Robert Crawford Sr. was a picture editor best known for his work on The Bob Cummings Show. His work on the series earned him an Emmy nomination in 1959, the same year his two sons were also nominated for their acting work on other projects. His younger son, Johnny Crawford, earned a nomination for best supporting actor in a dramatic series, for his role on The Rifleman, and his older son, Robert Crawford Jr., was nominated for his performance on Playhouse 90.

Crawford Sr. contributed to 43 episodes of The Bob Cummings Show, from 1955 to 1959. He also worked on the series The New Adventures of Black Beauty, Sugarfoot, 77 Sunset Strip, Bronco, Maverick, Cheyenne, Hawaiian Eye, Lawman, Gidget, The Monkees and Tarzan. Additionally, he edited the television special Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders II.

He also served as an editor and associate producer on the film Indian Paint, starring his son Johnny. And he worked on the documentary short The Making of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Crawford also worked as an actor for a brief time in the early 1960s, appearing in twelve episodes of the crime series Manhunt, as Det. Phil Burns.

After graduating from the New York Military Academy in 1938, Crawford got his start as a messenger at Columbia Pictures. He then served in the Marine Corps during World War II before returning to Hollywood and studying acting at Falcon Studios.

Later in life, he established his own independent editing service for commercials and worked on various series from the Filmation animation studio before finally retiring in 1986.

Crawford died July 28, 2016, in Woodland Hills, California. He was 95.