Bob Hastings

Robert "Bob" Francis Hastings (April 18, 1925 – June 30, 2014) was an American radio, film, and television character actor. He also provided voices for animated cartoons. He was best known for his portrayal of annoying suck-up Lt. Elroy Carpenter, on McHale's Navy.

Biography

Early life and career

Hastings was born in Brooklyn, New York, a son of Charles and Hazel Hastings. His father was a salesman. Hastings started in radio on "Coast-to-Coast on a Bus" (NBC). Hastings served during World War II in the United States Army Air Corps. After serving in World War II as a navigator on B-29s, he played the role of Archie Andrews in a series based on the Archie comic book series on NBC Radio from 1945-53. Archie Andrews was sponsored by Swift & Company food products. 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 a 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 guest-starred on Walter Brennan's ABC sitcom The Real McCoys. He also appeared in a few episodes of Captain Video playing the brother of "The Video Ranger", who was in turn played by Bob Hastings own real life brother, Don Hastings.