Richard Crane (actor)


Richard Ollie Crane was a character actor whose career spanned three decades of movies and television. His early career included many uncredited performances in feature movies made during the 1940s.

Early years and career

Crane was born in New Castle, Indiana. Crane may be remembered best for his portrayal of the title role of the television science fiction series Rocky Jones, Space Ranger, which ran for two seasons starting in 1954. In 1952, he signed a seven-year contract that specified he was to make annual tours of the United States, appearing as Jones in presentations to school groups.
In 1949–1950, he played Lieutenant Cummings in Mysteries of Chinatown a crime drama television series broadcast by ABC. Crane also appeared in the outer-space adventure movie serial Commando Cody: Sky Marshal of the Universe in 1953, as Dick Preston, Cody's semi-comical sidekick, and was the hero of movie serial Mysterious Island, adapted from Jules Verne's novel Mysterious Island.
Crane played Gene Plehan in the crime drama television series Surfside 6 broadcast by ABC. 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.
Crane acted on stage with the Las Palmas Theater, performing in Command Decision in 1949 and Light Up The Sky in 1950.

Death

Crane died of heart failure at the age of 50. He is buried in Valhalla Memorial Park Cemetery.

Partial filmography

Susan and God - BobWe Who Are Young - Savoy-Carlton Bellboy Meet the Wildcat - Bill—Office Worker Who Killed Aunt Maggie? - Radio Station Man Keeping Company - Eddie Lane The Saint in Palm Springs - Whitey Double Date - Boy In the Navy - Office Boy Keep 'Em Flying - Cadet Stevens Tillie the Toiler - Young man This Time for Keeps - Eustace AndrewsEagle Squadron - GriffithThe Phantom Plainsmen - Tad MarvinSweater Girl - Freshman Her Cardboard Lover - Casino Page Flying Tigers - Airfield Radioman This Is the Army - Sergeant on Field March Someone to Remember - Paul ParkerSo Proudly We Hail! - Georgie Larson Corvette K-225 - Leading Torpedo Man Happy Land - Russell 'Rusty' MarshCry 'Havoc' - Man Riders of the Deadline - Tim MasonLadies Courageous - Carl None Shall Escape - Willie Grimm as a ManFollow the Boys - Marine Officer Wing and a Prayer - Ens. Gus ChisholmAn American Romance - Hank Captain Eddie - Capt. Bill CherryThe Flying Serpent - Radio Announcer Behind Green Lights - Johnny Williams - ReporterJohnny Comes Flying Home - Johnny MartinCampus Honeymoon - Robert WatsonArthur Takes Over - James ClarkWaterfront at Midnight - Denny HanrohanTriple Threat - Don WhitneyAngel on the Amazon - Johnny MacMahonDynamite - Johnny BrownA Lady Without Passport - Lt. Maxon, Navy FlyerThe Last Outpost - Lt. McReady Home Town Story - Don Mysterious Island - Capt. Cyrus HardingMan in the Saddle - Juke VirdLeadville Gunslinger - Jim BlanchardThundering Caravans - Deputy Dan ReedEllis in Freedomland - Male ModelWinning of the West - Jack Autry aka Jack AustinWoman They Almost Lynched - Yankee Lieutenant The Neanderthal Man - Dr. Ross HarknessThe Great Adventures of Captain Kidd - Richard DaleSea of Lost Ships - Radar Man Flight Nurse - Lt. Will Cary The Eternal Sea - Lt. JohnsonNo Man's Woman - Dick SawyerBobby Ware Is Missing - Police Car Deputy in Car #12The Eddy Duchin Story - Seaman