Biography
The oldest son of singer
Bing Crosby, American actor Gary Crosby was named for Bing's good friend
Gary Cooper. Crosby, along with his three brothers, began his show-biz career as a child on his father's radio program. In 1942 he appeared in the movie musical
Star Spangled Rhythm, where he was kissed by Betty Grable. For the next few years he was only seen in film sporadically. In 1962, with the encouragement of his wife, Gary began pursuing a performing career in earnest, first as part of a nightclub act with his brothers, then as a solo singer. In 1963 Crosby was signed for a two-year continuing role on the TV sitcom The Bill Dana Show. After its 1965 cancellation his career went on hold until director
Hollingsworth Morse persuaded TV actor/producer
Jack Webb to take a chance with Gary and give him a few supporting roles on the 1960s version of
Dragnet.Webb liked Crosby and retained him in the role of Officer Ed Wells on
Adam-12, which debuted in 1968. With three years of
Adam-12 under his belt, Crosby took on the role of Officer Ed Rice on the short-lived cop show
Chase (1974). While his father was still alive, Crosby was usually guarded in his comments about his relationship with his father, but after his father died in 1977, Gary found himself an object of much media scrutiny and in 1983, six years after his father's death, he published a scathing account of his troubled upbringing in Going My Own Way. The book not only generated public controversy, it also created turmoil amongst his brothers and his step family. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide