Trivia

Bob Burns coined the word 'bazooka' (which he copyrighted in 1920) for the homemade musical instrument he invented in 1905 from two gas pipes and a whiskey funnel. The weapon of the same name was named after Burns' device during World War II.

Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith. Pg. 78. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387

He was awarded 2 Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Pictures at 1601 Vine Street and for Radio at 6541 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.

Paramount produced a promotional short about the musical scoring of the 1937 feature "Wells Fargo". Featured in the short were the movie's director Frank Lloyd, composer Victor Young, musical director Boris Morros and actors Bob Burns, Porter Hall, Frances Dee, and Joel McCrea. The short was narrated by Gayne Whitman.

His birth year is sometimes cited as 1893 or 1896; 1890 is correct. His birthplace sometimes given as Greenwood, Arkansas.

Father, William Robert Burn, civil engineer; mother, nee Emma Needham.

Some published filmographies wrongly credit Bob with roles in several Gene Autry films which should be credited to Bob Burns, a character actor in westerns.

His four children: Robert Jr. (first marriage); Barbara Ann, William Robin, Stephen (second marriage).

His hobbies included farming, astronomy, shooting, fishing, and a private aviary.

Not to be confused with Western actor Bob Burns, or comedy actor Bobby Burns, some of whose credits occasionally pop up in the filmographies of 'Bob Burns (I)'.