Buster Crabbe

Buster Crabbe (February 7, probably in 1908 - April 23, 1983) was an American athlete turned actor, who starred in a number of popular serials in the 1930s and 1940s.

Raised in Hawaii, he excelled as a swimmer and participated in two Olympic Games: 1928, where he won the bronze medal for the 1,500 meter freestyle, and 1932, where he won the gold medal for the 400 meter freestyle. Ironically, at that Olympics, he broke the record held by Johnny Weismuller[?], whose role as Tarzan he would later assume.

Crabbe's role in the Tarzan series launched a successful career in which he starred in over one hundred movies. His next major role was as Flash Gordon in the popular Flash Gordon serial[?]. Other characters he portrayed included Western hero Billy the Kid.

Crabbe's career waned somewhat in the 1950s, though he did make regular television appearances. Nevertheless, he is best remembered today as one of the original action heroes of the cinema.