Gary Crosby
Encyclopedia
Gary Evan Crosby was an American
singer and actor
. He may have become better known for writing a revealing memoir of his father, entertainment legend Bing Crosby
, than for his own music and acting work. His mother was singer/actress Dixie Lee
, Bing Crosby's first wife.
, California
. He attended Stanford University
but dropped out, then fell into following in his father's footsteps in the entertainment business. He performed in a harmony singing group, The Crosby Boys
, with his three brothers, Philip, Lindsay, and Dennis, during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. Crosby performed on several variety programs, including ABC
's The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom
and NBC
's The Ford Show, Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford
.
As an actor, Crosby was briefly under contract to 20th Century-Fox but is perhaps best-remembered for his recurring role as Officer Ed Wells on NBC's Adam-12
from 1968 to 1975, as well as appearances on several other shows produced by Jack Webb
's Mark VII Limited
. He also appeared in the 1965 film Girl Happy
(1965), with Elvis Presley
, and "Come Wander With Me
," an episode of The Twilight Zone
in 1964.
Later in the 1970s, Crosby appeared occasionally on such game shows as Match Game
and Tattletales
as a guest panelist.
and his difficult childhood as a result of his mother's alcoholism and his father's emotional and physical abuse
. Some, especially his brother Philip, claimed the abuse was not as severe as Gary described. However, Lindsay and Dennis confirmed Gary's account; both later committed suicide by gunshot. The book nearly destroyed Bing Crosby's image as an ideal, low-keyed father, an image helped in no small measure by Crosby's famous holiday TV specials that usually included family members.
in Burbank, California
, in 1995, and was interred in the Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery
in Los Angeles. His mother, Dixie Lee, had previously died of ovarian cancer.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer and actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
. He may have become better known for writing a revealing memoir of his father, entertainment legend Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
, than for his own music and acting work. His mother was singer/actress Dixie Lee
Dixie Lee
Dixie Lee was an American actress, dancer, and singer.Born Wilma Wyatt, she adopted the professional name "Dixie Carroll" as a singer and showgirl. Winfield Sheehan of the Fox film studio changed the name to Dixie Lee, to avoid confusion with actresses Nancy Carroll and Sue Carol...
, Bing Crosby's first wife.
Personal life and career
Gary Crosby was born in Los AngelesLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. He attended Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
but dropped out, then fell into following in his father's footsteps in the entertainment business. He performed in a harmony singing group, The Crosby Boys
The Crosby Boys
The Crosby Boys were an American harmony singing group who were popular in nightclubs and on television during the 1950s and 1960s. They made a notable television appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show"....
, with his three brothers, Philip, Lindsay, and Dennis, during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. Crosby performed on several variety programs, including ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom
The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom
The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom is a half-hour variety show that aired on ABC from October 3, 1957 to June 23, 1960, starring the young singer Pat Boone and a host of top-name guest stars. The program was of course sponsored by Chevrolet...
and NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's The Ford Show, Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford
The Ford Show
The Ford Show is a half-hour comedy/variety program, starring singer and folk humorist Tennessee Ernie Ford, which aired in color on NBC television on Thursday evenings from October 4, 1956 to June 29, 1961....
.
As an actor, Crosby was briefly under contract to 20th Century-Fox but is perhaps best-remembered for his recurring role as Officer Ed Wells on NBC's Adam-12
Adam-12
Adam-12 was a television police drama which followed two police officers of the Los Angeles Police Department, Pete Malloy and Jim Reed, as they patrolled the streets of Los Angeles in their patrol unit, 1-Adam-12. Created by Jack Webb who is known for creating Dragnet, the series captured a...
from 1968 to 1975, as well as appearances on several other shows produced by Jack Webb
Jack Webb
John Randolph "Jack" Webb , also known by the pseudonym John Randolph, was an American actor, television producer, director and screenwriter, who is most famous for his role as Sergeant Joe Friday in the radio and television series Dragnet...
's Mark VII Limited
Mark VII Limited
Mark VII Limited was the production company of actor, producer, and director Jack Webb, and was active from 1951 to 1982. Many of its series were produced in association with Universal Television; most of them aired on the NBC television network in the U.S....
. He also appeared in the 1965 film Girl Happy
Girl Happy
Girl Happy is a 1965 American musical romantic comedy in the beach party film and spring break style, starring Elvis Presley.This was the last mega-successful Elvis Presley film at the box office, finishing at #25 on the Variety year-end top-grossing films of 1965 chart and making $3 million,...
(1965), with Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
, and "Come Wander With Me
Come Wander With Me
"Come Wander With Me" is an episode of the American television series The Twilight Zone.-Synopsis:The "Rock-A-Billy Kid," Floyd Burney, arrives at a small town in search of a new song. He is directed to a dilapidated shop in the woods run by a reclusive old man...
," an episode of The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone
The Twilight Zone is an American television anthology series created by Rod Serling. Each episode is a mixture of self-contained drama, psychological thriller, fantasy, science fiction, suspense, or horror, often concluding with a macabre or unexpected twist...
in 1964.
Later in the 1970s, Crosby appeared occasionally on such game shows as Match Game
Match Game
Match Game is an American television game show in which contestants attempted to match celebrities' answers to fill-in-the-blank questions...
and Tattletales
Tattletales
Tattletales is a game show which first aired on the CBS daytime schedule on February 18, 1974. It was hosted by Bert Convy, with several announcers, including Jack Clark, Gene Wood, Johnny Olson and John Harlan, providing the voiceover at various times...
as a guest panelist.
Memoir
In 1983, six years after Bing's death, Crosby published his autobiography, Going My Own Way, which revealed the effect of his alcoholismAlcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
and his difficult childhood as a result of his mother's alcoholism and his father's emotional and physical abuse
Physical abuse
Physical abuse is abuse involving contact intended to cause feelings of intimidation, injury, or other physical suffering or bodily harm.-Forms of physical abuse:*Striking*Punching*Belting*Pushing, pulling*Slapping*Whipping*Striking with an object...
. Some, especially his brother Philip, claimed the abuse was not as severe as Gary described. However, Lindsay and Dennis confirmed Gary's account; both later committed suicide by gunshot. The book nearly destroyed Bing Crosby's image as an ideal, low-keyed father, an image helped in no small measure by Crosby's famous holiday TV specials that usually included family members.
Death
Gary Crosby died of lung cancerLung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
in Burbank, California
Burbank, California
Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
, in 1995, and was interred in the Forest Lawn - Hollywood Hills Cemetery
Forest Lawn Memorial Park (Hollywood Hills)
Forest Lawn – Hollywood Hills Cemetery is part of the Forest Lawn chain of Southern California cemeteries. It is at 6300 Forest Lawn Drive in the Hollywood Hills neighborhood in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles, California, on the lower north slope at the far east end of the Santa Monica...
in Los Angeles. His mother, Dixie Lee, had previously died of ovarian cancer.
Family relations
- Brother of PhillipPhillip CrosbyPhillip Lang Crosby was an American actor and singer, who began his career singing alongside his brothers and his father, Bing Crosby. He was the twin brother of Dennis Crosby.-Early life:...
and DennisDennis CrosbyDennis Michael Crosby was an occasional American actor, the son of singer and actor Bing Crosby, and twin brother of Phillip Crosby. He was the father of actress Denise Crosby.-Life and career:...
(twins) and Lindsay CrosbyLindsay CrosbyLindsay Harry Crosby was an American actor and singer.-Early life:Lindsay Crosby, son of Bing Crosby and Dixie Lee, was born in California and named for his father's closest friend and Thoroughbred horse racing partner, Lindsay Howard. He was educated with his three brothers at Bellarmine College...
. - Half-sibling of Harry CrosbyHarry Crosby (actor)Harry Lillis Crosby III is an American actor, singer and investment banker.Crosby was born in Hollywood, California, at Queen of Angels Hospital. He is the fifth son of actor and singer Bing Crosby, the eldest from Bing's second marriage to Kathryn Crosby...
, Nathaniel CrosbyNathaniel CrosbyNathaniel Patrick Crosby is an American golfer.Crosby was born at Hillsborough, California. He is the seventh child of the actor and singer Bing Crosby and the youngest of his three children from his second marriage to the actress Kathryn Grant.Crosby performed with his father, mother, brother...
and Mary CrosbyMary CrosbyMary Frances Crosby is an American actress. She is most often credited as simply Mary Crosby for her performances.-Early life:...
. - Nephew of the bandleaderBandleaderA bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
Bob CrosbyBob CrosbyGeorge Robert "Bob" Crosby was an American dixieland bandleader and vocalist, best known for his group the Bob-Cats.-Family:...
. - Cousin of Cathy Crosby and Chris CrosbyChris CrosbyChristopher Charles Crosby is the co-founder of Keenspot along with Darren Bleuel and Nathan Stone. He draws and writes the webcomic Superosity and writes for Sore Thumbs, which Owen Gieni illustrates. He currently resides in Cresbard, SD.-Superosity:Superosity is a daily comic strip by Crosby...
. - Uncle of Denise CrosbyDenise CrosbyDenise Michelle Crosby is an American actress best known for portraying Security Chief Tasha Yar on Star Trek: The Next Generation...
, L. Chip Crosby Jr.
Select Credits
- Mardi Gras (1958)
- Holiday for LoversHoliday for LoversHoliday for Lovers is a 1959 comedy film directed by Henry Levin. Based on a 1957 play by Ronald Alexander, the film stars Clifton Webb, Jane Wyman, Jill St. John and Carol Lynley.-Plot:...
(1959) - A Private's AffairA Private's AffairA Private's Affair is a 1959 film directed by Raoul Walsh. It stars Sal Mineo and Christine Carère. It was nominated for a Golden Globe in 1960.- Cast :* Sal Mineo as Luigi J. Maresi* Christine Carère as Marie* Barry Coe as Jerry Morgan...
(1959) - Operation BikiniOperation BikiniOperation Bikini is a film released in 1963 by American International Pictures. It was directed by Anthony Carras and starred Tab Hunter, Frankie Avalon, and Scott Brady.The casting was aimed to capture a varied audience...
(1963) - Girl HappyGirl HappyGirl Happy is a 1965 American musical romantic comedy in the beach party film and spring break style, starring Elvis Presley.This was the last mega-successful Elvis Presley film at the box office, finishing at #25 on the Variety year-end top-grossing films of 1965 chart and making $3 million,...
(1965)
External links
- Gary Crosby at Notable Names Database