Shane Bitney Crone

Shane Bitney Crone is an American film actor that appeared in Stephen J. Cannell's horror film, Left in Darkness in 2006.

Early life
Crone was born in Kalispell, Montana, and moved to Los Angeles after high school graduation to pursue a career as an actor.

"It Could Happen to You"
Crone made headlines in May 2012 when he released a video on YouTube titled "It Could Happen to You," in which he spoke of the devastation he faced after the death of his longtime same-sex partner, fellow actor Thomas Bridegroom, a year earlier. While Crone's own family was loving and accepting of his sexual orientation, Bridegroom's family was not, and had gone so far as threaten Bridegroom with physical violence and blame Crone for "making" him gay. After Bridegroom was killed in a fall from a rooftop in May 2011, Crone was himself threatened with physical violence if he dared to attend Bridegroom's funeral and was not mentioned in Bridegroom's obituary or memorial service. Crone had also been denied hospital visitations and other rights accorded married couples, because he was not recognized as Bridegroom's partner or family.

Crone's emotional plea for rights for same-sex couples became one of the most widely viewed clips on YouTube shortly after its release. Crone was stunned and gratified by the reception to his video, and told RadarOnline.com he made the video as a form of therapy to help him deal with his loss and to further positive change for same-sex couples in the United States.