At 52, Bob Ross FINALLY Admitted What We All Suspected Before His Death

I'm trying to teach people a form of art that anybody can do this is art for anyone who's ever wanted to put a dream on canvas it's not traditional art it's not fine art and I don't try to tell anybody it is the kowalskis versus Ross legal Saga was a Hot Topic 30 years ago immediately after Bob Ross's death the Kowalski couples Greed for total ownership of Bob Ross Inc which the three Partners had built together turned into cruelty Bob Ross basically kept the company Alive With His stunning landscape paintings engaging TV show and calm personality which fans loved when I was going to school my instructor he says Bob I want to tell you the truth I want you to go out paint bushes and trees and leave portrait painting to someone else without Bob the kowalskis knew they wouldn't rake in as much money as the sale of Bob's art and paint brushes would so they did the unthinkable three decades later the Ross family has revealed the Kowalski's selfish intentions confirming what we were all thinking and suspecting about the couple what lengths did the kowalskis go to expand their wealth at the Ross family's expense keep watching because you're in for a shock military days and early career before he was a victim of greed Financial struggles and seemingly unending mental stress Bob Ross the Beloved television painter was born Robert Norman Ross on October 29th 1942 in Daytona Beach Florida his early years were spent in the warm climate of Florida a place known for its sunny weather and beautiful beaches as a young boy Bob was known to be a quiet and gentle child he enjoyed spending time Outdoors often finding joy in the natural beauty that surrounded him this early connection to nature would later become a major influence on his painting style Bob's father Jack Ross was a carpenter and Builder Jack was known for his strong work ethic and dedication to providing for his family he often took Bob along to his job sites where Bob would watch and learn about building and craftsmanship this experience with his father helped instill in Bob a sense of patience and attention to detail qualities that would later be evident in his art but the relationship between Bob and his father was not always smooth and here's why Jack was a Stern man and their interactions were sometimes strained regardless of this Bob respected his father's hard work and the skills he taught him Bob's mother olly Ross a warm and nurturing presence providing the emotional support that Bob needed she encouraged his creative side and was always there to offer a kind word or a gentle smile Ali's influence was useful in helping Bob develop his artistic talents she would often encourage him to explore his interests and pursue his passions even if they seemed unconventional Bob had a half brother named Jim who was older than him Jim's presence in Bob's life was somewhat sporadic as they did not always live in the same household despite this the two shared a bond that was strengthened by their shared family experiences Jim looked out for Bob and they shared many moments of Brotherly friendship but due to the age difference and different life paths they were not as close as some siblings might be still Jim's influence on Bob was positive particularly in the way he helped Bob overcome their family issues growing up Bob's family moved around Florida quite a bit this constant movement made it difficult for Bob to establish long-term friendships instead he found solace in his own company and in the animals he often cared for Bob had a deep love for Animals rescuing injured creatures and nursing them back to health this compassionate side of him was nurtured by his mother who shared his love for animals and supported his effort to care for them this early experience of caring for living beings translated into the gentle and nurturing demeanor that he later displayed on his television show during his teenage years Bob faced many of the typical struggles of adolescence compounded by the challenges of a family that was not always stable his parents' marriage was sometimes tumultuous and this instability affected Bob deeply despite these difficulties he remained a kind and thoughtful young man Bob's ability to find beauty in the world around him even in difficult circumstances was a testament to his resilient Spirit when Bob turned 18 he decided to join the United States Air Force this decision was partly because of his desire to find stability and a sense of purpose his time in the military took him far from Florida introducing him to new experiences and environments it was during this time that he was stationed in Alaska where he enountered the breathtaking Landscapes that would later Inspire much of his art the vast untouched Wilderness of Alaska left a lasting impression on him further increasing his love for nature while in the Air Force Bob began to explore his artistic talents more seriously he would often paint during his free time using the natural beauty of Alaska as his Muse his mother continued to encourage his artistic Pursuits sending him art supplies and letters of support Bob's relation ship with his father remained complicated as Jack found it difficult to understand Bob's passion for painting regardless Bob persevered driven by his love for art and the encouragement he received from his mother Bob Ross's early painting career officially began while he was still in the Air Force he was stationed in Alaska where he worked as a medical records technician during his time off he painted the beautiful Alaskan Landscapes he saw around him the mountains trees and snow inspired him painting became his way of relaxing and finding peace after long and stressful days at work Bob started by learning to paint from books and by watching other artists he practiced a lot trying different styles and techniques he was determined to improve his skills Bob loved painting so much that he decided to take art classes one day he came across a TV show hosted by a man named Bill B Alexander Bill used a painting technique called wet on wet which allowed him to finish a painting quickly Bob was fascinated by this method and decided to learn it himself Bob then retired from the Air Force so he could teach painting to others he started by holding small classes and workshops people liked his gentle encouraging way of teaching he made painting feel easy and fun but Bob was not making much money from his art at this time in in fact it was worse than could imagine he often struggled to make ends meet sometimes he had to do other jobs to support himself like bartending even with his financial struggles Bob did not give up on his dream he believed in his talent and passion for painting his wife Jane also supported him a lot she believed in his dream and encouraged him to keep going even when things were tough Bob's early fans admired his paintings of nature they loved the way he captured the beauty of the outdoors his paintings made people feel calm and happy but not everyone understood his style at first some people thought his paintings were too simple or too different from traditional art but Bob didn't let the criticism bother him he kept painting and teaching always with a positive attitude Bob eventually met Bill Alexander the TV painter he admired bill was impressed with Bob's talent and invited him to become a traveling instructor for his painting method this opportunity allowed Bob to teach more people and gain more fans he traveled across the country showing people how to paint using the weton wet technique his classes were popular and more and more people started to appreciate his Unique Style during this time Bob still didn't make much money he often stayed in cheap motels and ate simple meals he wore his hair in a big curly Afro to save money on haircuts this hairstyle later became one of his trademarks Bob's dedication to his art despite his financial hardships showed his true passion and determination more fans joined the Bob Ross train and loved his warm and friendly personality he had a special way of making everyone feel like they could paint he often said there are no mistakes only happy accidents which encourag people to be creative without fear of failure his positive and gentle approach made him a beloved teacher and artist eventually Bob got a chance to have his own TV show called The Joy of Painting this show allowed him to reach an even bigger audience people all over the country tuned in to watch him paint and learn from his soothing voice and easy techniques his fans loved how he made painting accessible to everyone not just trained artists Bob Ross had a personal life filled with love challenges and dedication to his family he was married three times and each marriage had a part to play in influencing how his life ended you're about to see why romance and more trials Bob's first wife was Vivian Ridge they got married in 1965 when Bob was still very young together they had a son named Steve Steve Ross would later become a painter too following in his Father's Footsteps Bob and Vivian's marriage had many issues especially because Bob was often away from home due to his military service in the Air Force even though they made efforts to make the marriage work Bob and Vivien eventually decided to divorce after his divorce from viven Bob met Jane zanardelli Jane was very supportive of Bob's passion for painting she believed in his dreams and stood by him as he pursued his career as an artist Bob and Jane got married in 1977 and had a happy life together Jane was not only a loving wife but also a great support system for Bob especially during the tough times when they struggled financially Jane traveled with him when he conducted painting workshops and was always there to help him with his work Jane's belief in Bob's Talent gave him the strength to keep going even when things were difficult together they faced many challenges but their love and partnership made them a great team then tragedy hit Jane became very ill and passed away in 1992 this was a heartbreaking time for Bob losing Jane was a significant loss for him but he continued to focus on his painting and teaching partly as a way to cope with his grief in 1995 Bob found love again with Linda Brown they met and quickly formed a deep connection Bob and Linda got married later that Year Linda was supportive and caring providing Bob with comfort and companionship during a challenging period in his life their marriage although brief was filled with affection and mutual support throughout his marriages Bob was was known for his gentle and kind nature he was a loving husband and a dedicated father to his son Steve Bob and Steve spent a lot of time together especially when Bob wasn't busy with his military duties Bob particularly loved teaching Steve about painting nature and how to see Beauty in the world around them Steve admired his father's talent and gentle way of teaching Bob's kind and patient Nature Made learning fun and interesting for Steve they would often paint together and Steve learned many techniques from his dad as Steve Grew Older he became more interested in painting just like his father Bob encouraged Steve to follow his passion and always supported him in his Artistic Endeavors Steve would sometimes appear on Bob's TV show The Joy of Painting where they would paint together viewers enjoyed seeing the father-son duo create beautiful art side by side Steve decided to pursue a career in painting much like his father he became a skilled artist and started teaching painting classes too Bob was very proud of Steve's accomplishments and was happy to see his son carrying on the family tradition their relationship was not just about painting they shared many other interests and spent quality time together whenever they could now here's where things get more interesting there is a mystery about another child Bob Ross had as a teenager when Bob was still trying to find his foot in the adulting he had a relationship sh that unexpectedly resulted in the birth of a child this part of Bob's life is not very well known because he didn't talk much about it publicly so the details of this relationship and the child's life are not clear it is believed that Bob had a child with a girl he knew during his teenage years but there isn't much information available about what eventually happened to the child or what really happened in this part of his life while many curious fans have to dig deep they've committed nothing and subjective opinions as the mystery of the missing child from his teenage years remains completely unknown it is clear that Bob's later years were dedicated to his family especially his son Steve and his passion for painting Bob Ross's journey to becoming a famous TV painter had many important moments but the most important has to be his collaboration with the kowalskis this partnership changed his life and career in many ways it was back in the early 19 1980s when Bob met Annette and Walt Kowalski they were a married couple Who Loved art and wanted to help Bob share his painting techniques with a wider audience Annette was especially interested in Bob's Unique Style and calm teaching method she believed that many people would enjoy learning to paint from Bob the kowalskis saw great potential in Bob's Talent they convinced him to create a TV show where he could teach people how to paint Bob was a bit nervous at first because he wasn't sure if people would like his show but Annette and Walt believed in him and offered to help produce the show together they worked on creating the First episodes of The Joy of Painting Bob's gentle voice and simple instructions made it easy for viewers to follow along the kowalskis handled the business side of things while Bob focused on teaching and painting they made a great team with Bob's artistic skills and the Kowalski's business knowledge the First episodes of the show aired and people quickly fell in love with Bob's teaching style his calming presence and beautiful landscapes Drew in many viewers the show became very popular and Bob's Fame began to grow the kowalskis helped manage the production making sure that everything ran smoothly as the show gained more fans Bob and the kowalskis decided to expand their business they started selling painting supp supplies and kits so people could buy the exact brushes paints and canvases Bob used on the show this made it even easier for viewers to follow along and create their masterpieces at home Bob's collaboration with the kowalskis wasn't just about business they became close friends they trusted each other and worked well together the kowalskis respected Bob's vision and wanted to help him achieve his goals their support allowed Bob to focus on what he loved most teaching people to paint and spreading Joy through ART but not everything was always smooth sometimes there were disagreements as the business grew they had to make tough decisions about how to keep things running well Bob and the kowalskis had different ideas about some things but they always found a way to compromise and keep the show going strong one day there was a problem that tested their partnership the company was facing some financial difficulties and they had to think of new ways to keep the business afloat Bob was worried about the future of the show but Annette and Walt reassured him that they would find a solution they worked tirelessly to come up with new ideas to attract more viewers and boost sales the kowalskis came up with the idea of offering painting workshops and classes where people could learn directly from Bob and other trained instructors these workshops became very popular and many fans signed up to learn more about painting this new Venture helped the business grow even more and brought in additional income to support the show another suspicious moment came when the show's future was uncertain due to changes in the television industry new shows and different types of entertainment were becoming popular and there was a risk that The Joy of Painting might lose its place Bob and the kowalskis had to think quickly and adapt to these changes they decided to embrace new tech technology and started offering the show on videotapes and later on DVDs this way people could watch Bob paint anytime they wanted they also explored new ways to reach Their audience such as through public appearances and demonstrations at art events these efforts helped keep the show alive and maintained its popularity throughout all these challenges Bob and the kowalskis remained committed to their shared Vision they worked hard to ensure that The Joy of Painting continued to inspire and teach people around the world their partnership was built on trust respect and a deep love for art as the years went by the bond between Bob and the kowalskis grew even stronger in 1991 all their hard work finally paid off from a simple idea their company grew into a $15 million perear business their collaboration was more than just a business Arrangement it was a true friendship that lasted many years well that's what they thought until things started going downhill fast the Kowalsky betrayal you see unlike the kowalskis who cared mostly about making lots of money even if it meant doing things the wrong way Bob Ross cared more about helping people learn art and get good art supplies money wasn't his main goal he just wanted to share his love for art like he had learned it himself But as time passed and they worked together more people started gossiping about their Rel relationship some said Ross and Annette were secretly in love even though the Kowalski family said it wasn't true but later on Ross's son Steve Ross said it was true and that wasn't the only thing Steve would confirm later on their peaceful partnership started falling apart when Ross's wife Jane died from cancer in 1992 according to their contract if one of them died their shares would be split evenly between the others not given to their spouses so when when Jane died Ross ended up with less of the company he helped make successful Ross thought Steve was a great painter and could take over the show if he needed to but Steve didn't want to he thought it would hurt their relationship they had a big fight about it and stopped talking for a long time they stayed apart until Ross got sick with lymphoma after his wife died only then did they start talking again in an interview later on Steve said he wished he had taken over from his dad even though Ross was sick and sad he kept painting and making people happy with every episode even as Ross got sicker he kept making videos there was a time when he found it hard to even get out of bed in the morning let alone paint for the 30-minute episodes his fans loved even though he was sick Ross didn't tell anyone on his team he was determined to keep making people happy with his jokes and stories while still painting as he got closer to the end of his life Ross painted even more he worked very hard making about three or four episodes every single day he didn't just do it for his fans painting also helped him forget about being sick for a little while as Ross got closer to dying the kowalskis got more worried they wanted to make sure the business they made with Ross's name would keep going even after he was gone they felt a lot of pressure as they tried to figure out what to do next it was at this point they started to listen listen to the devil on their shoulder as Bob Ross lay Gravely ill nearing the end of his life Annette Kowalski came to see the Ross family her visit was anything but kind she brought with her a contract that would force Ross to hand over his name and image rights to her and her family Annette told Steve Ross that the contract was necessary to create a memorial for Bob after he passed away Steve however was taken aback by the sudden shift in the Kowalski's Behavior since the news of his father's illness had become public he refused to present the contract to his sick father Annette left without Bob's signature but the kowalskis were not ready to abandon their mission to gain control over everything associated with the artist each day that Bob didn't sign the contract added to their frustration as they seemed to care more about securing the legal rights to his name and likeness than about the man himself despite their failure to Ure Bob's signature the kowalskis kept up their pressure on the Ross family they incessantly called the Ross household showing no regard for the fact that Bob was bedridden trying to find some peace in his final days Steve later recalled in an interview how his usually calm father would become visibly agitated with each phone call Bob's loud refusals could be heard from his room as he shouted he wasn't giving up his name Bob fought to protect what he cherished and to keep the kowalskis away for as long as he could never Imagining the lengths they would go to after his death on July 4th 1995 Bob Ross passed away at the age of 52 due to complications from lymphoma the horrible events didn't end with Bob's death the Kowalski's Relentless pursuit of control over Bob's Legacy greatly affected the final days of his life they persistently harassed the family showing a disturbing lack of empathy for Bob's condition the phone calls were a constant source of distress disrupting the Tranquility Bob sought in his last moments Steve clearly remembered how the phone ringing would make his father lose his usual Serenity an obvious contrast to Bob's calm nature after Bob Ross passed away the kowalskis gained full ownership of Bob Ross Inc according to their previous agreement but owning the company alone did not satisfy them with Bob's death it was inevitable that the public would soon find out diminishing their leverage Annette and Walt Kowalski sought more than just the company they believed the business could not Thrive without Bob Ross its iconic figure to keep the company alive they needed control over Bob's name and image driven by an unfeeling agenda to further protect his legacy Bob Ross married his third wife a nurse he met while hospitalized he hoped this marriage would help protect his family from the Kowalsky Relentless attempts to seize his properties but Ross knew that even this drastic step might not be enough to stop what was coming so he also excluded the kowalskis from his will before his passing leaving his estate and rights to his name and image to his son Steve and his half brother Jimmy Cox but the kowalskis had a plan they argued that nearly all of Bob's work had been done as a work for hire meaning Bob had no rights to pass on then they began a legal B ATT to claim his estate unfortunately the kowalskis eventually won the legal battle they didn't just Target his third wife they also went after his half brother the kowalskis aimed to gain control over everything Bob Ross had created and worked with this included the paintings he made and the paintbrushes he used it seemed the kowalskis were determined to take over Ross's entire Legacy leaving nothing untouched in their quest for control after claiming so much already they didn't stop there the Kowalski's harsh legal actions didn't just affect the Ross family they also targeted dib TV the PBS station that aired Bob Ross's famous show The Joy of Painting they even went after a PBS children's TV show demanding half a million dollars this children's show was one Bob Ross had appeared on near the end of his life in 1995 even though Ross was too ill to travel and had to be filmed using a green screen the kowalskis were Relentless in their Quest for money in the end it seemed like the kowalskis had gained control over almost everything related to Bob Ross this was a very tough and uncertain period for the Ross family they didn't know if they could overcome this huge challenge the future of Bob ross' Legacy was at risk and the kowalskis appeared to have all the power in the situation after the Kowalski's retired their daughter Joan took over the company in 2012 Joan expanded Ed the use of Bob Ross's name Beyond painting supplies launching extensive marketing efforts in the 2010 s Joan also settled with Steve Ross and Jimmy Cox this agreement allowed Bob Ross Inc to use Bob's name and image in return for ensuring Steve could continue his art career without fear of lawsuits something that had largely prevented him from painting publicly after his father's death then Joan commissioned a Revival of The Joy of Painting using painting Bob had planned for season 32 with Nicholas henin a certified instructor from Bob Ross Inc as the host with everything they did you might be wondering how the kowalskis are fairing running Bob Ross Inc without him or his family's support well Die Hard Bob Ross fans hated the couple and have made it a mission to continue boycotting the organization Netflix even has a documentary that has further exposed the Kowalski's greed on a much wider scale across the entire world the film fearlessly revealed the company's exploitative Deeds after Ross died in 1995 and the Kowalski's heartlessness toward his family and Son Steve Ross many people angry about the situation called the company's office to express their frustration or criticized the business on social media fans of Bob Ross the Beloved landscape painter with the distinctive curly hair demanded answers from Bob Ross Inc the company chose not to participate in the documentary only issuing a written statement denying some of its claims but in 2021 Joan Kowalski gave her first interview to Vanity Fair in this interview she addressed the concerns brought up by the film Joan was saddened by the negative feelings fans had toward the company and still hoped people would stop disliking them what do you think of everything Steve revealed about the kowalskis and do you think Joan's intentions are unlike her parents we would love to know in the comments if you enjoyed this video don't forget to leave a like share it with everyone you know who would love to see it and subscribe to our Channel thanks for watching

Channel: Ultra Discovery

Views: 218,960

Keywords: The Untold Tragedy, of Bob Ross, untold, tragedy, Bob, Ross, Bob Ross life, Bob Ross tragedy, The Joy of Painting, phenomenal artist, private battles, ultimate expedition, ultimste, discovery, revelation, prime discovery, prime, He Died 30 Years Ago, Bob Ross, His Family Finally Confirms, What We Were All Thinking

Id: f0FPYlEfCoI

Length: 28min 16sec (1696 seconds)

Published: Fri May 31 2024