Hogan's Heroes

The TV show "Hogans Heroes" was a comedy about POWs (Prisoners of War) during World War II.

The show focuses mostly on 7 main people - 5 of them Allied POWs, (Hogan, Louis LeBeau, Peter Newkirk, James Kinchloe, and Andrew J. Carter)

1 German Sergeant,(Hans Schultz) and 1 German Colonel(Wilhelm Klink).

The POWS (Hogan's gang) had all they need to escape from their camp and more, yet they don't escape back to their homeland! Hogan and his gang's job was basicly to insure escapees from other PoW camps got into Stalag 13 unoticed, to hide out and maybe get a few meals before they sent them to an extraction point where an Allied Submarine would pick them up (so technically the Important Officers would escape a different PoW camp and sneak into Stalag 13, where they would be set up with an extraction point)If you didn't figure it out from that just watch some of the videos and you'll get the hang of it! They were masters of escape, yet never used their mastery to free themselves. Throughout all the seasons Hogan and all his gang stayed in Stalag 13 ( not including times where they left to go get a drink from the local bar or when a mission required some of them to leave ). These PoWs had everything, literally everything they could have used to escape which included: an underground barber, Mark printer (German money printer), Chemical Lab where bombs would be built, Kitchen - where French LeBeau would cook up gourment food, and more. Staying in their little "home" at Stalag 13 was almost better than leaving and going back to their real home.

Bob Crane (Robert E. Hogan)
Born: July 13, 1928

Hogan played by Bob Crane was the persuasive talker of Hogan's Heroes and also the character in which Hogan's Heroes was based around. If you wanted to escape from a camp, Hogan was your man! Hogan could persuade the ever so gullible Colonel Klink into doing almost anything. Colonel Hogan was the leader of the gang, he'd run the show in almost every episode aired. He'd be able to make jokes and still get the job done no matter the cost, whether it was 30 days in the cooler or just another threat from Klink. At times Klink's position as Commandant would be at stake, and Hogan would have to save Klink's job - because if Klink were to be taken out of the position Commandant the new German would be much harder to trick.
One episode Klink was in a bind where other Nazi officers wanted Klink out and sent to the Soviet front Hogan saved him with a very complitcated plan and Klink asked: "Why did you help me Hogan?" and Hogan replied: "Well sir, the other prisoners and I have developed... well an affection with you. When we see you walking in the court yard with your monocle we say 'Hey there's Klink, *sigh* he's embarrassing but he's ours.' ".

Not only was Hogan the leader, persuasive man of the group, he was also the most romantic on set. Many episodes Hogan would be at some point kissing almost any female he saw (including German Colonel Klink's blond haired secretary). In fact, Bob Crane (Hogan) got married on set to her! He was married to Patti Olsen (Hilda) Klinks secretary after Hogan divorced Ann Terzian after 20 years of marriage.

After a 6 year run of Hogan's Heroes the president of CBS cancelled the show. Ah, but this did not stop Bob Crane from continuing his life in acting, Bob Crane starred in two Disney films "Gus" and "Superdad". In 1975 Bob Crane created his own show "The Bob Crane Show" but only for a short time, NBC cancelled his show after 3 months.
------------------------------------------------
Sad Part =(
------------------------------------------------
While Bob Cranes future looking quite good, a devistating and horrible thing happened June 29, 1978. Bob Crane was brutaly murdered in his rented hotel room early morning in Scottsdale, beaten to death, then strangled with an electrical cord while sleeping at the age of 49. The crime had some very good leads, yet not enough evidence to convict anyone. Therefore, making Bob Crane's murderer a mystery still today.

Death: June 29, 1978

John Banner (Hans Schultz)
Born - January 28, 1910

John Banner played the most memorable character of Hogan's Heroes (and also my favorite!), Sergeant Schultz, a German prison guard of Stalag 13. In many show/movies John starred in he would play a Nazi because of his accent. Yet it was ironic that he was Jewish and was even in a concentration camp as a prisoner during World War II, not a guard. John was one of the lucky ones during World War II, he was sent to a concetration camp during the early stages of Nazi control of Germany and at the time concentration camps were not considered a "death sentence". So John was able to leave before Nazi policies changed.

John Banner was most likely the most lovable character in Hogan's Heroes, he played the German sergeant that would be easily persuaded by LeBeau and his gourmet food not to tell Klink of their escape actions. LeBeau's food was not the only thing Hogan and his gang would use to persuad Schultz, if Hogan felt they didn't need to waste LeBeau's food then Hogan would just bring up the fact that Sergeat Schultz could be sent to the front after keeping secret most of their actions from Klink. Every episode Schultz would somehow be pulled into some mess at the camp, repeatedly using the phrase "I know nothhhhhing!" after seeing what Hogan's plan was this time. (Be sure to watch some of the episodes bleow!)

Before acting in Hogan's Heroes John had previously worked with Bob Crane and Werner Klemperer in other films.

Sadly, John Banner died on his birthday in is hometown Vienna due to abdominal hemorrhage.

Death: January 28, 1973

Robert Clary (Louis LeBeau)
Born: March 1, 1926.

Robert Clary was born in Paris, France with 13 other siblings. At the age of 12 he began singing professionaly. Sadly, in 1942 he and 12 others of his family were deported by Nazis and only Robert Clary survived, but Robert learned after returning to Paris that some of his family had not been deported and was still living happily in Paris. Robert then went back to singing, and soon started making great hits at the time. Such as ("Put Your Shoes On Lucy"/"Johnny Get Your Girl". He then became a great singer and created many other great songs and appeared in many films. Then Robert played Louis LeBeau - a French PoW who could certainly cook! LeBeau would often long for the sight of women, after being locked up in a PoW camp consisting of only men. LeBeau though would at times have to sit out on some missions just because Hogan didn't need him. After Hogan's Heroes, Robert went on many soap operas such as "Days of our Lives" and "The Bold & the Beautiful". Robert then worked on getting his story of living through the Halocaust out, after people saying the Holocaust never happened. He then appeared in many doumentaries talking about his experience in the Holocaust. He now has many books published and his own site, "www.robertclary.com" and wrote books.

Death: Not yet! Still living happily today!

Werner Klemperer (Willhelm Klink)
Born: March 22, 1920

"I insure you, Stalag 13 has had escape attempts but has NEVER had one escape."

Werner Klemperer played the ever so gullible Klink, the Commandant (Warden) of the Prisoner of War camp: Stalag 13.


Often calling Sgt. Schultz a "Dunkoph!" (Dummy in German) after Schultz making some mistake. Colonel Klink would often be persuaded (like Schultz) by the swift talking Hogan. Hogan would make the arrangements needed to have their plan work out perfect. As you'll see in some of the YouTube Videos Colonel Hogan would often request to see Klink and barge into Klink's office before Klink even says "No" or "Yes". Once Hogan was in Klink's office Hogan's talking skills would kick in. If Hogan wanted information on a topic he'd get it out of Klink (especialy if the device they planted in Klink's office didn't work out). While Hogan would be persuading Klink he'd fool around with some of Klink's desk decor. such as Klink's Unique German helmet used mostly during WWI in trench warfare, or maybe he'd go ahead and take one of Klink's cigars or drink some of his wine - either way Hogan would make Klink get quite annoyed. Some of Hogan's tactics of getting information out of Klink would be suggesting Klink might be sent to the front, and the other Camp Commandants are trying to ruin Klink's perfect reputaion of having not one escape! But what would get to Klink the most is just the mention of "Gestapo" in the area, and when it comes to sucking up to Officers, Klink is near the top!

Werner Klemperer also starred in many other movies with John Banner, and Bob Crane. He also guest appeared as Colonel Klink in the Simpsons episode - "The Last Temptation of Homer". This episode originally aired on December 9, 1993, during the fifth season.


Death: December 6, 2000

Richard Dawson (Peter Newkirk)
Born: November 20, 1932

Richard Dawson played the british Corporal, Peter Newkirk, in Hogan's Heroes. You may also know him for hosting the older seasons of "Family Feud" and he was known for kissing almost every female on each family! Newkirk was most know for his pick-pocketing skills on Hogan's Heroes, often taking IDs and other information from the Goons (Lesser Guards at the camp) or he'd fool around with Schultz and steal his pistol and then inspect it and ask Schultz about how well he keeps his weapons clean, often annoying Schultz. In some episodes Newkirk would "turn off" his British accent and "turn on" his German one to go along with their German uniforms they were using for a mission. Newkirk was usualy paired with LeBeau for missions where they'd have to leave the camp.

Richard Dawson did not only have a part in Hogan's Heroes, but also hosted "Family Feud" and starred on the game "The Matching Game" VERY often. I'm sure he was also in some other TV Series or Movies quite often as well.

Death: Not yet! Still living today!

Larry Hovis (Sergeant Andrew Carter)
Born: February 20, 1936

Larry Hovis was born in Wapato, Washington and grew up in Houston, TX. He like Robert Clary was a singer and sang with his sister Joan then joined a quartet called the Mascots - which appeared in Arthur Godfrey's Talent Scouts. Larry then went to earning his degree in philosophy at the University of Houston and then signed to Capitol Records and recorded the album "My Heart Belongs to Only You". In the late 1950's Larry moved to New York and appeared in the Broadway shows The Billy Barnes Revue (1959) and From A to Z (1960). Larry's first major Tv show Series he appeared in was Gomer Pyle and appeared in it for 10 episodes. Larry then got a position on Hogan's Heroes as a minor role after 2 men backed out of the position - this position was Sgt. Carter the demolitions man. Sgt Carter would make numerous bombs when needed. In one episode Carter was needed to build a bomb so Hogan and some of his gang could steal a German Plane and bomb Berlin with it. Carter would love all the explosive creatons he'd create down in the tunnels. While he was in Hogan's Heroes he continued writing scripts for TV specials and appeared in the comedy Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In. In 1966, he scripted the film Out of Sight. After Hogan's Heroes unexpectedly canceled Larry appeared in many TV shows and produced several game shows such as Liar's Club. Before he died he was working as a professor, teaching drama at Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas.

Death: September 9, 2003

Ivan Dixon (Sergeant James Kinchloe)
Born: April 6, 1931

Ivan Dixon played Sergeant James Kinchloe in Hogan's Heroes, he was the only "original" cast member that didn't stay in the show the whole series. Ivan Dixon was born in New York City, NY. He had lot's of acting experience before he came to Hogan's Heroes in search for a comedic escape. He joined 1965 then left the show in 1970. On Hogan's Heroes Ivan seemed to play a lesser role, often not going on missions outside of camp. Though he was known for being the one who used the radio to communicate with the Submarines waiting to pick up VIPs that Hogan and his Gang would help to escape.
Just recently Ivan Dixon died, infact this same year... here's an article written...

Ivan Dixon, Actor in 'Hogan's Heroes,' Dies at 76

By DENNIS HEVESI
Published: March 20, 2008

Ivan Dixon, an actor and director who was best known for playing Sgt. James Kinchloe on the 1960s sitcom "Hogan's Heroes" but whose films included vivid portrayals of black struggles in the American South and insurrectionist inclinations in the North, died on Sunday [March 16, 2008] in Charlotte, N.C. He was 76 and lived in Charlotte.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/20/movies/20dixon.html

Death: March 16, 2008