Robert Bryan Swan

Robert Swan, age 78, peacefully passed away on August 9, 2023, after a long, courageous battle with cancer.

To many, Swan will be remembered as the assistant coach who insists, “Coach Stays,” in the Oscar-nominated 1986 classic “Hoosiers,” and “I do not approve of your methods,” in the Oscar-winning 1987 “Untouchables.”

A native of Chicago’s Hyde Park, who moved to Rolling Prairie, Indiana, in 2007, Swan is survived by his loving wife, Barbara Collins; his brother, David, and his wife, Elizabeth; a brother, Charles; nephews, Christopher, Bryan and Daniel; two dogs, Baci and Chico; and good friends too numerous to name.

Swan’s film resume included not only “Hoosiers,” and “The Untouchables” but also “The Dollmaker” (1984) with Jane Fonda, “Natural Born Killers” (1994), “Rudy” (1993), “The Babe” (1992), “Backdraft” (1991) and “Somewhere in Time” (1980). TV credits included “Missing Persons,” “The Equalizer,” “All My Children” and “Spenser: For Hire.”

“The Saint & The Scoundrel,” a screenplay he’d worked on over the past few years, was honored in the PRIX ROYAL Paris Screenplay Awards and has won many national and international awards. It centered on legendary English 18th century literary icon, Samuel Johnson, who created the first modern dictionary, and suffered from Tourette Syndrome and is credited with many memorable quotes. A reading of the screenplay, featuring dear friends and fellow actors, Daniel J. Travanti as Johnson, and Si Osborne as his biographer, James Boswell, will take place at a Celebration of Life for at date to be determined.

Robert started his career as a boy soprano singing at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Hyde Park area. His first acting job was in high school as the lead in “The Bartered Bride.” In his early 20s, as a bass baritone, he sang at various synagogues and churches, plus the Lyric Opera chorus and Chicago Symphony chorus. He worked on and off at Court Theatre at the University of Chicago.

In the early 1970s, he performed in “Fiddler on the Roof” with Shelly Berman, and in “1776” with Robert Conrad at Little Theatre on the Square in Sullivan, Illinois. He lived in a tent and rode his bike to rehearsals and shows because the pay was so meager.

He eventually made it to Broadway as one of four original members of Goodman Theater’s original cast of “Freedom of the City.” Yearning for larger roles, he produced a production of “The Lesson” by Eugène Ionesco at the Orphans Pub on the near north side of Chicago. It also involved, he said, “a new kind of contract allowing Equity actors to perform in new spaces which he named, COLT (Chicago Off Loop Theater) contract, which helped give rise to a bunch of theater groups, including a new outfit called Steppenwolf.” The play, which featured Barbara Gaines as the student and Mike Nussbaum in his directorial debut, was, by itself, nominated for more Jefferson awards than all the productions at Goodman that year.

Swan also acted in Northlight’s inaugural production of “Jumpers,” directed by Frank Galati and later, in “Buried Child.”

He worked with Mickey Rooney in “Show Boat” in Philadelphia. He later worked with him at Chicago’s Drury Lane Theatre. In the middle of the play, Mickey would go out into the audience and schmooze, which bothered Swan because he had his big scene coming up which was ruining the mood. So, one night, Swan went into the audience, picked up Rooney and carried him back to the stage. “I thought I was going to be fired, especially when Rooney bounded into my dressing room. Instead, Rooney told Bob, “Keep it in.”

Swan also worked with Broderick Crawford at Drury Lane.

During a lull in his career, he scored voice-over work in Chicago. He was the voice of Busch Beer, Nine Lives Cats Food, United Airlines, Schlitz, The Beef Council and many, many more which can be found on Swan’s website, https://www.robertbswan.net/SWAN/index.htm.

In his later years, when he became a cherished presence in his local Indiana/SW Michigan community, he founded Harbor Country Opera, attracting top talent to present operatic classics and pop favorites. He often cited his holiday production, “Christmas at The Acorn,” as his favorite, because it restored his faith in the true meaning of the season. In the past few years, his health was a constant struggle, but repeatedly bounced back from each scare in time to present the Christmas show.

A celebration of life service will be announced at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Harbor Country Opera at www.harborcountryopera.org

A retrospective video of Swan’s career, created by his dear friends — radio personality/anti-bullying advocate Betty Hoeffner and radio DJ/professional musician Anthony Pratscher ‚ is viewable at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6I--KzeDbME