{"id":41145,"date":"2021-08-26T13:56:33","date_gmt":"2021-08-26T08:26:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/districtchronicles.com\/who-are-annette-and-walt-kowalski-and-where-are-they-now\/"},"modified":"2021-08-26T13:56:45","modified_gmt":"2021-08-26T08:26:45","slug":"who-are-annette-and-walt-kowalski-and-where-are-they-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/districtchronicles.com\/who-are-annette-and-walt-kowalski-and-where-are-they-now\/","title":{"rendered":"Who are Annette and Walt Kowalski and where are they now?"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A NEW documentary looking back on the life and career of celebrated painter and artist Bob Ross has dropped on Netflix.<\/p>\n

Some viewers are now curious to know more about Annette and Walt Kowalski, the artist\u2019s former business partners.<\/p>\n

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Bob Ross with his business partners Annette and Walt Kowalski<\/span>Credit: Netflix<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/span>Who are Annette and Walt Kowalski<\/span><\/h2>\n

Annette and husband Walt Kowalski are best known for being business partners of late painter and artist Bob Ross.<\/p>\n

Annette first met Ross following the death of her son, who died as the result of a car accident. <\/p>\n

While suffering depression, she started watching German painter Bill Alexander, who had a TV show on PBS.<\/p>\n

Her husband Walt went on to inquire about Annette having painting lessons with Alexander but was told he was no longer teaching.<\/p>\n

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However, she would later attend a five-day class in Clearwater, Florida, featuring Bob Ross and the pair soon partnered up after she was \u201cmesmerised\u201d by his talent.<\/p>\n

Annette then helped launch Bob\u2019s career on-screen after Walt suggested they create a commercial to promote Ross\u2019 classes.<\/p>\n

They ended up taking the tape to their local PBS station, where the manager hired bob on the spot for a new TV series now known as The Joy Of Painting.<\/p>\n

Annette and Walt then entered into a business partnership with Bob and his then-wife, Jane, in 1985. <\/p>\n

Bob Ross Inc. then expanded to selling art supplies and other products under Bob\u2019s name. <\/p>\n

<\/span>What happened between Bob Ross and Annette and Walt Kowalski?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Netflix documentary Bob Ross: Happy Accidents, Betrayal & Greed alleges that Bob and Annette had an affair – something which the Kowalski family strongly says is completely false. <\/p>\n

It’s reported the issue between the Kowalskis and Bob started after the painter’s wife died of cancer in the early ’90s. <\/p>\n

Following her death, her quarter-portion of the company was divided equally between the three surviving partners, making Bob a minority vote in a company that profited off his name. <\/p>\n

The struggle reportedly continued into the ’90s, as Bob became unwell himself with\u00a0Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. <\/p>\n

In the documentary, Bob’s son says he remembers his father desperately making efforts to keep his name and likeness from being turned over to the Kowalski family.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Where are Annette and Walt Kowalski now?<\/span><\/h2>\n

Annette and Walt are now retired.<\/p>\n

In 2012, the couple passed on the company\u2019s responsibility to their daughter Joan Kowalski, who was previously a media director. <\/p>\n

The company is headquartered in Sterling, Virginia, which is where Annette and Walt live.<\/p>\n

Bob Ross’ son Steve helps a class paint a mountain view landscape oil painting <\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n