Biography: Richard Crenna

Richard Donald Crenna (November 30, 1926 – January 17, 2003) was an American film, television and radio actor. He starred in such motion pictures as The Sand Pebbles, Wait Until Dark, Body Heat, Rambo (First Blood – Rambo III), Hot Shots! Part Deux, and The Flamingo Kid. While he is best remembered for his role as Walter Denton in the CBS radio and television series "Our Miss Brooks"; or as Luke McCoy in the ABC and CBS sitcom The Real McCoys (1957-1963), his most substantive television work was done in the thirty-six episodes of a rare political dramatic series, "Slattery's People," on CBS.

Younger generations remember him as Colonel Trautman in the Rambo films.

Biography

Early life

Crenna was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Edith J. (née Pollette), who managed a hotel in Downtown Los Angeles, and Domenick Anthony Crenna, a pharmacist. He had Italian ancestry. ^{Crenna attended Virgil Jr. High School on Vermont Avenue and 1st Street, and later Belmont High School and the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. One of his classmates at Belmont was Mort Sahl. He was also a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity.}

Career

Crenna got his acting start on radio, appearing in My Favorite Husband, Boy Scout Jamboree, A Date With Judy, The Great Gildersleeve, and Our Miss Brooks. He remained with the cast of the latter show when it transitioned to television.

When Our Miss Brooks, starring Eve Arden, underwent a change in format -- his character Walter Denton was omitted -- Crenna joined The Real McCoys. Kathleen Nolan was cast as his young wife, Kate McCoy; they lived on a southern California farm with Grandpa Amos McCoy, Walter Brennan's best-known role. In the last season, The Real McCoys was shortened to The McCoys, moved from ABC to CBS, and switched from Thursday to Sunday evening. Moreover, Nolans' character died on screen. The widower Luke McCoy then began to court a neighbor, Louise Howard, played by actress Janet De Gore.

Crenna also guest starred on I Love Lucy with Janet Waldo.

Crenna won an Emmy for his performance in the title role of the film The Rape of Richard Beck. He portrayed a California state senator named James Slattery. Crenna received two Emmy nominations for Outstanding Individual Achievements in Entertainment (1965) and for Outstanding Continued Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Series (1965). In addition, in 1965 Crenna was nominated for a Golden Globe as Best TV Star - Male for his portrayal of the fictional Senator Slattery.

Crenna is perhaps best known for his role as John Rambo's ex-commanding Officer "Colonel Trautman" in the first three Rambo films. He also spoofed the role in Hot Shots! Part Deux, as an homage to his Rambo character. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6714 Hollywood Blvd.

Personal life

Crenna contracted pancreatic cancer but died of heart failure at the age of seventy-six. At the time of his death, he had a recurring role in the CBS series Judging Amy. On the show, his passing was acknowledged by the death of the character that he portrayed.

Crenna's son, Richard Anthony Crenna, is also an actor.

In popular culture

Crenna is mentioned in the sitcom Friends during the episode 'The One with the Cake', when Phoebe writes a birthday song for Rachel's daughter Emma: "Emma/Your name poses a dilemma/'Cuz not much else rhymes with Emma/Maybe the actor Richard Crenna/He played the commanding officer in Rambo/Happy birthday Emma."

The character Roy Campbell from the Metal Gear series bears a remarkable resemblance to Crenna.

Dan Castellaneta, the voice of the animated sitcom The Simpsons's character Homer Simpson, lifted his voice for the Squeaky-Voiced Teen from Crenna's for his character Walter Denton in Our Miss Brooks.

Filmography