Richard Donald Crenna (November 30, 1926 – January 17, 2003) was an American film, television and radio actor. He starred in such motion pictures as The Sand Pebbles, Wait Until Dark, Body Heat, Rambo (First Blood – Rambo III), Hot Shots! Part Deux, and The Flamingo Kid. Perhaps though he is best remembered for his role as Walter Denton in the CBS radio and television series "Our Miss Brooks"; or as Luke McCoy in the ABC and CBS sitcom The Real McCoys (1957-1963).
Crenna was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Edith J. (née Pollette), who managed a hotel in Downtown Los Angeles, and Domenick Anthony Crenna, a pharmacist. He had Italian ancestry. Crenna attended Virgil Jr. High School on Vermont Avenue and 1st Street, and later Belmont High School and the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. One of his classmates at Belmont was Mort Sahl. He was also a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity.
Crenna got his acting start on radio, appearing in My Favorite Husband, Boy Scout Jamboree, A Date With Judy, The Great Gildersleeve, and Our Miss Brooks. He remained with the cast of the latter show when it transitioned to television.
When Our Miss Brooks, starring Eve Arden, underwent a change in format -- his character Walter Denton was omitted -- Crenna joined The Real McCoys. Kathleen Nolan was cast as his young wife, Kate McCoy; they lived on a California farm with Grandpa Amos McCoy, Walter Brennan's best-known role. Crenna guest starred on I Love Lucy with Janet Waldo, and played the lead as a state legislator in the 1964-1965 series Slattery's People, both on CBS.
Crenna won an Emmy for his performance in the title role of the film The Rape of Richard Beck.
Crenna is perhaps best known for his role as John Rambo's ex-Commanding Officer "Colonel Trautman" in the first three Rambo films. He also spoofed the role in Hot Shots! Part Deux, as a homage to his Rambo character. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 6714 Hollywood Blvd.
Crenna contracted pancreatic cancer but died of heart failure at the age of seventy-six. At the time of his death, he had a recurring role in the CBS series Judging Amy. On the show, his passing was acknowledged by the death of the character that he portrayed.
Crenna's son, Richard Anthony Crenna, is also an actor.
Crenna is mentioned in the sitcom Friends during the episode 'The One with the Cake', when Phoebe writes a birthday song for Rachel's daughter Emma: "Emma/Your name poses a dilemma/'Cuz not much else rhymes with Emma/Maybe the actor Richard Crenna/He played the commanding officer in Rambo/Happy birthday Emma."
The character Roy Campbell from the Metal Gear series bears a remarkable resemblance to Crenna.
