On November 16, 2022, the world said goodbye to the beloved actor from the cult 1960s sitcom “Hogan’s Heroes.”
Robert Clary, who played Corporal Louis LeBeau, has died at the age of ninety-six at his home in Los Angeles. His role in the popular TV series has left an indelible mark in the entertainment industry as the show continues to enthrall audiences through reruns on various channels.
The news of Clary’s death was confirmed by his granddaughter, Kim Wright, and was met with an outpouring of respect and condolences from fans and colleagues in the entertainment community.
Robert Clary’s life and career were remarkable for many reasons, and his journey from concentration camp survivor to famous actor is a testament to his resilience, talent, and indomitable spirit.
Clary’s remarkable life story began in Paris on March 1, 1926, when he was born Robert Max Widerman into a large Orthodox Jewish family of fourteen children. He showed his talent as an entertainer from a young age, when he was only twelve years old, he captivated the audience with his singing and interpretation skills. However, his life’s trajectory took a harrowing turn when he was sixteen.
Kim Wright, Clary’s granddaughter, confirmed his passing. She spoke to The Hollywood Reporter about his death.
In addition to his career as an actor in Hollywood, Clary experienced one of the greatest disasters in history. He was a famous Holocaust survivor who, while imprisoned in a concentration camp in Europe, defeated the Nazis and escaped death.
At the age of sixteen, he and his family were taken to Auschwitz to die. He was the only member of his family to survive the trauma and avoid being captured by Hitler’s Nazis before they could subject him to cruel and barbaric execution methods.
Clary spent over three years in captivity in a German concentration camp. The fact that he survived a terrifying place when the rest of his family perished was pure luck and determination.
Six seasons of Hogan’s Heroes aired between September 1965 and April 1971. Before his death in November of that year, Clary was the only remaining member of the show’s main cast.
In addition to her long career on Broadway, Clary worked in Hollywood. On March 1, 1926, in Paris, Robert Max Widerman became Clary. He was the youngest in an orthodox Jewish family with fourteen children. His career in show business started when he was only twelve years old. At the age of twelve, he started entertaining crowds with his singing. However, when he turned sixteen, his family was deported to Auschwitz and Hitler’s Nazis killed his parents in the death chambers.
He added to THR in 2015, “My mother said the most remarkable thing.” “Behave,” she said. She most likely thought I was a brat. “Behave,” she said. Follow their instructions.
Clary said his ability to entertain people kept him alive when he was in a Nazi death camp. Every other week he put on a show for the troops.
“I survived because I could sing, I could entertain, and I was in pretty good health for my age,” he said in a 2015 interview.
After Holocaust deniers claimed that his family did not perish in the gas chambers, Clary spoke about his experiences at Auschwitz.
“For 36 years, I kept these war experiences inside me,” Clary declared. “But those who try to deny the Holocaust, my suffering, and the suffering of millions of others have forced me to speak out.”
In his opinion, conspiracy theorists and Nazi supporters could not discredit his struggle.
“I had to explain that [Hogan’s Heroes] is about POWs in a stalag, not a concentration camp,” Clary said. “And while I didn’t want to diminish what the soldiers went through during their internment, it was like night and day from what people went through in the concentration camps.”
Clary’s experience at Auschwitz weighed heavily on him and he decided to share his harrowing narrative in the fight against Holocaust denial. Faced with Holocaust deniers who claimed that his family did not die in the gas chambers, Clary decided to break his silence and speak out. He revealed that he had kept his wartime experiences locked away for thirty-six years, but felt compelled to share his story as a response to those who sought to deny the Holocaust.
He made it clear that the “Hogan’s Heroes” series is about prisoners of war in a stalag, not a concentration camp. While he acknowledged the plight of POWs, he emphasized that their experiences differed greatly from the horrors faced by those interned in concentration camps.
Robert Clary’s determination to stand up to Holocaust denial and ensure the memory of those who suffered during this dark period of history is preserved is a testament to his unwavering commitment to truth and justice.
Robert Clary’s departure marks the end of an era as he was the last surviving member of the main cast of “Hogan’s Heroes.” His legacy will live on through his work and the lasting impact of his story of survival and resilience. As the world mourns the loss of this remarkable individual, we honor his memory and the enduring message of hope and resilience he leaves behind. Robert Clary’s life is a powerful reminder that even in the face of untold adversity, the human spirit can triumph and continue to inspire generations to come.