American painter Bob Ross became a household name with his long-running PBS TV show The Joy of Painting, an instructional series that offered viewers tips on becoming an artist while also sharing meaningful life advice. The series ran for 31 seasons between 1983 and 1994, reaching a new generation of audiences years after its final episode thanks to syndication and streaming. Today, Bob’s signature perm and demin jean outfit of choice — coupled with his passion for painting “happy little trees” — makes him one of the most recognized painters in popular culture.
The revered TV personality died in 1995 at the age of 52 after a battle with lymphoma, a cancer of the lymphatic system. His legacy still very much lives on, becoming the subject of a new Netflix documentary, Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed. Swipe through for photos of the famed American painter.