Robert Edward Crane (July 13, 1928 – June 29, 1978)
On October 17, 1974, Benji, a film about a stray dog who helps
rescue several kidnapped children, opens in theaters; it will
go on to become a family classic.
Written and directed by Joe Camp, Benji starred a mutt named
Higgins, who had been rescued as a puppy from a California
animal shelter and went on to appear in the 1960s TV series
Petticoat Junction and the 1971 movie Mooch Goes to
Hollywood, with Zsa Zsa Gabor.
Benji was a commercial hit and spawned a series of TV movies
as well as the follow-up features For the Love of Benji (1977),
Oh Heavenly Dog (1980) and Benji the Hunted (1987), all
starring Higgins’ daughter Benjean.