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In Memoriam: Actor Robert Hoffman, star of “The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe”

By John Freeman on July 28, 2022

I’ve just learnt of the death of Robert Hoffman (30th August 1939 – 4th July 2022), aged 82, a handsome blond-haired Austrian actor who became familiar to generations of British children as the star of the classic black-and-white television series The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe, first shown here in 1965, featuring one of the most memorable theme tunes for so many, created for the English version by Robert Mellin and Gian-Piero Reverberi; up there, for me, with On White Horses.

The series was Hoffmann’s first professional acting job and became a staple of BBC children’s summer holiday schedules for many years, and the series led to many roles in German language films.

He did, however, have one more moment of stardom in the UK when he was chosen to play the U-boat Captain in the 1980 film The Sea Wolves, also starring Gregory Peck, Roger Moore, David Niven, Trevor Howard and Patrick Macnee.

• There’s an extensive interview with Robert Hoffman here, in German, about his entire career, which included working alongside Peter Cushing

• Daily Telegraph Obituary (Paywall)

• A fantastic guide to the making of “The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe”

• Wikipedia – The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (TV series)

• The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe DVD (AmazonUK Affiliate Link)

Director: Jean Sacha
Production: Deropa/Franco-Londo
Robinson Crusoe: Robert Hoffmann
Friday: Fabian Cevallos
Robinson Crusoe’s Father: Erich Bludau
Captain Darrik: Robert Dalban
With: Oskar von Schaab, Robert von Dalban, Claudia Berg, Jane Marken, Paul Chevallier, Robert Luchaire, Gilbert Robin u.a.
Music for the French and German release: Georges Van Parys
Music for the English release: Robert Mellin / Gian-Piero Reverberi

• The Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe Original TV Soundtrack (AmazonUK Affiliate Link)

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.