# Bobs Watson > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Bobs_Watson > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Bobs_Watson.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobs_Watson > Source revision: 1342438027 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) {{Use American English|date=September 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=September 2023}} {{Short description|American actor (1930–1999)}} {{Infobox person | name = Bobs Watson | image = Bobs Watson in Wyoming (1940) (cropped).png | caption = Watson in ''[Wyoming](/source/Wyoming_(1940_film))'' (1940) | birth_name = Robert Ball Watson | birth_date = {{birth date|1930|11|16}} | birth_place = [Los Angeles, California](/source/Los_Angeles%2C_California), U.S. | death_date = {{death date and age|1999|6|26|1930|11|11}} | death_place = [Laguna Beach, California](/source/Laguna_Beach%2C_California), U.S. | othername = | occupation = Actor, minister | years_active = 1932–1993 | spouse = {{marriage|Jaye Watson|1979}} | children = 3 | relatives = [Coy Watson Jr.](/source/Coy_Watson_Jr.) (brother)
[Harry Watson](/source/Harry_Watson_(actor)) (brother)
[Delmar Watson](/source/Delmar_Watson) (brother) }} '''Robert Ball Watson''' (November 16, 1930 – June 26, 1999), credited as '''Bobs Watson''', was an American actor and [Methodist](/source/Methodist) minister. == Early years == [[File:Men-of-Boys-Town-1941-Poster-2.jpg|thumb|Bobs Watson (upper left) featured on a theatrical release poster for ''[Men of Boys Town](/source/Men_of_Boys_Town)'' (1941)]] Robert Ball Watson{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/obituary-bobs-watson-1104741.html |title=Obituary: Bobs Watson |last=Vallance |first=Tom |date=July 6, 1999 |website=[The Independent](/source/The_Independent) |access-date=March 8, 2017}} was a member of the [Watson Family](/source/The_Watson_family_(actors)), famous in the early days of [Hollywood](/source/Cinema_of_the_United_States) as being a houseful of child actors. He was brother to [Coy Watson Jr.](/source/Coy_Watson_Jr.), [Harry](/source/Harry_Watson_(actor)), Billy, [Delmar](/source/Delmar_Watson), Garry, Vivian, Gloria, and Louise, all of whom acted in motion pictures.[http://projects.latimes.com/hollywood/star-walk/the-watson-family/ ''Los Angeles Times''] The family, known as "the first family of Hollywood", lived by the [Echo Park](/source/Echo_Park%2C_Los_Angeles%2C_California) area of [Los Angeles](/source/Los_Angeles) and Bobs attended nearby [Belmont High School](/source/Belmont_High_School_(Los_Angeles%2C_California)). == Child actor == Watson was best known for his role as "Pee Wee" in the 1938 [Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer](/source/Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer) film ''[Boys Town](/source/Boys_Town_(film))'' and its sequel ''[Men of Boys Town](/source/Men_of_Boys_Town)'' (1941), both starring [Spencer Tracy](/source/Spencer_Tracy) and [Mickey Rooney](/source/Mickey_Rooney).https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033902/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_ov_ql_1{{unreliable source |date=April 2025}}https://catalog.afi.com/Film/26809-MEN-OF-BOYS-TOWN?cxt=filmographyTracy and Watson became good friends during the making of the first film, and Watson was reportedly Tracy's last visitor before his death in 1967.{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} In 1939, Watson delivered a fine, tear-jerking performance as Pud, [Lionel Barrymore](/source/Lionel_Barrymore)'s grandson, in the [MGM](/source/MGM) film, ''[On Borrowed Time](/source/On_Borrowed_Time)''. Watson later made guest appearances in many television programs, including ''[The Twilight Zone](/source/The_Twilight_Zone)'', ''[Lou Grant](/source/Lou_Grant_(TV_series))'', ''[The Beverly Hillbillies](/source/The_Beverly_Hillbillies)'', ''[Green Acres](/source/Green_Acres)'', ''[The Fugitive](/source/The_Fugitive_(1963_TV_series))'' and ''[Bonanza](/source/Bonanza)''. In 1963 Watson appeared as Matt Lewis on ''[The Virginian](/source/The_Virginian_(TV_series))'' in the episode titled "A Distant Fury".https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0740911/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_ov_ql_1{{unreliable source |date=April 2025}}https://www.ultimate70s.com/actor/-/The_Virginian/63 == Later career == In addition to working in the motion pictures business, Watson went to [Claremont School of Theology](/source/Claremont_School_of_Theology) to become a [Methodist](/source/Methodist) minister, inspired from the movie ''Boys Town''. He retired after 30 years of serving in [Burbank](/source/Burbank%2C_California) and [La Cañada](/source/La_Ca%C3%B1ada_Flintridge%2C_California), California. == Later life and death == The Watson family were honored by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce by placing [the Watson family](/source/List_of_stars_on_the_Hollywood_Walk_of_Fame) star on the [Hollywood Walk of Fame](/source/Hollywood_Walk_of_Fame), at 6674 [Hollywood Blvd.](/source/Hollywood_Blvd.), [Hollywood, California](/source/Hollywood%2C_California).Pool, Bob. "[https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/40810007.html?dids=40810007:40810007&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Apr+23%2C+1999&author=BOB+POOL&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Star+Shines+Brightly+for+Hollywood%27s+First+Family%3B+Movies%3A+The+Watson+clan+of+former+child+actors+finally+receives+recognition+for+its+pioneering+contribution+to+films.&pqatl=google Star Shines Brightly for Hollywood's First Family; Movies: The Watson clan of former child actors finally receives recognition for its pioneering contribution to films] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090715211145/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/latimes/access/40810007.html?dids=40810007:40810007&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Apr+23%2C+1999&author=BOB+POOL&pub=Los+Angeles+Times&desc=Star+Shines+Brightly+for+Hollywood%27s+First+Family%3B+Movies%3A+The+Watson+clan+of+former+child+actors+finally+receives+recognition+for+its+pioneering+contribution+to+films.&pqatl=google |date=July 15, 2009 }}." the ''[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)''. April 23, 1999. Metro Part B Metro Desk Page 1. Watson died of [prostate cancer](/source/prostate_cancer) at [Laguna Beach, California](/source/Laguna_Beach%2C_California), on June 26, 1999, at the age of 68. == Filmography == {|class="wikitable" |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- | 1932 | ''[Life Begins](/source/Life_Begins_(1932_film))'' | Edgar, Harry's Son | Film debut, Uncredited |- | rowspan=2|1935 | ''[Life Begins at 40](/source/Life_Begins_at_40_(film))'' | Meriwether Son | Uncredited |- | ''[Two-Fisted](/source/Two-Fisted)'' | Eddie – Jimmy's Boxing Partner | Uncredited |- | rowspan=3|1936 | ''[Show Boat](/source/Show_Boat_(1936_film))'' | Willie Thomas | Uncredited |- | ''[Mary of Scotland](/source/Mary_of_Scotland_(film))'' | Fisherman's Son | Uncredited |- | ''[Libeled Lady](/source/Libeled_Lady)'' | Waif | Uncredited |- | rowspan=3|1937 | ''[The Great O'Malley](/source/The_Great_O'Malley)'' | Boy | Uncredited |- | ''[Maytime](/source/Maytime_(1937_film))'' | Maypole Singer | Uncredited |- | ''[It Happened in Hollywood](/source/It_Happened_in_Hollywood)'' | Boy | Uncredited |- | rowspan=5|1938 | ''[In Old Chicago](/source/In_Old_Chicago)'' | Bob O'Leary as a Boy | |- | ''[Go Chase Yourself](/source/Go_Chase_Yourself)'' | Junior | Uncredited |- | ''[Boys Town](/source/Boys_Town_(film))'' | Pee Wee | |- | ''[Young Dr. Kildare](/source/Young_Dr._Kildare)'' | Bob O'Leary as a Boy | |- | ''[Kentucky](/source/Kentucky_(film))'' | Peter Goodwin – 1861 | |- | rowspan=5|1939 | ''[Dodge City](/source/Dodge_City_(film))'' | Harry Cole | |- | ''[The Story of Alexander Graham Bell](/source/The_Story_of_Alexander_Graham_Bell)'' | George Sanders | |- | ''[Calling Dr. Kildare](/source/Calling_Dr._Kildare)'' | Tommy Benson | Uncredited |- | ''[On Borrowed Time](/source/On_Borrowed_Time)'' | Pud | |- | ''[Blackmail](/source/Blackmail_(1939_film))'' | Hank | |- | rowspan=3|1940 | ''[Wyoming](/source/Wyoming_(1940_film))'' | Jimmy Kincaid | |- | ''[Dreaming Out Loud](/source/Dreaming_Out_Loud_(film))'' | Jimmy | |- | ''[Dr. Kildare's Crisis](/source/Dr._Kildare's_Crisis)'' | Tommy, The Crippled Child | |- | rowspan=3|1941 | ''[Men of Boys Town](/source/Men_of_Boys_Town)'' | Pee Wee | |- | ''[Scattergood Pulls the Strings](/source/Scattergood_Pulls_the_Strings)'' | Jimmy Jordan | |- | ''[Hit the Road](/source/Hit_the_Road_(1941_film))'' | Pesky | |- | 1943 | ''[Hi, Buddy](/source/Hi%2C_Buddy)'' | Tim Martin | |- | 1955 | ''[The Public Defender](/source/The_Public_Defender_(TV_series))'' | Rodger Bissel | Episode: ''Your Witness'' |- | rowspan=3|1956 | ''[Crossroads](/source/Crossroads_(1955_TV_series))'' | | Episode: ''The White Carnation'' |- | ''[The Bold and the Brave](/source/The_Bold_and_the_Brave)'' | Bob | |- | ''[The 20th Century-Fox Hour](/source/The_20th_Century-Fox_Hour)'' | Farnum | Episode: ''Smoke Jumpers'' |- | 1958 | ''[Flight](/source/Flight_(1958_TV_series))'' | | 3 episodes |- | rowspan=2|1959 | ''[Steve Canyon](/source/Steve_Canyon)'' | A / 1c Gotch | Episode: ''The Search'' |- | ''[Hennesey](/source/Hennesey)'' | Waiter | Episode: ''Pork Chops and Apple Sauce'' |- | 1959–1961 | ''[The Lawless Years](/source/The_Lawless_Years)'' | Butcher Boy/Mousie/Popcorn Peddler | 3 episodes |- | 1960–1961 | ''[The Jim Backus Show](/source/The_Jim_Backus_Show)'' | Sidney | 37 episodes |- | 1961 | ''[Pete and Gladys](/source/Pete_and_Gladys)'' | Phone Man | Episode: ''Crossed Wires'' |- | rowspan=3|1962 |''[Saintly Sinners](/source/Saintly_Sinners)'' | Attendant | Uncredited |- | ''[What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?](/source/What_Ever_Happened_to_Baby_Jane%3F_(1962_film))'' | Clerk in Newspaper Classified Ad Department | |- | ''[Bonanza](/source/Bonanza)'' | Junior | |- | rowspan=7|1963 | ''[The Lucky Show](/source/The_Lucky_Show)'' | Calvin | Episode: ''Lucy Becomes a Reporter'' |- | ''[The Twilight Zone](/source/The_Twilight_Zone_(1959_TV_series))'' | Man at Dining Room Table | Episode: ''[No Time Like the Past](/source/No_Time_Like_the_Past)'' |- | ''[The New Phil Silvers Show](/source/The_New_Phil_Silvers_Show)'' | Ollie | Episode: ''Birthday Boy'' |- | ''[The Virginian](/source/The_Virginian_(TV_series))'' | Hotel Clerk/Matt Lewis/Clerk | 3 episodes |- | ''[Take Her, She's Mine](/source/Take_Her%2C_She's_Mine)'' | Western Union Messenger | Uncredited |- | ''[The Fugitive](/source/The_Fugitive_(1963_TV_series))'' | Milt Plummer | Episode: ''Nightmare at Northoak'' |- | ''[Grindl](/source/Grindl)'' | Harry Dawson | Episode: ''Twas the Week Before Christmas'' |- | 1964–1967 | ''[The Beverly Hillbillies](/source/The_Beverly_Hillbillies)'' | Fred Penrod/Harry Hogan | 4 episodes |- | 1965 | ''[The Joey Bishop Show](/source/The_Joey_Bishop_Show_(TV_series))'' | Bernie Stern | Episode: ''Never Put It in Writing'' |- | 1966 | ''[The F.B.I.](/source/The_F.B.I._(TV_series))'' | Walsh | 2 episodes |- | rowspan=4|1967 | ''[Green Acres](/source/Green_Acres)'' | Bell Hop | Episode: ''His Honor'' |- |''[First to Fight](/source/First_to_Fight_(film))'' | Sgt. Maypole | |- | ''[The Mothers-In-Law](/source/The_Mothers-In-Law)'' | Police Officer Bailey | Episode: ''The Not-Cold-Enough War'' |- | ''[Please Don't Eat the Daisies](/source/Please_Don't_Eat_the_Daisies)'' | Howard | Episode: ''The Day the Play Got Away'' |- | 1970 | ''Mrs. Stone's Thing'' | Bartender | |- | 1977 | ''[Grand Theft Auto](/source/Grand_Theft_Auto_(film))'' | Minister | Final film |- | 1978–1981 | ''[Lou Grant](/source/Lou_Grant_(TV_series))'' | Lind/News Editor/Foreign Editor/Pete Trumbull | 4 episodes |- | 1993 | ''[The Case of the Wicked Wives](/source/Perry_Mason_(TV_film_series))'' | Judge Ezra Frank | Last appearance |- |} == References == {{Reflist}} == Bibliography == *{{cite book|last=Goldrup|first=Tom and Jim|title=Growing Up on the Set: Interviews with 39 Former Child Actors of Film and Television|date=2002|publisher=McFarland & Co.|isbn=1-4766-1370-2|pages=303–313}} * Holmstrom, John (1996). ''The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995''. Norwich: Michael Russell, pp. 171–172. * Best, Marc (1971). ''Those Endearing Young Charms: Child Performers of the Screen''. South Brunswick and New York: Barnes & Co., pp. 256–259. == External links == {{Commons category}} * {{IMDb name|0914519}} * {{Find a Grave|6970}} {{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Watson, Bobs}} Category:1930 births Category:1999 deaths Category:20th-century American male actors Category:American male child actors Category:American male film actors Category:American United Methodist clergy Category:Deaths from prostate cancer in California Category:Male actors from Los Angeles Category:Male actors from Burbank, California Category:People from La Cañada Flintridge, California Bobs Category:Claremont School of Theology alumni Category:20th-century American Christian clergy --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Bobs Watson](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobs_Watson) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bobs_Watson?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.