Bob Crane was an American musician, disk jockey, and stage, film and television actor. He achieved fame on the television program Hogan's Heroes and infamy for scandalous behavior that may have led to his murder.

Bob Crane was recognizable for his broad face and bright smile, and it was this charm that helped carry the unlikely television hit situation comedy Hogan's Heroes, which took place in a Nazi prisoner of war camp. Co-star Richard Dawson introduced Crane to John Carpenter, whose interest in then-new video technology dovetailed with Crane's sexual promiscuity. By the time of his murder by bludgeoning, Crane had amassed a large personal video library of himself engaged in sex acts with multiple partners.