Richard Donald Crenna (not to be confused with Richard Anthony Crenna, his son) was the star of Our Miss Brooks and TV's The Real McCoys , and before it was all said and done, an actor whose career spanned half a century. Richard was born in the right town to get a quick start in the business--the City of Angels, Los Angeles.  It is unclear whether or not the future thespian was actually a boy scout, but during his youth, an LA radio station broadcast a show called Boy Scout Jamboree, and Richard landed a part.  He didn't launch right into a career as a teen star, though.  Most of his adolescence was that of a normal kid, and then he fought in World War II .  After returning stateside, though, it didn't take Crenna long to pick up where he'd left off.  Not only did he get a chance to return to Boy Scout Jamboree, but he soon began playing occasional roles in the very best old time radio shows --mostly comedies--on the air.  These included The Grea...

Richard Donald Crenna has his place in show business history as the star of Our Miss Brooks and TV's The Real McCoys, and ultimately, an actor whose career spanned half a century. Crenna was born in Nov. 1926 in Los Angeles, the son of a pharmacist and a hotel manager.  He lived in a show biz town and he got into the act early, playing a recurring role in a radio show called Boy Scout Jamboree. He didn't launch right into a career as a teen star, though.  Instead, he finished high school and fought in World War II . After the war, not only did he get a chance to return to Boy Scout Jamboree, but he soon began playing recurring roles in the very best radio shows--mostly comedies--on the air.  These included The Great Gildersleeve , The Burns and Gracie Allen Show , and My Favorite Husband .  In 1948, he began playing Walter Denton on the hit show Our Miss Brooks .  Eve Arden played the title role, that of a headstrong high school teacher, and Gale G...

Richard Crenna was a star of radio, TV, and film.  Here, we'll take a look, in chronological order, at some of his biggest movies, with some others listed at the end The Sand Pebbles This 1966 picture starred the Hollywood titan Steve McQueen, along with Richard Attenborough and budding actress Candice Bergen.  It was set in war-torn, 1920's China; Crenna played a good-sized supporting role as Captain Collins. Wait Until Dark This 1967 movie saw Crenna working alongside no less a talent than Audrey Hepburn, with second billing going to Alan Arkin.  Directed by Terence Young, this heady crime film involved a search for heroin stuffed in a doll in the home of a blind woman.  Crenna played Mike Talman. Red Sky At Morning This movie was based on the Richard Bradford novel and chronicles the lives of several New Mexico friends during World War II .  It starred Richard Thomas, Catherine Burns, and Desi Arnaz, Jr.  The latter won a Golden Globe (1972...