David Hedison’s final voyage … legendary Voyage To The Bottom of The Sea actor passes away.
Actor David Hedison who played Captain Lee B. Crane in Irwin Allen’s brilliant Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea (1964-1968), has passed away at the grand old age of 92.
His wife passed before him, four years ago.
His two daughters, Serena and Alexandra issued a tribute to David, reading, “Even in our deep sadness, we are comforted by the memory of our wonderful father. He loved us all dearly and expressed that love every day. He was adored by so many, all of whom benefited from his warm and generous heart. Our dad brought joy and humour wherever he went and did so with great style.”
Voyage was broadcast on ABC from 1964 to 1968, and was that decade’s longest-running continuing U.S. science fiction television series. The first two seasons took place in the then-future of the 1970s.
The final two seasons of Voyage To The Bottom of The Sea took place in the very far-future landscape of the 1980s … which, oddly, didn’t feature Thatcher or Reagan.
David actually did serve in the real US Navy just after World War Two. He played the lead role in Irwin Allen’s fantasy film The Lost World (1960), which led him to land the prime job in Voyage.
You might also remember him as Felix Leiter in the 1973 James Bond movie, Live and Let Die. David was also in such TV goodies as Project U.F.O. (the Bluebook show), Wonder Woman and Knight Rider.
We salute you, Captain. You made the childhoods of many a geek kid of our vintage a happier and more wondrous place with your underwater science fiction exploits.
