Sigrid Valdis was a popular American actress who played the role of Hilda, the secretary of Colonel Klink, in the hit sitcom Hogan’s Heroes. She was also the second wife of the show’s star, Bob Crane, who was brutally murdered in 1978. But what was Sigrid Valdis cause of death, and how did she cope with the loss of her husband and the end of her acting career? In this article, we will explore the life and death of Sigrid Valdis, and how she left behind a legacy of laughter and love.
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Early Life and Career
Sigrid Valdis was born Patricia Annette Olson on September 21, 1935, in Bakersfield, California. She was of Swedish descent and grew up in the affluent neighborhoods of Westwood and Brentwood in Los Angeles. She attended exclusive private schools, including Marymount High School, where she developed an interest in acting and modeling.
After graduating, she moved to Europe and then to New York City to pursue a career in fashion. She married a businessman in the industry, George Gilbert Ateyeh, with whom she had a daughter, Melissa. Ateyeh died in 1967.
While working as a runway and showroom model, she also studied at Stella Adler’s Theatre School and landed her first film role in Two Tickets to Paris in 1962. She adopted the stage name Sigrid Valdis, which means “goddess of victory” in Norse mythology.
She moved back to California in 1964 and appeared in several films and TV shows, such as Marriage on the Rocks, Our Man Flint, The Venetian Affair, The Wild Wild West, and Kraft Suspense Theatre. She also performed on stage, most notably in the comedy Cactus Flower with Bob Crane and Abby Dalton in 1968.
Hogan’s Heroes and Marriage to Bob Crane
Sigrid Valdis caught the eye of Hogan’s Heroes producer Edward Feldman in 1965, when she guest-starred as Gretchen, a different character, in the tenth episode of the first season. She was then cast as Hilda, the blonde and busty secretary of Colonel Klink, the inept German prison camp commander. She replaced Cynthia Lynn, who played Helga, the previous secretary, in the first season.
Hogan’s Heroes was a comedy series that followed the exploits of a group of Allied prisoners of war who used their wit and charm to sabotage the Nazi war effort and help the resistance. The show was a huge success and ran for six seasons from 1965 to 1971. Sigrid Valdis appeared in 43 episodes as Hilda, who often flirted with the prisoners and helped them with their schemes.
She also fell in love with Bob Crane, who played Colonel Hogan, the leader of the prisoners and the mastermind of their operations. Crane was married to his first wife, Anne Terzian, with whom he had three children: Karen, Deborah, and Robert David. Crane and Terzian separated in 1968 and divorced in 1970.
Sigrid Valdis and Bob Crane got married on October 16, 1970, on the set of Hogan’s Heroes, in what was reported as the first actual marriage to be performed on a sound stage. Co-star Richard Dawson served as Crane’s best man. The couple had a son, Robert Scott, in 1971.
Sigrid Valdis retired from acting after the birth of her son, and devoted herself to her husband and family. She also supported Crane’s career, which included hosting a radio show, directing and starring in a Disney film, Superdad, and performing in dinner theater productions across the country.
Bob Crane’s Murder and Sigrid Valdis’ Grief
Sigrid Valdis’ life was shattered on June 29, 1978, when Bob Crane was found bludgeoned to death in his apartment in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he was performing in a play called Beginner’s Luck. He was 49 years old. The murder weapon was never found, but it was believed to be a camera tripod or a tire iron. An electrical cord was also wrapped around his neck.
The police investigation revealed that Crane had a secret life of sexual addiction and obsession. He had videotaped and photographed himself having sex with numerous women, some of whom he met through his friend and associate, John Henry Carpenter, a video equipment salesman. Carpenter was the prime suspect in the murder, as he was the last person to see Crane alive, and his rental car had traces of blood that matched Crane’s blood type.
However, due to the lack of physical evidence and the mishandling of the crime scene, Carpenter was not arrested until 1992, when he was charged with first-degree murder. He was tried in 1994, but was acquitted by a jury. He died of a heart attack in 1998, still maintaining his innocence. The case remains officially unsolved, although some investigators believe that Carpenter was the killer.
Sigrid Valdis was devastated by her husband’s death and the revelations of his sexual activities. She moved out of Los Angeles and settled in Seattle, where she lived a reclusive life. She also struggled with alcoholism and depression, and attempted suicide several times. She later joined the cast of her son’s radio show, Shaken, Not Stirred, in 1998, and moved back to her childhood home in Westwood in 2004.
She also created a tribute website for her husband, where she answered questions from fans of Hogan’s Heroes and defended his legacy. She said that she loved him despite his flaws, and that he was a good father and a talented entertainer. She also said that she believed that Carpenter was the murderer, and that he had acted out of jealousy and rage.
Sigrid Valdis Cause of Death: Lung Cancer
Sigrid Valdis was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2006, and underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments. She died on October 14, 2007, at the age of 72, in Anaheim, California. She was survived by her son, Scott, and her two daughters, Melissa and Ana, from her previous marriage. She also had three stepchildren from Crane’s first marriage.
She was cremated and buried next to Crane at the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles. Her grave marker reads “Sigrid Valdis Crane / Patricia A. Olson / September 21, 1935 / October 14, 2007 / Beloved Wife, Mother, Grandmother, and Friend.”
Sigrid Valdis was best known for her role as Hilda on Hogan’s Heroes, but she was also a beautiful and talented actress who had a successful career in film, television, and theater. She was also a devoted wife and mother who endured a tragic loss and a painful grief. She left behind a legacy of laughter and love, and a loyal fan base that still remembers her fondly.
