how did bob ross (joy of painting) die? (1 Viewer)

andrew markworthy · Jan 12, 2007

Apologies for asking such a lurid question, but I want to get my facts right for a lecture (BR only gets a passing mention, but I like to get even peripheral details correct). I understood that he died from cancer on July 4th, 1995, and a lot of web sites seem to confirm this. However, a couple refer to his suicide. Did he kill himself because of the cancer, or is the suicide information simply wrong?

John Berggren · Jan 12, 2007

http://us.imdb.com/name/nm1470679/
IMDB lists cancer. I expect they are pretty accurate.

Greg_S_H · Jan 12, 2007

Never heard suicide, and I was a big fan at the time of his passing. If he did kill himself, they kept that very quiet.

Dave Poehlman · Jan 12, 2007

I think suicide might just be an urban myth... probably based on him painting one too many "happy clouds".

MarkHastings · Jan 12, 2007

Sorry to hi-jack, but does anyone remember the name of the German painter who painted just like Bob Ross? I think he was short and either bald or almost bald??

Chu Gai · Jan 12, 2007

You sure it's the same Ross in those other website? Lymphoma is what I think he had.

Greg_S_H · Jan 12, 2007

William Alexander, also deceased. I think Bob was a student of his, and picked up some of his expressions from him.
"Ve vill, ve vill . . . paint zee happy shoreline."

andrew markworthy · Jan 13, 2007

Thanks for the info, guys. I guess the 'suicide' was somebody's idea of a joke.

Bill Cowmeadow · Jan 13, 2007

I have several paintings hanging that I did as a casual viewer of those shows. You really could learn how to do it just by watching. Thanks PBS.

MarkHastings · Jan 13, 2007

Greg_S_H said:
William Alexander, also deceased. I think Bob was a student of his, and picked up some of his expressions from him.
"Ve vill, ve vill . . . paint zee happy shoreline."

YES! Thanks! I forgot he was a student...no wonder why they were so similar.

Tsalagi · Oct 29, 2012

The person who wanted to know about the other painter who painted somewhat like Bob Ross (joy of painting) was Ben Alexander.

siobhano · Dec 5, 2012

The other German painter was named Aexander, and they both died from cancer caused by using paint thinner (odorless turpentine) all the time in his painting. This is the reason so many painters have gone to using acrylic paints..

Sam Posten · Dec 6, 2012

I had read on snopes in the past the runor that he was a sniper. I believe that was debunked but he WAS a military guy:
http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/40610
His cause of death is not mentioned.

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