R.I.P. Publicist Bob Palmer
The veteran publicist whose clients included Anthony Hopkins, Dick Van Dyke and Faye Dunaway, died September 15 at his Pacific Palisades home after a brief illness. Bob Palmer was 85. Through his Bob Palmer Public Relations, he also repped actors including Peter Strauss, David Soul, Sada Thompson and Michele Lee.
The Alaska-born, L.A.-raised Palmer became Director of Publicity and Advertising for United Paramount at age 22 and helped create campaigns for the Bay Area premieres of films such as Sunset Boulevard, Shane and The Greatest Show On Earth and promoted stage shows
starring Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Les Paul and Mary Ford, Patti Page, and many others. After serving in the Korean War, Palmer moved to ABC Television as a Senior Publicist, working on such TV shows as Maverick and 77 Sunset Strip. He left ABC in 1960 to produce a syndicated series and then joined Gene Autry’s Golden West Broadcasters as Publicity Director for KMPC-AM Los Angeles. He then moved to Screen Gems, where he was the Publicity Director for TV shows such as Bewitched, I Dream Of Jeannie and The Monkees. In 1968, Palmer joined MGM, working on such series as Medical Center and The Courtship Of Eddie’s Father.
Palmer is survived by his daughter Tracy; son-in-law James Metzger and three grandchildren. A memorial service is set for 11 AM October 11 at the Parish of St. Matthew in Pacific Palisades.
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