John Crane

John Rene Crane (hailing from a birth on March 20, 1962) is an American writer and actor, best known as the head writer, executive producer and occasional performer on Fox's Saturday late night sketch comedy program, MADtv, and as the Dad from Nickelodeon’s Roundhouse. Crane started in show business working lo...

Biography & Career

Crane moved to Los Angeles, California, in the mid-1980s and worked briefly as the director of Universal Studios' Star Trek Adventure. He was later admitted to the Groundlings comedy school where he wrote and performed with Will Ferrell, Cheri Oteri, Kathy Griffin, Michael McDonald and Chris Kattan, among others. Between stints with The Groundlings in the early 1990s, Crane co-wrote and starred in Nickelodeon's Saturday night ensemble variety series, Roundhouse, produced by Sheffield and his former spouse, Rita Hester. His most notable recurring role on Roundhouse was as the children's father, who rode around the set in a motorized recliner. Roundhouse was canceled after four seasons. In the mid-1990s, Crane served as a cast member on the syndicated children's TV show AJ's Time Travelers and earned a number of small on-screen TV roles, including spots on Baywatch, Love Boat: The Next Wave, Murder Live!, Night Stand with Dick Dietrick and Alien Avengers.

Key Milestones

• 1990: Career Milestone