The Cast Of 'Hogan's Heroes' Then And Now

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Bob Crane

Set in a prisoner of war camp during World War II, "Hogan's Heroes" was a classic situation comedy from the 1960's. The premise of the show revolved around captured Allied troops operating a special operations unit aided by the bumbling Germans running the camp. The show focused on the ability of the Allied troops to outsmart the German commanders.

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Bob Crane landed the lead role of Colonel Robert Hogan in 1965. He was nominated for an Emmy twice during the show's six year run. Tragically, in 1978, Bob was brutally murdered while he slept. He was 49 years old.
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Werner Klemperer

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Klemperer played the inept Colonel Wilhelm Klink of the German Air Force. He won two Emmys for his role. After the show was cancelled, Klemperer drew on his musical talent and conducted several symphony orchestras. He died in 2000 at the age of 80.
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John Banner

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Portraying a prison camp guard as Sargent Schultz, he was often referred to by fans as a "cuddly" Nazi. After "Hogan's Heroes," Banner played in "The Chicago Teddy Bears." The show was cancelled after only 13 episodes in 1971. Banner died in 1973 at age 63.
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Robert Clary

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Standing only five feet one inch, Robert Clary played Corporal Louis LaBeau, nicknamed Frenchie. Since the series ended, took to daytime television, appearing in "The Young and the Restless" and "Days of Our Lives." As the last surviving principal cast member, he spends his time painting.
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Richard Dawson

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Dawson was cast as the lovable British Corporal Peter Newkirk in the series. After the show was cancelled, he became the game show host of "Family Feud," and was known for kissing every female contestant to appear on the show. Dawson died in 2012 from complications of esophageal cancer.
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Larry Hovis

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Hovis played a minor role in the pilot episode of the show. When two other actors backed out he was signed to play Sargent Carter. He continued to make guest appearances on shows such as "The Doris Day Show," "Adam-12," and "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In." He died of cancer in 2003.
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Ivan Dixon

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Cast as Staff Sargent Ivan Kinchloe, a POW radio technician, he soon left the show after feeling overshadowed by the other characters. Post "Hogan's Heroes," Dixon acted and directed both in television and film. Active in the Civil Rights Movement throughout the 1960's, he garnered four NAACP awards. He died of a brain hemorrhage at 76.
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Sigrid Valdis

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Originally cast as Hilda, Colonel Klink's secretary, Sigrid later became the wife of Bob Crane, the show's main character. The couple actually married on the set of Hogan's Heroes. She retired from acting after the birth of the couple's son. After the murder of Crane, she moved her family to Los Angeles where she died of lung cancer in 2007.
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Leon Askin

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Leon Askin portrayed General Albert Hans Burkhalter, superior officer to Klink. After the show he was in the PBS series "Meeting of the Minds" and made a few other brief appearances in films and television. He died in 2005.
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Bernard Fox

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Bernard Fox played Colonel Rodney Crittendon. In addition to his role on "Hogan's Heroes" he also was known for Dr. Bombay on "Bewitched." He had a number of guest spots in television and film including "The Rescuers Down Under," "Titanic," and "The Mummy."
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