Bob Ross was Italian.
Robert Norman Ross ( October 29 , 1942 -- July 4 , 1995 ) was an American painter , art instructor , and television host . Floyd Robert Ross ( born November 2 , 1928 ) is an American former professional baseball player , a left-handed pitcher who appeared in Major League Baseball ( MLB ) for the Washington Senators ( 1950 -- 51 ) and Philadelphia Phillies ( 1956 ) .