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Bob Hastings

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This article is about the actor. For the public relations professional with a similar name, see Robert T. Hastings Jr.
Bob Hastings
Hastings in 2008
Born
Robert Francis Hastings

(1925-04-18)April 18, 1925
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
DiedJune 30, 2014(2014-06-30) (aged 89)
Burbank, California, U.S.
Resting placeForest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, California, U.S.[1]
NationalityAmerican
OccupationActor
Years active1936–2013
Spouse
Joan Rice-Hastings
​
(m. 1948)​
Children4

Robert Francis Hastings (April 18, 1925 – June 30, 2014)[1] was an American radio, film, and television character actor. He also provided voices for animations.[2] He was best known for his portrayal of annoying suck-up Lt. Elroy Carpenter on McHale's Navy,[3] and voicing Commissioner James Gordon in the DCAU.

Early life

Hastings was born in Brooklyn, New York, a son of Charles and Hazel Hastings. His father was a salesman.[4] He started out as a boy singer on National Barn Dance,[5]: 251-252  Doug Gray's Singing Gang and Coast to Coast on a Bus.[6] He also portrayed Jerry on the radio program The Sea Hound.[5]: 298  Hastings served during World War II as a navigator on B-29s in the United States Army Air Corps.

Career

Hastings in a 1946 publicity photo

After Hastings returned from military service, he played the role of Archie Andrews in a series based on the Archie comic book series on NBC Radio from 1945 to 1953.[5]

Hastings moved to television in 1949, performing in early science-fiction series, including Atom Squad. In 1954, he was the featured pitch-man (acting as an amateur magician) for Bakers Instant Cocoa Mix television commercials. His first recurring role was as a lieutenant on Phil Silvers' Sergeant Bilko series in the late 1950s. At that time he also guest-starred on Walter Brennan's ABC sitcom The Real McCoys, in an episode titled “How to Paint a House”.[citation needed] He also appeared in Captain Video playing the brother of "The Video Ranger", who was in turn played by Hastings' brother, Don Hastings.[7]: 162 

Hastings portrayed Edward Foyle in the NBC drama Kitty Foyle (1958).[7]: 568 

1960s–1970s

Most of his career was spent in television, including two episodes of CBS's Green Acres as an Air Force officer and as a sheriff. Hastings was cast as Lt. Bolt in the 1960 episode "Space Man" of the CBS military sitcom/drama Hennesey, starring Jackie Cooper. Hastings guest-starred in the ABC/Warner Brothers sitcom Room for One More, starring Andrew Duggan and Peggy McCay, on the Robert Young CBS sitcom/drama Window on Main Street, as Russian pilot Igor Piotkin on Hogan's Heroes, and on the NBC police sitcom Car 54, Where Are You?.

Hastings in 1962 played a railroad executive in the episode "Substitute Sheriff" of the NBC western series The Tall Man.

He appeared five times on CBS's Dennis the Menace, with Jay North, most notably as Coach Gilmore in the 1963 episode "The Big Basketball Game". He appeared three times from 1961 to 1962 on the CBS sitcom Pete and Gladys, with Harry Morgan and Cara Williams.

Hastings portrayed the aide to Captain Binghamton (Joe Flynn), the yes-man Lieutenant Elroy Carpenter on ABC's McHale's Navy,[7]: 673  humorously called "Carpy" and "Little Leadbottom" by McHale and his men. Hastings played Captain Ramsey on ABC's General Hospital. He was also the voice of the Raven on episodes of CBS's The Munsters.[citation needed] He hosted the game show Dealer's Choice[7]: 245  and had a recurring role as bar owner Tommy Kelsey on All in the Family.[7]

After McHale's Navy, Hastings was a regular on the Universal Studios lot, where Universal paid actors during downtime to be on the grounds and talk to tourists. According to an interview,[8] he got along so well with the people that he became one of the few regulars on the tour.[citation needed]

Hastings was in the 1968 Universal film Did You Hear the One About the Traveling Saleslady? starring Bob Denver, as well as The Bamboo Saucer (1968), Angel in My Pocket (1969), The Love God? (1969) starring Don Knotts, and The Boatniks (1970). In 1971 Hastings was cast in the comedy movie How to Frame a Figg, also starring Don Knotts, and also had roles in The Poseidon Adventure (1972), The All-American Boy (1973) and No Deposit, No Return (1976). Hastings also was in the 1978 movie Harper Valley PTA in which he played Skeeter Duggan, a member of the PTA board who had been kidnapped at the orders of its dishonest president to commit election fraud, and played "Cousin Phantom of the Opera" in the 1981 television movie The Munsters' Revenge.[citation needed]

In 1967, Hastings recorded an LP for Home Records Incorporated, one titled Bob Hastings Sings For The Family (HR-101), with 12 songs arranged and conducted by Bob Caudana.[citation needed]

Voice-over work

Hastings has also done voice work for animation and commercials, including Beany on Beany and Cecil, The Raven on the Munsters series, Superboy in The New Adventures of Superboy cartoons of the 1960s, D.D. on Hanna-Barbera's Clue Club, and the voice of Commissioner Jim Gordon in the popular Batman: The Animated Series and its various spinoffs in the DC animated universe, such as Batman: Mask of the Phantasm, Superman: The Animated Series, The New Batman Adventures and several Batman video games.[2]

His earlier work in animation includes doing the voice Henry Glopp on Hanna-Barbera's animated series Jeannie in 1973[7]: 527-528  and additional voices on Challenge of the Super Friends.

Personal life and death

Hastings was the older brother of longtime As the World Turns star Don Hastings. He was married to Joan (Rice) Hastings for 66 years and had four children, 10 grandchildren, and thirteen great-grandchildren. He toured the country as a participant in various Old-Time Radio Conventions, reading scripts for such shows as Archie Andrews and The Bickersons. He appeared at the 2013 Cincinnati Nostalgia Expo, the Radio Enthusiasts of Puget Sound Showcase 2013 in Bellevue, Washington, in June, and at the Friends of Old Time Radio Convention in Newark, New Jersey, in October 2010.

He died on June 30, 2014, from prostate cancer at age 89.[9] His funeral Mass was held in Burbank, California's Saint Finbar Catholic Church.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1961 The Great Impostor State Department Official Uncredited
1961 Window on Main Warren Episode "A Doctor Comes to Town"
1961 Gunsmoke Bill Craig E7S7 “The Squaw”
1962 Moon Pilot Motorist Uncredited
1963 The Twilight Zone Sam Episode "I Dream of Genie"
1964 McHale's Navy Lt. Elroy Carpenter
1965 McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force
1966 The Adventures of Superboy (TV series) Superboy Voice; 34 episodes
1967 Hogan's Heroes Igor Piotkin Episode "A Russian Is Coming"
1968 Did You Hear the One About the Traveling Saleslady? Lyle Chatterton
1968 The Bamboo Saucer Garson
1968 I Dream of Jeannie Homer Banks Episode "Have You Heard the One About the Used Car Salesman?"
1969 Angel in My Pocket Ted Palish
1969 The Love God? Shrader
1970 The Boatniks Chief Walsh
1971 How to Frame a Figg Chris Groat
1971 The Marriage of a Young Stockbroker 2nd Baseball Fan
1971 Green Acres Sheriff Season 6 episode
1972 The Poseidon Adventure M. C.
1973 Charley and the Angel News Reporter
1973 Jeannie Henry Glopp Voice; 16 episodes
1973 The New Scooby Doo Movies Henry Glopp Voice; Episode "Mystery in Persia"
1973 The All-American Boy Ariel Van Daumee
1974 Devlin Additional voices 16 Episodes
1974 Airport 1975 Freeman's Friend at Airport Uncredited
1975 The Great Grape Ape Show Additional voices Unknown Episodes
1976 No Deposit, No Return Peter
1976 Clue Club D.D. Voice; 16 Episodes
1977 Spider-Man Monahan
1977 CB Bears Loudmouse Voice; 13 Episodes
1977 Woofer & Wimper, Dog Detectives D.D. aired as part of The Skatebirds
1977 The Robonic Stooges D.D. Voice
1977-1978 Fred Flintstone and Friends Henry Glopp Voice
1977 The All-New Super Friends Hour Corky/Scott Voice; Episodes "Joy Ride", "Handicap"
1978 Yogi's Space Race Additional voices 13 Episodes
1978 Harper Valley PTA Skeeter
1978 Challenge of the Superfriends Pied Piper/Space Genius Voice; Episode "The Pied Piper from Space"
1979 The New Shmoo Additional voices 16 Episodes
1979 Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo Additional voices Unknown Episodes
1980 Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels Additional voices Episode "Cavey and the Volcanic Villian"
1980 Super Friends Additional voices Unknown Episodes
1981 Separate Ways Jack
1984 Snowballing Carol Tolson
1992 Shadow Force Mayor Talbert
1992-1994 Batman: The Animated Series Commissioner James Gordon, Rose Cafe Chef, Team Doctor, Armored Car Driver, Henchman, Thief, Truck Driver Voice; 50 episodes
1993 Batman: Mask of the Phantasm Commissioner Gordon Voice
1994 The Adventures of Batman & Robin Commissioner Gordon Voice
1997-1998 Superman: The Animated Series Commissioner Gordon Voice; 2 episodes
1997-1999 The New Batman Adventures Commissioner Gordon Voice; 8 episodes
1998 Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZero Commissioner Gordon Voice
2001 Batman: Vengeance Commissioner Gordon Voice
2002 Gotham Girls Commissioner Gordon Voice; 4 episodes
2003 Batman: Mystery of the Batwoman Commissioner Gordon Voice
2003 Static Shock Commissioner Gordon Voice; 1 episode
2003 Batman: Rise of Sin Tzu Commissioner Gordon Voice

References

  1. ^ a b Wilson, Scott (August 19, 2016). Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed. McFarland. ISBN 9781476625997 – via Google Books.
  2. ^ a b Staff writer (July 5, 2014) "Bob Hastings, actor" The Washington Post, page B5. Retrieved July 6, 2014 [1]
  3. ^ "R.I.P. Bob Hastings". July 2, 2014.
  4. ^ Bob Hastings Biography, filmreference.com; accessed August 12, 2015.
  5. ^ a b c Terrace, Vincent (1999). Radio Programs, 1924-1984: A Catalog of More Than 1800 Shows. McFarland & Company, Inc. p. 27. ISBN 978-0-7864-4513-4.
  6. ^ "Back Issue #99". Issuu.
  7. ^ a b c d e f Terrace, Vincent (2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers. pp. 28–29. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
  8. ^ Time Travel Radio interview Time Travel Radio
  9. ^ "'McHale's Navy' Star Bob Hastings Dies at Age 89", abcnews.go.com; accessed May 5, 2017.
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