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Crane: Sex, Celebrity, and My Father's Unsolved Murder
On June 29, 1978, Bob Crane, known to "Hogan's Heroes" fans as Colonel Hogan, was discovered brutally murdered in his Scottsdale, Arizona, apartment. His eldest son, Robert Crane, was called in to identify the body. In this poignant memoir, Robert Crane discusses that terrible day and how he has lived with the unsolved murder of his father. But this storyline is just one thread in his tale of growing up in Los Angeles, his struggles to reconcile the good and sordid sides of his celebrity father, and his own fascinating life.
Crane began his career writing for "Oui" magazine and spent many years interviewing celebrities for "Playboy" -- stars such as Chevy Chase, Bruce Dern, Joan Rivers, and even Koko the signing gorilla. As a result of a raucous encounter with the cast of Canada's "SCTV," he found himself shelving his notepad and tape recorder to enter the employ of John Candy -- first as an on-again, off-again publicist; then as a full-time assistant, confidant, screenwriter, and producer; and finally as one of Candy's pallbearers.
Through disappointment, loss, and heartbreak, Crane's humor and perseverance shine. Beyond the big stars and shocking behind-the-scenes revelations, this riveting account of death, survival, and renewal in the shadow of the Hollywood sign makes a profound statement about the desire for love and permanence in a life where those things continually slip away. By turns shocking and uplifting, "Crane" is an unforgettable and deeply human story.
Crane began his career writing for "Oui" magazine and spent many years interviewing celebrities for "Playboy" -- stars such as Chevy Chase, Bruce Dern, Joan Rivers, and even Koko the signing gorilla. As a result of a raucous encounter with the cast of Canada's "SCTV," he found himself shelving his notepad and tape recorder to enter the employ of John Candy -- first as an on-again, off-again publicist; then as a full-time assistant, confidant, screenwriter, and producer; and finally as one of Candy's pallbearers.
Through disappointment, loss, and heartbreak, Crane's humor and perseverance shine. Beyond the big stars and shocking behind-the-scenes revelations, this riveting account of death, survival, and renewal in the shadow of the Hollywood sign makes a profound statement about the desire for love and permanence in a life where those things continually slip away. By turns shocking and uplifting, "Crane" is an unforgettable and deeply human story.
364 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 6, 2015
35 people are currently reading
148 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 36 reviews
July 9, 2022
This was such a great book. It provides a lot of intimate details regarding Robert Crane's young life, from the standpoint of growing up the son of Bob Crane, and how his father, Bob Crane, became a nationally known TV star, the lead actor in Hogan's Heroes, which I myself grew up watching and loved. But its more than just a story of the murder of Bob Crane, its also the story of Robert Crane, and how the murder of his father impacted him, and the ways that it transformed him.
Robert Crane has gotten some undeserved criticism on writing about his own life, in several of the reviews, but that's what memoir is all about and despite what some may think, this book really is a memoir first and foremost. If people are confused about why Crane did that, perhaps they should revisit the title. It is called "CRANE: Sex, Celebrity and my Father's Unsolved Murder." So, its also about sex and celebrity, as well as the murder of Bob Crane. I enjoyed reading about how the death of his father changed Robert David Crane and how hard the fight for justice was. I enjoyed the funny stories, the insights into the California entertainment industry and I really enjoyed the genuine California vernacular and the kind of hip lingo that Crane uses.
I loved reading about John Candy, AND about Crane's late wife Kari. That was particularly interesting to me, because she seemed like such a vibrant and powerful persona. I would have liked to meet her and as I've read some of her writing, I can tell this was an intelligent woman, and a great writer with a lot of depth.
This book covers so much, there really is something for everyone, but if you were expecting a book that will only obsessively cover his father's murder, at the expense of other topics, including "celebrity" and his own past, which I believe is just as important, and which is mentioned in the title, then you will be surprised, pleasantly, I believe. The book is far more than only telling the story of his father's murder, it is Robert Crane's life story as well, and he has earned that much. But his father's murder is thread throughout the book and in a well-intentioned and conscious manner, I think. It works and that's what makes this book such an enjoyable read. It did take me a while to finish it, only because I've had several writing projects I've had to finish, but reading it slowly also allowed me to really savor each page.
This is a book I will read again. Highly recommended.
Robert Crane has gotten some undeserved criticism on writing about his own life, in several of the reviews, but that's what memoir is all about and despite what some may think, this book really is a memoir first and foremost. If people are confused about why Crane did that, perhaps they should revisit the title. It is called "CRANE: Sex, Celebrity and my Father's Unsolved Murder." So, its also about sex and celebrity, as well as the murder of Bob Crane. I enjoyed reading about how the death of his father changed Robert David Crane and how hard the fight for justice was. I enjoyed the funny stories, the insights into the California entertainment industry and I really enjoyed the genuine California vernacular and the kind of hip lingo that Crane uses.
I loved reading about John Candy, AND about Crane's late wife Kari. That was particularly interesting to me, because she seemed like such a vibrant and powerful persona. I would have liked to meet her and as I've read some of her writing, I can tell this was an intelligent woman, and a great writer with a lot of depth.
This book covers so much, there really is something for everyone, but if you were expecting a book that will only obsessively cover his father's murder, at the expense of other topics, including "celebrity" and his own past, which I believe is just as important, and which is mentioned in the title, then you will be surprised, pleasantly, I believe. The book is far more than only telling the story of his father's murder, it is Robert Crane's life story as well, and he has earned that much. But his father's murder is thread throughout the book and in a well-intentioned and conscious manner, I think. It works and that's what makes this book such an enjoyable read. It did take me a while to finish it, only because I've had several writing projects I've had to finish, but reading it slowly also allowed me to really savor each page.
This is a book I will read again. Highly recommended.
July 15, 2025
Misleading title--this book is more about Crane's son's career and even John Candy than it is about the Hogan's Heroes star. It's really three different books, with the chapters entwined that only cause confusion about why this title implies it's all about the Bob Crane, when only one-third of it is devoted to the great actor.
It's hard to believe that about another one-third of it is actually about John Candy, who is grossly overpraised and whose drug habits are downplayed (the author claims Candy "didn't do drugs...though I did see John smoke grass")! TV star Crane has virtually nothing to do with Candy--but Crane's son wrote this book and worked a long time for Candy so in the middle of what could have been a great murder mystery memoir about his dad the author takes a bizarre turn focusing on the SCTV star as well as writing articles for Playboy. If you're looking for a great book about the Hogan's Heroes actor, this isn't it.
The first portion is actually interesting, though the chapters alternating back and forth between the dad's murder and the son's growing up years with his famous father is unnecessarily confusing. Some of it is shocking. This could have been a great book but instead the author decided to switch the focus of the book to himself and his own tepid career while mixing up stories and telling things out of order. Trust me, even though the author met some of the biggest stars in Hollywood and wrote about them, he has few interesting stories to tell about his work. Virtually every story goes nowhere while he adds lot of filler such as restaurants, food eaten or details on his housing. Yawn. Just when you think he's going to tell you something juicy or revealing, the story just sputters out. And at over 300 pages that's a lot of wasted opportunity.
Another problem is that the star's son seems to think the reader will be interested in his private life. Not really, at least based on how it's told here. His first wife was a feminist he didn't understand (sitcom star Crane was a conservative and the son was raised in a very traditional family). The writer's wife gets cancer (with way too many pages devoted to that tangent) and apparently had an affair while sick without Crane Jr. objecting, then died at age 41. The author's second wife gets barely mentioned even though she had an interesting job as production crew member for some of the biggest sitcom hits on TV.
For some reason the guy even adds that he paid for an abortion for a girlfriend though he didn't know if the baby was his since she was sleeping around with multiple guys. He was complimented that she "trusted" him to be one to take her to get it done! "It was Diane's decision alone to abort, I was not consulted...I would never be comfortable with the abortion, but ultimately it wasn't my body, it wasn't my decision." Wow, talk about delusional. He was actually consulted when she decided to tell him and not the other men she slept with.
That's also a sad inaccurate statement about rights and reveals how far our society has gone. The baby is a separate DNA, not just another body part in a pregnant woman, and the man involved should have equal rights. But in this case, as in so many, they all just wanted it to go away. Catholic-raised Crane admits, "I didn't care whether I as the father or not." Talk about devaluing life. Isn't all life valuable, from Bob Crane to the unplanned baby that was created? Even if you're unwanted by someone, there are probably others that would be happy to keep you around.
The book loses direction quickly with the author defending his father and himself against the star's second wife (who played Klink's secretary on Hogan's Heroes). Robert attacks a number of people numerous times, especially his stepmother and stepbrother (who was also named Robert Crane though neither of them were technically "Jr."). For as much as the writer wants to claim he's a nice guy the book is filled with bitterness (some of it understandable). The stepmother secretly moved Crane's burial place, then when she died the new grave marker that listed Bob Crane's children left off the author's name. That hurts. But instead of using the book to grieve he just makes snarky remarks about the woman. Get mad already! File a lawsuit involving her constant lies to the press! Show some emotion instead of playing everything so cool and "not make waves" just like your famous dad.
One big issue never really addressed by the son is how he was impacted by his father showing him pornography as a child. The writer seems to want to avoid the issue, even making fun of an interviewer asking him the question on The View. Is it a coincidence that this writer went on to make a living doing dozens of Playboy articles and interviews?
The fact is that Bob Crane had a major sex addiction, he did something completely inappropriate by exposing a young boy to a father's affairs shot on video (including a picture of Crane & the stepmother having a threesome), and the fact that there is no analysis from the kid about how it impacted him is another lost opportunity.
Then there's what you think will be the central focus of the book--Bob Crane's murder. It's wrongly written by chopping up different aspects and spreading it throughout the book in the midst of asides about Candy and a wife's cancer. The father's murder feels distant and unemotional as well as confusing. We're supposed to believe that Bob's friend killed him, yet the second wife also was suspicious. None of it is satisfying.
Is it worth reading? Yes--but have your expectations set properly. This is not a book about Bob Crane's murder. You will be no closer to knowing who did it at the end of the book than you are at the start of the book. However, it is a book about a son who met a lot of famous people, had many ups and downs in life, and has stories to tell that often fall flat because so little happens. The Crane murder may remain a mystery, but so does why this son chose to put together a book this way.
Read in 2015 and 2025.
It's hard to believe that about another one-third of it is actually about John Candy, who is grossly overpraised and whose drug habits are downplayed (the author claims Candy "didn't do drugs...though I did see John smoke grass")! TV star Crane has virtually nothing to do with Candy--but Crane's son wrote this book and worked a long time for Candy so in the middle of what could have been a great murder mystery memoir about his dad the author takes a bizarre turn focusing on the SCTV star as well as writing articles for Playboy. If you're looking for a great book about the Hogan's Heroes actor, this isn't it.
The first portion is actually interesting, though the chapters alternating back and forth between the dad's murder and the son's growing up years with his famous father is unnecessarily confusing. Some of it is shocking. This could have been a great book but instead the author decided to switch the focus of the book to himself and his own tepid career while mixing up stories and telling things out of order. Trust me, even though the author met some of the biggest stars in Hollywood and wrote about them, he has few interesting stories to tell about his work. Virtually every story goes nowhere while he adds lot of filler such as restaurants, food eaten or details on his housing. Yawn. Just when you think he's going to tell you something juicy or revealing, the story just sputters out. And at over 300 pages that's a lot of wasted opportunity.
Another problem is that the star's son seems to think the reader will be interested in his private life. Not really, at least based on how it's told here. His first wife was a feminist he didn't understand (sitcom star Crane was a conservative and the son was raised in a very traditional family). The writer's wife gets cancer (with way too many pages devoted to that tangent) and apparently had an affair while sick without Crane Jr. objecting, then died at age 41. The author's second wife gets barely mentioned even though she had an interesting job as production crew member for some of the biggest sitcom hits on TV.
For some reason the guy even adds that he paid for an abortion for a girlfriend though he didn't know if the baby was his since she was sleeping around with multiple guys. He was complimented that she "trusted" him to be one to take her to get it done! "It was Diane's decision alone to abort, I was not consulted...I would never be comfortable with the abortion, but ultimately it wasn't my body, it wasn't my decision." Wow, talk about delusional. He was actually consulted when she decided to tell him and not the other men she slept with.
That's also a sad inaccurate statement about rights and reveals how far our society has gone. The baby is a separate DNA, not just another body part in a pregnant woman, and the man involved should have equal rights. But in this case, as in so many, they all just wanted it to go away. Catholic-raised Crane admits, "I didn't care whether I as the father or not." Talk about devaluing life. Isn't all life valuable, from Bob Crane to the unplanned baby that was created? Even if you're unwanted by someone, there are probably others that would be happy to keep you around.
The book loses direction quickly with the author defending his father and himself against the star's second wife (who played Klink's secretary on Hogan's Heroes). Robert attacks a number of people numerous times, especially his stepmother and stepbrother (who was also named Robert Crane though neither of them were technically "Jr."). For as much as the writer wants to claim he's a nice guy the book is filled with bitterness (some of it understandable). The stepmother secretly moved Crane's burial place, then when she died the new grave marker that listed Bob Crane's children left off the author's name. That hurts. But instead of using the book to grieve he just makes snarky remarks about the woman. Get mad already! File a lawsuit involving her constant lies to the press! Show some emotion instead of playing everything so cool and "not make waves" just like your famous dad.
One big issue never really addressed by the son is how he was impacted by his father showing him pornography as a child. The writer seems to want to avoid the issue, even making fun of an interviewer asking him the question on The View. Is it a coincidence that this writer went on to make a living doing dozens of Playboy articles and interviews?
The fact is that Bob Crane had a major sex addiction, he did something completely inappropriate by exposing a young boy to a father's affairs shot on video (including a picture of Crane & the stepmother having a threesome), and the fact that there is no analysis from the kid about how it impacted him is another lost opportunity.
Then there's what you think will be the central focus of the book--Bob Crane's murder. It's wrongly written by chopping up different aspects and spreading it throughout the book in the midst of asides about Candy and a wife's cancer. The father's murder feels distant and unemotional as well as confusing. We're supposed to believe that Bob's friend killed him, yet the second wife also was suspicious. None of it is satisfying.
Is it worth reading? Yes--but have your expectations set properly. This is not a book about Bob Crane's murder. You will be no closer to knowing who did it at the end of the book than you are at the start of the book. However, it is a book about a son who met a lot of famous people, had many ups and downs in life, and has stories to tell that often fall flat because so little happens. The Crane murder may remain a mystery, but so does why this son chose to put together a book this way.
Read in 2015 and 2025.
March 16, 2021
Would have been better to just stick to the bob crane sex and murder issues than branching off into robert crane (author): "this is my life". Only about 20% of this book is about bob crane. Not enough to justify the title.
gave-up
July 14, 2015Did not finish. Needed to return to library & just not interested in son's life...
February 4, 2018
Disappointed. Thought it would be more about Bob Crane. I learned more on Wikipedia.
December 1, 2014
I was a bit young when Hogan's Heroes was on TV, however, I do remember the show and thought that Bob Crane was excellent in the role, which is why I was interested in reading this book.
Written by his son, this is obviously his version of life with his dad and for this reason, I gave him some leeway.
This book is oddly set up and it can make it difficult to follow. We have Bob Crane's (and his son) before Hogan's Heroes mixed together with the 1978 incident where Crane is murdered. Towards the last half of the book, the son throws in some of his own life experiences up to this day.
I wish it had all flowed better because as I said, it can get confusing, especially if you are reading it on a Kindle.
I did like that Hogan is not portrayed as a saint nor a horrible person, but rather someone with issues that seriously needed to be addressed.
I also thought that the son's stories about his dad were entertaining and it was nice to see how close they were.
The portions with John Candy were also quite interesting although I have to say that when read in this context I feel as though the author had to suffer through many important deaths in his life.
Liked this book very much despite the weird order it is presented in and I would have liked more pictures.
Finally, it is sad that this murder is still not solved.
Captivating read.
Written by his son, this is obviously his version of life with his dad and for this reason, I gave him some leeway.
This book is oddly set up and it can make it difficult to follow. We have Bob Crane's (and his son) before Hogan's Heroes mixed together with the 1978 incident where Crane is murdered. Towards the last half of the book, the son throws in some of his own life experiences up to this day.
I wish it had all flowed better because as I said, it can get confusing, especially if you are reading it on a Kindle.
I did like that Hogan is not portrayed as a saint nor a horrible person, but rather someone with issues that seriously needed to be addressed.
I also thought that the son's stories about his dad were entertaining and it was nice to see how close they were.
The portions with John Candy were also quite interesting although I have to say that when read in this context I feel as though the author had to suffer through many important deaths in his life.
Liked this book very much despite the weird order it is presented in and I would have liked more pictures.
Finally, it is sad that this murder is still not solved.
Captivating read.
January 21, 2016
As others have mentioned, the title is a bit misleading. Although the book does address the murder of Bob Crane, that discussion is interwoven with the authors autobiography of sorts. Still, I did find this book to be refreshing in the manner in which it was written. Perhaps I'm just getting "burned out" with the usual true crime format. To me they have come to feel formulated and predictable in their direction. Maybe I've read too many. Perhaps that's why I enjoyed this book.
The author, the son of course, did a very good job in my opinion in dealing with his own feelings and his insight into the workings of his father, a very sick man. I'm a guy, I've enjoyed a bit of porn over the years, but there are limits, of which the father exceeded by a mile. This whole endeavor of his became a sickness that controlled him.
After reading the book it seems to me that the son has risen above the dirt that his father had dragged him through, not only the porn, but the divorce, and relationships with the new step mother and her son.
I think the book was very well written and I would recommend it
The author, the son of course, did a very good job in my opinion in dealing with his own feelings and his insight into the workings of his father, a very sick man. I'm a guy, I've enjoyed a bit of porn over the years, but there are limits, of which the father exceeded by a mile. This whole endeavor of his became a sickness that controlled him.
After reading the book it seems to me that the son has risen above the dirt that his father had dragged him through, not only the porn, but the divorce, and relationships with the new step mother and her son.
I think the book was very well written and I would recommend it
October 13, 2017
I loved Bob Crane, back in the day, and have been intrigued by his "unsolved" murder. Actually, it's pretty apparent that "friend" John Carpenter murdered Crane, from other books I've read on the subject. This author appealed to me because it's Crane's oldest son. His younger son went to the other end of the spectrum, selling porn videos of his dad after his death, and Crane's two daughters have remained mum on the subject. I should have believed the reviews I read beforehand. The beginning of the book pulled me in. But almost the remainder was about Bob Jr.'s client, John Candy, who he managed during his peak days of stardom. Then, the ending veered back to the murder. All in all, it's a book about Bob Jr. Dang it. As usual, after reading an "expose" about a celebrity, I'm left wondering why stars have spouses and children, at all. The famous parent is never home and the kids grow up resentful, of course. It's a pattern that never changes.
January 3, 2015
Sensitively written examination of a complex relationship between a father and son. He does his father proud in presenting a rounded portrait rather than letting Bob Crane's reputation remain shredded by uninformed public perception. Plus, I now have lot's of movie recommendations to add to my Netflix list!
July 11, 2021
The book was okay but seemed to me to be mostly about Robert Crane and not his Dad's murder. I actually liked the person he grew up to be. He seemed to have a lot of common sense for growing up in La Las Land. But, if you're looking for a book solely about Bob Crane's murder, this isn't it.
November 1, 2018
Half of it is about his famous father, but the other half is about his work with John Candy. It should have been titled Candy Crane.
February 13, 2020
Loved Hogan's Heroes as a boy - I remember hearing about his death and asking my Mother about it - shhhh... was her diplomatic response. The film "Auto Focus" gave me some of the answers I never got until this book offered plenty more to the story - great bio of the complex Colonel Hogan and his bizarre life, as well as the truly interesting life of his son Robert. Great read, and one for any fans of John Candy as well. Highly recommend.
August 2, 2018
I enjoyed this book and was interested in the son's experiences and observations, but if you want to read about Bob Crane and his murder, you should probably stick with Robert Graysmith's THE MURDER OF BOB CRANE.
July 18, 2023
primary takeaway: Everyone Needs an Editor.
Here's what I learned about Bob "Colonel Hogan" Crane (that I didn't already know from watching Auto Focus (2002): He was a creepy, card-carrying Republican who liked showing his dick pics in the workplace ...yeah, that guy.
I was mostly interested in reading
1) (True Crime) Bob Crane's
2) John Candy's behind-the-scenes (curtesy Candy's second-tier publicist).
I absolutely couldn't care about Robert Crane (his upbringing, livelihood, or lifestyle); And I'm kinda surprised anyone else would be. Regardless, even if I were, for some reason, interested in reading about Crane Jr., this isn't the book I'd want to invest in -- Crane Jr. (instinctively? reflexively?) irons out any seams & every crease while unfolding his B-T-S/industry insider viewpoint, into unremarkably episodic, uncomplicated, vighnettes.
Parts of Crane Jr.'s story are so Lifetime Channel'esque, dripping w saccharine melodrama, I probably skipped through at least a quarter of its 46 Chapters.
I could respect wanting to preserve the memory of his (now-deceased) first wife & their time together, but
Crane Jr.'s penchant for historical-revisionism is felt elsewhere as well (pretty much every thread demonstrated), which is unfortunate since he really does exhibit an exceptional perspective, at times; alternate to what's more commonly wiki'd, about his father's untimely demise.
As a second-tier publicist for John Candy, Robert Crane Jr. obviously knows how to re-write events to appeal to the widest, applicable, demographic; Yet too often he demonstrates not knowing any other way of presenting his version of the facts -- He's like a magician on-stage performing his act with the endless handkerchiefs visible from one sleeve, playing cards exposed in the other & fidgeting bunny beneath top hat. One need only look beyond the pomp and ceremony to surmise what almost certainly did occur.
Example:
I was somewhat taken aback to learn Bob Crane's wife #2/Succubus #1, Patti Olsen, along with their now-disbarred business manager/atty., Lloyd Vaughn, amended Crane's will to redirect assets away from his first family, benefitting herself and her bastard kid(s), lone (FYI: Crane had a vasectomy during his first marriage; His shotgun wedding to Patti Olsen was likely c/o of some Vegas degen). Yet what Crane fails to divulge is an approximate timeline for these events, citing:
"The main portion of the will was done in January ’75,” Robert Crane said, “but the addendum, which completely cut my two sisters and me out of any kind of inheritance, was done shortly before the murder.”
Even the most casual fan of
The fact that he didn’t even bother to approximate dates tells me it must have been at least six [6] weeks (between amending the will and Crane's murder).
My biggest gripe is reserved for Crane Jr.'s unremarkable & sexist star-fuckery swagger:
• Memorializes Laura Ziskin's commendable career for being a one-off (in college, natch).
• Suggests he's owed 'Hazard pay' for conducting an on-set interview w Ashley Judd, sans pants/undergarments.
• Likewise when in presence of Teri Garr's 'nasty bits'.
srsly? wtf guy??
Nevertheless the author's most eloquent appraisal (of his father, Bob Crane), is blissfully accurate and roundly insightful...
“M*A*S*H star Alan Alda was everything my dad was not. He was an Emmy Award–winning actor on a popular program who expanded his career into writing and directing films. His career seemed to be heading down a road whose on-ramp wasn’t even on my dad’s map. It might have been easy for me to say, “Hey, Dad, be Alan Alda,” but the absence of structure and creative trust in anyone except himself constantly haunted him and held him back. My dad could think brilliantly, a kind of writing on his feet, but he didn’t possess the discipline to sit down and put the words on paper, to actually write a script. More important, he lacked the crucial ability to stand back and see the bigger picture and how he might fit into it. He was trapped staring into his own movieola, seeing one disconnected frame at a time.”
As far as those John Candy anecdotals, here's everything culled...
• “Team Candy personnel dubbed 'the Chongos' (monkeys) consisted of various PAs, lackeys, assistants, publicists, and the like, followed Candy on every film set -- c/o of his production company, Frostbacks Production's, payroll."- - - - -
• Team Candy's Chicago security helmed by... "off-duty Chicago Police Department detective Tim O’Meara of the Bomb and Arson section.”
• “John had an old-time, old-school publicist named Paul Flaherty (no relation to his SCTV colleague Joe Flaherty), who had been around Hollywood for decades. He expended minimal effort on John’s career while maximizing time on the links at the Bel-Air Country Club. John and Paul were a mismatch—the old 9-to-5 Hollywood versus the new 24/7 Hollywood. They were, at the very least, a generation apart”
• “John performed nobly and gladly accepted the multiplying zeroes on his paycheck to support his family in Los Angeles, a nonworking farm north of Toronto, and various relatives who needed a handout. His brother, Jim, two years older and unemployed, was set up in a small house in East York, Ontario, across the street from his and John’s mother and aunt, ostensibly to keep an eye on them. John’s father, Sidney, had died at thirty-five of a heart attack and John, since the age of five, had been variously playing the roles of son, brother, and breadwinner to his side of the family.”
• Only the Lonely (1991): “John was a huge fan of Johnny Carson, but he was so intimidated by Carson that he’d never been on his show.” Until 1991 when attended with co-star Maureen O'Hara to promote their film together.
• Uncle Buck (1989): “Universal chief executives Lew Wasserman and Sid Sheinberg and their raft of lawyers and accountants had given in, finally admitting that Uncle Buck had turned a profit. The pencil-pushing, ledger-thumping suits in the Black Tower of the Universal lot had waited as long as they possibly could to issue the check before John’s pit bull Century City attorney, Skip Brittenham, was unleashed.” Candy's APA agent, John Gaines, had actually negotiated NET POINT (aka Monkey Points) profit participation for his client, (finally) earning Candy an additional $500k for all his efforts.
• JFK (1991): “During the first day of our rehearsals in a secure conference room at the five-star hotel, a cold sore resembling Mount St. Helens broke out near John’s mouth.”
“The set was tense at the moment because of a verbal skirmish between Oliver Stone and Tommy Lee Jones. It was whispered that director Stone had to remind Mr. Jones how many Oscars he had on his mantelpiece.”
“Over the years, John had watched his laser disc copy of the cult classic Sid and Nancy (1986), with Oldman playing punk rocker Sid Vicious, at least a dozen times. He’d marveled at Oldman’s performance, and now he found himself working with him, if only another half-page scene...”
“Gary Oldman mentioned he had a week off and was headed to Los Angeles. John said that he was headed there as well and suggested Oldman travel as his guest on the private jet hired for the trip.
Oldman and Candy become fast friends with each refill of their Waterford crystal glasses. They sat side by side in the empty Gulfstream. Oldman was making short work of the Scotch, while John had his usual rum and Cokes. The hours flew by, so to speak. With the alcohol on continuous flow, as they neared Los Angeles Gary and John had formulated a plan to create a production company for serious films and live Shakespeare in the park, with John as Falstaff and Gary doing Macbeth. Alas, Uncle Buck and Sid Vicious no more forever!
After they landed at Van Nuys Airport, the new best friends were poured into their respective limousines and headed off, each in his own direction, into the Southern California summer night. John never saw or spoke to Gary Oldman again.”
• “In 1991 John left his agent, John Gaines, and APA, and hitched his wagon to another Hollywood icon, former Rat Pack publicist turned agent Guy McElwaine at ICM — the very same who (also) smooth-talked Kim Basinger into dropping their longtime agent, eventually haranguing her into forfeiting any current projects (who’s 10% fee was already contracted to his predecessor), thereby resulting in a year of litigation and attorneys fees for Basinger, ultimately rendering her bankrupt, guilty, and blacklisted (after McElwaine felt his new client did little in the way of defending him when journalists properly portrayed him as instigating Basinger’s career-crippling civil litigation, by prioritizing his 10% fee).
“McElwaine, became a fixture at Frostbacks Productions, on his way home from somewhere, draining the bar’s beverages with John, weaving tales of Old Hollywood, promising work, and delivering none.”
I also learned Bob Crane was (ahead of his time as) a video editor; who'd infamously
“...reedited Deep Throat (1972), intercutting scenes of Linda Lovelace going down on a nonunion actor while a rocket blasts off with clips of his favorite Tonight Show acts appearing with Johnny Carson and Ed McMahon—“Hi-yo!” He did it just to do it, just to enjoy the editing process and technology and, of course, to get a laugh. My dad was the Pied Piper of Porn, attracting friendly dinner theater employees, stage managers, and makeup artists who would join the cast at my dad’s apartment or hotel room for a screening”
note: ...”friendly” dinner theater employees... Fcking LOL
November 21, 2015
Crane's son has taken on the daunting task of chronicling his father's life and his untimely and brutal death. He also describes his own career, which creates a kind of extended footnote to the story of his father's life. Much is chronicled about Crane's father, but little insight into the inner workings of this talented and troubled man is provided. I find it telling that Crane aspired to be like Jack Lemmon, of whom he bore no small resemblance. Lemmon had gravitas in addition to a comic spirit. He was respectable intellectually. Had this been withheld from Crane, rightly or wrongly? What propelled him into the ever more self-involved world of homemade pornography? And seriously, did no one ever intervene? You don't need to have Dr. Phil, Dr. Drew, or, indeed, Drs. Kinsey or Masters to discern that Crane's behavior was a little bit off the norm.
Crane wastes no words hinting at whom he points fingers about his father's death, and where there is no clarity about either suspect, he posits that they may have been in cahoots. A sad and perhaps somewhat Solomonic methodology.
Crane the son writes well, but this pleasure is not sufficient to carry the day (or evening, or weekend, for this is a long book) with this work. A noble undertaking by a loving son -- the stories of playing fantasy baseball in the swimming pool are wonderful -- but neither love nor good prose crack the true mystery here -- who was Bob Crane?
Crane wastes no words hinting at whom he points fingers about his father's death, and where there is no clarity about either suspect, he posits that they may have been in cahoots. A sad and perhaps somewhat Solomonic methodology.
Crane the son writes well, but this pleasure is not sufficient to carry the day (or evening, or weekend, for this is a long book) with this work. A noble undertaking by a loving son -- the stories of playing fantasy baseball in the swimming pool are wonderful -- but neither love nor good prose crack the true mystery here -- who was Bob Crane?
October 3, 2015
I'm in agreement with other reviewers that this biography is more about Robert Crane (Bob Crane's son and author) than Colonel Hogan himself. However, for those of us who remain fascinated with the Crane murder case, there are plenty of family tidbits and insights. The title is very misleading, but at the same time, undoubtedly drove book sales from the university publishing house that released the book. If you are wanting the most extensive look at the case, pick up Robert Graysmith's book THE MURDER OF BOB CRANE, which is impeccably researched and presented (and also served as the basis for the fascinating film version of the story AUTO FOCUS). I hope Crane's son rid himself of some demons with this book, and it also drove me to pick up a used copy of the film on DVD that I hope to watch again soon (I haven't seen it since the movie was first released).
November 29, 2018
Good book about a confusing man and father
I always liked Hogan's Heroes. I didn't think about Bob Crane beyond his role. I remember the murder reports. And that's it.
But for his children and wives, the death was just a part of their life with this enigmatic man. The book traces Crane's life, career, murder, and the legal and criminal case. His son talks about his mom, a little about his sisters, and more about Crane's weird second wife, as well as his own life and dealing with his dad's confusing legacy.
It's informative and interesting. I enjoyed the book, which is extremely well written by his oldest son with his longtime friend. But I really don't understand Crane. He was an attractive, likeable actor, who was deeply into pornography and didn't mind sharing that with people. You get the feeling he was just totally detached, maybe a little empty.
I always liked Hogan's Heroes. I didn't think about Bob Crane beyond his role. I remember the murder reports. And that's it.
But for his children and wives, the death was just a part of their life with this enigmatic man. The book traces Crane's life, career, murder, and the legal and criminal case. His son talks about his mom, a little about his sisters, and more about Crane's weird second wife, as well as his own life and dealing with his dad's confusing legacy.
It's informative and interesting. I enjoyed the book, which is extremely well written by his oldest son with his longtime friend. But I really don't understand Crane. He was an attractive, likeable actor, who was deeply into pornography and didn't mind sharing that with people. You get the feeling he was just totally detached, maybe a little empty.
November 8, 2020
I only got the book because I was a fan of Hogan's Heroes and still am. However, the book is more about Robert David than his father's unsolved murder. Also, in interviews Robert David states that his father had a vasectomy in 1968 therefore his half-brother could not be his father's second son. DNA test 's are more definitive now which can prove or disprove that statement. I do remember the murder and all the press it received. Sad Robert David and his siblings had to be drawn into that mess and embarrassment. The press should have been more considerate of the family and of the children. But we all know bad press sells.
January 28, 2016
Poorly written memoir of the son of actor Robert Crane, star of "Hogan's Heroes"; regarding his own life as a freelance writer and his periodic ventures into dealing with his father's murder in 1978. That murder has goner unsolved all these years; and the writer has had to come to terms that his father was heavily active in pornography and other illegal activities..
April 3, 2015
a pleasant surprise
I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. I suppose I was expecting a son's quest to discover what happened to his famous father. But that part of the story was much less significant than the tales of love, loss and friendship. I enjoyed this very much.
I wasn't sure what to expect with this book. I suppose I was expecting a son's quest to discover what happened to his famous father. But that part of the story was much less significant than the tales of love, loss and friendship. I enjoyed this very much.
June 20, 2017
Not sure exactly what to say. I expected different. Only the first third of the book was about Bob Crane. The rest was about his son. Now his son is a writer and was John Candy's publicist so it is interesting but not what I expected .
March 30, 2016
I enjoyed this memoir very much. It was interesting and well written with very good humor throughout.
September 10, 2019
Title is misleading, it's mostly about his son. But he has led an interesting life, so it did keep my attention.
October 14, 2018
A local television station that plays old syndicated television shows began playing Hogan's Heroes and I had forgotten how much of a crush I had on Bob Crane when I was a kid so I looked up the book in the library. I knew that he was murdered and a few of the sordid details from the press at the time but really didn't know exactly what happened. Robert David Crane the son of Bob Crane from his first marriage who knew his father before and after his success with the television shows and a few films details in alternating chapters the story of his both his father's life and how his father's life and death impacted his own life as a journalist and writer. Far too often stories about celebrities who meet grisly ends are told as sensationalistic, salacious morality tales, Crane, the author avoids this through a simple recounting of what happened to his father giving him back the agency that is so often lost in the retelling of the stories of the dead. As he writes in the book his great gift as a journalist was always to give his subjects their voice in his writing and in this book he allowed his own father to speak.
March 26, 2023
As other reviews have stated, this book is less about Bob Crane and more about the life of his son and his life and career in Hollywood -- specifically his relationship with actor/comedian John Candy. After a while, I started skipping these chapters, hoping to learn more about his father's case and their relationship.
I know he talks in the book that it's been difficult for him to live in his father's shadow, and I get it, but also when you write a book titled Crane: Sex, Celebrity, and My Father's Unsolved Murder, you expect the book to focus on those things. I think a separate book could have been written focusing on John Candy, but then he probably realized less people would buy that.
For the positive side, we did get to learn a little more of what Bob Crane was like as a father and a person and there were some photos that I haven't seen, but this book mostly comes off as a scorned son who wants the readers to know he is as cool and beloved as his father.
I know he talks in the book that it's been difficult for him to live in his father's shadow, and I get it, but also when you write a book titled Crane: Sex, Celebrity, and My Father's Unsolved Murder, you expect the book to focus on those things. I think a separate book could have been written focusing on John Candy, but then he probably realized less people would buy that.
For the positive side, we did get to learn a little more of what Bob Crane was like as a father and a person and there were some photos that I haven't seen, but this book mostly comes off as a scorned son who wants the readers to know he is as cool and beloved as his father.
July 1, 2022
This was a very readable memoir - RDC does a great job describing Bob Crane's career and demise, and at the same time provides a very interesting account of his own life following his father's death.
Hogan's Heroes was "must see TV" for me and I was aware of Crane's murder when it occurred (along with his penchant for porn). RDC provides a deeper look that includes more detail.
For a person with so many potential targets to despise, RDC's account is amazingly even-keeled. The police who botched the initial investigation of his father's murder, his step-mother (and half-brother) who had no love or regard for Crane's first family, his father's associate who was charged with the murder 14 years later (and acquitted) - RDC isn't exactly dispassionate, but he recounts the facts about them without coming across as hateful or vindictive. Perhaps that's a result of the time that has passed.
Hogan's Heroes was "must see TV" for me and I was aware of Crane's murder when it occurred (along with his penchant for porn). RDC provides a deeper look that includes more detail.
For a person with so many potential targets to despise, RDC's account is amazingly even-keeled. The police who botched the initial investigation of his father's murder, his step-mother (and half-brother) who had no love or regard for Crane's first family, his father's associate who was charged with the murder 14 years later (and acquitted) - RDC isn't exactly dispassionate, but he recounts the facts about them without coming across as hateful or vindictive. Perhaps that's a result of the time that has passed.
October 11, 2024
Guy loves his pervert dad, And why not. He seemed like a great dude...if you were a man. Women, well not so much. But to his credit the author doesn't let his dad slide. In fact he busts the world of his father open for anyone to see. The Good, The Bad, The Funny, The infuriating. Its the perfect author to tell a tale. Someone who loves the subject so much. He can't lie about him. The Murder Transends Hollywood gossip rag fare and instead tells the story of a son who just wants justice. A cold reminder that celebrities are not only people but fragile ones at times.
August 20, 2021
This was a very well written and a fairly quick read. I kept wanting to move along in the story and the memories. I especially liked how Crane bobbed back and forth between past and more current times. The book is also well-stocked with the author's own photos, which are a great asset. He is a good writer, which is a rarity.
January 11, 2024
I thought this was a true crime book. It’s not (really). While the author spends a small part of the book discussing the murder of his father, it’s more an autobiography of the author’s life. I enjoyed it, but was a little disappointed (mostly in myself) that it wasn’t what I thought it would be.
March 7, 2023
Read to 51%. This book is more about his son, Robert, than the one we know as "Hogan." While it was easy to read and interesting in that glimpse-into-Hollywood-life sort of way, I guess I wanted it to be more about Bob the father.
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