Robert B. "Bobs" Watson (November 11, 1930 – June 27, 1999) was an American actor and a Methodist minister. He died of prostate cancer in 1999 at Laguna Beach, California.
For a while, I used to worry that if I gave a really moving sermon, people would just figure that I was still acting, but I got over that. Acting did help me in that it is probably easier for me to relate to many different people than it would be for most men. Actually, I think the ability I was known for around the studios was what has helped me the most as a clergyman. To get me to cry, which is so hard for most kid actors, all a director or my dad would have to do was to tell me about some terrible trouble someone was having. I could always empathize and would burst into tears. Now I just see what can be done to help the person who comes to me with a serious problem. And there is always something. You know, Jesus never ever fails us.
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On what prompted him to enter the ministry: "No matter how pleased I was with my career or my family, I kept hearing, 'Isn't there something more you could be doing with your life?' I was thirty-two years old when I made the decision, hardly the ideal age to enter the ministry, but that's what I did."
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Fact
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Child actor who specialized at shedding tears - puddles of 'em.
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Retires after 30 years as a Methodist minister. [June 1997]
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Nicknamed the Cry Baby of Hollywood, as he could cry on cue.
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Inspired to become a Methodist minister in later years by Spencer Tracy's Father Flanagan performance and Tracy's warm treatment of the boys on the set of Boys Town (1938), of which Bobs was one.
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He and his older brother Coy Watson were both born on the same day (November 16) eighteen years apart.
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Was one of Spencer Tracy's last visitors before his death. Watson and "Uncle Spence" had become friends while filming Boys Town (1938) together.
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Also known as Reverend Bobs Watson. He was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 1997.
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Met Father Flanagan during the filming of Boys Town (1938).
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'Bobs' is his real nickname, given by his father to distinguish him from another actor named 'Bob Watson'.
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Not to be confused with the US comic actor Bobby Watson.
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Brother of actors Coy Watson, Delmar Watson, Billy Watson as well as other Watson siblings who also appeared in films; there were six boys and three girls.
$600,000
