Robert Clary

Actor


The Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Foundation Presents

02:26

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About
About this interview

In his two-hour interview, Robert Clary (1926-2022) talks about his early life, and his harrowing experience being placed in a concentration camp during World War II, where he lost most of his immediate family, including his parents. He describes being liberated from Buchenwald in 1945, after which he began a recording career in France, moved to America, and eventually settled in Los Angeles. He recounts his friendship with Eddie Cantor, who got him his start in the U.S., and his early television appearances, including The Garry Moore Show. He discusses at length co-starring as “LeBeau” on the German POW sitcom Hogan’s Heroes, detailing his feelings about appearing in a World War II comedy, the production schedule, and working with the cast, including star Bob Crane. Clary outlines his later career in daytime drama, including roles on Days of Our Lives, The Young and the Restless, and The Bold and the Beautiful. He speaks of his eventual decision to discuss his experiences during the Holocaust, and recounts his work with the Shoah Foundation. He sums up with advice to an aspiring actor, career achievements and regrets, and how he met his wife, Natalie. Amy Harrington conducted the interview on March 2, 2018 in Beverly Hills, CA.

All views expressed by interviewees are theirs alone and not necessarily those of the Television Academy.

"I love everything I did. To have people liking me was rewarding. Television, theater, nightclubs; I was in heaven every night."

People Talking About ...
Highlights
Robert Clary on how Hogan's Heroes was vastly different from his own real life World War II experience, and more on his character, "LeBeau"
05:25
Robert Clary on being liberated from Buchenwald in 1945
02:21
Robert Clary on dealing with his fame from Hogan's Heroes, and on singing Stephen Sondheim
03:57
Robert Clary on performing on the early days of television, and on appearing in "New Faces of 1952"
02:17
Robert Clary on going to live in Los Angeles, and on his friendship with Eddie Cantor
02:44
Robert Clary on appearing in various features, and on working with Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas
02:33
Full Interview

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Chapter 1

On his early life and influences; on being placed in a concentration camp with this family during World War II; on being liberated from Buchenwald in 1945
On becoming a performer after World War II; on going to live in Los Angeles, and on his friendship with Eddie Cantor; on performing on the early days of television, and on appearing in "New Faces of 1952," and on The Garry Moore Show
On being cast as "LeBeau" on Hogan's Heroes; on his family; on shooting Hogan's Heroes in color and working with the cast and creative team; on how Hogan's Heroes was received when it first aired, and on his character, "LeBeau"
On how Hogan's Heroes was vastly different from his own real life World War II experience, and more on his character, "LeBeau"; on singing on Hogan's Heroes, and on Days of Our Lives; on the production of the show
On working with Bob Crane as "Col. Hogan" on Hogan's Heroes, and the rest of the cast; on working with the creators and directors of Hogan's Heroes, including Edward H. Feldman; on dealing with his fame from the show, and on singing (and being praised by) Stephen Sondheim
On the end of Hogan's Heroes in 1971; on the international popularity of Hogan's Heroes, and on the legacy of the show

Chapter 2

On appearing on The Al Jarvis Show, and on working with Betty White; on appearing on Days of Our Lives, The Young and the Restless, and The Bold and the Beautiful; on what he likes about acting, and on his acting process
On his painting; on his eventual decision to share his and his family's Holocaust story; on appearing on The Merv Griffin Show, and on his personal friendship with Griffin
On his work speaking about the Holocaust for the Shoah Foundation, and on being the subject of the documentary "Robert Clary A5714: A Memoir of Liberation"; on his talk show, A Conversation with Robert Clary, and on appearing in various feature films; on how the industry has changed since he started; on being in Dallas when John F. Kennedy was assassinated
On his mentor, Eddie Cantor, advice to an aspiring actor, and career achievements and regrets; on how he would like to be remembered; on then-current shows he watches, and on having been a clue on Jeopardy!
On his courtship of his wife, Natalie Cantor Metzger; on appearing on Stump the Stars (originally Mike Stokey's Pantomime Quiz), and on appearing in various plays; on the value of the Shoah Foundation interviews, and on his book
Shows

Conversation with Robert Clary, A

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Robert Clary on his talk show, A Conversation with Robert Clary
00:47

Days of Our Lives

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Robert Clary on singing on Hogan's Heroes, and on Days of Our Lives
01:20
Robert Clary on being cast as "Robert LeClair" on Days of Our Lives, and on the character
02:39
Robert Clary on adjusting to the production schedule of Days of Our Lives, and on the cast of the show
01:46
Robert Clary on his character's storylines on Days of Our Lives
01:07

Garry Moore Show, The

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Robert Clary on appearing on The Garry Moore Show
02:15

Hogan's Heroes

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Robert Clary on being cast as "LeBeau" on Hogan's Heroes
02:46
Robert Clary on his family, and on shooting Hogan's Heroes in color and working with the cast and creative team
03:03
Robert Clary on how Hogan's Heroes was received when it first aired, and on his character, "LeBeau"
01:47
Robert Clary on how Hogan's Heroes was vastly different from his own real life World War II experience, and more on his character, "LeBeau"
05:28
Robert Clary on singing on Hogan's Heroes, and on Days of Our Lives
01:20
Robert Clary on the production of Hogan's Heroes
00:58
Robert Clary on working with Bob Crane as "Col. Hogan" on Hogan's Heroes
00:49
Robert Clary on working with the cast of Hogan's Heroes
02:42
Robert Clary on working with the creators and directors of Hogan's Heroes, including Edward H. Feldman
04:08
Robert Clary on dealing with his fame from Hogan's Heroes, and on singing Stephen Sondheim
03:57
Robert Clary on the end of Hogan's Heroes in 1971
02:23
Robert Clary on the international popularity of Hogan's Heroes, and on the legacy of the show
01:09

Jeopardy!

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Robert Clary on then-current shows he watches, and on having been a clue on Jeopardy!
01:40

Merv Griffin Show, The

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Robert Clary on appearing on The Merv Griffin Show, and on his personal friendship with Griffin
01:50

Mike Stokey's Pantomime Quiz aka Stump the Stars

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Robert Clary on appearing on Stump the Stars (originally Mike Stokey's Pantomime Quiz), and on playing Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec on stage
03:00

Young and the Restless, The

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Robert Clary on appearing on The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful
02:29
Topics

Advice

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Robert Clary on advice to an aspiring actor
01:09

Characters & Catchphrases

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Robert Clary on his character, "LeBeau," on Hogan's Heroes
07:15

Creative Influences and Inspiration

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Robert Clary on his mentor, Eddie Cantor
00:33

Historic Events and Social Change

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Robert Clary on being placed in a concentration camp with this family during World War II
04:48
Robert Clary on being liberated from Buchenwald in 1945
02:21
Robert Clary on how Hogan's Heroes was vastly different from his own real life World War II experience, and more on his character, "LeBeau"
05:25
Robert Clary on his eventual decision to share his and his family's story of being placed in a concentration camp during World War II
05:28
Robert Clary on his work speaking about the Holocaust for the Shoah Foundation, and on being the subject of the documentary "Robert Clary A5714: A Memoir of Liberation"
02:10
Robert Clary on being in Dallas when John F. Kennedy was assassinated
01:07

JFK Assassination and Funeral

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Robert Clary on being in Dallas when John F. Kennedy was assassinated
01:07

Pivotal Career Moments

View Topic
Robert Clary on his mentor, Eddie Cantor
00:33

Pop Culture

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Robert Clary on his character, "LeBeau," on Hogan's Heroes
07:15

Television Industry

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Robert Clary on how the industry has changed since he started
00:41
Robert Clary on advice to an aspiring actor
01:09

War

View Topic
Robert Clary on being placed in a concentration camp with this family during World War II
04:48
Robert Clary on being liberated from Buchenwald in 1945
02:21
Robert Clary on how Hogan's Heroes was vastly different from his own real life World War II experience, and more on his character, "LeBeau"
05:25
Robert Clary on his eventual decision to share his and his family's story of being placed in a concentration camp during World War II
05:28
Robert Clary on his work speaking about the Holocaust for the Shoah Foundation, and on being the subject of the documentary "Robert Clary A5714: A Memoir of Liberation"
02:10

World War II

View Topic
Robert Clary on being placed in a concentration camp with this family during World War II
04:48
Robert Clary on being liberated from Buchenwald in 1945
02:21
Robert Clary on how Hogan's Heroes was vastly different from his own real life World War II experience, and more on his character, "LeBeau"
05:25
Robert Clary on his eventual decision to share his and his family's story of being placed in a concentration camp during World War II
05:28
Robert Clary on his work speaking about the Holocaust for the Shoah Foundation, and on being the subject of the documentary "Robert Clary A5714: A Memoir of Liberation"
02:10
Professions

Actor

View Profession
Robert Clary on what he likes about acting, and on his process for acting
01:49
Robert Clary on advice to an aspiring actor
01:09

Performers

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Robert Clary on what he likes about acting, and on his process for acting
01:49
Robert Clary on advice to an aspiring actor
01:09
Genres

Comedy Series

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Robert Clary on being cast as "LeBeau" on Hogan's Heroes
30:31

Daytime/Primetime Serials

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Robert Clary on appearing on Days of Our Lives
05:32
Robert Clary on appearing on The Young and the Restless and The Bold and the Beautiful
02:29

Music Shows & Variety Shows/Specials

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Robert Clary on appearing on The Garry Moore Show
02:16

Talk Shows

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Robert Clary on appearing on The Merv Griffin Show, and on his personal friendship with Griffin
01:50
People

Al Jarvis

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Robert Clary on appearing on The Al Jarvis Show, and on working with Betty White
01:04

Betty White

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Robert Clary on appearing on The Al Jarvis Show, and on working with Betty White
01:04

Bob Crane

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Robert Clary on working with Bob Crane as "Col. Hogan" on Hogan's Heroes
00:49

Burt Lancaster

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Robert Clary on appearing in various features, and on working with Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas
02:33

Eddie Cantor

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Robert Clary on going to live in Los Angeles, and on his friendship with Eddie Cantor
02:43
Robert Clary on his mentor, Eddie Cantor
00:33

Garry Moore

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Robert Clary on appearing on The Garry Moore Show
02:14

Kirk Douglas

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Robert Clary on appearing in various features, and on working with Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas
02:33

Merv Griffin

View Person Page
Robert Clary on appearing on The Merv Griffin Show, and on his personal friendship with Griffin
01:50

Mike Stokey

View Person Page
Robert Clary on appearing on Stump the Stars (originally Mike Stokey's Pantomime Quiz), and on playing Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec on stage
03:00

Richard Dawson

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Robert Clary on working with the cast of Hogan's Heroes: Richard Dawson
00:21

Stephen Sondheim

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Robert Clary on dealing with his fame from Hogan's Heroes, and on singing Stephen Sondheim
03:57

Werner Klemperer

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Robert Clary on working with the cast of Hogan's Heroes: Werner Klemperer and John Banner
01:36

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