Robert 'Bob' Norris, an original 'Marlboro Man' who never smoked a day in his life, dies at 90

  • 16 Nov - 22 Nov, 2019
  • Mag The Weekly
  • Mag Files

Robert “Bob” Norris, the “ruggedly handsome” cowboy who rose to fame as the “Marlboro Man”, has died. He was 90. Norris passed away last week in his hometown of Colorado Springs, Colorado under the care of Pikes Peak Hospice, according to his obituary. The Colorado native is best known for being one of the first to portray the “Marlboro Man” in the cigarette company’s commercials. In the ads, Norris was always featured in a fictional world of ranching, wearing cowboy attire – including his iconic cowboy hat – as he held a cigarette in either his mouth or his hand. His family said it was “his tall, ruggedly handsome, lanky good looks that landed him the unexpected role,” but despite having a cigarette in his mouth or hand for around 14 years, Norris never smoked a day in his life. He eventually abandoned the Marlboro campaign when he had kids, claiming that his role in the commercials was “setting a poor example for his children,” his obituary states.

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