Bob Crane
Biography
Bob Crane was an American actor, drummer, and radio personality who starred as Colonel Robert Hogan on the CBS sitcom Hogan's Heroes. He grew up in Stamford, Connecticut, took up drums at age 11, and started in entertainment as a radio host, working at stations in Hornell, New York, and Connecticut before moving to Los Angeles. There he led a highly rated morning radio program. During the early 1960s he shifted to acting, taking guest roles on television before winning the lead in Hogan's Heroes, which ran from 1965 to 1971 and brought him two Emmy nominations. His later film work included Superdad (1973) and Gus (1976). After the sitcom ended, he acted in dinner theater and in 1975 returned to television with The Bob Crane Show. He also made occasional guest appearances on television.
49years old at death
- Born Waterbury
- Died Scottsdale
- Star sign: CancerThe sign runs June 21 to July 22
- Also credited as Robert Edward Crane
Movie Career
- Films
- 4
- Career span
- 15 years1961 to 1976
Every film, newest first
- 1976GusIMDb rating 5.7
- 1973SuperdadIMDb rating 5.1
- 1961Man-TrapIMDb rating 6.0
- 1961Return to Peyton PlaceIMDb rating 5.9
Genres
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Own stunts
Crane began playing drums at age 11 and performed with the Connecticut and Norwalk Symphony Orchestras in their youth orchestra program before turning to radio and acting.
Big break
Carl Reiner came on Crane's radio show, and Crane talked him into booking Crane as a guest on The Dick Van Dyke Show.
A change of course
CBS Radio hired Crane in 1956 to host the morning show at KNX in Los Angeles. He brought drumming, sly wit and guests like Marilyn Monroe, Frank Sinatra and Bob Hope, and soon led the morning ratings with adult listeners.
Big break
Donna Reed saw Crane act on The Dick Van Dyke Show and invited him to appear in one episode of her own program, ABC's The Donna Reed Show. That episode did well, so his part, Dr. David Kelsey, joined the storyline and Crane became a regular.
Behind the camera
In 1973 Crane bought the rights to the comedy play Beginner's Luck and toured it as its star and director at dinner theaters around the country, including the Windmill Dinner Theatre in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Bob Crane movies on Netflix
Worked with
Bob Crane shares two films with Dick Van Patten, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Bess Flowers's page
Edward Asner's page
Kurt Russell's page
Mary Astor's page
Stella Stevens's page
Vincent McEveetyDirector, 2 films, 1973 to 1976
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.