In addition to being one of the stars of the movie Fame (1980) he performed
his own song, "Is It Okay If I Call You Mine?" which he had written for
a high school girlfriend, in the film.
Recorded a song, called "Miles from Here", for Fame (1980) that was cut out from the film, but added to the soundtrack as a previously unreleased track in 2003.
Was nominated for a Young Artists Award for Best Young Actor in Fame 1979-1980.
McCrane's wife, Dana Kellin, is a jewelry designer. They met in a yoga class in 1996. She has kept her maiden name professionally. The couple have a son, William Thomas McCrane (born 2000) and one daughter, Noa Catherine McCrane (born 2004).
He was nominated for a 1977 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Supporting Role for his performance in the play, "The Landscape of the Body", at the Academy Festival Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.