C. J. M. Hopking

Charles Clarence Robert Orville Cummings, professionally known as Robert Cummings and later Bob Cummings, was an American actor active in film and television. Born in Joplin, Missouri, his father was a surgeon, and his mother was an ordained minister of the Science of Mind. Cummings developed a passion for flying early on, becoming the first officially licensed flight instructor in the United States. He briefly studied aeronautical engineering before financial difficulties led him to pursue acting, studying at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts. His early career involved inventing a persona, 'Blade Stanhope Conway,' a British actor, to secure theatrical work in New York. He later adopted the name 'Bryce Hutchens' before eventually finding success under his own name at Paramount Pictures and later Universal Studios, leading to a career spanning numerous films and television appearances, including roles in Alfred Hitchcock thrillers. He received multiple Emmy nominations and a win, as well as stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Born in Joplin, Missouri, Charles Clarence Robert Orville Cummings' family had connections to both medicine and spiritual practice, with his father being a surgeon and his mother an ordained minister of the Science of Mind. A significant part of Cummings' youth was dedicated to aviation. He learned to fly during high school and achieved his first solo flight in 1927. Despite some anecdotal claims linking his flight training to aviation pioneer Orville Wright, records suggest Cummings learned from a local plumber named Cooper through trial and error. He issued flight instructor certificate No. 1, making him the first official flight instructor in the United States. His early interest in flying also led him to offer rides to Joplin residents for a fee.

After a brief period studying aeronautical engineering at Carnegie Tech, financial hardship from the 1929 stock market crash prompted Cummings to explore acting. He studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, learning what he described as "three basic principles of acting." Facing difficulty finding work, he devised an elaborate scheme: he invented the persona of "Blade Stanhope Conway," a British actor and playwright, and used this fabricated identity to secure auditions and roles in New York, including a part in John Galsworthy's 'The Roof' and an appearance in 'Earl Carroll's Vanities.' This period also saw him work as an extra in 'Sons of the Desert.' He later admitted this deception contributed to his first marriage's dissolution.

Cummings shifted his strategy, adopting the name "Bryce Hutchens" in 1934 to capitalize on a perceived demand for American-sounding performers, appearing in the 'Ziegfeld Follies of 1934.' His career took a significant turn when he auditioned for King Vidor's 'So Red the Rose' (1935), successfully feigning a Texan accent. Though his ruse was discovered, Vidor cast him, and his performance was praised for its authenticity. This led to a contract with Paramount Pictures, where he appeared in numerous films, including several B-westerns. After leaving Paramount, he found renewed success with Universal Studios, particularly in 'Three Smart Girls Grow Up' (1939), where his comedic talent was widely recognized. This role marked a turning point, establishing him as a leading man.

“three quarters of Broadway plays were from England”

“Blade Stanhope Conway in Candida”

“some excellent bits of acting”

“suddenly the bottom dropped out of the John Bull market; almost overnight, demand switched from Londoners to lassoers.”

“I Like the Likes of You”