Why did Bob Crane's career go into a deep decline, really? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Yong Fang · 02-27-2023, 07:41 AM

That's my question.

Crance came off of six years of a successful series (which personally I was not a fan off, because I thought the show was dumb, although Larry Hovis as Hitler was hilarious).

After Hogan's Heroes his career went into deep decline. Can we say that the film "Auto Focus" was accurate in that his "sex addiction" caused him from being "blackballed" in Hollywood? This is Hollywood, not exactly a town of moral virtue. Even in the 1960's into the 1970's (and arguably today) sex, drugs and depravity wasn't anything new. It seems that Crane's sexual adventures if not exaggerated was mainly kept private. Was he such a letch that everyone knew about him?

If not, why? Was he typecast as Hogan? Irononically if he was known for being such a pervert he was in two Disney films. He was reduced to doing dinner theater tours. That to me is a huge step down. Why wasnt he in movies? I know he had an epoymous TV show in the 1970's that failed badly.

I always thought he would have been good as a talk show host. He would have never beaten Carson but he could have found his niche. He was a semi-famous radio host who interviewed celebrities and the like and I think he would have excelled at that.

Was him being a sex pervert who filmed random women he had sex with in bars his downfall or just the fact he was typecast?

Alan Brady's Hair · 02-27-2023, 10:28 AM

The Bob Crane Show was made by MTM, which was considered the classy production company then.

I think that you come pretty close to the answer with the talk show idea. He wasn't really an actor, just a likable personality playing within that persona. I look at the hit shows of the 70s, and don't really see any characters on those shows that he'd fit well.

rusty spike · 02-27-2023, 12:47 PM

Sadly, I don't think anyone will ever know.

I'm thinking that he must have angered somebody who made sure that Bob was never offered high caliber work again. I'm guessing that he pissed off some producers at a private party or something. I'll make you or break you was the rule back then.

SarahBellum · 02-27-2023, 01:19 PM

Perhaps being typecast as Hogan was a factor. Or maybe the evolution of sitcoms to the "Learcom" model was a factor. I suppose he could have been a game show host, if he wanted to pursue that. It worked out well for Richard Dawson.

icecream · 02-27-2023, 04:20 PM

Bob Crane the actor became overshadowed by the much more famous fictional brothers Frasier and Niles Crane.

Duster76 · 03-08-2023, 11:10 PM

Poster Schmo started a similar thread a couple of years ago, here were my comments;

I don't think there is enough evidence to draw any conclusions. Hogan's Heroes went off in the spring of 71, Crane was murdered in June of 78 so it had only been off 7 years. In those 7 years he did numerous guest appearances, starred in another sitcom which was not successful, so he was getting regular work. Take a look at Andy Griffith a bigger star, after he left the Andy Taylor role he starred in TV movies and a string of unsuccessful TV series. It took him almost 20 years before the next hit (Matlock). Dick Van Dyke has a similar story.

02-27-2023, 07:41 AM	#1
Yong Fang Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 04, 2009 Location: Memphis Tennessee Posts: 3,072	Why did Bob Crane's career go into a deep decline, really? That's my question. Crance came off of six years of a successful series (which personally I was not a fan off, because I thought the show was dumb, although Larry Hovis as Hitler was hilarious). After Hogan's Heroes his career went into deep decline. Can we say that the film "Auto Focus" was accurate in that his "sex addiction" caused him from being "blackballed" in Hollywood? This is Hollywood, not exactly a town of moral virtue. Even in the 1960's into the 1970's (and arguably today) sex, drugs and depravity wasn't anything new. It seems that Crane's sexual adventures if not exaggerated was mainly kept private. Was he such a letch that everyone knew about him? If not, why? Was he typecast as Hogan? Irononically if he was known for being such a pervert he was in two Disney films. He was reduced to doing dinner theater tours. That to me is a huge step down. Why wasnt he in movies? I know he had an epoymous TV show in the 1970's that failed badly. I always thought he would have been good as a talk show host. He would have never beaten Carson but he could have found his niche. He was a semi-famous radio host who interviewed celebrities and the like and I think he would have excelled at that. Was him being a sex pervert who filmed random women he had sex with in bars his downfall or just the fact he was typecast?

02-27-2023, 04:20 PM	#5
icecream Cat-tastic and Whiskerlicious Forum Celebrity Join Date: Sep 01, 2006 Location: The Catacombs Posts: 20,606	Bob Crane the actor became overshadowed by the much more famous fictional brothers Frasier and Niles Crane.
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02-27-2023, 10:28 AM	#2
Alan Brady's Hair Member Senior Member Join Date: Aug 30, 2014 Posts: 1,822	The Bob Crane Show was made by MTM, which was considered the classy production company then. I think that you come pretty close to the answer with the talk show idea. He wasn't really an actor, just a likable personality playing within that persona. I look at the hit shows of the 70s, and don't really see any characters on those shows that he'd fit well.

02-27-2023, 12:47 PM	#3
rusty spike Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 08, 2015 Location: Southwest Posts: 1,124	Sadly, I don't think anyone will ever know. I'm thinking that he must have angered somebody who made sure that Bob was never offered high caliber work again. I'm guessing that he pissed off some producers at a private party or something. I'll make you or break you was the rule back then.

02-27-2023, 01:19 PM	#4
SarahBellum Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 15, 2007 Location: Cleveland, OH Posts: 3,873	Perhaps being typecast as Hogan was a factor. Or maybe the evolution of sitcoms to the "Learcom" model was a factor. I suppose he could have been a game show host, if he wanted to pursue that. It worked out well for Richard Dawson.

03-08-2023, 11:10 PM	#6
Duster76 Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 01, 2008 Location: New jersey Posts: 1,639	Poster Schmo started a similar thread a couple of years ago, here were my comments; I don't think there is enough evidence to draw any conclusions. Hogan's Heroes went off in the spring of 71, Crane was murdered in June of 78 so it had only been off 7 years. In those 7 years he did numerous guest appearances, starred in another sitcom which was not successful, so he was getting regular work. Take a look at Andy Griffith a bigger star, after he left the Andy Taylor role he starred in TV movies and a string of unsuccessful TV series. It took him almost 20 years before the next hit (Matlock). Dick Van Dyke has a similar story.