Barry Crane

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Barry Crane, born Barry Cohen, (November 11, 1927, Detroit, Michigan – July 5, 1985, Los Angeles, California) was a prolific television producer and director, and a champion contract bridge player.

Crane (sometimes credited as Barry Cohen) produced The Magician, and was an associate producer on several episodes of Mission: Impossible. He was credited with directing numerous episodes of such series as Trapper John, M.D., The Incredible Hulk, Hawaii 5-0, CHiPs, Dallas, Wonder Woman, Mission: Impossible, and Mannix.

Crane was a Grand Life Master in the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) and traveled extensively to play in matchpoint pairs tournaments. He won several North American and World championships. Crane also played in team events (where the strategy is subtly different from matchpoint play), and won several championships.

During his lifetime, Crane had accumulated more masterpoints (35,138) – which are awarded by the ACBL for success in tournament play – than any other player. At Crane's death, second placed Paul Soloway was approximately 11,000 behind; only in 1991, several years after Crane's death did Soloway surpass Crane's lifetime total. In honor and as a memorial to Crane, the ACBL renamed the award given to the player who accumulates the most Masterpoints in a single year to the "Barry Crane trophy", and the list of high Masterpoint attainers to the "Barry Crane Top 500".^[1] Crane was also elected to the ACBL Hall of Fame.^[2]

Crane was murdered on July 5, 1985 — a homicide which has not been solved.

[edit] Notable bridge championships and awards

Open Pairs/Silodor Trophy in 1964, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1974, 1977, and 1983
World Mixed Pairs in 1978
North American Mixed Pairs in 1975 and 1977
NABC Men's Pairs in 1966
Master Mixed Teams in 1953, 1954, and 1980
North American Swiss Teams in 1978
NABC Men's Swiss Teams in 1983
McKenney trophy (now the Barry Crane trophy) in 1952, 1967, 1971, 1973, 1975, and 1978^[3]