Who murdered Bob Crane?
“I am convinced John Carpenter murdered Bob Crane.” In 2016, the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office allowed the original blood samples from Carpenter’s car to be sent for retesting using more modern...
Who killed Bob Crane of Hogan's heroes?
Today, the murder of Bob Crane remains unsolved from an official standpoint. Most are of the opinion that Carpenter was the one who murdered his friend, though his reasons will likely never be known. Did he go there with a plan to murder Crane?
Who killed actor Robert Crane?
Crane was found beaten to death with an electrical cord around his throat. Police suspected that a friend, John Carpenter, had killed him, but they didn't have the DNA evidence. Carpenter was acquitted at a 1994 trial; he maintained his innocence until his death in 1998.
Why was Bob Crane killed?
The seamy side of Crane's life is no mystery. His obsession with sex hurt his career and possibly got him killed. The actor's son Robert recalls that his father's dressing room was "porn central," where the star stored Polaroids, negatives, and X-rated films.
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How did Robert Crane pass away?
Crane was found bludgeoned to death in his Scottsdale, Arizona, apartment while on tour in June 1978 for a dinner theater production of Beginner's Luck.
What happened to Bob Crane's wife?
Twice widowed, Valdis died on October 14, 2007, from lung cancer in Anaheim, California, aged 72. She had two daughters, Melissa Smith and Ana Sarmiento, and a son, Scott. She had three stepchildren from Crane's earlier marriage to Anne Terzian: Karen, Deborah, and Robert David Crane.
Was Bob Crane married?
Sigrid Valdism. 1970–1978Anne Terzianm. 1949–1970Bob Crane/Spouse
Is Cynthia Lynn still alive?
March 10, 2014Cynthia Lynn / Date of death
Where is Bob Crane buried?
Pierce Brothers Westwood Village Memorial Park & Mortuary, Los Angeles, CABob Crane / Place of burialHogan's Heroes actor Bob Crane's gravesite in Westwood Memorial Park in Los Angeles, California. Crane is buried with his second wife who was also on Hogan's Heroes.
When was Bob Crane born?
July 13, 1928Bob Crane / Date of birthBiography. Bob Crane was born Robert Edward Crane, in Waterbury, Connecticut, on July 13th 1928. In 1942, at the age of 14, Bob began drumming for the Connecticut Symphony Orchestra.
Why did Helga leave Hogan's Heroes?
This episode is the last appearance of Helga in the series. Cynthia Lynn would later appear as a guest star in a future episode. In real life, Lynn left the series because, according to her own autobiography, she had been having an affair with actor Bob Crane and was trying to save her marriage.
Is John Henry Carpenter still alive?
September 4, 1998John Henry Carpenter / Date of death
What happened to Crane's head?
Tragically, that’s exactly what she found. Victoria spotted Crane’s head, completely deformed and battered, and an electrical cord tied around his neck. The blows to his face had been so bad that only one side was identifiable.
How many years did Bob Crane work for?
Crane worked for fifteen consecutive years in radio. Many of his broadcasting colleagues felt that he transformed the industry and considered him a radio genius. Bob’s radio show was such a hit that by the time he was working at KNX, advertisers had to buy airtime during his program (in addition to other time slots they had to pay for other than Bob’s).
How old was Debbie Crane when her dad died?
Debbie Crane, Bob’s daughter, was 19 years old when her father died. She remembers receiving Karen’s frantic call in which she yelled, “We don’t have a father anymore! Dad has been killed.” She couldn’t understand who would have wanted her father dead.
What was the last time Bob and Robert talked?
The last time they talked was when Bob called him to wish him a happy birthday two days before the murder. “I think about all the things he missed,” Robert shared. “He loved technology, and he missed out on CDs, cellphones, digital.”
What war was Crane in?
Crane rose to stardom in the 1960s, when he starred in a cheesy WWII war series called Hogan’s Heroes. The show centered around a group of inmates in a German POW camp. It debuted on CBS in the fall of 1965 and became an overnight hit.
Where was Bob Crane born?
So, who was Bob Crane? Born in Waterbury, CT, on July 13, 1928, Crane actually grew up in Stamford, CT, and graduated from Stamford High in 1946. His peers said he was one of the most popular kids in school.
Where was Bob Crane's funeral?
About 200 mourners attended Bob Crane’s funeral on July 5th, 1978, at the St. Paul the Apostle Church in Westwood, California. The guests included John Astin, Patty Duke, Carroll O’Connor, and his castmates on Hogan’s Heroes.
What TV shows did Bob Crane star in?
Between theater engagements, Crane guest-starred in a number of TV shows, including Police Woman, Gibbsville, Quincy, M.E., and The Love Boat. In 1975, he returned to television with his own series, The Bob Crane Show on NBC, which was cancelled after 14 episodes.
Who is Bob Crane?
For the biochemist, see Robert K. Crane. Robert Edward Crane (July 13, 1928 – June 29, 1978) was an American actor, drummer, radio personality, and disc jockey known for starring in the CBS situation comedy Hogan's Heroes . Crane was a drummer from age 11, ...
What Disney movies did Crane appear in?
Following the cancellation of Hogan's Heroes in 1971, Crane appeared in two Disney films: Superdad (1973), in the title role, and Gus (1976).
What was the show Hogan's Heroes about?
Hogan's Heroes involved the sabotage and espionage missions of Allied soldiers, led by Hogan, from under the noses of the oblivious Germans guarding them. The show was a hit, finishing in the top ten in its first year. The distinctive military-style snare drum rhythm that introduces the show's theme song was played by Crane himself. The series lasted for six seasons, and Crane was nominated for an Emmy Award in 1966 and 1967. In 1968, he became romantically involved with cast member Patricia Olson, who played Hilda under the stage name Sigrid Valdis. Crane divorced Terzian in 1970, just before their 21st anniversary, and married Olson on the set of the show later that year, with Richard Dawson serving as best man. Their son, Scotty, was born in 1971, and they later adopted a daughter, Ana Marie. The couple separated in 1977, but according to several family members, reconciled shortly before Crane's death.
What did Crane's son Robert testify about his father's death?
At the 1994 trial, Crane's son Robert testified that in the weeks before his father's death, Crane had repeatedly expressed a desire to sever his friendship with Carpenter. He said that Carpenter had become "a hanger-on" and "a nuisance to the point of being obnoxious".
What year was John Hook's car blood test done?
In November 2016, the Maricopa County Attorney's Office permitted Phoenix television reporter John Hook to submit the 1978 blood samples from Carpenter's rental car for retesting, using a more advanced DNA technique than the one used in 1990. Two sequences were identified, one from an unknown male, and the other too degraded to reach a conclusion. This testing consumed all of the remaining DNA from the rental car, making further tests impossible.
Who was the drummer in Hogan's Heroes?
Robert Edward Crane (July 13, 1928 – June 29, 1978) was an American actor, drummer, radio personality, and disc jockey known for starring in the CBS situation comedy Hogan's Heroes . Crane was a drummer from age 11, and he began his career as a radio personality, first in New York City and then in Connecticut.
What was the name of the show that Crane appeared on?
After turning 33, he tried his luck at acting and had a small part in “Return to Peyton Place.” Crane attracted a lot of attention after appearing in the “Donna Reed Show.”
When did Crane call Robert?
In June 1978 , Crane supposedly called Robert to tell him he wanted a “clean slate” and was getting ready to make changes that included divorcing Olson and distancing himself from people like Carpenter.
How many seasons did Hogan's Heroes run?
Luckily, “Hogan's Heroes” ran for six seasons (between September 1965 and April 1971) and was considered one of the most loved and highest-rated comedies of the '60s. As a result, Crane became nothing short of a heartthrob.
Who played Hogan in Hogan's Heroes?
Bob Crane biking with three of his children, and Crane portraying Col. Robert Hogan in "Hogan's Heroes" | Photo: Getty Images
Is Crane's passion illegal?
Robert, Crane’s son, pointed out that his dad’s unusual passion was not illegal as it didn't involve drugs or coercion. Instead, women agreed to do it after finding him “handsome.”
What happened to Bob Crane?
On June 29, 1978, he was found bludgeoned to death in his Scottsdale, AZ apartment. To date, his murder remains officially, unsolved.
Where was Bob Crane born?
WARNING: The following content may be considered graphic, shocking, or depict adult situations. Read at your own risk. Bob Crane, was born July 13, 1928 in Waterbury, Connecticut. As a kid, he enjoyed drumming, and in the 1950’s, began a career as a radio personality. In the early 1960’s, he moved from radio to television, ...
How old was Bob Crane when he was on Hogan's Heroes?
When his son, Robert, was only 16 years old, he introduced him to his world.
Why did Bob have a woman over?
While Robert was visiting, Bob decided to have a woman over, who had previously been arrested in Texas for performing oral sex. In his book, Robert said, ‘She refused to do that on film, but she did just about everything else before my unblinking teenaged eyes.
Why did Bob and John end their relationship?
Except Bob was trying to turn his life around, even telling his son that he was going to end his relationship with John because he was becoming “a pain in the ass.”. On June 29, 1978, Bob failed to show up for a lunch meeting.
What was the book Crane about?
His son, Robert, later published a book titled, Crane: Sex, Celebrity, and My Father’s Unsolved Murder, in which he wrote, ‘The impact on my life of my folks’ separation was truly the shattering of a dream.’. ‘They had always seemed so safe, so certain.
When did the play Beginner's Luck close?
He went on the road, starring in Beginner’s Luck and was scheduled to begin work with a psychologist specializing in sex addiction in Los Angeles as soon as the play closed in Scottsdale Arizona, on July 1, 1978.
How did Bob Crane die?
It is thought Crane was attacked in his sleep in the early morning of June 29. In 1978, Crane was found dead in a pool of blood in his apartment. He had been bludgeoned to death with a camera tripod and had an electrical cable around his neck. He was 49.
Who was on the tapes of Bob Crane?
Also on the tapes was Crane's close friend John Carpenter.
Who was the actor who died in 1978?
The casket containing the body of slain actor Bob Crane is carried down the steps of St Paul the Apostle church following the funeral service on July 5, 1978. Among the pallbearers were Crane's son Robert Jr, as well as two other members of the Hogan's Heroes cast, Robert Clary and Larry Hovis.
Who played Robert E Hogan in Hogan's Heroes?
SILVER SCREEN COLLECTION/ GETTY IMAGES. Bob Crane as Colonel Robert E Hogan in Hogan's Heroes in 1968. The decades old mystery behind the brutal murder of Hogan's Heroes star Bob Crane is about to be solved on live TV. According to The Daily Mail, US news reader John Hook has uncovered DNA evidence that proves once and for all who Crane's killer ...
Who is Bob Crane's pal?
Bob Crane Smiling. Until now, the prime suspect in the case was Crane’s bisexual pal John Henry Carpenter. He was even arrested, but found not guilty of Crane’s murder in a 1994 trial. Now the source hopes to have the case reopened later this year after releasing the details of his investigation.
Why did the mobster give Crane babes?
The mobster eagerly furnished Crane with babes for his private perversions in return for the actor’s promise to star in films that would make a fortune. The proposed porn flick was cleverly called “Hogan’s Hero” to cash in on Crane’s TV fame. The mobster believed it would make millions.
What happened to Corbis?
The actor was found in only boxer shorts with an electrical cord tied around his neck and his brains bashed in from blows by a camera tripod. His killing was so brutal, his blood was splattered all over the walls and ceiling.
Did the TV hunk and the gangster meet?
The TV hunk and the gangster met at least twice over the years, but kept in touch by phone and through intermediaries, said the source. The mobster eagerly furnished Crane with babes for his private perversions in return for the actor’s promise to star in films that would make a fortune. 5 of 7.
Overview
Robert Edward Crane (July 13, 1928 – June 29, 1978) was an American actor, drummer, radio personality, and disc jockey known for starring in the CBS situation comedy Hogan's Heroes.
Crane was a drummer from age 11, and he began his entertainment career as a radio personality, first in New York City and then in Connecticut. He then move…
Early life
Bob Crane was born in Waterbury, Connecticut, the younger of two sons of Rose Mary (née Ksenich) and Alfred Thomas Crane - the original spelling of the family name was Crean. He spent his childhood and teenaged years in Stamford.
Crane began playing drums at the age of 11, and by junior high was organizing local drum and bugle parades with his neighborhood friends. He joined his high school's orchestra and its marc…
Career
In 1950, Crane began his career in radio broadcasting at WLEA in Hornell, New York. He soon moved to Connecticut stations WBIS in Bristol and then WICC in Bridgeport, a 1,000-watt operation with a signal covering the northeastern portion of the New York metropolitan area. In 1956, Crane was hired by CBS Radio to host the morning show at its West Coast flagship KNX in Los Angeles,
Private life and murder
Crane frequently videotaped and photographed his own sexual escapades. During the run of Hogan's Heroes, Dawson introduced him to John Henry Carpenter, a regional sales manager for Sony Electronics, who often helped famous clients with their video equipment. The two men struck up a friendship and began going to bars together. Crane attracted many women due to his cel…
Auto Focus
Crane's life and murder were the subject of the 2002 film Auto Focus, directed by Paul Schrader and starring Greg Kinnear as Crane. The film, based on a book on Crane's murder written by Zodiac author Robert Graysmith, was described as "brilliant" by critic Roger Ebert. The film portrays Crane as a happily married, church-going family man who succumbs to Hollywood's celebrity lifestyle after becoming a television star. When he meets Carpenter, played by Willem Dafoe, an…
Further reading
• Lynette Rice (August 26, 2019). "The tragic, unsolved murder of Hogan's Heroes star Bob Crane". MSN.
• Katz, Hélèna (2010). Cold Cases: Famous Unsolved Mysteries, Crimes, and Disappearances in America. ABC-CLIO. ISBN 978-0-313-37692-4.
• Hook, John. "Who Killed Bob Crane? The Final Close-Up". Brisance Books Group (2016). ISBN 9781944194253
External links
• Official website
• Bob Crane at IMDb
• Bob Crane at the TCM Movie Database
• Bob Crane at AllMovie