Robert Norman Ross was an American painter, art instructor, and television host. He was the creator and host of The Joy of Painting, an instructional television program that aired from 1983 to 1994 on PBS in the United States, and also aired in Canada, Latin America, and Europe. Ross went from being a public television personality in the 1980s and 1990s to posthumously being an Internet celebrity in the 21st century, with his talent and kindness leading to major popularity with fans on YouTube, Twitch, and other websites years after his death.
| Born: | Robert Norman Ross, October 29, 1942, Daytona Beach, Florida, U.S. |
| Died: | July 4, 1995, Orlando, Florida, U.S. |
| Occupation: | Painter, art instructor, television host, internet personality |
| Years active: | 1981–1994 |
| Children: | 1 |
| Website: | Bob Ross's Official site |
| Youtube: | Bob Ross's Youtube channel |
| IMDb: | Bob Ross's IMDb |
About Bob Ross
Iconic American painter and former television host of Public Television's The Joy of Painting. His famous perm came about when he needed to save money and he was looking for a way around haircuts.
Before Fame
He served in the U.S. Air Force. During this period, he first experienced the Alaskan landscape when he was stationed on Elmendorf Air Force Base. Alaska would become a recurring theme in his artistic work. He was inspired to paint after seeing The Magic World of Oil Painting, the show hosted by his future mentor, Bill Alexander.
Achievement
He used his television fame to launch a successful brand of art supplies and instructional books.
Family Life
He grew up with a half-brother, Jim, whom he would reference on his show. He was married two times, to women named Jane and Vicky. He had three children: Bob, Morgan and Steve.
Associations
His warm, soft-spoken instructional style bears comparison to that of fellow television personality Mr. Rogers.
Information related to Bob Ross
- Educators from Florida
- Painters from Florida
- 20th-century American military personnel
- Educators from Alaska
- Burials in Florida
- PBS people
- Art educators
- American television hosts
- American landscape painters
- United States Air Force airmen
