Dennis Crosby
Encyclopedia
Dennis Michael Crosby was an occasional American
actor
, the son of singer and actor Bing Crosby
, and twin brother of Phillip Crosby
. He was the father of actress Denise Crosby
.
and his first wife Dixie Lee
. He attended Bellarmine College Preparatory
in San Jose
with his other brothers where he graduated in 1952 and subsequently enrolled at Washington State University
at Pullman
.
In the late 1950s, Dennis and his brothers, Lindsay
and Phillip
, often performed as the Crosby Brothers in nightclubs and on The Ed Sullivan Show
, though Dennis reputedly wished to avoid such appearances.
While a young man, Crosby performed military service in Germany
.
On May 4, 1958, Crosby married Pat Sheehan
, a Las Vegas
showgirl and model who had once dated his father. She was also Miss San Francisco of 1950, Playmate of the month of October 1958, and part time actress. Within days, Crosby was sued by another woman, Marilyn Miller Scott, over the paternity of her daughter, Denise Crosby
. The sensational lawsuit lasted three years and ended with Dennis being ordered to pay Scott child support and legal fees. This and the marriage to Sheehan and other details caused deep embarrassment for both him and his famous father. Although Bing died when his granddaughter was 19, the two reportedly never met.
Crosby and Sheehan had three sons: Gregory, Dennis Michael, Jr., and Patrick Anthony. In 1963, while working in Los Angeles
for Bing Crosby Productions, he met Arleen Newman. On July 3, 1964, Crosby and Sheehan were divorced. Later that year, Crosby married Newman, with whom he had three daughters, including Kelly Lee Crosby and Erin Colleen Crosby. Additionally, Crosby adopted Newman's daughter, Catherine Denise Crosby, from her first marriage to Mike Buell, which ended in divorce
. Dennis and Arleen divorced in 1991.
On December 11, 1989, Crosby's younger brother Lindsay
committed suicide
by a shotgun
blast to the head. Deeply distraught by his brother's passing and his recent divorce and grappling with alcoholism
, Dennis Crosby committed suicide on May 7, 1991 in Novato, California
, also with a shotgun. On January 14, 2006, Dennis's former wife, Pat Sheehan, died at the age of 74. Their son Patrick Anthony Crosby born New Years Eve 1960, died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
in Los Angeles, on September 19, 2011, after a lengthy illness. He was 50.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, the son of singer and actor Bing Crosby
Bing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
, and twin brother of Phillip Crosby
Phillip Crosby
Phillip Lang Crosby was an American actor and singer, who began his career singing alongside his brothers and his father, Bing Crosby. He was the twin brother of Dennis Crosby.-Early life:...
. He was the father of actress Denise Crosby
Denise Crosby
Denise Michelle Crosby is an American actress best known for portraying Security Chief Tasha Yar on Star Trek: The Next Generation...
.
Life and career
Dennis was the son of Bing CrosbyBing Crosby
Harry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
and his first wife Dixie Lee
Dixie Lee
Dixie Lee was an American actress, dancer, and singer.Born Wilma Wyatt, she adopted the professional name "Dixie Carroll" as a singer and showgirl. Winfield Sheehan of the Fox film studio changed the name to Dixie Lee, to avoid confusion with actresses Nancy Carroll and Sue Carol...
. He attended Bellarmine College Preparatory
Bellarmine College Preparatory
Bellarmine College Preparatory is an all-male, private secondary school located in San Jose, California, USA. Founded in 1851, it is the oldest secondary school in California....
in San Jose
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
with his other brothers where he graduated in 1952 and subsequently enrolled at Washington State University
Washington State University
Washington State University is a public research university based in Pullman, Washington, in the Palouse region of the Pacific Northwest. Founded in 1890, WSU is the state's original and largest land-grant university...
at Pullman
Pullman, Washington
Pullman is the largest city in Whitman County, Washington, United States. The population was 24,675 at the 2000 census and 29,799 according to the 2010 census...
.
In the late 1950s, Dennis and his brothers, Lindsay
Lindsay Crosby
Lindsay Harry Crosby was an American actor and singer.-Early life:Lindsay Crosby, son of Bing Crosby and Dixie Lee, was born in California and named for his father's closest friend and Thoroughbred horse racing partner, Lindsay Howard. He was educated with his three brothers at Bellarmine College...
and Phillip
Phillip Crosby
Phillip Lang Crosby was an American actor and singer, who began his career singing alongside his brothers and his father, Bing Crosby. He was the twin brother of Dennis Crosby.-Early life:...
, often performed as the Crosby Brothers in nightclubs and on The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan....
, though Dennis reputedly wished to avoid such appearances.
While a young man, Crosby performed military service in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
On May 4, 1958, Crosby married Pat Sheehan
Pat Sheehan
Patricia Ann Sheehan, also known as Patricia Sheehan Crosby was an American actress and model...
, a Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
showgirl and model who had once dated his father. She was also Miss San Francisco of 1950, Playmate of the month of October 1958, and part time actress. Within days, Crosby was sued by another woman, Marilyn Miller Scott, over the paternity of her daughter, Denise Crosby
Denise Crosby
Denise Michelle Crosby is an American actress best known for portraying Security Chief Tasha Yar on Star Trek: The Next Generation...
. The sensational lawsuit lasted three years and ended with Dennis being ordered to pay Scott child support and legal fees. This and the marriage to Sheehan and other details caused deep embarrassment for both him and his famous father. Although Bing died when his granddaughter was 19, the two reportedly never met.
Crosby and Sheehan had three sons: Gregory, Dennis Michael, Jr., and Patrick Anthony. In 1963, while working in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
for Bing Crosby Productions, he met Arleen Newman. On July 3, 1964, Crosby and Sheehan were divorced. Later that year, Crosby married Newman, with whom he had three daughters, including Kelly Lee Crosby and Erin Colleen Crosby. Additionally, Crosby adopted Newman's daughter, Catherine Denise Crosby, from her first marriage to Mike Buell, which ended in divorce
Divorce
Divorce is the final termination of a marital union, canceling the legal duties and responsibilities of marriage and dissolving the bonds of matrimony between the parties...
. Dennis and Arleen divorced in 1991.
On December 11, 1989, Crosby's younger brother Lindsay
Lindsay Crosby
Lindsay Harry Crosby was an American actor and singer.-Early life:Lindsay Crosby, son of Bing Crosby and Dixie Lee, was born in California and named for his father's closest friend and Thoroughbred horse racing partner, Lindsay Howard. He was educated with his three brothers at Bellarmine College...
committed suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
by a shotgun
Shotgun
A shotgun is a firearm that is usually designed to be fired from the shoulder, which uses the energy of a fixed shell to fire a number of small spherical pellets called shot, or a solid projectile called a slug...
blast to the head. Deeply distraught by his brother's passing and his recent divorce and grappling with alcoholism
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
, Dennis Crosby committed suicide on May 7, 1991 in Novato, California
Novato, California
Novato is a city located in the North Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area, in northern Marin County. Novato is located about north-northwest of San Rafael, at an elevation of 30 feet above sea level . The 2010 U.S. Census estimated the city population to be about 51,904. Novato is about ...
, also with a shotgun. On January 14, 2006, Dennis's former wife, Pat Sheehan, died at the age of 74. Their son Patrick Anthony Crosby born New Years Eve 1960, died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
Originally established as Kaspare Cohn Hospital in 1902, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is a non-profit, tertiary 958-bed hospital and multi-specialty academic health science centre located in Los Angeles, California, US. Part of the Cedars-Sinai Health System, the hospital employs a staff of over...
in Los Angeles, on September 19, 2011, after a lengthy illness. He was 50.
Family relations
- Son of Bing CrosbyBing CrosbyHarry Lillis "Bing" Crosby was an American singer and actor. Crosby's trademark bass-baritone voice made him one of the best-selling recording artists of the 20th century, with over half a billion records in circulation....
. - Brother of Phillip (twin)Phillip CrosbyPhillip Lang Crosby was an American actor and singer, who began his career singing alongside his brothers and his father, Bing Crosby. He was the twin brother of Dennis Crosby.-Early life:...
, Gary and Lindsay CrosbyLindsay CrosbyLindsay Harry Crosby was an American actor and singer.-Early life:Lindsay Crosby, son of Bing Crosby and Dixie Lee, was born in California and named for his father's closest friend and Thoroughbred horse racing partner, Lindsay Howard. He was educated with his three brothers at Bellarmine College...
. - Half-sibling of Harry CrosbyHarry Crosby (actor)Harry Lillis Crosby III is an American actor, singer and investment banker.Crosby was born in Hollywood, California, at Queen of Angels Hospital. He is the fifth son of actor and singer Bing Crosby, the eldest from Bing's second marriage to Kathryn Crosby...
, Nathaniel CrosbyNathaniel CrosbyNathaniel Patrick Crosby is an American golfer.Crosby was born at Hillsborough, California. He is the seventh child of the actor and singer Bing Crosby and the youngest of his three children from his second marriage to the actress Kathryn Grant.Crosby performed with his father, mother, brother...
and Mary CrosbyMary CrosbyMary Frances Crosby is an American actress. She is most often credited as simply Mary Crosby for her performances.-Early life:...
. - Nephew of the bandleaderBandleaderA bandleader is the leader of a band of musicians. The term is most commonly, though not exclusively, used with a group that plays popular music as a small combo or a big band, such as one which plays jazz, blues, rhythm and blues or rock and roll music....
Bob CrosbyBob CrosbyGeorge Robert "Bob" Crosby was an American dixieland bandleader and vocalist, best known for his group the Bob-Cats.-Family:...
. - Cousin of Cathy Crosby and Chris CrosbyChris CrosbyChristopher Charles Crosby is the co-founder of Keenspot along with Darren Bleuel and Nathan Stone. He draws and writes the webcomic Superosity and writes for Sore Thumbs, which Owen Gieni illustrates. He currently resides in Cresbard, SD.-Superosity:Superosity is a daily comic strip by Crosby...
. - Uncle of L.Chip Crosby Jr.
- Father of Denise CrosbyDenise CrosbyDenise Michelle Crosby is an American actress best known for portraying Security Chief Tasha Yar on Star Trek: The Next Generation...
, Gregory Crosby, father-in-law of Spice Williams-CrosbySpice Williams-CrosbySpice Williams-Crosby is an American actress and stunt performer, with a career in film and television which spans over twenty years...