Bob Howard was a Black pianist, comedian, and actor on the Broadway stage, radio, and television. Born Howard Joyner in West Newton, MA.

, he attended and dropped out of Howard University Medical School and later enrolled in the New England Conservatory of Music. During his early years in vaudeville, he was the piano-playing member of Joyner and Hopkins (Morris Hopkins was a dancer). In 1943, Howard appeared on Broadway in "Early to Bed.