Robert Cummings, a renowned comedian of the 1930s and 1940s film era and 1950s and 1960s television series, was celebrated for his perpetually youthful appearance, which he attributed to a strict regimen of vitamins and a health-conscious diet.
Born with a passion for the performing arts, Cummings pursued his education at Carnegie Tech and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. In a bold move, he decided to reinvent himself as Blade Stanhope Conway, a British actor, in an attempt to appeal to Broadway producers, who he believed would be more intrigued by an upper-crust Englishman than a native of Joplin, Missouri.
The ruse proved successful, and Cummings continued to utilize this pseudonym on Broadway. Confident that his strategy would also work in Hollywood, he relocated to the West Coast and adopted the persona of a wealthy Texan named Bruce Hutchens. Once again, his plan paid off, and he began securing minor roles in films.
Eventually, Cummings reverted to his real name and established himself as a popular leading man in light comedies, typically portraying well-meaning, affable, yet slightly bumbling young men. His greatest success, however, came in his own television series during the 1950s, including The Bob Cummings Show (1955) and My Living Doll (1964).
