Bobby Rivers, the host of Food Network’s “Top 5” and VH1’s celebrity talk show “Watch Bobby Rivers,” passed away at the age of 70 in Minneapolis on Tuesday, as reported by WISN.

Confirming his death on Facebook, his sister Betsy Rivers wrote, “Bobby passed away last night and is no longer in any pain.”

Social media saw an outpouring of tributes from journalists and critics. Michael Musto praised Rivers as “an openly gay trailblazer” who was “funny, campy, knowledgeable, and groundbreaking.” Stephen Whitty remembered him as a “very funny, very knowledgeable journalist” and a strong advocate for diversity, especially in the classic film world.

TCM (Turner Classic Movies) also paid homage, stating, “We will miss him sharing his love of the classics with the #TCMParty community and his thoughtful essays on his blog.”

Originally hailing from Los Angeles, Rivers attended Marquette University in Wisconsin and started his career at Milwaukee’s radio station WQFM. After gaining popularity as a morning newsman, he faced a temporary setback in 1978 but successfully renegotiated his contract and remained at WQFM for another year, thanks to the support of over 1,000 listeners who signed petitions to retain him.

In 1979, Rivers made his television debut as Milwaukee’s first Black film critic on WISN-TV. He also contributed to the city’s nationally syndicated “PM Magazine.” By 1984, he had become a co-host and associate producer of a live weekday show on WISN, which ran until its cancellation in 1985. Rivers leaves behind a legacy of trailblazing contributions to both radio and television.

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