Veteran television actor Robert Hogan has died. With an impressive resume that includes appearances in more than 100 primetime shows from Hogan’s Heroes to The Wire, Hogan’s face can be very easily recognized by many across the world. After spending a lifetime entertaining others, Hogan’s family announced that the actor died Thursday of complications from pneumonia at his home on the coast of Maine. He was 87 years old.
Hogan’s career in television spanned for six decades, and chances are anyone who’s seen classic TV at some point in their lives will recognize the actor. In Quentin Tarantino’s hit movie Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Leonardo DiCaprio’s character personally praises “Bobby Hogan” while watching a clip of Hogan’s guest appearance on a 1965 episode of The F.B.I. Of course, that was just one of many guest roles Hogan had been featured in, and Hogan’s work has drawn praise in other shows as well.
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Some of Hogan’s most memorable roles include playing a pitcher kidnapped by Mr. Freeze in Adam West’s Batman TV series; Reverend Tom Winter on two seasons of the ABC series Peyton Place; Greg Stemple on the classic sitcom Alice; a helicopter pilot on M*A*S*H; a judge on Law & Order; and a retired shipwright Louis Sobotka on the acclaimed HBO drama series The Wire.
Hogan’s other small screen credits include guest roles on shows like The Donna Reed Show,Gomer Pyle: USMC, The Twilight Zone, Dr. Kildare, I Dream of Jannie, Gunsmoke, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Hawaii Five-0, Laverne & Shirley, Magnum, P.I., Cosby, and Now and Again. He was also a staple of daytime soap opera shows for many years, appearing in shows like General Hospital, Days of Our Lives, As the World Turns, and All My Children.
Oddly enough, Hogan inspired the name of the classic CBS series Hogan’s Heroes, which was co-created by his friend Bernard Fein. Even more strangely, Hogan tried out for the titular role, which would have been perfect as the character was literally named after him. The network preferred to go with a bigger name actor, first offering the part to Van Johnson before Bob Crane signed on. Taking it in stride, Hogan had two guest shots on the series in 1965 and 1970.
In 2013, Hogan was diagnosed with Vascular Alzheimer’s, but he remained determined to still live his life to its fullest despite the illness. His wife, novelist Mary Hogan, collaborated with organizations like DOROT in New York City and the Alzheimer’s Association to help him continue to work and thrive for years. As explained by the family in Hogan’s obituary, this was “no small feat for an actor who memorized lines for a living.”
Hogan’s survivors include his wife of 38 years, Mary Hogan; three children from a previous marriage to artist Shannon Hogan: Chris, Stephen, and Jud; and two grandchildren, Susanna and Liam. Our thoughts go out to Hogan’s family and friends at this painful time. May he rest in peace as his memory lives on forever through those who loved him. This news comes to us from The Hollywood Reporter.
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