American actor who became a star in the TV series “Hogan’s Heroes” from 1965-1971, an unlikely vehicle built around fun and frolic in a German POW camp. A radio announcer in 1956, he stayed with KNX for nine years, interviewing countless celebrities, polishing his delivery and making contacts for a long-planned jump into TV. In 1961, when he got a chance to sub for Johnny Carson on “Who Do You Trust,” he was able to use the opportunity to phase into guest shots on “The Dick Van Dyke Show,” “The Alfred Hitchcock Hour,” “The Lawrence Welk Show,” “The Jack Benny Show” and other TV gigs. He also put in apprenticeship on the Los Angeles stage and in minor film roles before his winning series. With a quick smile, a sharp mind and an easy, unaffected manner, Crane had been honing for years the persona that won him widespread fame during the six-season run of “Heroes.”
After the series closed, Crane could not escape his own image of a suave, wisecracking guy. He tried acting in serious movies but was not taken seriously. In 1975, “The Bob Crane Show” had a short three-month run but did not catch on. While continuing to take guest-star roles, Crane found that the dinner-theater circuit was an active venue.
Bland and affable in his public life, Crane in private was a compulsive womanizer, a sex-addict who photographed and videotaped his own sexual exploits with women all over the country. He apparently derived as much excitement from watching the replays as in the original deed. His narcissistic voyeurism was clocked in the mock-innocence of being “just a guy out for a little fun.” He went through two marriages as his career faded and his sexual drive assumed the starring role in his own drama.
In June 1978, he was closing a month-long engagement of “Beginner’s Luck” at the Windmill Dinner Theater in Scottsdale, Arizona, preparing to take the show to Texas after the 4th of July. On the evening of the 28th, he spent several hours with longtime friend, Los Angeles businessman John Carpenter. They’d not seen each other for a while and stayed up late, catching up with their news and friendship. It was early on the 29th before Crane went back to his apartment.
When he did not show up for a luncheon date the next day, actress Victoria Ann Berry went to his apartment. He was found in bed, clad only in his shorts and beaten to death, 6/29/1978. His skull had been crushed by two blows with a blunt instrument and an electrical cord was tied neatly around his neck. The culprit and motive were never determined and the case remained open for 14 years. Crane had been involved in a messy divorce from his second wife, co-star Patricia Olson, at the time of the murder. Though she was executor and beneficiary of the bulk of his half-million-dollar estate, she was not a suspect. His six kids received a meager average of $5,000 each.
In June 1992, Carpenter was arrested when police found new evidence that had formerly been overlooked. He was indicted, but was acquitted at the trial on 10/31/1994.
A film was made about his life, “Auto Focus,” released 10/18/2002.
Link to Wikipedia biography