Bobby Rivers, the charismatic celebrity interviewer and film critic renowned for hosting VH1’s Watch Bobby Rivers and the Food Network’s Top 5, has passed away at the age of 70.

According to his sister, Betsy, Rivers, who had been residing in St. Paul, Minnesota, died on Tuesday night in a Minneapolis hospital. Betsy revealed that he had experienced a series of mini-strokes and had a recurrence of lung cancer.

A native of Los Angeles and the eldest of three siblings, Rivers credited his parents’ love for old films as a significant influence on his passion for cinema. In an interview with Our Lives magazine, he remarked, “Both my parents loved old films, so they really cultivated and encouraged this in me.”

Rivers’ journey in the entertainment industry began when he was a winning contestant on the syndicated program The Movie Game during his time at the all-boys Verbum Dei Jesuit High School in L.A. He then relocated to Milwaukee in 1972, graduating from Marquette University with a major in broadcasting.

After writing weekend newscasts for Milwaukee’s WRIT-FM, Rivers ventured into radio hosting with a morning show at WQFM and participated in various public events in the community. His transition to television saw him reviewing movies for Milwaukee’s ABC affiliate, WISN-TV, and the syndicated show PM Magazine. Additionally, he hosted a talk show titled More.

In 1985, Rivers made the move to New York, joining WPIX-TV. From 1987 to 1990, he hosted Watch Bobby Rivers, where he conducted interviews with notable figures such as Sally Field, Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks, and Mel Gibson. Rivers’ dynamic career has left a lasting impact on the realms of celebrity interviews and film critique.

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