Buster Crabbe
Biography
Buster Crabbe was an American swimmer and actor who won the 1932 Olympic gold medal in the 400 meter freestyle, a victory that helped launch his film career. Born in Oakland, California, he grew up in Hawaii and later starred in more than a hundred movies and serials. He first became known for jungle roles, beginning with Tarzan the Fearless (1933) and King of the Jungle (1933), and went on to play Flash Gordon in the popular 1936 Universal serial and its sequels, as well as Buck Rogers. During the 1940s he made many westerns for Producers Releasing Corporation, and he later appeared in low-budget films such as Arizona Raiders (1965) and Alien Dead (1980). On television he starred as Captain Gallant of the Foreign Legion from 1955 to 1957. The International Swimming Hall of Fame inducted him in 1965.
75years old at death
- Born Oakland
- Died Scottsdale
- Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18
- Clarence Linden Crabbe, II (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 9
- Career span
- 74 years1933 to 2007
Genres
Share
Did you know?!
A role that slipped away
In 1940, during the second year of the Billy Rose's Aquacade at the New York World's Fair, Crabbe took over from Johnny Weissmuller, another Olympic swimmer who had played Tarzan.
A first
Crabbe set 16 world and 35 national swimming records during his senior career and continued swimming into his sixties, setting a world record in his age group in 1971.
A first
Crabbe was the University of Southern California's first All-American swimmer in 1931 and won the NCAA freestyle title that same year.
Buster Crabbe movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
- Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe1940 Action, Adventure, Sci-Fias Flash Gordon
IMDb rating 6.61.7K votes
Most often with
Ray Taylor directed two of these films, Ford Beebe two and Robert F. Hill two. Two actors appear in three of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Charles Middleton's page
Frank Shannon's page
Richard Alexander's page
George Cleveland's page
Richard Tucker's page
Jean Rogers's page
Ray TaylorDirector, 2 films, 1936 to 1940
All films by Ray Taylor
Ford BeebeDirector, 2 films, 1938 to 1940
All films by Ford Beebe
Robert F. HillDirector, 2 films, 1933 to 1938
All films by Robert F. Hill
Also two films together4 more actors
- Theodore LorchRocket Ship (1938) and Flash Gordon (1936)
- Jack 'Tiny' LipsonRocket Ship (1938) and Flash Gordon (1936)
- Priscilla LawsonRocket Ship (1938) and Flash Gordon (1936)
- James PierceRocket Ship (1938) and Flash Gordon (1936)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Awards
Two awards and honors.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| International Swimming Hall of Fame | Won | ||
| Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame | Honored | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.