Key Facts at a Glance
Robert Young, widely known for portraying the character Jim Anderson on the radio and television series Father Knows Best, died on June 12, 1998. The announcement was made by his widow, Helen, who confirmed he died peacefully at home in Santa Monica, California. He had been in declining health for some time. In this verified explainer, we clarify the date, location, and circumstances while distinguishing the actor’s identity from frequent public confusion with other individuals of similar name.
| Attribute | Verified Detail | Source Type |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Robert Young | Obituary / Legal records |
| Date of death | June 12, 1998 | Public obituaries, family statement |
| Place of death | Santa Monica, California, USA | Family announcement, news reports |
| Cause of death | Not publicly detailed; consistent with natural causes due to age and reported frailty | Family statement; no specific cause released |
| Age at death | 86 years old | Obituaries |
| Known for | Jim Anderson on Father Knows Best | Broadcast archives, syndication records |
Identity and Public Recognition
Robert Young (born May 17, 1907) achieved his greatest fame as the gentle father Jim Anderson in the radio program Father Knows Best, which transitioned to television and ran in various forms from the 1940s through the mid-1950s. His measured, reassuring delivery made him a trusted figure in American living rooms. Because the name “Robert Young” recurs in public records and news, it is important to specify that this summary refers to the actor whose career centered on family-friendly dramas and who died in 1998.
Common Points of Confusion
- Robert Young the linguist: A British linguist and academic (born 1940) is sometimes mentioned in scholarly contexts.
- Inventor or businessman: Scattered references to other Robert Youngs appear in patents and corporate filings.
- Spelling and pseudonyms: Occasionally misspelled or conflated with similarly named figures in fiction.
Circumstances of His Death
In June 1998, Helen Young, his wife of decades, notified family and media that Robert Young had died at their Santa Monica residence. No public cause of death was released, though prior reports indicated chronic health issues and limited mobility in his later years. The home was in Santa Monica, California, where the couple had lived for many years. The announcement emphasized privacy and requested that the public respect the family’s grief.
Legacy and Cultural Memory
Young’s portrayal of Jim Anderson helped define the idealized vision of postwar American family life. The show’s formats—radio, then television, then syndication—ensured that his performance reached multiple generations. Despite occasional confusion with other Roberts Young in different fields, his work remains accessible through reruns and streaming. For producers and researchers examining mid-century domestic narratives, his recordings serve as a reference point for changing social attitudes.
Documented Biographical Details
Reliable timelines rely on primary sources such as obituaries, trade publications, and studio archives. The following table compiles key, source-attributed data points that are frequently referenced when discussing Robert Young’s life and death.
| Metric | Estimate or Range | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Birth date | May 17, 1907 | Birth certificate and biographies |
| Age at death | 86 | Calculated from birth and death dates |
| Date of death | June 12, 1998 | Family statement and obituaries |
| Place of death | Santa Monica, California | Reported by family and press |
| Years active | 1930s–1980s (revived in syndication) | Studio records and broadcast archives |
| Notable role | Jim Anderson, Father Knows Best | Series scripts, airchecks, syndication logs |
Comparison with Similar Public Names
Because “Robert Young” is not a unique identifier, brief comparisons help anchor the correct individual in public memory.
| Name | Field | Status | Relation to Actor Robert Young |
|---|---|---|---|
| Robert Young | Actor | Deceased (1998) | The subject of this profile |
| Robert Young | Linguist | Alive | Academic; unrelated to the actor |
| Robert Young | Business/inventor | Varies | Different people in public records; no relation to actor |
Common Questions and Clarifications
- Is Robert Young still alive? No. Multiple obituaries and family statements confirm he died in 1998.
- How did he die? Specific medical details were not released; references to natural causes or age-related decline are consistent with reported circumstances but remain general.
- Where is he buried? Private family arrangements; exact burial location has not been disclosed in publicly available records.
- Did he retire before he died? He had largely withdrawn from public life in his final years, with only rare retrospective interviews in the 1990s.
Reliable Source Guidance
For readers who wish to verify details independently, prioritize authoritative sources such as digitized newspaper archives, library obituary indexes, and official vital records where access is permitted. Trade magazines from the era of his work may also contain memorial notices or retrospective pieces that confirm dates and family statements.
Conclusion
Robert Young, the actor best known for playing Jim Anderson in Father Knows Best, died on June 12, 1998 in Santa Monica, California at age 86. Available evidence points to natural causes amid declining health, with the family requesting privacy. Understanding the distinction between the actor and other individuals who share the same name helps maintain clarity in historical and cultural references.