Hogan’s Heroes Hilda, Sigrid Valdis, Passes Away at 72
Sigrid Valdis, the beautiful actress who played Hilda the secretary on Hogan’s Heroes has died of lung cancer at the age of 72. For five seasons the dazzled audiences as the beautiful blonde assistance to Col. Klink. Her career spanned several years and included work in films, on stage, and on television. The native Californian spent time in Europe and then New York after graduation and began a modeling career. She worked as a designer showroom and runway model where she met her first husband. In 1964, she moved back to California to try her hand at acting and quickly became an impressive addition to Hollywood, getting film roles along side such actors as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, James Coburn, and Robert Vaughn. Sadly, just as her fame was picking up and her television career took off with her casting in Hogan’s Heroes, her first husband passed away.
In 1970, Sigrid married again. She fell in love and wed the star of Hogan’s Heroes, Bob Crane, on the set of the popular show. A year later, their son Robert Scott Crane was born and Sigrid retired from show business to raise her family. Unfortunately, tragedy struck her life again when in 1978 Bob Crane was killed in the couple’s Arizona apartment. She moved away from LA at that time to protect her family from the media scrutiny.
Her life was marked with success and tragedy, love and loss. Her life is a testament to the roller coaster that life truly is. Her complete life story can be a lesson and a blessing to those that may be struggling.