Gary Crosby (actor)

Gary Evan Crosby (June 27, 1933 – August 24, 1995) was an American actor and singer. His parents were Bing Crosby, of whom he wrote a highly critical memoir, and the singer and actress Dixie Lee.

Quick Facts Born, Died ...

Gary Crosby
Crosby (left) with his father Bing in 1951
Born	Gary Evan Crosby (1933-06-27)June 27, 1933 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Died	August 24, 1995(1995-08-24) (aged 62) Burbank, California, U.S.
Resting place	Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Actor, singer
Years active	1945–1995
Spouses	Barbara Cosentino ​ ​ (m. 1960; div. 1981)​ Andrea Claudio ​ ​ (m. 1981, divorced)​ Carol Crosby ​ (div. 1995)​
Children	1
Parents	Bing Crosby Dixie Lee
Relatives	Phillip Crosby (brother) Dennis Crosby (brother) Lindsay Crosby (brother) Harry Crosby III (half-brother) Mary Crosby (half-sister) Nathaniel Crosby (half-brother) Larry Crosby (uncle) Bob Crosby (uncle) Chris Crosby (cousin) Denise Crosby (niece)

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Gary Crosby was born in Los Angeles, California, and graduated from Stanford University.^[1][2] He entered the entertainment business and performed in a harmony singing group, The Crosby Boys, with his three brothers, Philip, Lindsay, and Dennis, during the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s. As a teenager, he duetted with his father on two songs, "Sam's Song" and "Play a Simple Melody", which became the first double-sided gold record in history.^[3] He also recorded duets with Louis Armstrong and at least one 45-single with Sammy Davis Jr. He also performed on several variety programs, including ABC's The Pat Boone Chevy Showroom and NBC's The Ford Show, Starring Tennessee Ernie Ford.^[4]

In 1983, six years after his father's death, Crosby published an autobiography, Going My Own Way, which revealed the effects of his alcoholism and his difficult childhood as a result of his mother's alcoholism and his father's alleged emotional and physical abuse.

Shortly before Gary's book was actually published, Lindsay said, "I'm glad [Gary] did it. I hope it clears up a lot of the old lies and rumors."^[8][9] Unlike Gary, Lindsay stated that he preferred to remember "all the good things I did with my dad and forget the times that were rough".^[8]

Bing's younger brother, singer and jazz bandleader Bob Crosby, recalled at the time of Gary's revelations that Bing was a "disciplinarian", as their mother and father had been. He added, "We were brought up that way."^[8] In an interview for the same article, Gary clarified that Bing "was like a lot of fathers of that time. He was not out to be vicious, to beat children for his kicks."^[8]

The author of the most recent biography on Bing Crosby, Gary Giddins, said that Gary Crosby's memoir is not reliable on many instances and cannot be trusted on the abuse stories.^[10][11]

Gary Crosby's adopted son, Steven, stated in a 2003 interview:

In the early years, I think, like any family you are going to butt heads with your mom, your dad and your brothers and sisters. I think there was some father-son stuff that everyone has. The book was I think an attempt of my dad to come to grips with some things in his life.^[12]

Gary Crosby died of lung cancer in Burbank, California, in 1995, and is interred at Forest Lawn-Hollywood Hills Cemetery.^[13]

• Brother of Phillip and Dennis (twins) and Lindsay Crosby
• Half-brother of Harry Crosby, Nathaniel Crosby and Mary Crosby
• Nephew of the bandleader Bob Crosby
• Cousin of Chris Crosby
• Uncle of Denise Crosby

• Crosby, Gary; Firestone, Ross (1983). Going My Own Way. Doubleday. ISBN 978-0385170550.