Celebrity News

Alec Baldwin makes cameo at TCM bash for Robert Osborne

HOLLYWOOD — What was advertised as a question-and-answer session turned out to a surprise, celebrity-filled tribute to Robert Osborne, who has been the beloved face of Turner Classic Movies since it launched 20 years ago on Monday.

“They really got me,” the shocked Osborne — who appeared to be on the verge of tears at several points — said of what amounted to a live version of “This is Your Life, Robert Osborne.” Host Alex Trebek of “Jeopardy” brought out Osborne’s cousins and their daughters — flown in from Washington State — who showed rare photos of the urbane and very private Osborne in high school and on a tractor at a family reunion.

Robert Osborne with Eva Marie Saint.Mark Hill

Osborne’s celebrity friends who showed up to salute him included actors Eva Marie Saint (“He’s my favorite leading man”) Robert Wagner (“I consider you my illegitimate brother”), Jill St. John and Alec Baldwin, who showed a hilarious blooper reel featuring Osborne tripping over numerous attempts at “La Cienega Boulevard” while trying to tape an introduction to “Ben Hur.”

There were filmed appearances by pals Cher (“the longest relationship I’ve ever had with a man”) and Bill Cosby (“he doesn’t have a false moment”). Cabaret performer and film historian Michael Feinstein serenaded a misty-eyed Osborne with one of his favorite songs, “The More I See You.” Cups of Champagne were passed out to festival pass holders, who joined the celebrities in a toast.

The event at the Ricardo Montalban Theatre (where Osborne appeared as an actor opposite Zero Mostel in a stage production of “The Latent Heterosexual’’ in the early 1960s), was taped for broadcast at a future date. It was a high point of the fifth annual TCM Classic Film Festival, held in Hollywood over the weekend.

(From left) Alex Trebek and Ben Mankiewicz join Robert Osborne on stage.Mark Hill

Osborne, TCM weekend host Ben Mankiewicz and a dazzling array of celebrities including Jerry Lewis, Mel Brooks, Alan Arkin and Anna Kendrick — as well as film experts — introduced an impressive roster of films, including world premieres of beautiful new restorations of classics like “The Nutty Professor,” “Double Indemnity,” “Touch of Evil,” “A Hard Days Night,” “Blazing Saddles,” “The Women,” “The Best Years of Our Lives” and “Mr. Deeds Goes to Town.”

Enthusiastic crowds also filled historic venues along Hollywood Boulevard for rare rediscoveries like “The Stranger’s Return” (1933), the pre-code screwball comedy “Hat Check Girl” (1932) and a 1949 version of “The Great Gatsby” with Alan Ladd of “Shane” fame, introduced by his son, actor-producer David Ladd.

More pass holders in their 20s and 30s than ever before showed up for this year’s festival, demonstrating the great success of TCM’s efforts to introduce a younger generation to classic films. And at its center was Robert Osborne, who was treated like a rock star by young and old.