The Estate of Bob Crane and I both worked closely with Carol and Linda, and immeasurably appreciate all of the hard work and dedication they put into this book. The only truthful and accurate account of my dad's life. —Scott Crane

Bob Crane: The Definitive Biography was published on September 17, 2015, coinciding with the 50th Anniversary of Hogan’s Heroes. A portion of the book’s profits will be donated to various charities in Bob Crane’s memory.

Since his untimely death on June 29, 1978, Bob Crane’s unofficial biography has become akin to a broken record. Like a skip in the acetate, his murder and the scandal that grew from it have been the repeated focus of attention, to the exclusion of nearly everything else. Over time, the line between fact and fiction blurred, and his life story became distorted. All perspective on Bob Crane as a human being was lost, and he became nothing more than a two-dimensional cartoon character without depth, understanding, or definition. Now, nearly two hundred people who knew the Hogan’s Heroes star personally and better than most (family; friends as far back as elementary school; colleagues in radio, television, theatre, and film) have spoken out on Bob Crane’s behalf, and in many instances, for the first time. Within the pages of this book, they share their memories and thoughts about a man whom they knew as an exceptional and talented musician, a genius in radio, a sharp-witted comedian, a gifted actor and director, a man driven to success, a doting and loving father, a loyal friend, and a kind and gentle spirit with a sunny personality, a man who, while not perfect, was vastly different from how he has been presented over the decades. Bob Crane: The Definitive Biography balances the scales and sets the record straight, providing a full and complete history of Bob Crane, clarifying who he really was, and just as importantly, who he was not.

Deluxe, expanded hardcover edition contains:

• Exclusive, never-before released historical documents chronicling Bob Crane’s life and career.

• More than 200 family and professional photographs, many exclusive, courtesy of Bob Crane’s family, friends, and colleagues.

• 660 pages containing first-hand accounts from nearly 200 people from Bob Crane’s life.

• A pre-print of Bob Crane’s original signature.

All editions contain the same editorial content. The softcover contains fewer photographs and documents than the hardcover. The electronic edition contains editorial content only (no photographs).

Published by AM Ink Publishing

By Carol M. Ford, with Dee Young and Linda J. Groundwater

Publication Date: September 17, 2015 

© Carol M. Ford