Legendary American singer, actor and comedian Harry Lillis “Bing” Crosby Jr. was married twice and had seven children: Mary Crosby, Gary Crosby, Dennis Crosby, Phillip Crosby, Harry Crosby, Lindsay Crosby & Nathaniel Crosby.
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Crosby’s first wife was actress and nightclub singer Dixie Lee, to whom he was married from 1930 until her death from ovarian cancer in 1952.
They had four sons: Gary, twins Dennis and Phillip, and Lindsay.
- Gary Evan Crosby
Gary was born on June 27, 1933 and died of lung cancer in Burbank, California on August 24, 1995 at age 62.
During the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, Gary joined The Crosby Boys, a harmony singing group he formed with his three brothers, Philip, Lindsay, and Dennis.
He had his own radio show, the Gary Crosby Show on CBS, in the mid-1950s, a musical variety show that debuted on June 6, 1954, as a summer replacement for Bing Crosby’s show.
As an actor, Gary is perhaps best-remembered for his recurring roles as Eddie the scheming bellhop on The Bill Dana Show and Officer Edward “Ed” Wells on NBC’s Adam-12 from 1968 to 1975, as well as appearances on several other shows produced by Jack Webb’s Mark VII Limited (including an episode of Dragnet 1969 and five episodes of Emergency!).
- Dennis Michael Crosby
Dennis was born on July 13, 1934 and died on May 4, 1991 in Novato, California from a self-inflicted gunshot wound aged 56.
Dennis and his brothers Gary, Lindsay, and Phillip frequently performed as the Crosby Brothers in nightclubs and on The Ed Sullivan Show in the late 1950s, despite Dennis’ alleged desire to avoid such appearances.
Dennis was married to Pat Sheehan, a Las Vegas showgirl and model who once dated his father shortly after his mother had died.
Dennis and Sheehan had three sons: Gregory Evan, Dennis Michael Jr., and Patrick Anthony.
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After divorcing Sheehan, Dennis married Arleen Newman and they had three daughters.
- Phillip Lang Crosby
Philip was born on July 13, 1934 and died on January 13, 2004 in Woodland Hills, California from a heart attack, aged 69.
Phillip enlisted in the Army and was assigned to West Germany in February 1956 to join his twin. They were assigned to the 10th Infantry Division’s 24th Medical Detachment in Schweinfurt.
Phillip went into show business after leaving the army.
After leaving the army, Phillip recorded four tracks for UPA-Chevron on July 29, 1958, including “Thanks” in which his father ad-libbed various comments. Phillip and Dennis had an amusing linking role on the Bing Crosby Show transmitted on ABC-TV on March 2, 1959.
Phillip debuted as a solo performer on April 27, 1965, at Hyatt’s Backstage Bar in Burlingame, California.
After honing his act, Phillip traveled to Vietnam twice with Bob Hope to entertain the troops, and he enjoyed the experience so much that he returned to sing on several occasions.
On January 18, 1968, he appeared on The Bob Hope Vietnam Christmas Show, on March 23, 1968, and April 5, 1969, and on The Ed Sullivan Show on June 15, 1969.
- Lindsay Harry Crosby
Lindsay was born on January 5, 1938 and died on December 11, 1989, from a self-inflicted rifle shot to the head, aged 51.
According to a family spokeswoman, Crosby shot himself in a Las Virgenes apartment after learning that the inheritance he relied on to support his family was no longer available.
Lindsay appeared in nightclubs and on television with his brothers Gary, Dennis, and Phillip Crosby as the Crosby Boys in the late 1950s and early 1960s.
On September 15, 1958, they appeared on the cover of Life. On November 14, 1958, they appeared on The Phil Silvers Show, and in 1959, they made their debut as a singing group in Tucson, Arizona.
Crosby’s second wife was actress Kathryn Grant and they had three children:
- Harry Lillis III (who played Bill in Friday the 13th),
- Mary Frances (best known for portraying Kristin Shepard on TV’s Dallas), and
- Nathaniel (the 1981 U.S. Amateur champion in golf).
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