Robert Jack Stein was an American actor best known for his career on Broadway. He was better known by his professional name, Bobby Van. A native of New York, Van was virtually raised backstage by his vaudeville parents. Initially, Van performed under the professional name King but later chose to use Van. He started his career as a trumpet player and went on to appear in several Broadway musicals. After signing a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in the early 1950s, he made his screen debut in the 1952 musical film ‘Skirts Ahoy!’ In the ensuing years, he acted in over 20 films and TV projects. However, Van is mostly remembered for his extensive stage work. In 1971, he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for his performance in the Broadway revival of the musical comedy ‘No, No, Nanette’.
