Bob Burns (1935

Tuesday, 16 December 2025 21:38

Bob Burns (1935 – 2025)

by Bill Hunt

We are truly heartbroken this evening to learn that our dear friend Bob Burns has died.

Bob and his wife Kathy, who passed in 2021, were two of the kindest and most generous human beings I’ve ever had the honor of knowing in my time in Hollywood.

Together, they safeguarded a deep well of knowledge about the history of genre cinema, and so many of its most sacred artifacts, as the keepers of Hollywood’s attic.

I’ll never forget those joyous occasions when The Digital Bits crew had the opportunity to visit Bob’s Basement.

Kathy always greeted your arrival with a plate of freshly-baked cookies—after you’d shared enormous bear hugs with each of them first, of course.

You truly felt like Indiana Jones while roaming the aisles of their treasure trove of iconic props and costumes. [Read on here...]

Every time they heard you gasp and exclaim, “Oh my God, is that the—?!” Bob would immediately reply, “It sure is—go ahead and pick it up!” and Kathy would quickly add, “Bob, tell them the story!” which would prompt a riveting 20-30 minute tale about how the prop was made and by whom, how it was cleverly used in the film or series in question, and how it came into their protective hands.

It’s no exaggeration when I say this: Never in my life have I met anyone with as hearts as big as Bob and Kathy.

And the only thing that eases my sadness tonight at the news of Bob’s passing, is the knowledge that maybe… just maybe… the two of them are together once again in the Great Beyond.

Bob & Kathy Burns with The Digital Bits crew (Todd Doogan, Adam Jahnke & Bill Hunt) in 2012

I know I speak for all of us here at The Digital Bits, team members both past and present, when I close with this…

Love you, Bob.

Hug Kathy for us! And Godspeed.

- Bill Hunt

(You can follow Bill on social media on Twitter, BlueSky, and Facebook, and also here on Patreon)

Published in My Two Cents

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