LOS ANGELES — Bernard Fox, the mustachioed actor known to TV viewers as Dr. Bombay on “Bewitched” and Col. Crittendon on “Hogan’s Heroes,” has died. He was 89.
Harlan Boll, a spokesman for Fox’s family, said he died Wednesday of heart failure at a Los Angeles-area hospital.
The Welsh-born actor’s extensive, wide-ranging film and TV credits also included “The Mummy,” ”Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo,” ”The Dick Van Dyke Show,” ”McHale’s Navy” and “Columbo.”
He appeared in 1997’s “Titanic,” playing Col. Archibald Gracie, and in a 1958 movie about the ship tragedy, “A Night to Remember.” He had an uncredited role in the latter, playing a sailor who delivers the line, “Iceberg’s dead ahead, sir!” according to his family.
The actor spoofed his portrayal of the warlock physician Dr. Bombay on a 1989 episode of “Pee-wee’s Playhouse,” appearing as Dr. Jinga-Janga.
On “Hogan’s Heroes,” he played the incompetent Crittendon, a Royal Air Force group captain referred to as the colonel.
He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline; daughter Amanda; daughter-in-law Lisa, and two grandchildren. Another daughter, Valerie, died in 2006, Boll said.
Bernard Fox is seen here in 2005, standing at left, with “Bewitched” producer William Asher, seated, and others who played characters on the show, Casey Rogers and Erin Murphy, in Salem, Mass., during the unveiling of a statue, left, depicting Samantha Stevens, the fictional witch played by Elizabeth Montgomery in the series. | AP
