Morning Man Classic: Buster Crabbe!

Buster Crabbe is the only actor to play Tarzan, Flash Gordon, and Buck Rogers – the top three syndicated comic strip heroes of the 1930s.

Before going into acting, Crabbe competed in two Olympic Games as a swimmer. In 1928 he won the bronze medal for the 1,500 meters freestyle, and in 1932 he won the gold medal for the 400 meters freestyle.

He attended the University of Southern California, where he was the school’s first All-American swimmer (1931) and a 1931 NCAA freestyle titlist.

Crabbe portrayed Western folk hero, Billy the Kid, in 36 films, starred in the television series, Captain Gallant of the Foreign Legion.

He appeared in the 1982 feature film, The Comeback Trail, one year before his death.