Robert Ball Watson (November 16, 1930 – June 26, 1999), credited as Bobs Watson, was an American actor and Methodist minister.

Early years

Robert Ball Watson was a member of the Watson Family, famous in the early days of Hollywood as being a houseful of child actors. He was brother to Coy Watson Jr., Harry, Billy, Delmar, Garry, Vivian, Gloria, and Louise, all of whom acted in motion pictures.Los Angeles Times

The family, known as "the first family of Hollywood", lived by the Echo Park area of Los Angeles and Bobs attended nearby Belmont High School.

Child actor Watson was best known for his role as "Pee Wee" in the 1938 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer film Boys Town and its sequel Men of Boys Town (1941), both starring Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney.https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0033902/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_ov_ql_1https://catalog.afi.com/Film/26809-MEN-OF-BOYS-TOWN?cxt=filmography Tracy 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. In 1939, Watson delivered a fine, tear-jerking performance as Pud, Lionel Barrymore's grandson, in the MGM film, On Borrowed Time. Watson later made guest appearances in many television programs, including The Twilight Zone, Lou Grant, The Beverly Hillbillies, Green Acres, The Fugitive and Bonanza. In 1963 Watson appeared as Matt Lewis on The Virginian in the episode titled "A Distant Fury".https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0740911/fullcredits/?ref_=tt_ov_ql_1

Later career In addition to working in the motion pictures business, Watson went to Claremont School of Theology to become a Methodist minister, inspired from the movie Boys Town. He retired after 30 years of serving in Burbank and La Cañada, California.

Later life and death The Watson family were honored by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce by placing the Watson family star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, at 6674 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood, California.Pool, Bob. "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 ." the Los Angeles Times. April 23, 1999. Metro Part B Metro Desk Page 1.

Watson died of prostate cancer at Laguna Beach, California, on June 26, 1999, at the age of 68.

Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1932 Life Begins Edgar, Harry's Son Film debut, Uncredited1935 Life Begins at 40 Meriwether Son Uncredited Two-Fisted Eddie – Jimmy's Boxing Partner Uncredited1936 Show Boat Willie Thomas Uncredited Mary of Scotland Fisherman's Son Uncredited Libeled Lady Waif Uncredited1937 The Great O'Malley Boy Uncredited Maytime Maypole Singer Uncredited It Happened in Hollywood Boy Uncredited1938 In Old Chicago Bob O'Leary as a Boy Go Chase Yourself Junior Uncredited Boys Town Pee Wee Young Dr. Kildare Bob O'Leary as a Boy Kentucky Peter Goodwin – 18611939 Dodge City Harry Cole The Story of Alexander Graham Bell George Sanders Calling Dr. Kildare Tommy Benson Uncredited On Borrowed Time Pud Blackmail Hank1940 Wyoming Jimmy Kincaid Dreaming Out Loud Jimmy Dr. Kildare's Crisis Tommy, The Crippled Child1941 Men of Boys Town Pee Wee Scattergood Pulls the Strings Jimmy Jordan Hit the Road Pesky 1943 Hi, Buddy Tim Martin 1955 The Public Defender Rodger Bissel Episode: Your Witness1956 Crossroads Episode: The White Carnation The Bold and the Brave Bob The 20th Century-Fox Hour Farnum Episode: Smoke Jumpers 1958 Flight 3 episodes1959 Steve Canyon A / 1c Gotch Episode: The Search Hennesey Waiter Episode: Pork Chops and Apple Sauce 1959–1961 The Lawless Years Butcher Boy/Mousie/Popcorn Peddler 3 episodes 1960–1961 The Jim Backus Show Sidney 37 episodes 1961 Pete and Gladys Phone Man Episode: Crossed Wires1962Saintly Sinners Attendant Uncredited What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Clerk in Newspaper Classified Ad Department Bonanza Junior1963 The Lucky Show Calvin Episode: Lucy Becomes a Reporter The Twilight Zone Man at Dining Room Table Episode: No Time Like the Past The New Phil Silvers Show Ollie Episode: Birthday Boy The Virginian Hotel Clerk/Matt Lewis/Clerk 3 episodes Take Her, She's Mine Western Union Messenger Uncredited The Fugitive Milt Plummer Episode: Nightmare at Northoak Grindl Harry Dawson Episode: Twas the Week Before Christmas 1964–1967 The Beverly Hillbillies Fred Penrod/Harry Hogan 4 episodes 1965 The Joey Bishop Show Bernie Stern Episode: Never Put It in Writing 1966 The F.B.I. Walsh 2 episodes1967 Green Acres Bell Hop Episode: His HonorFirst to Fight Sgt. Maypole The Mothers-In-Law Police Officer Bailey Episode: The Not-Cold-Enough War Please Don't Eat the Daisies Howard Episode: The Day the Play Got Away 1970 Mrs. Stone's Thing Bartender 1977 Grand Theft Auto Minister Final film 1978–1981 Lou Grant Lind/News Editor/Foreign Editor/Pete Trumbull 4 episodes 1993 The Case of the Wicked Wives Judge Ezra Frank Last appearance

References

Bibliography

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