Robert Francis Hastings (April 18, 1925 – June 30, 2014) was an American actor. He was best known for his portrayal of Lt. Elroy Carpenter on McHale's Navy and voicing Commissioner James Gordon in the DC Animated Universe.
Early life Hastings was born in Brooklyn, New York to Charles and Hazel Hastings. His father was a salesman.Bob Hastings Biography, filmreference.com; Accessed August 12, 2015. He started out as a boy singer on National Barn Dance, Doug Gray's Singing Gang and Coast to Coast on a Bus. He also portrayed Jerry on the radio program The Sea Hound.
Career
After Hastings returned from military service as a navigator on B-29 Stratofortresses, he played the role of Archie Andrews in a series based on the Archie comic book series on NBC Radio from 1945 to 1953.
Hastings moved to television in 1949, performing in early science-fiction series, including Atom Squad. In 1954, he was the featured pitch-man (acting as an amateur magician) for Bakers Instant Cocoa Mix television commercials. His first recurring role was as a lieutenant on Phil Silvers' Sergeant Bilko series in the late 1950s. At that time he also guest-starred in The Real McCoys episode "How to Paint a House". He also appeared in Captain Video playing the brother of "The Video Ranger", who was, in turn, played by Hastings' brother Don. Hastings portrayed Edward Foyle in the NBC drama Kitty Foyle (1958).
1960s–1970s Most of his career was spent in television, including five episodes of CBS's Green Acres beginning in the second season in such various roles as an Air Force officer, state trooper, telephone installer and finally in two sixth season episodes as a sheriff. Hastings was cast as Lt. Bolt in the 1960 episode "Space Man" of the CBS military sitcom/drama Hennesey, starring Jackie Cooper. Hastings guest-starred in the ABC/Warner Bros. sitcom Room for One More, starring Andrew Duggan and Peggy McCay, on the Robert Young CBS sitcom/drama Window on Main Street, as Russian pilot Igor Piotkin on Hogan's Heroes, and on the NBC police sitcom Car 54, Where Are You?. In 1962, he played a railroad executive in the episode "Substitute Sheriff" of the NBC Western series The Tall Man. He appeared five times on CBS's Dennis the Menace, most notably as Coach Gilmore in the 1963 episode "The Big Basketball Game". He appeared in three episodes of the sitcom Pete and Gladys.
Hastings portrayed the aide to Captain Binghamton (Joe Flynn), the yes-man Lieutenant Elroy Carpenter on ABC's McHale's Navy, humorously called "Carpy" and "Little Leadbottom" by McHale and his men. Hastings played Captain Ramsey on ABC's General Hospital. He hosted the game show Dealer's Choice and had a recurring role as bar owner Tommy Kelsey on All in the Family.
After McHale's Navy, Hastings was a regular on the Universal Studios lot, where Universal paid actors during downtime to be on the grounds and talk to tourists. He appeared in the 1968 Universal film Did You Hear the One About the Traveling Saleslady?, as well as The Bamboo Saucer (1968), Angel in My Pocket (1969), The Love God? (1969), and The Boatniks (1970). In 1971, Hastings was cast in the comedy film How to Frame a Figg, also starring Don Knotts, and also had roles in The Poseidon Adventure (1972), The All-American Boy (1973) and No Deposit, No Return (1976). He appeared in Harper Valley PTA (1978) as Skeeter Duggan, a member of the PTA board who had been kidnapped at the orders of its dishonest president to commit election fraud.
Voice-over work
Hastings also did voice work for animation and commercials, including Superboy in The New Adventures of Superboy cartoons of the 1960s, D.D. on Hanna-Barbera's Clue Club, and James Gordon in the DC Animated Universe, as well as several Batman video games. His earlier work in animation included voicing Henry Glopp on Hanna-Barbera's animated series Jeannie and Fred Flintstone and Friends as well as voicing characters on Challenge of the Superfriends.
Personal life The older brother of longtime As the World Turns star Don Hastings, Hastings married Joan Rice in 1948. They were married for 66 years and, at the time of his death, the couple had four children, 10 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren.
Death Bob Hastings died on June 30, 2014, from prostate cancer at age 89. His funeral mass was held in Burbank, California's Saint Finbar Catholic Church.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes1961 The Great Impostor State Department Official Uncredited1962Moon PilotMotoristUncredited1968Did You Hear the One About the Traveling Saleslady?Lyle Chatterton1968The Bamboo SaucerGarson1969Angel in My PocketTed Palish1969The Love God?Shrader1970The BoatniksChief Walsh1971How to Frame a FiggChris Groat1971The Marriage of a Young StockbrokerBaseball Fan #21972The Poseidon AdventureM.C.1973Charley and the AngelNews Reporter1973The All-American BoyAriel Van Daumee1974Airport 1975Freeman's Friend at AirportUncredited1976No Deposit, No ReturnPeter1978Harper Valley PTASkeeter1981The Munsters' RevengePhantom of the Opera1981Separate WaysJack1984SnowballingCarol Tolson1992Shadow ForceMayor Talbert1993Batman: Mask of the PhantasmCommissioner GordonVoice A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.1998Batman & Mr. Freeze: SubZeroVoice, direct-to-video2003Batman: Mystery of the BatwomanVoice, direct-to-video
Television Year Title Role Notes1961 The Tom Ewell Show Hub Norton Episode: "No Fun in the Sun"1961Window on Main StreetWarrenEpisode: "A Doctor Comes to Town"1961–1962GunsmokeBill Craig / WhipEpisodes: “The Squaw” /“Call Me Dodie”1963Mister EdSecret Service ManEpisode: "Ed and the Secret Service"1963The Twilight ZoneSamEpisode: "I Dream of Genie"1963The New Casper Cartoon ShowVarious voices26 episodes1964–1966The MunstersCharlie the RavenVoice, 10 episodes; uncredited1964McHale's NavyLt. Elroy Carpenter1965McHale's Navy Joins the Air Force1966–1969The Adventures of SuperboyKal-El / Clark Kent / SuperboyVoice, 34 episodes1966SuperboyVoice1966–1970The New Adventures of SupermanVoice, 68 episodes1967BatmanMajor BeasleyEpisode: "Penguin Sets a Trend"1967Hogan's HeroesIgor PiotkinEpisode: "A Russian Is Coming"1967–1968The Superman/Aquaman Hour of AdventureYoung Clark Kent / SuperboyVoice, 36 episodes1968Adam-12Charles BeuhlerSeason 1 Episode 3: "It's Just a Little Dent, Isn't It?"1968Adam-12Charles BeuhlerSeason 1 Episode 13: "Christmas – The Yellow Dump Truck"1968–1969The Batman/Superman HourSuperboy / Young Clark KentVoice, 34 episodes1968I Dream of JeannieHomer BanksEpisode: "Have You Heard the One About the Used Car Salesman?"1971–1976All in the FamilyTommy Kelsey12 episodes1971Adam-12BartenderSeason 4 Episode 1: "Extortion"1971Green AcresSheriff1 episode1972The ABC Saturday Superstar MovieBull / Captain ShadVoice, episode: "Gidget Makes the Wrong Connection (a.k.a. The Odd Squad)"1972Room 222Bud NagleEpisode: "Just Call Me Mr. Shigematsu"1973JeannieHenry GloppVoice, 16 episodes1973The New Scooby-Doo MoviesHenry Glopp / Additional voicesVoice, 7 episodes1973 Adam-12 Ed Mason Episode: "West Valley Division"1974DevlinAdditional voices16 episodes1975The Great Grape Ape ShowAdditional voices16 episodes1976InsightJohnny MitchellEpisode: "All Out"1976Clue ClubD.D.16 episodes1977Spider-ManMonahanTelevision film1977CB BearsLoudmouseVoice, 13 episodes1977–1979Wonder WomanGatekeeper / George2 episodes1977–1978The SkatebirdsD.D.16 episodes1977–1978The Robonic StoogesD.D.1977–1978Fred Flintstone and FriendsHenry GloppVoice, 95 episodes1977The All-New Super Friends HourCorky / Scott / Additional voices2 episodes1978Buford and the Galloping GhostAdditional voices13 episodes1978Yogi's Space RaceAdditional voices13 episodes1978Challenge of the SuperfriendsPied Piper / Space Genius / Additional voicesVoice, episode: "The Pied Piper From Space"1978–1979The Galloping GhostAdditional voices13 episodes1978–1979The Buford FilesAdditional voices13 episodes1978–1979Galaxy Goof-UpsAdditional voices13 episodes1978–1986General HospitalCaptain Burt Ramsey26 episodes1979Casper and the AngelsAdditional voices13 episodes1979–1980Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-DooAdditional voices16 episodes1979–1980The New ShmooAdditional voices16 episodes1979The Incredible HulkEarlEpisode: "My Favorite Magician"1979Three's CompanyJohn CallanEpisode: "The Love Barge"1980The WaltonsCarlEpisode: "The Last Straw"1980Captain Caveman and the Teen AngelsAdditional voicesEpisode: "Cavey and the Volcanic Villain"1980–1982Super FriendsAdditional voices22 episodes1982JokebookAdditional voices3 episodes1992–1994Batman: The Animated SeriesCommissioner James GordonVoice, 50 episodes1997–1998Superman: The Animated SeriesVoice, 2 episodes1997–1999The New Batman AdventuresVoice, 8 episodes2002Gotham GirlsVoice, 4 episodes; web series2003Static ShockVoice, episode: "Hard as Nails"
Video games Year Title Role Notes1994The Adventures of Batman & RobinCommissioner GordonVoice2001Batman: VengeanceCommissioner GordonVoice2001Jak and Daxter: The Precursor LegacyMayor ManacVoice2003Batman: Rise of Sin TzuCommissioner GordonVoice2010Mafia IIThe JudgeVoice
References
External links