My UnHollywood Family

by Robert David Crane, Theresa Griffin Kennedy

June 29, 1978 will live on in the mind of one man indefinitely.

It remains a date burned upon his brain. In the mind of a young man who had just celebrated his 27th birthday two days before - Robert David Crane - the oldest child and oldest son of actor and radio personality, Bob Crane, this date will never leave his consciousness, and can never be forgotten. It is the date of his father's murder, the day the life of celebrated and beloved TV actor and star of Hogan's Heroes, Bob Crane, was destroyed by an awkward and ungainly man. A man dominated by envy and a desire for revenge, John Carpenter, (not the film director) a man who may have got away with premeditated murder.

Now, this once young man wants to set the record straight about the experiences he cannot forget, the losses that shaped him, and that continue their forward moving dark energy, where "closure" becomes an alluring falsehood, a tease and the most elegant and expansive of lies. This long overdue book sets the record straight about what really happened, as Robert Crane experienced and witnessed it firsthand.

128 pages, Paperback

Published September 12, 2024

Reviews

[Rachael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this memoir felt like steping into Oberursel, sunlit facades with shadows lurking just beyond. Crane’s prose is elegant yet raw: he doesn't flinch from recounting the horror of discovering his father's body, nor does he shy away from the complexity of the man behind Colonel Hogan. The alternating timelines, one chapter dragging you into the chilling scene of June 29, 1978, the next lifting you into surrogate glances at a young man chasing his own identity, are masterful. It’s a tribute, a reckoning, and a confession all at once. The emotional arcs are bruising, especially when Crane reflects on unresolved grief mingled with his father's undeniable charisma and failings. A deeply human memoir that stays with you long after the final page.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking and Powerful
"MY UNHOLLYWOOD FAMILY" book tore at my heart from the very first page. Robert David Crane’s account doesn’t just revisit the tragedy of losing his father; it brings the reader into the raw emotions of a son whose life was permanently marked by violence and betrayal. The writing feels deeply personal, as though Robert is sitting right across from you, speaking truths he’s carried for decades. I felt his pain, his anger, and also his courage in finally telling this story. It’s more than a memoir, it’s a testimony of grief, survival, and the relentless search for truth.

[Anthony · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was struck by the honesty in Robert Crane’s words. The way he describes “closure” as a beautiful lie resonated with me on such a deep level. Having experienced loss myself, I understood exactly what he meant. This book doesn’t sensationalize Bob Crane’s murder; instead, it humanizes the man behind the TV star and, even more, the son who lived with the aftermath. I docked one star only because at times the emotions were almost overwhelming to process, but that’s also what makes the book unforgettable.

[Clara Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Son’s Voice, Long Overdue
Robert’s perspective is unlike anything else written about Bob Crane. Most people know the headlines, the rumors, the Hollywood gossip, but very few know what it was like for the son who lost not only a father but also the sense of normalcy in his own youNg life. This book feels like a reckoning, both with the past and with the silence that followed. The honesty is brutal, but it’s also healing. Reading this made me appreciate how grief can linger and shape a person for decades.

[Gladys · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not Just About Murder, But About Memory
What surprised me most about this book is how much it isn’t simply a “true crime” account, it’s about memory, about how a single date can burn itself into your mind and change the trajectory of your entire life. Robert’s recollections are vivid, painful, and filled with a kind of wisdom that only comes through suffering. At times it’s hard to read, not because of poor writing but because of the weight of it all. This is a must-read for anyone who wants to understand not just the crime, but the human cost of it.

[Chloe A · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book shook me. Robert Crane writes with a rawness that makes you feel the weight of that tragic day and everything that followed. You don’t just read about Bob Crane’s murder you experience the aftermath through the eyes of his son. What struck me the most was Robert’s honesty about “closure” being a myth. His words forced me to rethink how we talk about grief and loss. Pain doesn’t just vanish, it lingers, and he lays that bare with heartbreaking clarity. A must-read for anyone who has ever dealt with unresolved loss.

[Benedict Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I went into this book expecting a true-crime angle, but what I found was much deeper. This isn’t just about solving who killed Bob Crane it’s about how a son carries the scars of violence for the rest of his life. Robert’s reflections on the dark energy that keeps moving forward were haunting, but also strangely beautiful in their honesty. The reason I’m giving it 4 stars instead of 5 is because some sections felt almost too heavy to get through but maybe that’s the point. It’s not meant to be an easy read.

[Ivy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely gripping. I knew of Bob Crane only from Hogan’s Heroes, but I never knew the tragedy that surrounded his death. Robert’s perspective makes this book more than just another Hollywood true crime story it’s a son’s desperate attempt to wrestle with memory, grief, and injustice. His voice carries both anger and vulnerability, and I found myself reading passages twice just to let the emotion sink in. The part about “closure” being a lie stuck with me. It’s rare to read something so unflinchingly honest.

[Phillip John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t put this book down. Robert David Crane has finally given voice to his side of a story that for too long was told by outsiders, tabloids, and speculation. His courage in laying bare his memories and his emotions is extraordinary. The love for his father, the bitterness toward the man who took him, and the lifelong ripple of trauma are all captured here in haunting detail. This isn’t just a book you read, it’s a book you feel.

[CuratedReads · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a tough read for me. On one hand, Robert Crane’s story is undeniably powerful, and his perspective is unique. On the other, the writing sometimes felt more like a stream of consciousness, which made it a little difficult to follow in parts. That said, the emotional intensity is very real, and I can see this book resonating strongly with people who value raw honesty over polished storytelling. For me, it was a heavy but important reminder of how deep the wounds of violent loss can go.

[Elsie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Haunting, heartbreaking, and unforgettable. Robert doesn’t just recount his father’s murder he lets you step into his fractured world and feel what it’s like to live in the shadow of an unsolved, unhealed crime. I was especially struck by his descriptions of how grief and trauma don’t end with time, but ripple forward endlessly. This book isn’t about sensationalism, it’s about truth, pain, and memory. It’s one of the most honest and courageous memoirs I’ve read in a long time.

[Theresa Kennedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not only have I read this excellent book, but I edited the book, and published it through Oregon Greystone Press, my Indie Publishing company, in early September of 2024. This is a historically significant book and I could not be more proud of it. Robert's book examines the heartache that resulted when his parents, Bob and Anne Crane divorced after Bob Crane got tangled up with an amoral costar, Sigrid Valdis, in the popular TV series, Hogan's Heroes. Then, when Robert was 27-years-old, in 1978, he lost his father, when he was murdered by John Carpenter, a low level groupie and hanger on. This is a short memoir and a riveting account of what can happen when revenge becomes an obsession, and "closure" an insult to the grief we feel when we lose a beloved family member to homicidal violence.