Bob Crane facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bob Crane
Crane in Hogan's Heroes, 1969
Born	Robert Edward Crane (1928-07-13)July 13, 1928 Waterbury, Connecticut, U.S.
Died	June 29, 1978(1978-06-29) (aged 49) Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.
Cause of death	Homicide
Resting place	Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery
Occupation	Actor drummer radio host disc jockey
Years active	1950–1978
Spouse(s)	Anne Terzian ​ ​ (m. 1949; div. 1970)​ Sigrid Valdis ​ (m. 1970)​
Children	5

Robert Edward Crane (born July 13, 1928 – died June 29, 1978) was an American actor. He was also a talented drummer, a radio personality, and a disc jockey. Crane is best known for playing Colonel Robert Hogan in the TV show Hogan's Heroes.

Crane started playing drums when he was 11 years old. He began his career in radio in Hornell, New York, and later in Connecticut. He then moved to Los Angeles, where his morning radio show became very popular. In the early 1960s, Crane started acting. He eventually got the main role in Hogan's Heroes. This show was on TV from 1965 to 1971. Crane was nominated for two Emmy Awards for his role.

After Hogan's Heroes ended, Crane's acting career changed. He found fewer roles and began performing in dinner theater shows. In 1975, he had his own TV show, The Bob Crane Show. However, it did not get good ratings and was canceled quickly. Crane then returned to dinner theater and made some guest appearances on other TV shows.

Bob Crane passed away in June 1978.

Early Life and Family

Bob Crane was born in Waterbury, Connecticut. He was the younger of two sons. His parents were Rose Mary and Alfred Thomas Crane. He grew up in Stamford.

Crane started playing drums at age 11. In junior high, he organized drum and bugle parades. He played in his high school's orchestra, marching band, and jazz band. Crane also played for the Connecticut and Norwalk Symphony Orchestras. He graduated from Stamford High School in 1946.

In 1948, he joined the Connecticut Army National Guard for two years. He was honorably discharged in 1950. In 1949, he married his high school sweetheart, Anne Terzian. They had three children: Robert David, Deborah Anne, and Karen Leslie.

Crane's Career Journey

Starting in Radio

Crane in 1963

In 1950, Crane began his radio career at WLEA in Hornell. He soon moved to stations in Bristol and Bridgeport. In 1956, CBS Radio hired Crane for their morning show at KNX in Los Angeles.

In California, Crane's show was full of humor and drumming. He had famous guests like Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra, and Bob Hope. His show quickly became the most popular morning show in Los Angeles. Crane became known as the "king of the Los Angeles airwaves."

Moving to Acting

Crane wanted to be an actor. He guest-hosted for Johnny Carson on a game show called Who Do You Trust?. He also appeared on TV shows like The Twilight Zone and Alfred Hitchcock Presents. After Carl Reiner was on his radio show, Crane asked Reiner to book him on The Dick Van Dyke Show.

'The Donna Reed Show' Role

After seeing Crane on The Dick Van Dyke Show, Donna Reed invited him to her show. His guest appearance was a success. His character, Dr. David Kelsey, became a regular on The Donna Reed Show. Crane worked full-time at KNX while also filming the show. He left The Donna Reed Show in December 1964.

'Hogan's Heroes' Success

In 1965, Crane was offered the main role in a new CBS TV show. It was a sitcom set in a World War II POW camp. Hogan's Heroes was about Allied soldiers. They carried out secret missions right under the noses of their German guards.

The show was an instant hit and was very popular in its first year. It ran for six seasons on CBS. Crane was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1966 and 1967 for his role as Colonel Robert Hogan.

In 1970, Crane married his Hogan's Heroes co-star Sigrid Valdis. Their son, Scotty, was born in 1971. They later adopted a daughter, Ana Marie. Crane and Valdis separated in 1977. However, family members said they had gotten back together before Crane's death in 1978.

After 'Hogan's Heroes'

In 1968, Crane and other Hogan's Heroes actors appeared in a film. It was called The Wicked Dreams of Paula Schultz. In 1969, Crane starred in a dinner theater play, Cactus Flower.

After Hogan's Heroes ended in 1971, Crane was in two Disney movies. He played the main role in Superdad (1973) and a small part in Gus (1976). In 1973, he bought the rights to a play called Beginner's Luck. He began touring with it, acting and directing in dinner theaters across the country.

Between theater shows, Crane made guest appearances on TV. These included Police Woman and The Love Boat. In 1975, he returned to TV with The Bob Crane Show on NBC. It was canceled after thirteen episodes. In early 1978, Crane filmed a travel show in Hawaii. He also appeared on a Canadian cooking show called Celebrity Cooks.

His Passing

Bob Crane's body was found on June 29, 1978. The police determined his death was a homicide.

Crane's funeral was held on July 5, 1978. About 200 family members and friends attended. His son Robert was one of the pallbearers. Crane was first buried in Oakwood Memorial Park. Later, his remains were moved to Westwood Village Memorial Park. His wife, Sigrid Valdis, was buried next to him after her death in 2007.

Film and Television Roles

Film

Television

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Bob Crane para niños