Bob Crane was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, as the youngest of two sons. He was known for being a class clown and an intense music lover in school, with a particular fondness for jazz and big band music. Crane's specialty was the drums, and he even became a drummer with the Connecticut Symphony Orchestra for about a year before being dismissed for not being "serious enough."
After graduating from Stamford High School in 1946, Crane turned his attention to his love for music. He married his high school sweetheart, Ann Terzian, in 1949, and they had three children: Robert David Crane, Debbie, and Karen.
In 1956, Crane and his family left the East Coast and moved to California, where he began a successful career in radio. He worked at KNX radio and became known as the "King of the Airwaves" in Los Angeles. His radio program became incredibly popular, with Crane's personality and humor drawing in listeners. He frequently interviewed Hollywood's biggest stars, including Frank Sinatra, Marilyn Monroe, Marvin Gaye, Mary Tyler Moore, and Bob Hope.
Despite his success in radio, Crane's true goal was to make it big as an actor. He began making guest appearances on TV shows such as The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Twilight Zone, and he also appeared in a few films, including Return to Peyton Place and Man-Trap.
In 1963, Crane landed a role on the popular TV show The Donna Reed Show, playing the character "Dr. Dave Kelsey." However, he was let go after two years, with the producers citing that his character was "too suggestive."
Undeterred, Crane landed the starring role in the CBS sitcom Hogan's Heroes in 1965. He played the smooth-talking, crafty "Colonel Robert Hogan" in the comedy about a group of POWs in a Nazi prison camp. Hogan's Heroes became a huge hit, finishing in the top 10 at the end of the 1965-66 season. Crane was nominated for an Emmy twice, in 1966 and 1967.
During his time on Hogan's Heroes, Crane met and married his second wife, Patti Olson, also known as Sigrid Valdis, who played "Hilda" on the show. They had a son, Scott Crane, in 1971.
However, the cancellation of Hogan's Heroes in 1971 marked the beginning of a decline in Crane's career. He continued to act, but his roles were fewer and less fulfilling. He starred in two Disney films, Superdad and Gus, and had guest spots on various TV shows, including Police Woman, Ellery Queen, and The Love Boat.
In 1973, Crane bought the rights to the play "Beginner's Luck" and both directed and starred in it. The play toured the country, including California, Texas, Hawaii, and Arizona.
Tragically, Crane's life was cut short in the early morning hours of June 29, 1978, when he was brutally murdered in his rented apartment room in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was 49 years old at the time of his death, and his murder remains unsolved.
