Buster Crabbe was an American actor who is best known for his roles as Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers, and Tarzan. He made a significant impact in early cinema, particularly in the adventure and science fiction genres.
Personal and Family Life
Buster Crabbe was born Clarence Linden Crabbe on February 7, 1908, in Oakland, California. He graduated from the University of Southern California and married his college sweetheart, Adah Virginia Held, on April 13, 1933, with whom he had three children. Sadly, one of his daughters, Sande, passed away in 1957 due to anorexia.
Career Highlights
Crabbe made history as the only actor to portray three major pulp heroes of the 1930s: Flash Gordon, Buck Rogers, and Tarzan. His breakthrough role came in 1936 when he was cast as Flash Gordon, a part he initially thought the producers would find too unconventional. He went on to star in a variety of films and television series throughout the 1930s and beyond, including several popular Westerns and sci-fi serials.
Death and Legacy
Buster Crabbe passed away on April 23, 1983, in Scottsdale, Arizona, from a heart attack at the age of 75. He is remembered not only for his significant film roles but also for his achievements as an Olympic swimmer, having won a gold medal at the 1932 Summer Olympics.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Flash Gordon | 1936-04-06 | Flash Gordon |
| Destination Saturn | 1966-01-01 | Buck Rogers |
| Buck Rogers | 1977-01-01 | Col. Buck Rogers |
| Planet Outlaws | 1953-01-01 | Col. Buck Rogers |
| Nabonga | 1944-01-25 | Ray Gorman |
| The Alien Dead | 1980-06-01 | Sheriff Kowalski |
| Jungle Siren | 1942-08-14 | Captain Gary Hart |
| Billy the Kid Trapped | 1942-02-27 | Billy the Kid |
| Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe | 1940-03-03 | Flash Gordon |
| Caged Fury | 1948-03-05 | Smiley |
| Fuzzy Settles Down | 1944-06-25 | Billy Carson |
| Stagecoach Outlaws | 1945-08-17 | Billy Carson |
| Rose Bowl | 1936-11-30 | Ossie Merrill |
| Tarzan the Fearless | 1933-08-11 | Tarzan |
| Drift Fence | 1936-02-14 | ‘Slinger’ Dunn |
| The Kid Rides Again | 1943-01-27 | Billy the Kid |
| Daughter of Shanghai | 1937-12-17 | Andrew Sleete (as Larry Crabbe) |
| Wildcat | 1942-09-03 | Mike Rawlins |
| Wanderer of the Wasteland | 1935-09-09 | Big Ben |
| Nevada | 1935-11-29 | Jim Lacey aka ‘Nevada’ |
| Flash Gordon’s Trip to Mars | 1938-03-21 | Flash Gordon |
| Purple Death from Outer Space | 1966-01-01 | Flash Gordon |
| Gunfighters of Abilene | 1960-01-01 | Kip |
| You’re Telling Me! | 1934-04-06 | Bob Murchison (as Larry ‘Buster’ Crabbe) |
| Captive Girl | 1950-07-01 | Barton |
| Arizona Raiders | 1965-08-01 | Capt. Tom Andrews |
| The Thundering Herd | 1933-03-01 | Bill Hatch |