Bob Ivers

July 2024 · 4 minute read

Actor, news anchor, advertising exec

Actor and later news anchor then advertising exec Robert “Bob” Ivers died Feb. 13 from cancer of the esophagus at his home in Yakima, Wash., He was 68.

Born Robert L. Prestlien in Seattle, he moved to Tucson., where he attended Tucson High School and began his acting career. He later attended the Pasadena Playhouse College of Theater Arts and the U. of Arizona.

In Arizona, Ivers participated in the Tucson Winter Stock Company and through it was awarded a contract with Paramount Studios after talent scout, Milt Lewis, discovered him in play, “Tea and Sympathy.” Films included Elvis Presley’s “GI Blues” and Jerry Lewis’ “Delicate Delinquent” as well as James Cagney-directed “Short Cut to Hell.”

During Ronald Reagan’s terms as president of SAG, Ivers served as a member of the board. About this time, he met future wife and Universal actress Marcia Henderson. He went on to guest in a bevy of TV shows, including “The Fugitive,” “The Rifleman,” “77 Sunset Strip,” “Gunsmoke” and others.

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He began segueing into TV news. In 1956, he and family moved to Phoenix, where he became a weather and news man on KPHO. Ten years later they moved to Lansing, Mich., where Ivers acted as news anchor for WJIM. He later worked in Fargo, N.D., at KTHI again as a news anchor.

In 1972, the family made their final move to Yakima, Wash., where Ivers was a news director of KAPP-TV and hosted the annual Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Telethon. Ivers changed networks 10 years later to work with Yakima’s KNDO.

He also establishing two advertising firms, Ivers Advertising and Bob’s Reviews, Ivers became a successful business man and worked until his death.

He was predeceased by his wife in 1987 and is survived by his daughters, Mallory Cangialosi, A&E Television Networks managing producer, and Alenda Michael, and their husbands, Steven Cangialosi, Fox Sports Net anchor, and Dennis, respectively.

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