| Barry Crane | |
|---|---|
| Born | Barry Cohen November 10, 1927 Detroit, Michigan, USA |
| Died | July 5, 1985 (aged 57) Los Angeles, California, USA |
| Occupation | Television director Television producer |
| Years active | 1957 - 1985 |
Barry Crane, born Barry Cohen, (November 10, 1927, Detroit, Michigan – July 5, 1985, Los Angeles, California)[1] was a prolific television producer and director, and a champion 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 Five-O, CHiPs, Dallas, Wonder Woman, Mission: Impossible, and Mannix.
Crane, who won 16 North American championships, was a Grand Life Master in the American Contract Bridge League (ACBL) and traveled extensively to play in matchpoint pairs tournaments. In World Bridge Federation (WBF) competition he won one world championship and was a World Life Master. Crane also played in team events (where the strategy is subtly different from matchpoint play), and won several titles.
During his lifetime, Crane accumulated more masterpoints (35,135.80) – 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.[2] Crane was elected to the ACBL Hall of Fame in 1995.
Crane was murdered on July 5, 1985 – a homicide which has not been solved.
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