humor articles with Ray Goulding for ''Mad Magazine'' in the 1950s.<ref>[https://www.madcoversite.com/ugoi-bob_elliott.html Mad Magazine Contributors – Bob Elliott] Retrieved 31 May 2020.</ref>
In 1970, the duo debuted in ''The Two and Only'' on Broadway.<ref name="Broadway">{{cite magazine|url=http://www.ew.com/article/2016/02/03/bob-elliott-dead|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|access-date=February 4, 2016|date=February 3, 2016|first=Ariana|last=Bacle|title=Comedian Bob Elliott dies at 92}}</ref> Bob and Goulding worked together up until Goulding's death in 1990.<ref name="Broadway"/>
==Solo works== In 1990, Elliott portrayed a bank guard in ''Quick Change''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/quick_change/|title=Quick Change|date=July 13, 1990|work=Rotten Tomatoes|publisher=Flixster|access-date=February 3, 2016}}</ref> In 1990, he portrayed "Fred Peterson" in the television series ''Get a Life'', which starred Chris as his son. Four years later, the elder Elliott appeared in the Tim Burton production ''Cabin Boy'', playing Chris's father again. In 2004, he appeared in a skit on the Air America radio program ''The O'Franken Factor''.{{citation needed|date=April 2015}} Elliott appeared on radio with Garrison Keillor in ''The American Radio Company of the Air''.<ref name="newyorktimes"/>
==Personal life== Elliott married Jane Underwood in 1943. They divorced in 1953,<ref name="Washington Post"/> having no children. ''Bob and Ray'' writer Raymond Knight died in 1953.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/raymond-knight/|work=Los Angeles Times|access-date=February 3, 2016|title=Raymond Knight}}</ref> In 1954, Elliott married Knight's widow, Lee (née Peppers). They were married for 58 years until her death in 2012.<ref name="Lee"/> They had two sons, Chris Elliott and Bob Elliott Jr., and one daughter, Amy Andersen.<ref name="Washington Post"/><ref name="Lee">{{cite web|url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9E0DEEDD1F3AF93AA15757C0A9649D8B63|access-date=February 3, 2016|date=April 29, 2012|work=The New York Times|title=Lee K. Elliott}}</ref> They adopted Lee and Ray Knight's two children, Colony Elliott Santangelo and Shannon Elliott.<ref name="Washington Post"/> They had 11 grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.<ref name="Washington Post"/>
In 1989, Elliott co-authored son Chris's mock autobiography, ''Daddy's Boy: A Son's Shocking Account of Life with a Famous Father''.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/daddysboysonssho00elli|title=Daddy's Boy: A Son's Shocking Account of Life with a Famous Father|isbn=978-0385297301|year=1989|first1=Chris|last1=Elliott|first2=Bob|last2=Elliott|publisher=Dell Publishing}}</ref>
Elliott died in Cundy's Harbor, Maine, on February 2, 2016, from throat cancer at the age of 92.<ref name="newyorktimes">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/04/arts/television/bob-elliott-of-bob-and-ray-comedy-fame-dies-at-92.html|title=Bob Elliott, of Bob and Ray Comedy Fame, Dies at 92|date=February 3, 2016|work=The New York Times|access-date=February 3, 2016|first1=Peter|last1=Keepnews|first2=Richard|last2=Severo}}</ref>
== Filmography ==
===Film=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 1959 | ''Test Dive Buddies'' | Bob | Short film directed by Ed Graham Jr. |- | 1960 | ''Kid Gloves'' | Bob | Short film directed by Ed Graham Jr. |- | 1971 | ''Cold Turkey'' | Hugh Upson/David Chetley/Sandy Van Andy | Satirical comedy film directed by Norman Lear. |- | 1980 |''Vengeance'' | Luke | Directed and written by Bob Bliss. |- | 1981 | ''B.C.: A Special Christmas'' | Peter (voice) | American animated short film directed by Vlad Goetzelman. |- | 1982 | ''Author! Author!'' | Patrick Dicker | American comedy drama film directed by Arthur Hiller and written by Israel Horovitz. |- | 1984 | ''Kidco'' | Policeman #2 | Comedy film directed by Ronald F. Maxwell. |- | 1987 | ''The Gnomes' Great Adventure'' | Fred | {{Plain list | * American animated film directed by Harvey Weinstein and released by Miramax Films. * Based on ''The World of David the Gnome''. }} |- | 1990 | ''Quick Change'' | Bank Guard | {{Plain list | * Crime comedy film written by Howard Franklin, produced by and starring Bill Murray, and directed by both. * Despite not being a major commercial success, the film was well received critically. }} |- | 1994 | ''Cabin Boy'' | William Mayweather | {{Plain list | * Fantasy comedy film directed by Adam Resnick. * Hip hop producer Dan "the Automator" Nakamura named his publishing company, Sharkman Music, after the film.<ref name="Crain">{{cite news|first=Zac|last=Crain|title=Handsome Dan, Automator Man|url=http://www.miaminewtimes.com/1999-11-25/music/handsome-dan-automator-man/|work=Miami New Times|date=November 25, 1999 |access-date=February 3, 2016}}</ref> }} |}
===Television=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |- | 1951–53 | ''Bob and Ray'' | Co-Host | 15-minute television series on NBC. |- | 1972 | ''Between Time and Timbuktu'' | Bud Williams, Jr. | {{Plain list | * Made-for-TV-Movie * Directed by Fred Barzyk. * Based on a number of works by Kurt Vonnegut. }} |- | 1976 | ''The David Steinberg Show'' | {{cGuest}} | Episode: "Episode #1.1 (Pilot)" |- | 1978 | ''Saturday Night Live'' | Interviewer | Episode: "Elliott Gould/Peter Tosh" |- | 1979 | ''Happy Days'' | Gil Crawford | Episode: "Here Comes the Bride, Again" |- | 1981 | ''The Steve Allen Comedy Hour'' | {{cGuest}} | Episode: "Episode #1.22" |- | 1985 | ''Trapper John, M.D.'' | Zeke Rainey | Episode: "A False Start" |- | 1986 | ''Action Family'' | The Vendor | {{Plain list | * Made-for-TV-Movie * Directed by Gary Weis. }} |- | 1987 | ''FDR: A One Man Show'' | Make-Up Man | {{Plain list | * Made-for-TV-Movie * Directed by Matt Wickline. }} |- | rowspan="2" | 1988 | ''Coming of Age'' | {{cGuest}} | Episode: "Hale to the Chief" |- | ''Newhart'' | Bill Loudon | Episode: "I Came, I Saw, I Sat" |- | 1990–92 | ''Get a Life'' | Fred Peterson | Contract role |- | 1999 | ''LateLine'' | Wally Van Horn | Episode: "The Minister of Television" |- | 2008 | ''King of the Hill'' | Edgar Hornsby (voice) | Episode: "Square-Footed Monster" (final role) |- |}
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== {{Portal|Biography|United States|Radio|Film|Television}} {{commons category-inline|Bob Elliott}} *{{IMDb name|254387|Bob Elliott}} *{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/19961227104652/http://www.bobandray.com/ Larry Josephson's official ''Bob and Ray'' site]}} *[http://www.portlandmonthly.com/portmag/2011/04/live-from-harpswell-…the-barrymores-of-comedy ''Portland Monthly'': Elliott family life in Maine] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200818114550/http://www.portlandmonthly.com/portmag/2011/04/live-from-harpswell-%E2%80%A6the-barrymores-of-comedy/ |date=2020-08-18 }} *[https://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/29/magazine/29Elliott-t.html ''New York Times'' article about the Elliot family] *Bob and Ray shows at the Internet Archive collection "Bob and Ray for the Truly Desperate" https://archive.org/details/bobandraytoaster *{{emmytvlegends name|bob-elliott}}
{{s-start}} {{s-bef | before=Dennis James }} {{s-ttl | title = Host of ''The Name's the Same'' | years = April 11 – June 21, 1955 | with = Ray Goulding }} {{s-aft| after=Clifton Fadiman }} {{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Elliott, Bob}} Category:1923 births Category:2016 deaths Category:20th-century American comedians Category:20th-century American male actors Category:American male comedians Category:American male film actors Category:American male radio actors Category:American male television actors Category:American male voice actors Category:American radio personalities Bob Elliott Category:Comedians from Middlesex County, Massachusetts Category:Deaths from throat cancer in Maine Category:Mad (magazine) people Category:Male actors from Middlesex County, Massachusetts Category:Military personnel from Massachusetts Category:United States Army personnel of World War II Category:People from Winchester, Massachusetts