List of ''Hogan's Heroes'' characters

The following is a list of characters from Hogan's Heroes, an American sitcom television series. The show starred its main actors Bob Crane, Werner Klemperer and John Banner. It ran for 6 seasons on CBS from September 17, 1965, to April 4, 1971.

Main

Colonel Hogan

Bob Crane as Colonel Hogan

Colonel Robert E. Hogan (portrayed by Bob Crane) – United States Army Air Forces Colonel Robert E. Hogan, senior ranking POW officer, is the leader of the group. Hogan commanded the 504th Bombardment Group prior to being shot down while on a raid on Hamburg in an operation masterminded by Luftwaffe Colonel Biedenbender (James Gregory). Hogan graduated third in his military class, and was described as having "a flair for the overcomplex" by General Biedenbender,[1] as he seems to thrive on difficult if not impossible missions.

Due to Hogan's care in planning operations along with the skill of his staff, they are usually successful when he uses his plans as a ruse to get by Klink's command. Hogan is able to manipulate Colonel Klink and Sergeant Schultz, and uses it as a means to hinder the Nazis plans. He is a ladies' man, often engaging in different relationships with Klink's secretaries (Hilda and later Helga) and most of the civilian women he comes in contact with. Throughout the show, Hogan is seen impersonating German officers, and will refer to himself as "Hoganmüller", "Hoganschmidt", "Hoganheimer" "Hogan Hüppel" or more similar names relating to his surname when in character outside of the camp.

The series creator Bernard Fein named Hogan's character after his friend, the American soap opera and character actor Robert J. Hogan, who appeared in two episodes of Hogan's Heroes.[2][3]

Werner Klemperer as Col. Klink

Colonel Wilhelm Klink (portrayed by Werner Klemperer) – Kommandant Oberst (Colonel) Wilhelm Klink is an old-line Luftwaffe officer of aristocratic (Junker) Prussian descent. He is shown to be inept, a bit dimwitted, cowardly, and often clueless and rather gullible. He is a veteran aviator of the First World War and can be seen wearing an Iron Cross First Class, along with the 1939 clasp for a second award (spange), Ground Assault Badge of the Luftwaffe, and the Pilot's Badge. The former implies that he also earned both an Iron Cross Second Class as well as the Honor Cross for service in World War I.

During his rule as commandant, Klink and the Nazis think Stalag 13 had no escapes; in reality, prisoners could virtually come and go as they pleased. After failing his entrance exams for studying law or medicine,[4] he received an appointment to a military academy and graduated 95th in his class. The only one who has not risen to the rank of general; he has been stuck at the rank of colonel for twenty years with an efficiency rating a few points above "miserable". Klink always wears a monocle on his left eye, usually carries a riding crop, and walks with a stoop. Klink is for the most part portrayed as a vain, muddling, and incompetent career officer rather than as an evil German or ardent Nazi. Many typical scenarios are played out in which Hogan will entangle Klink, as he is easily manipulated by Hogan through a combination of flattery, chicanery, and playing on Klink's fear of being sent to the Russian Front or of being arrested by the Gestapo.

Sergeant Schultz

John Banner as Schultz with Bob Crane as Colonel Hogan

Sergeant Hans Schultz (portrayed by John Banner) – Oberfeldwebel (During World War II the equivalent to Master Sergeant) Hans Schultz is Klink's inept, clumsy and somewhat dimwitted, yet affable Sergeant of the Guard. He displays two stripes at the cuffs of his tunic sleeves indicating the rank of Hauptfeldwebel, which has the equivalent of a Company First Sergeant with the same pay grade as Oberfeldwebel; he wears a fictitious version of the Iron Cross (4th Grade).[5] Schultz also has three other decorations from World War I (including the Wound Badge).[5]

Schultz is seen throughout the show taking bribes from the prisoners that are usually in the form of chocolate bars or LeBeau's gourmet cooking, often in exchange for information. Schultz tries to avoid trouble and often disregards the prisoners' suspicious activities. Like Colonel Klink, he is a veteran of World War I and in civilian life was the owner of Germany's biggest and most successful toy manufacturing company.[6] He has a wife and five children, whom he sees only on infrequent leaves. He is unfaithful, however, as he is seen dating women who are often secret agents assisting Hogan and his men.[7] Schultz on several occasions is shown to be very disgusted by the war and Hitler's rule, as he mentions how much he preferred having a kaiser rule Germany. Schultz is a bad gambler and alcoholic, but above all loves to eat, particularly LeBeau's exquisite cooking. Schultz carries a Krag-Jørgensen rifle, which he never keeps loaded and tends to misplace or even hand to the POWs.

Sergeant Kinchloe

Staff Sergeant James Kinchloe (portrayed by Ivan Dixon) – United States Army Air Forces Staff Sergeant James "Kinch" Kinchloe is primarily responsible for radio, telephone, and other forms of electronic communications. Although outranked by TSgt. Carter, Kinch acts as second in command in Hogan's crew and is Chief of Operations. This was a large step for a 1960s television show to have an African-American actor identified in such a manner.

A talented mimic, Kinchloe easily imitates German officers speaking over the radio or telephone. Kinch is from Detroit, where he had worked for the telephone company and before the war fought in the Golden Gloves boxing matches as a middleweight. Kinchloe's has a remarkable ability when participating in undercover activities, however as a black man in the middle of wartime Germany, his roles outside of the camp are limited. Dixon departed the series at the end of the fifth season to pursue other opportunities in the entertainment industry. Nothing was mentioned on-screen about Kinchloe's departure."[8][9]

Sergeant Baker

Sergeant Richard Baker (portrayed by Kenneth Washington) – Following Dixon's departure from the show after season five, the series producers chose to create a new character rather than recast the part of Kinchloe. Sergeant Richard Baker, like Kinchloe, was an African-American radio expert who ran the underground communications center.[8] However, with Kinchloe's departure, Newkirk is elevated to the Chief of Operations/Chief of Staff role (despite being subordinate to both Sergeant Baker and TSgt. Carter by rank) during the sixth season. As with Kinchloe, Baker is able to contribute vital support to the missions assigned to him by Col. Hogan.

As of 2018, Washington is one of two surviving cast members of Hogan's Heroes (the other being Robert Clary).

Sergeant Carter

Technical Sergeant Andrew Carter (portrayed by Larry Hovis) – United States Army Air Corps Technical Sergeant Andrew J. Carter is in charge of ordnance and bomb-making. Prior to the war, Carter was a Boy Scout who had run a drug store in Muncie, Indiana, His awards include the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Commendation Medal, and Good Conduct Medal. In the original pilot episode, "The Informer", Carter has the rank of Lieutenant, and swaps places with the "outside man", Olson, as an escapee from another POW camp temporarily brought into Stalag 13.[10] In the regular series, Carter shows a great talent in chemistry; He has a passion for making and producing formulas, chemicals, and explosive devices when needed. While bright and enthusiastic at his specialties, he is often clumsy and forgetful. Carter is called upon to impersonate German officers, most convincingly, Adolf Hitler.[11] In several episodes, Carter's Hitler fooled Sgt. Schultz, Col. Klink, and even Gen. Burkhalter.

Unlike the rest of the men, Carter is not much of a "ladies' man", and is shown to be shy of women. Carter is the senior non-commissioned officer though he is never shown to exercise any real authority over the other prisoners. Furthermore, Corporals Newkirk and LeBeau often joke about his naïveté, though Hogan's men have respect and admire him.

Corporal LeBeau

LeBeau and Fräulein Helga (Cynthia Lynn)

Corporal Louis LeBeau (portrayed by Robert Clary) – Free French Air Force Corporal Louis LeBeau is a Master Chef and occasionally a tailor, he is also one of the first POWs at Stalag 13. He is passionate about his cooking and patriotism for France, and he often spites Germans and Nazis when they commit war crimes. LeBeau makes uniforms for the prisoners smuggled through their tunnels, and helps with disguising Hogan's men in Nazi apparel. LeBeau has trained the guard dogs without the knowledge of the Nazis, and is often seen using the tunnel entrance located in the kennel. Though highly claustrophobic, he is used during missions to hide in small spaces such as the safe in Colonel Klink's office, box crates, or a dumbwaiter. LeBeau also uses his talent as a singer to help the "Heroes" in several episodes.

LeBeau tries to be romantic with a number of the women whom he comes in contact during the series. In one first-season episode, however, he does refer to having a wife. As a prisoner, LeBeau uses his cooking skills to get Klink out of trouble with his superiors or simply so Klink can impress guests. In exchange for LeBeau's cooking a dinner or banquet, Hogan bargains for extra privileges, a ruse to gain access to Klink's guests. LeBeau is also seen bribing Schultz with food for information.

The actor who portrayed him, Robert Clary, was really a French Jew in the Nazi concentration camps Ottmuth and Buchenwald and still has his serial number tattooed on his arm. Clary is one of two surviving cast members of Hogan's Heroes (the other being Kenneth Washington).

Corporal Newkirk

Richard Dawson as Newkirk alongside guest star Ulla Strömstedt

Corporal Peter Newkirk (portrayed by Richard Dawson) – Royal Air Force Corporal Peter Newkirk is the group's conman, magician, pick-pocket, card sharp, forger, bookie, tailor, lock picker, and safe cracker. As a skilled tailor, Newkirk is in charge of making or altering uniforms, civilian clothes, and other disguises as needed for missions or for prisoners to move out of Germany. He also uses his skills as a pick-pocket, lock picker and safe cracker on many occasions, particularly to open Klink's office safe. As a card sharp, Newkirk gambles with Schultz to learn about top secret information, and is often teamed with Carter in operations.

Like LeBeau, Newkirk is very patriotic of his country. He often lends a hand to prisoners or underground agents, especially of the same nationality. Newkirk also does numerous impersonations such as vaudeville personalities; he can impersonate German officers and is able to do a voice imitation of Adolf Hitler; he is shown imitating British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill.[12] As a bit of a Casanova, Newkirk is seen trying to initiate romance with most of the women in the series.

Recurring

Sigrid Valdis as "Fräulein Hilda" with co-star and eventual husband Crane
  • Fräulein Helga (portrayed by Cynthia Lynn from 1965 to 1966) and Fräulein Hilda (portrayed by Sigrid Valdis from 1966 to 1971) – Helga and Hilda have served as the secretaries of Colonel Klink. Both Fräulein Helga and Fräulein Hilda were portrayed as neutral as they assisted Hogan and his men when not working for Klink, as shown by their flirting and personal relationships with Colonel Hogan. Both assist Hogan by providing information or access to official papers and equipment. In the pilot episode,[10] Helga works as manicurist in the prisoners' underground barber shop, but it is only in the pilot episode that her cooperation with the prisoners is all that extensive. It is implied that Hilda and Hogan have a running romance throughout the series. Both Sigrid Valdis and Bob Crane were married later in real life on the show's set in 1970, where all of the interior and some of the exterior scenes of Hogan's Heroes were filmed. Nearly all of the crewmen, women and cast members of the TV series were present; Richard Dawson served as the best man to the groom.
  • General Albert Hans "Hansi" Burkhalter (portrayed by Leon Askin) – General Albert Burkhalter is Klink's gruff and rotund Wehrmacht Heer superior officer. His rank is equivalent to a lieutenant (three-star) general in the American forces. Burkhalter frequently tires of Klink's obsequious manner and regularly threatens to send him to the Russian Front or have him shot. Burkhalter is mystified by Stalag 13's perfect record, unable to make sense of it in contrast with Klink's apparent incompetence. Burkhalter, however, is shown to be an incompetent general himself. He is scared of his wife, and in an episode after Hogan manages to get photos of the General with other women in order to blackmail him, he does whatever is necessary to save his reputation. Burkhalter comes to depend upon Hogan and his men to get himself out of trouble with the High Command when a scheme or plan fails.
  • Major Wolfgang Hochstetter (portrayed by Howard Caine) – Major (Sturmbannführer) Wolfgang Hochstetter of the Gestapo and the SS (Schutzstaffel), a secret police member that often takes it upon himself or receives command to investigate Stalag 13 and Klink's authority. Hochstetter wears the rank insignia of an SS Standartenführer, which is the equivalent in rank to a Colonel. As he is of equal authority to Klink, the latter is fearful of him. Hochstetter, though he comes to regard Hogan as "the most dangerous man in all Germany", fails to see how he himself is manipulated by Hogan; when another German endeavor has ended in disaster, he always accepts Hogan's advice about what to tell Berlin after a failure for the Nazis. Though Howard Caine played two other German officers in the series, Gestapo Kriminaldirektor (Colonel) Feldkamp[13] and Major Keitel,[14] he ultimately had his role settled as Major Hochstetter.
  • Colonel Rodney Crittendon (portrayed by Bernard Fox) – Colonel Rodney Crittendon is a Royal Air Force group captain. Although the RAF had no rank of Colonel, Colonel Crittendon was known as Group Captain Crittendon to eliminate any confusion that he and Hogan were of the same grade. He is a British officer who comes in contact several times with Hogan and his men throughout the series. His medals include the Distinguished Service Order, Order of the British Empire, Military Cross and Bar, and the Distinguished Flying Cross and Bar. He believes that a POW's only duty is to escape; to be involved in anything else is according to him strictly against regulations. Crittendon is shown to be amateurish in his position and oblivious to the men's operation, much to the annoyance of Hogan. When first transferred to Stalag 13 from Stalag 18, Hogan poses a hypothetical question to Crittendon asking what he would do if he were aware the POWs were engaged in spying and sabotage; Crittendon replies that he would report them to the German authorities, though he eventually comes to understand their purpose. Crittendon constantly tries to develop and attempt escapes, however they ultimately fail due to poor planning. In a dual role, Bernard Fox played British traitor Sir Charles Chitterly (possibly a parody of William Joyce known as Lord Haw-Haw), who, along with his wife Lady Leslie Chitterly (Anne Rogers), are visiting the camp on their way to see their friend who is Adolf Hitler. Lookalike Crittendon, who was parachuted into the camp, replaces Sir Charles as a distraction.[15][16]
  • Marya (Nita Talbot) – Marya is a Russian spy who occasionally works with Hogan. She often appears as the trusted paramour of a high-ranking German officer or scientist. Her mission is to either discredit or set up officers, as she notes that "...We cannot trust Hitler to shoot all his own generals".[17] She meets Hogan and LeBeau in Paris during the second season where she learns of his Stalag 13 activities.[18][19] Her schemes often come into conflict with Hogan's plans, but she nevertheless always proves to be either faithful to the Allied cause or having compatible causes of her own. Marya is constantly flirting with Hogan, to his discomfort, and also flirts with LeBeau. Infatuated, LeBeau believes her to be an innocent, decent woman who won't sell out to the Nazis.
  • Tiger (portrayed by Arlene Martel) – Tiger is a French Underground contact who has common encounters with Hogan and appears in the series a few times. Hogan has noted that Tiger has saved his life at least once; He describes Tiger as 'the' leader of the French Underground. Hogan frees Tiger from the Gestapo twice: once on the way to Berlin by train, and once from Gestapo headquarters in Paris.[18][19]
  • Captain Fritz or Felix Gruber (portrayed by Dick Wilson) – Captain Gruber is Klink's adjutant in "Don't Forget to Write",[20] where he becomes the new ruthless Kommandant of Stalag 13 after Klink mistakenly volunteers for the Russian Front. Because Gruber is rather hard lined and not at all easy to manipulate, the prisoners desperately want to get Klink back. Hogan orders three prisoners to escape and hide. When Gruber is unable to recapture them, Burkhalter orders Klink to recapture the prisoners and sees that it would be a mistake to send Klink to the Russian Front and gives Klink his job back. In addition to Gruber, several other junior officers or more capable NCO's are occasionally assigned to Klink's command, but one way or another Hogan finds a way to get rid of them.
  • Corporal Karl Langenscheidt (portrayed by Jon Cedar) – Corporal Karl Langenscheidt is one of Schultz's guards who is only seen or spoken of occasionally. He often arrives at poor timing and informs Klink when an important guest arrives, much to Klink's displeasure. In "Art for Hogan's Sake", Langenscheidt gets involved in Hogan's scheme to forge the famous Édouard Manet priceless painting, "The Fife Player", and switch it for the real one General Burkhalter had "requisitioned" from the Louvre museum in Paris to give to Hermann Göring as a birthday present.[21]
  • Frau Gertrude Linkmeyer (née Burkhalter) (portrayed by Kathleen Freeman, played once by Alice Ghostley[22]) – Frau Gertrude Linkmeyer is General Burkhalter's gruff, homely and possibly widowed sister. She is usually in a one-sided relationship as Klink does not return her affection. Her previous husband, Otto, is missing in action on the Russian Front, this leads General Burkhalter to arrange meetings between her and Klink in order to marry her off. Alternately, in "Kommandant Gertrude",[23] Frau Linkmeyer has already arrived at the camp with her new (reluctant) fiancé, Major Wolgang Karp (Lee Bergere), with whom she intends to replace Klink as camp commandant under her iron-fisted supervision, but Hogan manages to foil her plans and their engagement.
  • Maurice Dubois/Dubay (portrayed by Felice Orlandi) – Maurice Dubois is a French Underground contact who appeared in several episodes. (Orlandi's real-life wife, Alice Ghostley, appeared in two episodes, one time assuming the role of Frau Linkmeyer[22] and in the other as Mrs. Mannheim).[24]
Hogan tries to convince Italian Major Bonacelli (Hans Conried) to help him.
  • Major Bonacelli (portrayed by Hans Conried in the first appearance, Vito Scotti in the second appearance) – Major Bonacelli is a visiting commander of an Italian prisoner-of-war camp who is at Stalag 13 to learn Klink's techniques. In "The Pizza Parlor", he is unsupportive of the Fascist war effort and attempts to desert. Hogan dissuades Major Bonacelli from defecting to Switzerland and convinces him to act as an Allied spy at his POW camp.[25] In "The Return of Major Bonacelli", Hogan talks Bonacelli into photographing the new advanced German anti-aircraft gun before defecting to England (while he is pursued by the Gestapo).[26]
  • Oscar Schnitzer (portrayed by Walter Janowitz) is an elderly veterinarian and dog trainer who keeps Stalag 13 supplied with guard dogs. He is secretly in league with Hogan and his men, being a member of the German underground resistance. His truck is also occasionally used for smuggling people in and out of camp, as the guards are afraid of the dogs.

Other notable actors to appear on Hogan's Heroes included the following:

References

  1. ↑ "Hogan Gives a Birthday Party". Hogan's Heroes. Season 2. Episode 1. 16 September 1966.
  2. ↑ "Reservations Are Required". Hogan's Heroes. Season 1. Episode 15. Dec 24, 1965.
  3. ↑ "Crittendon's Commandos". Hogan's Heroes. Season 5. Episode 25. March 20, 1970.
  4. ↑ "Kommandant of the Year". Hogan's Heroes. Season 1. Episode 3. 1 October 1965.
  5. 1 2 "The Rise and Fall of Sergeant Schultz". Hogan's Heroes. Season 2. Episode 6. October 21, 1966.
  6. 1 2 "War Takes a Holiday". Hogan's Heroes. Season 3. Episode 21. 27 January 1968.
  7. ↑ "Sergeant Schultz Meets Mata Hari". Hogan's Heroes. Season 3. Episode 4. September 30, 1967.
  8. 1 2 Royce, Brenda Scott (October 15, 1998). Hogan's Heroes: Behind the Scenes at Stalag 13. Renaissance Books. p. 22. ISBN 978-1580630313. Retrieved 2014-03-28.
  9. ↑ Gardner, Eric (March 21, 2012). "WGA Fights Over Movie Rights to 'Hogan's Heroes'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2012-06-04.
  10. 1 2 3 "The Informer". Hogan's Heroes. Season 1. Episode 1. September 17, 1965.
  11. ↑ "Will the Real Adolf Please Stand Up?". Hogan's Heroes. Season 2. Episode 12. December 2, 1966.
  12. ↑ "The General Swap". Hogan's Heroes. Season 2. Episode 17. January 6, 1967.
  13. ↑ "Happy Birthday Adolf". Hogan's Heroes. Season 1. Episode 17. January 7, 1966.
  14. ↑ "The Battle of Stalag 13". Hogan's Heroes. Season 2. Episode 5. October 14, 1966.
  15. ↑ "Lady Chitterly's Lover: Part 1". Hogan's Heroes. Season 6. Episode 4. October 11, 1970.
  16. ↑ "Lady Chitterly's Lover: Part 2". Hogan's Heroes. Season 6. Episode 5. October 18, 1970.
  17. ↑ Shandley, Robert (September 15, 2011). Hogan's Heroes. Wayne State University Press. p. 90. ISBN 978-0814336007. Retrieved 2014-03-01.
  18. 1 2 3 "A Tiger Hunt in Paris: Part 1". Hogan's Heroes. Season 2. Episode 10. November 18, 1966.
  19. 1 2 3 "A Tiger Hunt in Paris: Part 2". Hogan's Heroes. Season 2. Episode 11. November 18, 1966.
  20. ↑ "Don't Forget to Write". Hogan's Heroes. Season 2. Episode 13. December 9, 1966.
  21. ↑ "Art for Hogan's Sake". Hogan's Heroes. Season 2. Episode 16. December 30, 1966.
  22. 1 2 "Watch the Trains Go By". Hogan's Heroes. Season 4. Episode 19. February 1, 1969.
  23. ↑ "Kommandant Gertrude". Hogan's Heroes. Season 6. Episode 21. February 28, 1971.
  24. ↑ "That's No Lady, That's My Spy". Hogan's Heroes. Season 6. Episode 17. January 24, 1971.
  25. ↑ "The Pizza Parlor". Hogan's Heroes. Season 1. Episode 22. February 11, 1966.
  26. ↑ "The Return of Major Bonacelli". Hogan's Heroes. Season 4. Episode 25. March 15, 1969.
  27. ↑ "Clearance Sale at the Black Market". Hogan's Heroes. Season 4. Episode 1. September 28, 1969.
  28. ↑ "The Witness". Hogan's Heroes. Season 4. Episode 23. March 1, 1969.
  29. ↑ "My Favorite Prisoner". Hogan's Heroes. Season 4. Episode 18. January 25, 1969.
  30. ↑ "No Names, Please". Hogan's Heroes. Season 4. Episode 10. November 30, 1968.
  31. ↑ "The Big Broadcast". Hogan's Heroes. Season 6. Episode 12. December 6, 1970.
  32. ↑ "Will The Real Adolf Please Stand Up?". Hogan's Heroes. Season 2. Episode 12. December 2, 1966.
  33. ↑ "Will the Blue Baron Strike Again?"". Hogan's Heroes. Season 4. Episode 12. December 14, 1968.
  34. ↑ "Klink's Old Flame". Hogan's Heroes. Season 4. Episode 20. February 8, 1969.
  35. ↑ "The Dropouts". Hogan's Heroes. Season 6. Episode 14. December 27, 1970.
  36. ↑ "The Late Inspector General". Hogan's Heroes. Season 1. Episode 4. October 8, 1965.
  37. ↑ "A Russian is Coming". Hogan's Heroes. Season 3. Episode 12. November 25, 1967.
  38. ↑ "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to London". Hogan's Heroes. Season 3. Episode 5. October 7, 1967.
  39. ↑ "Is There a Traitor in the House?". Hogan's Heroes. Season 5. Episode 13. December 19, 1969.
  40. ↑ Murray, Noel. "Hogan's Heroes' unceremonious finale comes from the era before TV "endgames" · A Very Special Episode · The A.V. Club". Avclub.com. Retrieved 2015-12-24.
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