Bob Hastings
Encyclopedia
Robert "Bob" Hastings is an American
film, radio, and television character actor. He has also provided voices for animated cartoons.
This article is about Bob Hastings the actor. For information about the Public Relations Professional with a similar name, go to Robert T. Hastings, Jr.
). After serving in World War II
as a navigator on B-29s, he played the role of Archie Andrews
in a series based on the Archie comic book series on the NBC Red Network
, later just the NBC Radio Network, after NBC divested itself of its Blue Network
in 1942. Archie Andrews was sponsored by Swift & Company
food products. Hastings later moved to television in 1949, performing in early science-fiction series, including Atom Squad
. His first recurring role was as a lieutenant on Phil Silvers
' show Sergeant Bilko in the late 1950s.
as a sheriff. Also Hastings is remembered for roles including Captain Binghamton's aide, yes-man Lieutenant Elroy Carpenter on McHale's Navy
called "Carpy" by McHale and his men, and Captain Ramsey on General Hospital
. He was also the voice of the Raven on some of the episodes of The Munsters
. He was briefly the host of the game show Dealer's Choice
, and had a recurring role as bar owner Tommy Kelcy on All in the Family
.
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 on Time Travel Radio, he got along so well with the people that he became one of the few regulars on the tour.
Hastings played Cousin Phantom of the Opera in the TV movie The Munsters' Revenge
. Hastings was in the 1968 Universal film Did You Hear the One About the Traveling Saleslady? starring Bob Denver
. Hastings was in the 1971 comedy movie How to Frame a Figg
, starring Don Knotts
. Hastings also was in the 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.
In 1967, Hastings recorded an LP for Home Records Inc. entitled Bob Hastings Sings For The Family (HR-101), with 12 songs arranged and conducted by Bob Caudana.
, The Raven on the Munsters series, Superboy
in the The New Adventures of Superman
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.
He also voiced Henry Glopp on Hanna-Barbera's animated series Jeannie
in 1973 and additional voices on Challenge of the Superfriends.
star Don Hastings
. He has been married to wife Joan (Rice) Hastings for over 60 years and has four children, 10 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. He continues to tour the country as a participant in various Old-Time Radio
Conventions, reading scripts for such shows as Archie Andrews
and The Bickersons
. He has recently appeared at the 2010 Cincinnati Old-Time Radio Convention, the Old Time Radio Showcase 2010 in Bellevue, WA in June, and at the Friends of Old Time Radio Convention in Newark, NJ in October 2010. Hastings will be performing on stage for attendees.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
film, radio, and television character actor. He has also provided voices for animated cartoons.
This article is about Bob Hastings the actor. For information about the Public Relations Professional with a similar name, go to Robert T. Hastings, Jr.
Robert T. Hastings, Jr.
Robert T. Hastings, Jr. is an American Public Relations professional who has served as an executive in several aerospace & defense corproations and as a poltical appointee in the Administration of President George W. Bush where he was the senior public affairs official and principle spokesman for...
Early life and career
Hastings was born in Brooklyn, New York, a son of Charles and Hazel Hastings, Sr. His father was a salesman. Hastings started in radio on "Coast-to-Coast on a Bus" (NBCNBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
). After serving in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
as a navigator on B-29s, he played the role of Archie Andrews
Archie Andrews (comics)
Archie Andrews, created in 1941 by Vic Bloom and Bob Montana, is a fictional character in an American comic book series published by Archie Comics, as well as the long-running Archie Andrews radio series, a syndicated comic strip, The Archie Show, and Archie's Weird Mysteries.-Character and...
in a series based on the Archie comic book series on the NBC Red Network
NBC Red Network
The NBC Red Network was one of the two original radio networks of the National Broadcasting Company. After NBC was required to divest itself of its Blue Network , the Red Network continued as the NBC Radio Network.It, along with the Blue Network, were the first two commercial radio networks in the...
, later just the NBC Radio Network, after NBC divested itself of its Blue Network
Blue Network
The Blue Network, and its immediate predecessor, the NBC Blue Network, were the on-air names of an American radio production and distribution service from 1927 to 1945...
in 1942. Archie Andrews was sponsored by Swift & Company
Swift & Company
Swift & Company is an American food procession company a wholly owned subsidiary of JBS S.A. , a Brazilian company that is the world's largest processor of fresh beef and pork, with more than US$30 billion in annual sales as of 2010. It is also the largest beef processor in Australia.Swift &...
food products. Hastings later moved to television in 1949, performing in early science-fiction series, including Atom Squad
Atom Squad
Atom Squad was a live science-fiction 15-minute TV series broadcast by the NBC network, July 6, 1953 to January 22, 1954, Monday-Friday, 5:00 to 5:15 PM EST....
. His first recurring role was as a lieutenant on Phil Silvers
Phil Silvers
Phil Silvers was an American entertainer and comedy actor, known as "The King of Chutzpah." He is best known for starring in The Phil Silvers Show, a 1950s sitcom set on a U.S...
' show Sergeant Bilko in the late 1950s.
1960s-1970s
Most of his career has been spent in television, including an episode on Green AcresGreen Acres
Green Acres is an American television series starring Eddie Albert and Eva Gabor as a couple who move from New York City to a country farm...
as a sheriff. Also Hastings is remembered for roles including Captain Binghamton's aide, yes-man Lieutenant Elroy Carpenter on McHale's Navy
McHale's Navy
McHale's Navy is an American television sitcom series which ran for 138 half-hour episodes from October 11,1962, to August 31, 1966, on the ABC network. The series was filmed in black and white and originated in a one-hour drama called Seven Against the Sea, broadcast on April 3, 1962...
called "Carpy" by McHale and his men, and Captain Ramsey on General Hospital
General Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
. He was also the voice of the Raven on some of the episodes of The Munsters
The Munsters
The Munsters is a 1960s American family television sitcom depicting the home life of a family of monsters. It starred Fred Gwynne as Herman Munster and Yvonne De Carlo as his wife, Lily Munster. The series was a satire of both traditional monster movies and popular family entertainment of the era,...
. He was briefly the host of the game show Dealer's Choice
Dealer's Choice (game show)
Dealer' s Choice was an American game show that aired from January 21, 1974 to December 12, 1975 in syndication for a total of 210 episodes. Bob Hastings was the host for only the first few weeks and was later replaced by Jack Clark. They were assisted by hostess Jane Nelson and by announcer Jim...
, and had a recurring role as bar owner Tommy Kelcy on All in the Family
All in the Family
All in the Family is an American sitcom that was originally broadcast on the CBS television network from January 12, 1971, to April 8, 1979. In September 1979, a new show, Archie Bunker's Place, picked up where All in the Family had ended...
.
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 on Time Travel Radio, he got along so well with the people that he became one of the few regulars on the tour.
Hastings played Cousin Phantom of the Opera in the TV movie The Munsters' Revenge
The Munsters' Revenge
The Munsters' Revenge is a 1981 telefilm produced by Universal Studios. It reunited Munsters cast members Fred Gwynne, Yvonne De Carlo and Al Lewis. Marilyn Munster was portrayed by newcomer Jo McDonnell and Eddie Munster by child actor K. C. Martel rather than Butch Patrick. The film was produced...
. Hastings was in the 1968 Universal film Did You Hear the One About the Traveling Saleslady? starring Bob Denver
Bob Denver
Robert Osbourne "Bob" Denver was an American comedic actor known for his roles as Gilligan on the television series Gilligan's Island and the beatnik Maynard G. Krebs on the 1959–1963 TV series The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.-Early life:Denver was born in New Rochelle, New York, and raised in...
. Hastings was in the 1971 comedy movie How to Frame a Figg
How to Frame a Figg
How to Frame a Figg is a 1971 Universal comedy about a bungling bookkeeper's assistant, Hollis Alexander Figg in the Dalton city hall, who finds himself framed for embezzlement...
, starring Don Knotts
Don Knotts
Jesse Donald "Don" Knotts was an American comedic actor best known for his portrayal of Barney Fife on the 1960s television sitcom The Andy Griffith Show, a role which earned him five Emmy Awards...
. Hastings also was in the movie Harper Valley PTA
Harper Valley PTA (film)
Harper Valley PTA is a 1978 comedy movie starring Barbara Eden. The movie was inspired by the country music song of the same title written by Tom T. Hall...
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.
In 1967, Hastings recorded an LP for Home Records Inc. entitled Bob Hastings Sings For The Family (HR-101), with 12 songs arranged and conducted by Bob Caudana.
Voice over work
Hastings has also done voice work for animation and commercials, including Beany on Beany and CecilBeany and Cecil
Beany and Cecil was an animated cartoon series created by Bob Clampett, who had previously worked for Warner Bros.. As a puppet show entitled Time for Beany, it originally aired in 1949, with the animated series first appearing in Matty's Funday Funnies in 1959, later renamed Matty's Funnies with...
, The Raven on the Munsters series, Superboy
Superboy (Kal-El)
The original Superboy is a fictional superhero who appears in DC Comics. The name of Superman as a boy, Superboy has adventures that occur in the relative past to those of Superman and take place predominantly in his hometown of Smallville...
in the The New Adventures of Superman
The New Adventures of Superman
The New Adventures of Superman may refer to:*The New Adventures of Superman , a 1960s animation by Filmation*Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, a 1990s live-action series...
cartoons of the 1960s, D.D. on Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. was an American animation studio that dominated North American television animation during the second half of the 20th century...
's Clue Club
Clue Club
Clue Club is a 30-minute Saturday morning animated series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions from August 14, 1976 to September 3, 1977 on CBS....
, and the voice of Commissioner Jim Gordon
James Gordon (comics)
James Worthington Gordon, Sr. is a fictional character, an ally of Batman that appears in comic books published by DC Comics. The character first appeared in Detective Comics #27 , and was created by Bill Finger and Bob Kane...
in the popular Batman: The Animated Series
Batman: The Animated Series
Batman: The Animated Series is an American animated series based on the DC Comics character Batman. The series featured an ensemble cast of many voice-actors including Kevin Conroy, Mark Hamill, Efrem Zimbalist, Jr., Arleen Sorkin, and Loren Lester. The series won four Emmy Awards and was nominated...
and its various spinoffs in the DC Animated Universe
DC animated universe
The DC Animated Universe is a fan term that refers to a series of popular animated television series and related spin-offs produced by Warner Bros. Animation which share the same continuity. Most of these series are adapted from DC Comics properties...
, such as Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm
Batman: Mask of the Phantasm is a 1993 animated superhero film based on the fictional DC Comics character Batman, and is a spin-off of the Emmy Award-winning Batman: The Animated Series...
, Superman: The Animated Series
Superman: The Animated Series
Superman: The Animated Series is an American animated television series starring DC Comics' flagship character, Superman. The series was produced by Warner Bros. Animation and aired on The WB from September 6, 1996 to February 12, 2000. Warner Bros...
, The New Batman Adventures
The New Batman Adventures
The New Batman Adventures is the successor to Batman: The Animated Series produced by Warner Bros. Animation. Although bearing different character designs and animation styles, both shows take place in the same continuity, with TNBA set two years after BTAS. The series aired on The WB from...
and several Batman video games.
He also voiced Henry Glopp on Hanna-Barbera's animated series Jeannie
Jeannie
Jeannie was a 30-minute Saturday morning animated series produced by Hanna-Barbera Productions in association with Screen Gems from September 8, 1973 to August 30, 1975 on CBS...
in 1973 and additional voices on Challenge of the Superfriends.
Personal life
Hastings is the brother of longtime As the World TurnsAs the World Turns
As the World Turns is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS from April 2, 1956 to September 17, 2010. Irna Phillips created As the World Turns as a sister show to her other soap opera Guiding Light...
star Don Hastings
Don Hastings
Donald Francis Hastings is a longtime American actor, singer, and writer best known for his 50-year role as Dr. Robert "Bob" Hughes" on the soap opera As the World Turns...
. He has been married to wife Joan (Rice) Hastings for over 60 years and has four children, 10 grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. He continues to tour the country as a participant in various Old-Time Radio
Old-time radio
Old-Time Radio and the Golden Age of Radio refer to a period of radio programming in the United States lasting from the proliferation of radio broadcasting in the early 1920s until television's replacement of radio as the primary home entertainment medium in the 1950s...
Conventions, reading scripts for such shows as Archie Andrews
Archie Andrews (comics)
Archie Andrews, created in 1941 by Vic Bloom and Bob Montana, is a fictional character in an American comic book series published by Archie Comics, as well as the long-running Archie Andrews radio series, a syndicated comic strip, The Archie Show, and Archie's Weird Mysteries.-Character and...
and The Bickersons
The Bickersons
The Bickersons was a radio comedy sketch series that began in 1946 on NBC, moving the following year to CBS where it continued until 1951...
. He has recently appeared at the 2010 Cincinnati Old-Time Radio Convention, the Old Time Radio Showcase 2010 in Bellevue, WA in June, and at the Friends of Old Time Radio Convention in Newark, NJ in October 2010. Hastings will be performing on stage for attendees.
External links
- Bob Hastings interview http://www.cinemaspy.com/Interviews/Interview-Bob-Hastings/2815