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| Eddie Craven |
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born:
25 June 1909 Seattle, Washington, United States of America |
died:
16 October 2000 [last residence] Los Angeles, California, United States of America (age 91) |
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American actor. He is not to be confused with the similarly-aged Broadway and sometime film actor of the same name (1908-1991) from the well-known Craven theatrical family (including the Broadway Eddie's uncle, Frank Craven). "Our" Eddie's parents were Irene G. (Cooper) and Thomas Oliver Cravens (1888-1923), who married on 22 July 1908 in Everett, Washington. The Cravenses resided in Seattle, where Eddie was born and where they're residing in the 1910 U.S. Census; they moved to Los Angeles by 1917 (City Directory/Thomas' WWI draft reg. card). There is some confusion over his surname: his birth record says "Craven" (singular), which is the spelling he would use professionally and personally later in life, but going by records for his father plus census records and Los Angeles City Directory listings through the mid-1930s, it appears "Cravens" (plural) is the natural spelling. He was previously known as Edwin C. Cravens, then on his Aug. 1940 marriage certificate and Oct. 1940 World War II draft reg. card, he went by the full name of Eddie St. Clair Craven; by 1950, he's Edwin C. Craven, having gone by the singular variant of his surname consistently after 1940. In the 1930 U.S. Census (5 Apr), Edwin C. Craven is one of several roomers residing at 1328 South Union in Los Angeles. His age is listed as 23 (adding three years to his real age), and he does not have an occupation listed; the 1930 Los Angeles City Directory lists Edwin S. Cravens living at 1328 S. Union Ave. with the occupation of "studiowkr [studio worker]." Next year's Directory has Edwin C. Cravens still at the same address, with the occupation of actor. In the 1940 U.S. Census (3 Apr), Eddie -- listed as Clair E. Cravens -- is one of a number of people residing at 1106 South Harvard Blvd., renting for $22 a month (equivalent to around $500 in 2025), and is working as an actor at a movie studio; in 1939, he worked 17 weeks and earned $1,000 (equivalent to about $23,000 in 2025). On 4 August 1940, Eddie St. Clair Craven (claiming to be 26, instead of the actual 31) married Betty Louise Robare, a 22-year old department store saleslady; Eddie is still at 1106 So. Harvard Blvd. and is an actor in motion pictures. On his World War II draft registration card (16 Oct 1940), Eddie St. Clair Craven is now residing at 3781 West 9th Street, Los Angeles, and gives his employer as Central Casting; he names his wife, Mrs. Louise Betty Craven, as the person who will always know his address. Eddie gives his personal description as: 5'8", 150, blue eyes, brown hair, and light complexion. Edwin C. Craven enlisted for World War II service on 20 October 1942, giving his marital status as married, his civilian occupation in the category of "Actors and actresses," his height as 65" (5'5"), and his weight as 142. By 1950 (Census, 5 Apr), Edwin C. Craven is divorced and the proprietor of a machinery broker. |
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Real name: Edwin C. Cravens Height: 5'5" / 5'8" (different sources) |
Films listed on this page: complete Hal Roach filmography. |
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