Patricia Crane, at 72; acted in 'Hogan's Heroes'

Bob Crane and Sigrid Valdis were married on the "Hogan's Heroes" studio set in Hollywood. (ap file/1970)

ANAHEIM, Calif. - Patricia Crane, who played Colonel Klink's sexy blond secretary Hilda on "Hogan's Heroes" and married the show's star, has died. She was 72.

Mrs. Crane, who was known on stage and screen as Sigrid Valdis, died Oct. 14. of lung cancer at her daughter's home, a family member said.

Mrs. Crane played Hilda for five seasons on "Hogan's Heroes," the 1965-71 CBS situation comedy about Allied prisoners in a World War II German POW camp. Hilda and Bob Crane's Colonel Hogan flirted playfully in front of the screen, but in 1970 were married for real - on the show's set.

Eight years later, he was found bludgeoned to death in an apartment in Scottsdale, Ariz.

Patricia Olson grew up in Los Angeles. After graduating high school, she moved to Europe and then to New York City, where she studied acting and had a modeling career.

She retired from acting in 1971.