Norma Crane was a talented and versatile actress who appeared in many stage, film, and television productions. She is best known for her role as Golde, the wife of Tevye, in the 1971 film adaptation of Fiddler on the Roof. She also starred in They Call Me Mister Tibbs! and Penelope. But behind her successful career, she was hiding a devastating secret: she had breast cancer.
Contents
Early Life and Career
Norma Crane was born as Norma Anna Bella Zuckerman on November 10, 1928, in New York City. She was raised in a Jewish family in El Paso, Texas, where she studied drama at Texas State College for Women in Denton. She was a member of Elia Kazan’s Actors Studio and made her Broadway debut in Arthur Miller’s play The Crucible.
She moved to Hollywood in the 1950s and appeared in various live television dramas, such as Studio One, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, and The Untouchables. She also played Ellie Martin in Vincente Minnelli’s film version of Tea and Sympathy. She guest-starred in many popular TV shows, such as Gunsmoke, Have Gun – Will Travel, The Fugitive, and The Flying Nun.
Fiddler on the Roof and Other Films
Norma Crane’s most memorable role was Golde in Fiddler on the Roof, a musical film based on the Broadway show of the same name. The film tells the story of Tevye, a poor Jewish milkman living in a Russian village in 1905, who struggles to cope with the changing times and the marriages of his three daughters. Crane played his strong-willed and loyal wife, who sings memorable songs such as “Sabbath Prayer”, “Sunrise, Sunset”, and “Do You Love Me?”.
The film was a huge success, earning eight Academy Award nominations and winning three. It also received positive reviews from critics and audiences alike. According to Rotten Tomatoes, “Fiddler on the Roof is a moving musical that deftly explores themes of tradition, family, and faith.”
Crane also appeared in other films, such as They Call Me Mister Tibbs!, a sequel to In the Heat of the Night starring Sidney Poitier; Penelope, a comedy with Natalie Wood; and The Movie Murderer, a TV movie with Tom Selleck.
Personal Life and Death
Norma Crane was married to writer-producer Herb Sargent from 1961 to 1966. Sargent was a prominent figure in television comedy, working on shows such as Saturday Night Live, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. Crane and Sargent divorced after five years of marriage.
Crane was diagnosed with breast cancer in the late 1960s. She kept her illness a secret from the public and continued to work until her health deteriorated. She died on September 28, 1973, at the age of 44, in Los Angeles, California. She was buried at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.
According to The Celebrity Deaths, “Natalie Wood was one of her closest friends. When Norma became ill with cancer Wood reportedly paid the medical bills as well as the (eventual) funeral costs.”
Legacy
Norma Crane left behind a legacy of memorable performances that showcased her range and versatility as an actress. She is remembered for her role as Golde in Fiddler on the Roof, which has become a classic film that is still enjoyed by generations of viewers. She is also admired for her courage and professionalism in facing her disease while pursuing her passion for acting.
Norma Crane cause of death was breast cancer, but she will always live on through her work and her fans.
