Nisha Rathode (Editor)

Richard Crane (actor)

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Cause of death
  
heart attack

Years active
  
1940-1968


Name
  
Richard Crane

Role
  
Character actor

Richard Crane (actor) iv1lisimgcomimage4861539194fullrichardcranejpg

Born
  
June 6, 1918 (
1918-06-06
)

Died
  
March 9, 1969, Hollywood, California, United States

Spouse
  
Charlotte June Becker (m. 1942–1969)

Movies and TV shows
  
Rocky Jones - Space Ra, The Alligator People, Crash of the Moons, Behind Green Lights, Mysterious Island

Similar People
  
Otto Brower, Spencer Gordon Bennet, Roy Del Ruth, E A Dupont, Sam Katzman

Richard Ollie Crane (June 6, 1918–March 9, 1969) was a veteran character actor whose career spanned three decades in films and television. His early career included many uncredited performances in feature films made in the 1940s.

He may be best-remembered for his portrayal of the title role in the TV science fiction series Rocky Jones, Space Ranger, which ran for two seasons starting in 1954. Of notable athletic ability, he appeared in the outer-space adventure serial Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe in 1953, as Cody's semi-comical sidekick, and was the hero of the 1951 serial based loosely on Jules Verne's Mysterious Island. He later made numerous appearances in many popular TV shows. In 1958-1959 he made two guest appearances on Perry Mason: as George Moore in "The Case of the Lonely Heiress," and Dr. Douglas Keene in "The Case of the Caretaker's Cat." Other television appearances included The Lone Ranger, Death Valley Days, Dragnet, Lassie, The Rifleman, and Gang Busters, in which he played gangster John Dillinger's associate Homer Van Meter. (Footage from Gang Busters, including Crane's part as Homer Van Meter, was edited into the low-budget theatrical film Guns Don't Argue.) Crane died of a heart attack at the age of 50. He is buried in Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery.

Filmography

Actor
1968
Adam-12 (TV Series) as
Sergeant
- Log 71: I Feel Like a Fool, Malloy (1968) - Sergeant
1965
Lassie (TV Series) as
Dr. Paul Lowry / Jackson Hays / Kip Austin
- Countdown (1968) - Dr. Paul Lowry
- The Lost One (1968) - Dr. Paul Lowry
- Just One Old Cow (1966) - Jackson Hays
- Tinderbox (1965) - Kip Austin
1967
Dragnet 1967 (TV Series) as
Sgt. John Pearson
- The Big Kids (1967) - Sgt. John Pearson
1966
Iron Horse (TV Series) as
Sands / Phil Sibley
- Sister Death (1967) - Sands
- Right of Way Through Paradise (1966) - Phil Sibley
1967
Gomer Pyle: USMC (TV Series) as
Police Lieutenant
- Gomer and the Card Shark (1967) - Police Lieutenant
1966
Run for Your Life (TV Series) as
The U.S.A.C. Steward
- Keep My Share of the World (1966) - The U.S.A.C. Steward
1966
The Double Life of Henry Phyfe (TV Series) as
Dan
- Phyfe and a Filly (1966) - Dan
1965
Honey West (TV Series) as
Master of Ceremonies
- The Princess and the Paupers (1965) - Master of Ceremonies
1965
The Virginian (TV Series) as
Paul Denning
- Farewell to Honesty (1965) - Paul Denning
1964
Surf Party as
Sgt. Wayne Neal
1963
Please Don't Touch Me (as Dick Crane)
1963
House of the Damned as
Joseph Schiller
1961
Surfside 6 (TV Series) as
Lt. Gene Plehn
- Midnight for Prince Charming (1962) - Lt. Gene Plehn
- House on Boca Key (1962) - Lt. Gene Plehn
- Pawn's Gambit (1962) - Lt. Gene Plehn
- Masquerade (1962) - Lt. Gene Plehn
- Squeeze Play (1962) - Lt. Gene Plehn
- Dead Heat (1962) - Lt. Gene Plehn
- Love Song for a Deadly Redhead (1962) - Lt. Gene Plehn
- Irish Pride (1962) - Lt. Gene Plehn
- Elegy for a Bookkeeper (1962) - Lt. Gene Plehn
- Portrait of Nicole (1962) - Lt. Gene Plehn
- A Piece of Tommy Minor (1962) - Lt. Gene Plehn
- Vendetta Arms (1962) - Lt. Gene Plehn
- Many a Slip (1962) - Lt. Gene Plehn
- Find Leroy Burdette (1962) - Lt. Gene Plehn
- Who Is Sylvia? (1962) - Lt. Gene Plehn
- The Surfside Swindle (1962) - Lt. Gene Plehn
- Anniversary Special (1962) - Lt. Gene Plehn
- The Artful Deceit (1962) - Lt. Gene Plehn
- Separate Checks (1962) - Lt. Gene Plehn
- The Quarterback (1962) - Lt. Gene Plehn
- The Roust (1962) - Lt. Gene Plehn
- A Slight Case of Chivalry (1961) - Lt. Gene Plehn
- Prescription for Panic (1961) - Lt. Gene Plehn
- A Matter of Seconds (1961) - Lt. Gene Plehn
- The Old School Tie (1961) - Lt. Gene Plehn
- Jonathan Wembley Is Missing (1961) - Lt. Gene Plehn
- Laugh for the Lady (1961) - Lt. Gene Plehn
- Witness for the Defense (1961) - Lt. Gene Plehn
- The Empty House (1961) - Lt. Gene Plehn
- Daphne, Girl Detective (1961) - Lt. Gene Plehn
- One for the Road (1961) - Lt. Gene Plehn
- Count Seven! (1961) - Lt. Gene Plehn
1960
Wagon Train (TV Series) as
Lon Harper / Dan Foster / Clay Foladaire
- The Lizbeth Ann Calhoun Story (1961) - Lon Harper
- Weight of Command (1961) - Dan Foster
- The Lita Foladaire Story (1960) - Clay Foladaire
1961
Boy Who Caught a Crook as
Connors
1961
Whispering Smith (TV Series) as
Lucas
- Three for One (1961) - Lucas
1958
77 Sunset Strip (TV Series) as
Harold (Hal) Colson / Duncan Scott
- The Eyes of Love (1961) - Harold (Hal) Colson
- Iron Curtain Caper (1958) - Duncan Scott
1960
Lock Up (TV Series) as
Tom Barnes
- The Accused (1961) - Tom Barnes
- The Blood Red Ruby (1960)
1961
Bachelor Father (TV Series) as
Coach Harper
- Bentley and the Great Debate (1961) - Coach Harper
1961
Dante (TV Series) as
Gary Cochran
- Hunter with a Badge (1961) - Gary Cochran
1961
Michael Shayne (TV Series) as
Steve Trock
- The Heiress (1961) - Steve Trock
1956
General Electric Theater (TV Series) as
Dr. Reynolds / Billy
- Image of a Doctor (1961) - Dr. Reynolds
- The Rider on the Pale Horse (1956) - Billy
1960
Hawaiian Eye (TV Series) as
Mal Proctor / Greg Collins
- Caves of Pele (1961) - Mal Proctor
- Fatal Cruise (1960) - Greg Collins
1961
The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (TV Series) as
Tom Grover
- Terror in the Desert (1961) - Tom Grover
1960
Shotgun Slade (TV Series) as
Joe Keith
- Ring of Death (1960) - Joe Keith
1960
The Brothers Brannagan (TV Series) as
Carter
- The Baby Sitters (1960) - Carter
1960
Stagecoach West (TV Series) as
Johnny Kelly
- The Unwanted (1960) - Johnny Kelly
1960
Richard Diamond, Private Detective (TV Series) as
Arnie Baselice
- And Whose Little Baby Are You? (1960) - Arnie Baselice
1960
13 Fighting Men as
Loomis
1960
Devil's Partner as
David Simpson
1960
Wanted: Dead or Alive (TV Series) as
Paul Cameron
- Black Belt (1960) - Paul Cameron
1959
Philip Marlowe (TV Series) as
Brett Douglas
- Hit and Run (1959) - Brett Douglas
1959
Men Into Space (TV Series) as
Maj. Emery
- Asteroid (1959) - Maj. Emery
1959
Battle Flame as
Dr. Bill Stoddard
1959
The Alligator People as
Paul Webster
1959
Steve Canyon (TV Series) as
Major Woodrow
- Operation Firebee (1959) - Major Woodrow
1959
Mike Hammer (TV Series) as
Duncan Fortune
- Curtains for an Angel (1959) - Duncan Fortune
1958
State Trooper (TV Series) as
Peck Brinkman / Jeff Hoskins
- So Early in the Mourning (1959) - Peck Brinkman
- Kitchen Kill (1958) - Jeff Hoskins
1959
Death Valley Days (TV Series) as
Monte
- Half a Loaf (1959) - Monte (as Dick Crane)
1958
26 Men (TV Series) as
Ben Thomas / Seth Tenney / Gib Young
- Trial at Verde River (1959) - Ben Thomas
- Manhunt (1958) - Seth Tenney / Gib Young
1958
Tales of Wells Fargo (TV Series) as
Phil Jackman / Billy Reno
- The Last Stand (1959) - Phil Jackman (as Dick Crane)
- Deadwood (1958) - Billy Reno
1958
Perry Mason (TV Series) as
Dr. Douglas Keene / George Moore
- The Case of the Caretaker's Cat (1959) - Dr. Douglas Keene (as Dick Crane)
- The Case of the Lonely Heiress (1958) - George Moore
1959
Bronco (TV Series) as
Jim Logan
- Riding Solo (1959) - Jim Logan (as Dick Crane)
1957
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (TV Series) as
Mr. Losby / Lt. Charles Gordon
- The Runaways (1958) - Mr. Losby
- The Jet Pilot (1957) - Lt. Charles Gordon (as Richard O. Crane)
1958
Flight (TV Series)
- Japanese Code
- Escape - (as Dick Crane)
1958
Trackdown (TV Series) as
Lem Duke
- Outlaw's Wife (1958) - Lem Duke (uncredited)
1958
Tombstone Territory (TV Series) as
Bartender
- Pick up the Gun (1958) - Bartender (as Dick Crane)
1957
The Silent Service (TV Series) as
Navigator Gelman / Exec. Off. Conrad J. Flesser / Lt. Georgie Brown, Jr.
- The Sea Devil Attacks Puget Sound (1958) - Navigator Gelman
- The Perch's New Role (1957) - Exec. Off. Conrad J. Flesser
- The U.S.S. Sculpin Story (1957) - Lt. Georgie Brown, Jr.
1958
Playhouse 90 (TV Series) as
Alvy Webber
- No Time at All (1958) - Alvy Webber
1958
The Deep Six as
Lieutenant j.g. Swanson
1957
Official Detective (TV Series) as
Detective Benson
- Hired Killer (1957) - Detective Benson
1957
Sugarfoot (TV Series) as
Sheriff Andy Horton
- Quicksilver (1957) - Sheriff Andy Horton
1957
Maverick (TV Series) as
Jedd Ferris
- The Long Hunt (1957) - Jedd Ferris
1957
Code 3 (TV Series) as
Sgt. Bill Dean
- Ashes Will Happen (1957) - Sgt. Bill Dean
1957
Bailout at 43,000 as
Captain Jack Nolan
1957
Navy Log (TV Series) as
Chuck Yeager
- Goal- Mach Two (1957) - Chuck Yeager
1950
The Lone Ranger (TV Series) as
Johnny Clanton / Sheriff / Billy / ...
- Ghost Town Fury (1957) - Johnny Clanton
- Breaking Point (1957) - Sheriff (uncredited)
- Outlaw Masquerade (1957) - Billy
- Jornada Del Muerto (1955) - Lieutenant Wilson
- Prisoner in Jeopardy (1953) - Bob West
- Wake of War (1953) - Jess Chase
- Tumblerock Law (1953) - Ted Brooks
- Frame for Two (1952) - Bob Arnold
- One Jump Ahead (1950) - Tom Whitcomb
- The Wrong Man (1950) - John Meredith
1956
The 20th Century-Fox Hour (TV Series) as
Clark / Johnson
- End of a Gun (1957) - Clark
- Gun in His Hand (1956) - Johnson
1956
Matinee Theatre (TV Series) as
Joe
- The House on 5th Avenue (1956)
- Summer Pavilion (1956)
- Herself Alone (1956)
- Statute of Limitations (1956) - Joe
1956
The Eddy Duchin Story as
Seaman (uncredited)
1956
The Ford Television Theatre (TV Series) as
Gil Bishop
- The Payoff (1956) - Gil Bishop
1956
My Friend Flicka (TV Series) as
Sam Smith
- The Night Rider (1956) - Sam Smith
1956
Schlitz Playhouse (TV Series) as
Chuck Carmody
- The Big Payday (1956) - Chuck Carmody
1955
Theatre of the West (TV Movie) as
Jim Lane (as Dick Crane)
1955
Brave Eagle (TV Series) as
Lieutenant
- The Challenge (1955) - Lieutenant (as Dick Crane)
- Code of a Chief (1955) - Lieutenant (as Dick Crane)
- Blood Brother (1955)
1955
Bobby Ware Is Missing as
Police Car Deputy in Car #12 (as Dick Crane)
1955
Screen Directors Playhouse (TV Series) as
Pvt. Archer
- Day Is Done (1955) - Pvt. Archer
1955
Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe (TV Series) as
Dick Preston
- Captives of the Zero Hour (1955) - Dick Preston
- Lost in Outer Space (1955) - Dick Preston
- S.O.S. Ice Age (1955) - Dick Preston
- Solar Sky Raiders (1955) - Dick Preston
- The Hydrogen Hurricane (1955) - Dick Preston
- Robot Monster from Mars (1955) - Dick Preston
- Destroyers of the Sun (1955) - Dick Preston
- War of the Space Giants (1955) - Dick Preston
- Nightmare Typhoon (1955) - Dick Preston
1955
No Man's Woman as
Dick Sawyer
1955
Public Defender (TV Series) as
Bill Putnam
- Story of Nora Fulton (1955) - Bill Putnam
1955
My Little Margie (TV Series) as
Ted Stark / Lee Barker
- Vern's Butterflies (1955) - Ted Stark
- Las Vegas Story (1955) - Lee Barker
1955
The Eternal Sea as
Lt. Johnson
1955
Cavalcade of America (TV Series) as
Fred Gage
- Man on the Beat (1955) - Fred Gage
1954
Rocky Jones, Space Ranger (TV Series) as
Rocky Jones
- The Trial of Rocky Jones: Chapter III (1954) - Rocky Jones
- The Trial of Rocky Jones: Chapter II (1954) - Rocky Jones
- The Trial of Rocky Jones: Chapter I (1954) - Rocky Jones
- Inferno in Space: Chapter I (1954) - Rocky Jones
- Out of This World: Chapter III (1954) - Rocky Jones
- Out of This World: Chapter II (1954) - Rocky Jones
- The Cold Sun: Chapter I (1954) - Rocky Jones
- Out of This World: Chapter I (1954) - Rocky Jones
- Vena and the Darnamo (1954) - Rocky Jones
- Inferno in Space: Chapter III (1954) - Rocky Jones
- Rocky's Odyssey: Chapter I (1954) - Rocky Jones
- Inferno in Space: Chapter II (1954) - Rocky Jones
- The Cold Sun: Chapter III (1954) - Rocky Jones
- The Cold Sun: Chapter II (1954) - Rocky Jones
- Bobby's Comet: Chapter I (1954) - Rocky Jones
- Blast Off: Chapter III (1954) - Rocky Jones
- Blast-Off: Chapter I (1954) - Rocky Jones
- Blast Off: Chapter II (1954) - Rocky Jones
- Kip's Private War (1954) - Rocky Jones
- Crash of Moons: Chapter III (1954) - Rocky Jones
- Crash of Moons: Chapter II (1954) - Rocky Jones
- Crash of the Moons: Chapter I (1954) - Rocky Jones
- Silver Needle in the Sky: Chapter III (1954) - Rocky Jones
- Silver Needle in the Sky: Chapter II (1954) - Rocky Jones
- The Forbidden Moon: Chapter III (1954) - Rocky Jones
- The Forbidden Moon: Chapter II (1954) - Rocky Jones
- Forbidden Moon: Chapter I (1954) - Rocky Jones
- Silver Needle in the Sky: Chapter I (1954) - Rocky Jones
- Pirates of Prah: Chapter III (1954) - Rocky Jones
- Pirates of Prah: Chapter II (1954) - Rocky Jones
- The Pirates of Prah: Chapter I (1954) - Rocky Jones
- Escape Into Space (1954) - Rocky Jones
- Bobby's Comet: Chapter III (1954) - Rocky Jones
- Bobby's Comet: Chapter II (1954) - Rocky Jones
- Rocky's Odyssey: Chapter III (1954) - Rocky Jones
- Rocky's Odyssey: Chapter II (1954) - Rocky Jones
- Beyond the Curtain of Space: Chapter III (1954) - Rocky Jones
- Beyond the Curtain of Space: Chapter II (1954) - Rocky Jones
- Beyond the Curtain of Space: Chapter I (1954) - Rocky Jones
1952
Fireside Theatre (TV Series)
- Moses and Mr. Aiken (1954)
- Next to Crash (1952)
1953
Flight Nurse as
Lt. Will Cary (uncredited)
1953
Sea of Lost Ships as
Radar Man (uncredited)
1953
The Great Adventures of Captain Kidd as
Richard Dale
1953
The Neanderthal Man as
Dr. Ross Harkness
1953
Your Favorite Story (TV Series) as
Alex Gifford
- Jack of Hearts (1953) - Alex Gifford
1953
Woman They Almost Lynched as
Yankee Lieutenant (uncredited)
1953
Winning of the West as
Jack Autry aka Jack Austin
1952
Ellis in Freedomland as
Male Model
1952
Hopalong Cassidy (TV Series) as
Bob Norman
- Black Sheep (1952) - Bob Norman
1952
The Unexpected (TV Series)
- The Numbers Game (1952)
1952
Gang Busters (TV Series) as
Homer Van Meter / Gerard Dennis
- Dillinger (1952) - Homer Van Meter
- Homer Van Meter (1952) - Homer Van Meter
- The Dennis Case (1952) - Gerard Dennis
- Alvin Karpis (1952) - Homer Van Meter (uncredited)
1952
Thundering Caravans as
Dan Reed
1952
Leadville Gunslinger as
Jim Blanchard
1951
Man in the Saddle as
Juke Virk
1951
Boston Blackie (TV Series) as
Tommy Adams
- Faraday Murder Case (1951)
- Cop Killer (1951) - Tommy Adams
1951
Mysterious Island as
Capt. Cyrus Harding
1951
Racket Squad (TV Series)
- The Starmaker (1951)
1951
Home Town Story as
Don (uncredited)
1951
The Last Outpost as
Lt. McReady (uncredited)
1950
A Lady Without Passport as
Lt. Maxon - Navy Flyer
1949
Your Show Time (TV Series)
- An Only Son (1949)
1949
Dynamite as
Johnny Brown
1948
Angel on the Amazon as
Johnny MacMahon
1948
Triple Threat as
Don Whitney
1948
Waterfront at Midnight as
Denny Hanrohan
1948
Arthur Takes Over as
James Clark
1948
Campus Honeymoon as
Robert Watson
1946
Johnny Comes Flying Home as
Johnny Martin
1946
Behind Green Lights as
Johnny Williams - Reporter
1946
The Flying Serpent as
Radio Announcer (uncredited)
1945
Captain Eddie as
Capt. Bill Cherry
1944
An American Romance as
Hank (uncredited)
1944
Wing and a Prayer as
Ens. Gus Chisholm
1944
Follow the Boys as
Marine Officer (uncredited)
1944
Patrolling the Ether (Short) as
Phillip (uncredited)
1944
None Shall Escape as
Willie Grimm as a Man
1944
Ladies Courageous as
Carl (uncredited)
1943
For God and Country (Short) as
Medical Orderly
1943
Riders of the Deadline as
Tim Mason
1943
Cry 'Havoc' as
Soldier (uncredited)
1943
Happy Land as
Russell 'Rusty' Marsh
1943
Corvette K-225 as
Leading Torpedo Man (uncredited)
1943
So Proudly We Hail! as
Georgie Larson (uncredited)
1943
Someone to Remember as
Paul Parker
1943
This Is the Army as
Sergeant on Field March (uncredited)
1943
Dr. Gillespie's Criminal Case as
Sailor at Dance (uncredited)
1942
Flying Tigers as
Airfield Radioman (uncredited)
1942
Her Cardboard Lover as
Casino Page (uncredited)
1942
Sweater Girl as
Freshman (uncredited)
1942
Eagle Squadron as
Griffith
1942
The Phantom Plainsmen as
Tad Marvin
1942
This Time for Keeps as
Eustace Andrews
1941
Keep 'Em Flying as
Cadet Stevens (uncredited)
1941
In the Navy as
Office Boy (uncredited)
1941
Double Date as
Boy (uncredited)
1940
The Saint in Palm Springs as
Whitey (uncredited)
1940
Keeping Company as
Eddie Lane (uncredited)
1940
Who Killed Aunt Maggie? as
Radio Station Man (uncredited)
1940
Meet the Wildcat as
Bill--Office Worker (uncredited)
1940
We Who Are Young as
Savoy-Carlton Bellboy (uncredited)
1940
Susan and God as
Bob (as Richard O. Crane)
Director
1964
Fraternity of Horror
Soundtrack
1957
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (TV Series) (performer - 1 episode)
- The Jet Pilot (1957) - (performer: "The U.S. Air Force (Wild Blue Yonder)" - uncredited)
Self
1944
Primary Flight Training: Flight Sense (Documentary short) as
Second Dive-bomber Pilot (uncredited)
1943
A Scrap of Paper (Documentary short)
1943
Proceed and Report (Documentary short) as
Lt. (jg) Lee (uncredited)
Archive Footage
1994
The Our Gang Story (Video documentary) as
Rocky Jones
1980
They Went to the Stars (TV Movie documentary) as
Rocky Jones
1957
Guns Don't Argue as
Homer Van Meter
1956
Blast Off (TV Movie) as
Rocky Jones
1956
Forbidden Moon (TV Movie) as
Rocky Jones
1956
Manhunt in Space (TV Movie) as
Rocky Jones
1956
Menace from Outer Space (TV Movie) as
Rocky Jones
1956
Renegade Satellite (TV Movie) as
Rocky Jones
1956
The Cold Sun (TV Movie) as
Rocky Jones
1956
The Magnetic Moon (TV Movie) as
Rocky Jones
1956
The Robot of Regalio (TV Movie) as
Rocky Jones
1954
Crash of Moons (TV Movie) as
Rocky Jones
1954
Silver Needle in the Sky (TV Movie) as
Rocky Jones
1954
Beyond the Moon (TV Movie) as
Rocky Jones
1954
The Gypsy Moon (TV Movie) as
Rocky Jones

References

Richard Crane (actor) Wikipedia