Bob Crane’s killer has been unmasked — and the man who killed the “Hogan’s Heroes” star was tied to his kinky double-life as an underground pornographer. A special investigation by The National ENQUIRER has revealed claims that the sex-crazed 49-year-old actor — who was obsessed with shooting private X-rated videos of his raunchy romps and orgies — was slain by L.A. mob boss Dominic Brooklier. A source revealed the gangster “ran the porn business in L.A.,” and supplied Crane with a bevy of beauties to bed in his private skin flicks. In return, Crane agreed to star in two films. One was a regular romantic comedy, and the other was an XXX-rated flick. Both would be secretly financed by the racketeer. But when Crane balked at doing the X-rated movie for general distribution — which would’ve destroyed his regular acting career — hot-tempered Brooklier went ballistic and ordered hitmen to rub out the double-crossing actor. Graphic photos follow in this bombshell exposé, and then click here for more bizarre tales of Hollywood’s top celebrity sex scandals…
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“There is no doubt Brooklier was behind this shocking murder,” said the source, who investigated the killing for nearly a year. “Brooklier was convinced Crane had double-crossed him on a movie deal. He killed him to send a message: ‘Nobody messes with me or the Mob.’” The mystery of Crane’s bloody end would baffle both lawmen and the public for almost 38 years.
Photo credit: Corbis
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The former radio deejay was adored by millions of TV viewers for playing U.S. Army Col. Robert Hogan, a World War II POW. Wisecracking Hogan would hilariously outwit the bungling Nazi guards and commandant in his POW camp on the classic sitcom, which ran from 1965 to 1971. But the twice-married Crane (seen here in his 1970 wedding to fellow “Hogan” cast member Sigrid Valdis) saw his showbiz career quickly fade. He had resorted to performing in dinner theaters, and was touring a play when he was murdered in his Scottsdale, Ariz., apartment on June 29, 1978.
Photo credit: Corbis
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The actor was found in only boxer shorts with an electrical cord tied around his neck and his brains bashed in from blows by a camera tripod. His killing was so brutal, his blood was splattered all over the walls and ceiling. Crane’s shocking slaying ripped the lid off his twisted double life of kinky orgies and perverted home movies. The sitcom icon’s dark cravings, revealed the insider, had led him to “Brooklier and his thugs — who ran the porn business out of Los Angeles at the time!”
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“Crane just couldn’t get enough of sex and porn,” added the source. “When he wasn’t filming his own sex romps with young beauties, he was addicted to watching others having sex!” The TV hunk and the gangster met at least twice over the years, but kept in touch by phone and through intermediaries, said the source. The mobster eagerly furnished Crane with babes for his private perversions in return for the actor’s promise to star in films that would make a fortune.
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The proposed porn flick was cleverly called “Hogan’s Hero” to cash in on Crane’s TV fame. The mobster believed it would make millions. “The romantic comedy was Crane’s shot at being back on top again,” said the source. “He was going to be paid $1 million for the comedy and a percentage of the porn film’s profits. But while the porn film would have made Crane incredibly wealthy, it would’ve killed his career!"
Photo credit: Getty Images
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Desperate for a comeback, Crane “agreed at first — but backed off after having second thoughts about the porn film,” said the source. “Brooklier went absolutely wild! He ordered the hit on Crane right away.” He sent two thugs to snuff the star, said the source, adding that “both killers met violent deaths within 18 months after the hit went down.”
Photo credit: Corbis
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Bob Crane Smiling
Until now, the prime suspect in the case was Crane’s bisexual pal John Henry Carpenter. He was even arrested, but found not guilty of Crane’s murder in a 1994 trial. Now the source hopes to have the case reopened later this year after releasing the details of his investigation. Brooklier died of a heart attack in prison in 1984 while serving a five-year sentence for racketeering. Still, the source promises that when he releases his complete investigation, “I guarantee that people will be shocked!”
Photo credit: Corbis
“There is no doubt Brooklier was behind this shocking murder,” said the source, who investigated the killing for nearly a year. “Brooklier was convinced Crane had double-crossed him on a movie deal. He killed him to send a message: ‘Nobody messes with me or the Mob.’” The mystery of Crane’s bloody end would baffle both lawmen and the public for almost 38 years.
The former radio deejay was adored by millions of TV viewers for playing U.S. Army Col. Robert Hogan, a World War II POW. Wisecracking Hogan would hilariously outwit the bungling Nazi guards and commandant in his POW camp on the classic sitcom, which ran from 1965 to 1971. But the twice-married Crane (seen here in his 1970 wedding to fellow “Hogan” cast member Sigrid Valdis) saw his showbiz career quickly fade. He had resorted to performing in dinner theaters, and was touring a play when he was murdered in his Scottsdale, Ariz., apartment on June 29, 1978.
The actor was found in only boxer shorts with an electrical cord tied around his neck and his brains bashed in from blows by a camera tripod. His killing was so brutal, his blood was splattered all over the walls and ceiling. Crane’s shocking slaying ripped the lid off his twisted double life of kinky orgies and perverted home movies. The sitcom icon’s dark cravings, revealed the insider, had led him to “Brooklier and his thugs — who ran the porn business out of Los Angeles at the time!”
“Crane just couldn’t get enough of sex and porn,” added the source. “When he wasn’t filming his own sex romps with young beauties, he was addicted to watching others having sex!” The TV hunk and the gangster met at least twice over the years, but kept in touch by phone and through intermediaries, said the source. The mobster eagerly furnished Crane with babes for his private perversions in return for the actor’s promise to star in films that would make a fortune.
The proposed porn flick was cleverly called “Hogan’s Hero” to cash in on Crane’s TV fame. The mobster believed it would make millions. “The romantic comedy was Crane’s shot at being back on top again,” said the source. “He was going to be paid $1 million for the comedy and a percentage of the porn film’s profits. But while the porn film would have made Crane incredibly wealthy, it would’ve killed his career!"
Photo credit: Getty Images
Desperate for a comeback, Crane “agreed at first — but backed off after having second thoughts about the porn film,” said the source. “Brooklier went absolutely wild! He ordered the hit on Crane right away.” He sent two thugs to snuff the star, said the source, adding that “both killers met violent deaths within 18 months after the hit went down.”
Bob Crane Smiling
Until now, the prime suspect in the case was Crane’s bisexual pal John Henry Carpenter. He was even arrested, but found not guilty of Crane’s murder in a 1994 trial. Now the source hopes to have the case reopened later this year after releasing the details of his investigation. Brooklier died of a heart attack in prison in 1984 while serving a five-year sentence for racketeering. Still, the source promises that when he releases his complete investigation, “I guarantee that people will be shocked!”
