Sad news to report via Vivianne R. of Name on Rice: Robert “Bobby” Brown, known as “The World’s Greatest Wino” on the Venice Boardwalk for the last 18 years, passed on from throat cancer on April 20th. Brown was 73 years old.
Video by Samuel Bruce (16 years old) and Zola Glassman (15) via Venice Arts
Born in Georgia, Bobby grew up in Florida and spent time in New York City before moving to Hollywood. Shortly thereafter he brought his “show” to the Venice Boardwalk.
Brown liked to joke that he had “tried to turn the Napa Valley into a desert” in his drinking days, but had been a “sober alcoholic” for the past 13 years.
Brown is survived by his two sons, a daughter and grandchildren.
