There have been many false claims about Bob Crane, and as you may know, we continue to address such erroneous claims by providing physical evidence to prove otherwise. All of the following is from our research and published in our book. Unless originally published elsewhere, all content is copyrighted to the authors of Bob Crane: The Definitive Biography, and may only be used with referencing us as the source.
Bob Crane's Paternity of Robert Scott Crane
Robert Scott Crane is the only biological child of Bob Crane and his second wife, Patricia Olson (Sigrid Valdis).
Throughout most of the run of Hogan's Heroes, Bob Crane engaged in an affair with his costar, Patricia Olson (Sigrid Valdis), Hilda on Hogan’s Heroes, beginning in 1966. He and his first wife, Anne, separated in early 1969, and in 1970, their divorce became final. Shortly thereafter, Bob learned Patty was pregnant, and she claimed the unborn baby was his. But he did not believe her. In October 1968, Bob Crane had a vasectomy performed in Japan; therefore, Bob strongly believed he could no longer father children. Yet Patty claimed she had been faithful, and that no other man could have fathered the baby. They were planning to be married, so to be sure, he consulted a urologist, who discovered that Bob's procedure had failed
To corroborate this, Scott Crane provided the authors [of Bob Crane: The Definitive Biography] with official documentation of his father’s semen analysis conducted by Richard Peterfy, MD, a urologist practicing in Los Angeles. Dated October 9, 1970, this report proves that Bob’s vasectomy had failed and that he could, in fact, father children. This report strongly suggested to Bob that he was the biological father of Patty’s then-unborn baby, and it was valid enough proof for him to marry her one week later. Further, in November 1995, Scott consented to a DNA test. This official, notarized lab report was also provided to the authors [of Bob Crane: The Definitive Biography]. The lab (Genelex, Seattle, Washington) took samples of Bob’s DNA from the bed sheet where he was murdered (then still in the crime file) and compared it to Scott’s DNA. Bob and Scott’s DNA markers are a perfect match for father and son. Based on these documents, Bob Crane is the biological father of Robert Scott Crane. Regardless, Bob accepted and raised Scott as his own son (excerpt from Bob Crane: The Definitive Biography, p. 491).
Letter to Bob Crane from urologist Richard A. Peterfy, MD (courtesy of Scott Crane).
Bob also discussed Patty's pregnancy with several of his closest friends, who provided those intimate details exclusively for Bob Crane: The Definitive Biography. Further, comparing images of Bob Crane and Scott Crane, the likeness between the two is remarkably similar, adding further proof that Robert Scott Crane is the biological son of Bob and Patricia Crane.
Bob and Patty’s Separation and Reconciliation Attempt
At the time of Bob’s death in June 1978, Bob and Patty were in the midst of a bitter separation. Indications seemed to point to a divorce, even though Bob did not want one. As can be common in a separation, ugly statements had been issued by both sides, including a public claim from Patty published in a tabloid newspaper that Bob showed their young son, Scott, pornographic images. Bob vehemently denied these claims, stating “I don’t know why she would say that!” Scott has also denied those claims.
However, as Bob sought to break away from his sexual addiction with the help of an addiction counselor, shortly before his murder, tensions between the couple eased. On Father’s Day 1978, Patty surprised Bob with a visit to his apartment at the Winfield Place complex in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he was staying during the run of his play Beginner’s Luck. The intent for their visit was so their son, Scott, could give Bob a Father’s Day gift. It has been reported that at first, Bob was unhappy by their sudden drop in. But physical evidence provides proof that regardless of how he may have initially felt, his mood changed quickly, and he invited them into his apartment.
Excerpt from Bob Crane: The Definitive Biography (p. 554):
In June 1978, Bob Crane was in Scottsdale, Arizona, performing what had become his signature play, Beginner’s Luck. Away from his home and children, facing his second divorce, Bob was on his own.
On Father’s Day, June 18, his wife Patty and their seven-year-old son Scotty arrived unexpectedly. Some reports claimed that their appearance annoyed Bob because it “cramped his style.” The reports further announced that their “unwelcome” visit only reinforced Bob’s decision to move forward with the divorce.
But video footage of the visit proves the reports wrong. As with much of the rest of his life, Bob had the cameras rolling on Father’s Day, and if there was any anger or frustration, it didn’t show. Scotty, full of energy, bounded around Bob’s condominium, and his mother was seated on the arm of the couch next to Bob. Then Scotty went to his dad and gave him a token of love for this special day.
Bob opened the gift and was visibly overcome. He held in his hands a framed photo of his son. Through tears, and in a voice strained with emotion, he said, “I love this.” Then, as though unable to stop, he continued. “I love this so much. Oh, God, I love this. I love you both so much. I will keep this forever. Oh, my God. I love this. I love you.”
Then he turned to his wife, and they kissed—an honest, sweet, gentle gesture of affection.
Whether that meeting is evidence of an attempted reconciliation remains unknown. As an adult, Scott Crane said that yes, his parents were trying to get back together. Bob’s cousin Donald Senich also told a reporter that this was the case. Either way, the video leaves no doubt of one thing: whatever the future held for Mr. and Mrs. Crane, Bob adored his family.
Less than two weeks later, Bob was ripped away from them forever. His murder and now-revealed addiction became fodder for the press and created a “new” Bob Crane, while the real Bob Crane—the man who simply loved his wife and son—faded out of the world’s consciousness. If Bob had lived and had the chance to go through treatment, how different things might have been.
This final family visit was video recorded and is available to watch here.
The article below (Goldberg, J. [1978]. Crane visited city often. Waterbury Republican, Waterbury, CT), was published shortly after Bob's murder. Bob's cousin, Donald Senich, is quoted as saying Bob and Patty were working on a reconciliation.
1978 Mother's Day and Father's Day cards between Bob and Patty.
The Use of 'Junior' as a Suffix
Bob’s sons (Robert David and Robert Scott) share the first name Robert, but both have different middle names from Bob, whose middle name was Edward. Therefore, neither are legally a “Junior.”
Bob and Patty’s Adopted Daughter, Ana Marie
Ana Marie is not the biological daughter of Bob and Patricia Crane. Excerpt from Bob Crane: The Definitive Biography:
Bob and Patty also employed a housekeeper, Ana Marie, a teenager of Mexican descent who assisted Patty with cooking, household chores, and caring for Scott. Because she lived with Cranes, was a Mexican citizen, and was still considered a minor at around seventeen years of age, Bob and Patty made the decision to legally adopt her. Adopting teenagers who emigrated from Mexico and took up employment as house servants was a common practice in California at the time.
Note: All excerpts from Bob Crane: The Definitive Biography are copyrighted to the authors (Carol M. Ford, Linda J. Groundwater, and Dee Young) and may not be used or reprinted without citing Bob Crane: The Definitive Biography as the original source.
