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'Gone With the Wind' Actor Crane Dies

AP
posted: 99 DAYS 3 HOURS AGO
comments: 23
filed under: Movie News, Obits
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ATLANTA (Aug. 25) - Fred Crane, the one-time actor whose Southern accent won him a slot as one of Scarlett O'Hara's beaux and the opening line in "Gone With the Wind," has died.

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    AP

Crane, who played one of the Tarleton twins in the 1939 classic, was 90. His wife, Terry Lynn Crane, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that he died on Thursday of complications from diabetes. She declined to give details.
Crane was reportedly the last living male actor who had a credited role in the movie.
The couple had lived in Barnesville south of Atlanta, where they operated Tarleton Oaks. The bed and breakfast was named for his character in the film, Brent Tarleton.
The other Tarleton twin was played by George Reeves, who later gained TV immortality as Superman.
Born in New Orleans, Crane stumbled into his role on "Gone With the Wind." He was not yet an actor when he accompanied a cousin who wanted to audition for the movie.
The casting director liked the 20-year-old's Southern twang, and he wound up being cast.
The film opens with Crane's character asking O'Hara, played by Vivien Leigh: "What do we care if we were expelled from college, Scarlett? The war is going to start any day now, so we'd have left college anyhow."
Her reply to Crane and Reeves contains one of the movie's classic lines: "Fiddle-dee-dee. War, war, war. This war talk's spoiling all the fun at every party this spring. I get so bored I could scream."
Crane also had roles in the 1949 Cisco Kid movie "The Gay Amigo," and acted on television during the 1960s. He also hosted a classical music radio show in Los Angeles for 40 years.
He did not attend the 1939 premiere of "Gone With the Wind" and for decades he did not exploit his role. But Crane did channel his character later, at Tarleton Oaks, located in a 19th century mansion.
He sold the business, as well as his own movie memorabilia, last year.
Crane was married five times and is survived by four children, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. Active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2008-08-25 13:55:48
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Pastor4ccmin

02:01 PMAug 30 2008

Accurate history relates that nearly the entire movie, Gone With The Wind, was shot on the back lot and not in actual locales. Even the burning of Atlanta was a reuse of the burning of a a portion of the back lot at the studios which was so dramatic in the final film. Every actor or actress in that wonderful film deserves the very highest of accolades. It will love forever as a true classic. My true sympathy to his survivors, and I know how proud they must be.

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WDavidsonR

04:45 PMAug 26 2008

I had the pleasure of staying at Tarleton Oaks with Fred and Terry. It was a beautiful home, the GWTW memorbilia was great and his accounts of making the movie and the other actor was very interesting. My sympathy to his family. He will surely be missed. Love and miss you, Laurie (Scrlt1939)

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DRO96

03:23 PMAug 26 2008

How dumb to show 12 male faces in the pic _ as if we know which one is Crane!

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Sdave7596

02:51 PMAug 26 2008

Sorry to hear it, but the movie will live forever. The last male actor in the film, yes. But I believe Olivia de Havilland is still alive, who played Melanie.....

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TAPESTRY6

09:01 AMAug 26 2008

He must be him on Leigh's left because she is facing 'Superman'.I always wonder about these babies online who make fun of the 'fossils' they forget that old age and death come to everyone, some sooner and some later.Attitudes like that make you wonder if anyone will be allowed to age or will they be considered a 'burden on society' and killed off in the future. No grandparents sounds like a very shallow world.

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SMS31347

08:57 AMAug 26 2008

To Realist 61You might want to remember that one day you might be a "mummy" too. LOL

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Realistf61

07:11 AMAug 26 2008

those mummies were still alive?? lmao

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PHPoling

11:45 PMAug 26 2008

May Mr. Crane rest in peace. Gone With the Wind are the greatest movie all of the times.

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STaRgAzEr33154

11:32 PMAug 26 2008

I love this movie..may Mr. Crane rest in peace

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Jonescubed

11:07 PMAug 26 2008

I THOROUGHLY enjoyed GWTW. Through my Civil War studies and having visited the area represented in the movie, plus visiting with various people whose job it was to guide the visitor,(They HAD to know their American History), my conclusion is that this wonderful movie is an 'example' of high Southern Society. -IF you're interested the plantation & its' approach is REAL only the name was changed to protect...etc. IT'S as majestic and gorgeous asdepicted in the movie, HOWEVER, what the movie doesn't show is the DEPLORIBLE HUTS that were just out of camera view.... OK, 'nuff said. MY SYMPATHY TO THE FAMILY OF MR. FRED CRANE. REST IN PEACE.

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