Born: December 8, 1905 – Died: August 2, 1985
Frank Faylen, born on December 8, 1905, in St. Louis, Missouri, was destined for a life in entertainment. His parents, the talented Vaudeville duo Ruf and Cusik, introduced him to the stage from a very young age, and he practically grew up in the theater. While he briefly attended St. Joseph's Preparatory College in Kirkwood, Missouri, his heart remained in vaudeville. Frank's journey took him on a tour across the country during the late 1920s and early 1930s, where he showcased his skills as a clown and later as a song-and-dance man with remarkable agility. However, it was in Los Angeles during a tour stop that Frank Faylen's life took a turn. He underwent a screen test, kickstarting a thirty-year career as one of Hollywood's most recognizable character actors. Known for his versatility, Frank Faylen played both sympathetic and unsympathetic roles on the silver screen. Notably, he portrayed the vicious male nurse Bim in "The Lost Weekend" and the lovable cabdriver Ernie in the iconic film "It's a Wonderful Life." While his film career was impressive, Frank found his greatest fame on television, particularly as Herbert T. Gillis, Dobie Gillis's dad in "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis." Frank Faylen, who was married to actress Carol Hughes and had two daughters, left an indelible mark on the world of entertainment. He passed away on August 2, 1985, in Burbank, California, leaving behind a legacy that continues to captivate audiences.
Early Life and Career
Frank Faylen, born on December 8, 1905, in St. Louis, Missouri, was destined for a life in entertainment. His parents, the talented vaudeville duo Ruf and Cusik, introduced him to the stage from a very young age, and he practically grew up in the theater. While he briefly attended St. Joseph's Preparatory College in Kirkwood, Missouri, his heart remained in vaudeville.
Frank's journey took him on a tour across the country during the late 1920s and early 1930s, where he showcased his skills as a clown and later as a song-and-dance man with remarkable agility. However, it was in Los Angeles during a tour stop that Frank Faylen's life took a turn. He underwent a screen test, kickstarting a thirty-year career as one of Hollywood's most recognizable character actors.
Known for his versatility, Frank Faylen played both sympathetic and unsympathetic roles on the silver screen. Notably, he portrayed the vicious male nurse Bim in "The Lost Weekend" and the lovable cabdriver Ernie in the iconic film "It's a Wonderful Life." His remarkable talent and memorable performances garnered critical acclaim and solidified his status in the industry.
While his film career was impressive, Frank found his greatest fame on television, particularly as Herbert T. Gillis, Dobie Gillis's dad in "The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis." The show's success brought him widespread recognition and made him a household name.
Throughout his career, Frank Faylen received numerous accolades, including awards for his outstanding contributions to entertainment. His personal life saw him married to actress Carol Hughes, with whom he had two daughters, adding a touch of Hollywood romance to his story.
Beyond his acting talent, Frank Faylen was involved in various philanthropic endeavors, contributing to the community he was part of. His impact on Hollywood and the entertainment industry remains enduring, and he is regarded as a respected icon who left an indelible mark on the world of film and television.
Frank Faylen's legacy continues to captivate audiences, making him a beloved figure in the history of entertainment.
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Quincy M.E. (TV Series) | Janus |
| 1977 | Whatever Happened to Dobie Gillis? (TV Movie) | Herbert T. Gillis |
| 1971 | Eddie (TV Movie) | Patrolman Callahan |
| 1970 | That Girl (TV Series) | Bert Hollinger |
| 1968 | Funny Girl | Keeney |
| 1968 | Petticoat Junction (TV Series) | Ralph |
| 1966 | The Beverly Hillbillies (TV Series) | Marvin |
| 1965–1966 | My Mother the Car (TV Series) | Conrad Byron | Manager |
| 1965 | When the Boys Meet the Girls | Phin Gray |
| 1965 | Fluffy | Catfish |
| 1965 | The Monkey's Uncle | Mr. Dearborne |
| 1965 | Karen (TV Series) | George Morton |
| 1963 | The Great Adventure (TV Series) | O'Brien |
| 1959–1963 | The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (TV Series) | Herbert T. Gillis |
| 1960 | North to Alaska | Arnie (uncredited) |
| 1959 | Whirlybirds (TV Series) | Denfield |
| 1959 | The Rough Riders (TV Series) | Daniel Eddiman |
| 1959 | Zane Grey Theatre (TV Series) | Doc Alvarez |
| 1958 | Man with a Camera (TV Series) | Jim Costigan |
| 1958 | The Ann Sothern Show (TV Series) | Detective |
| 1958 | Wanted: Dead or Alive (TV Series) | Sheriff Earl Tipton |
| 1958 | Maverick (TV Series) | Red Harrison |
| 1957 | Telephone Time (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1957 | Dino | Frank Mandel |
| 1957 | Gunfight at the O.K. Corral | Cotton Wilson |
| 1956 | Three Brave Men | Enos Warren |
| 1956 | 7th Cavalry | Sgt. Kruger |
| 1956 | Everything But the Truth | 'Mac' McMillan |
| 1956 | Away All Boats | Chief Phillip P. 'Pappy' Moran |
| 1956 | Terror at Midnight | Fred Hill |
| 1955 | General Electric Theater (TV Series) | Farber |
| 1955 | The Danny Thomas Show (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1955 | The McConnell Story | Sfc. Sykes |
| 1955 | The Looters | Stan Leppich |
| 1954 | The Lone Gun | Fairweather |
| 1954 | Riot in Cell Block 11 | Commissioner Haskell |
| 1954 | Red Garters | Billy Buckett |
| 1953 | 99 River Street | Stan Hogan |
| 1952 | Hangman's Knot | Cass Browne |
| 1952 | The Lusty Men | Al Dawson |
| 1952 | The Sniper | Police Insp. Anderson |
| 1951 | My Favorite Spy | Newton |
| 1951 | Detective Story | Det. Gallagher |
| 1951 | Racket Squad (TV Series) | Unknown |
| 1951 | Passage West | Curly |
| 1951 | Fourteen Hours | Room Service Waiter |
| 1950 | Convicted | Ponti - Convict |
| 1950 | The Eagle and the Hawk | Red Hyatt |
| 1950 | Francis | Sergeant Chillingbacker |
| 1950 | Copper Canyon | Mullins |
| 1950 | The Nevadan | Jeff |
| 1948 | Whispering Smith | Whitey Du Sang |
| 1948 | Blood on the Moon | Jake Pindalest |
| 1948 | Race Street | Phil Dickson |
| 1948 | Hazard | Oscar |
| 1947 | Road to Rio | Trigger |
| 1947 | Variety Girl | Frank Faylen |
| 1947 | The Perils of Pauline | Mr. Joe Gurt |
| 1947 | The Trouble with Women | Geeger |
| 1947 | Welcome Stranger | Bill Walters |
| 1947 | Suddenly It's Spring | Harold Michaels |
| 1947 | Easy Come, Easy Go | Boss |
| 1947 | California | Whitey |
| 1946 | It's a Wonderful Life | Ernie |
| 1946 | Cross My Heart | Fingerprint Expert (uncredited) |
| 1946 | Blue Skies | Mack |
| 1946 | A Tale of Two Cafes (Short) | Charles Dubois |
| 1946 | Our Hearts Were Growing Up | Federal Agent |
| 1946 | The Well Groomed Bride | Taxi Driver (uncredited) |
| 1946 | The Blue Dahlia | Man Recommending a Motel |
| 1946 | To Each His Own | Babe |
| 1946 | Two Years Before the Mast | Hansen |
| 1945 | Masquerade in Mexico | Brooklyn (uncredited) |
| 1945 | The Lost Weekend | 'Bim' Nolan |
| 1945 | Duffy's Tavern | Customer (uncredited) |
| 1945 | You Hit the Spot (Short) | Hal Hawkins |
| 1945 | Pride of the Marines | Ward Patient (uncredited) |
| 1945 | Incendiary Blonde | Hotel Clerk (uncredited) |
| 1945 | You Came Along | Bellboy (uncredited) |
| 1945 | Boogie Woogie (Short) | Mugs |
| 1945 | Bring on the Girls | Sailor |
| 1945 | Bombalera (Short) | Houlihan |
| 1945 | The Affairs of Susan | Brooklyn Boy (uncredited) |
| 1944 | An American Romance | Bartender (uncredited) |
| 1944 | National Barn Dance | Musical Team Member (uncredited) |
| 1944 | The Canterville Ghost | Lieutenant John Kane |
| 1944 | Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble | Taxi Driver #2 (uncredited) |
| 1944 | Address Unknown | Jimmie Blake |
| 1944 | See Here, Private Hargrove | Military Policeman (uncredited) |
| 1944 | And the Angels Sing | Holman |
| 1944 | Standing Room Only | Cab Driver (uncredited) |
| 1943 | Sucker Bait (Short) | Henchman |
| 1943 | A Guy Named Joe | Major (uncredited) |
| 1943 | The Gang's All Here | Marine Sergeant (uncredited) |
| 1943 | Tarzan's Desert Mystery | Achmed (uncredited) |
| 1943 | She's for Me | Keys |
| 1943 | The Mystery of the 13th Guest | Speed Dugan aka McGinnis |
| 1943 | The Unknown Guest | Truck Driver (uncredited) |
| 1943 | Corvette K-225 | Shipyard Painter (uncredited) |
| 1943 | Thank Your Lucky Stars | Sailor (uncredited) |
| 1943 | The Good Fellows | Brody (uncredited) |
| 1943 | Young Ideas | Reporter (uncredited) |
| 1943 | Yanks Ahoy | Quartermaster Jenkins |
| 1943 | Get Going | Hank |
| 1943 | Nazty Nuisance | Seaman Benson |
| 1943 | Three Hearts for Julia | Meek Gateman (uncredited) |
| 1943 | Good Morning, Judge | Ben Pollard |
| 1943 | Follow the Band | Brooks (uncredited) |
| 1943 | Mission to Moscow | Reporter (uncredited) |
| 1943 | Taxi, Mister | Silk |
| 1943 | Slightly Dangerous | Gateman (uncredited) |
| 1943 | The Falcon Strikes Back | Cecil - First Hobo (uncredited) |
| 1943 | Prairie Chickens | Clem - Henchman (uncredited) |
| 1943 | Salute for Three | Buzz's Soldier Friend (uncredited) |
| 1943 | Dixie Dugan | Soldier (uncredited) |
| 1943 | Silver Skates | Eddie |
| 1942 | The McGuerins from Brooklyn | Crap Table Stickman (uncredited) |
| 1942 | Star Spangled Rhythm | Soldier - 'That Old Black Magic' Number (uncredited) |
| 1942 | Fall In | Capt. Gillis |
| 1942 | Northwest Rangers | Chuck a Luck Dealer (uncredited) |
| 1942 | Across the Pacific | Sidewalk Toy Vendor (uncredited) |
| 1942 | The Palm Beach Story | Taxi Driver (uncredited) |
| 1942 | Somewhere I'll Find You | Slim, Army Driver (uncredited) |
| 1942 | Wake Island | Marine Finding Skipper's Litter (uncredited) |
| 1942 | A-Haunting We Will Go | Train Detective (uncredited) |
| 1942 | Wings for the Eagle | Bandleader (uncredited) |
| 1942 | The Pride of the Yankees | Yankee Third Base Coach (uncredited) |
| 1942 | Maisie Gets Her Man | Second Stage Manager (uncredited) |
| 1942 | Tough As They Come | Collector (uncredited) |
| 1942 | Yankee Doodle Dandy | Sergeant on Parade - Last Scene (uncredited) |
| 1942 | Whispering Ghosts | Curly the Announcer (uncredited) |
| 1942 | Mokey | Police Desk Sergeant (uncredited) |
| 1942 | About Face (Short) | Jerry |
| 1942 | Joe Smith, American | Man in Waiting Room with Matches (uncredited) |
| 1942 | Dr. Kildare's Victory | Peter 'Pete' Taylor (uncredited) |
| 1942 | Hay Foot | Major (uncredited) |
| 1941 | Steel Against the Sky | Egg Man in Diner (uncredited) |
| 1941 | H.M. Pulham, Esq. | Marine Sergeant (uncredited) |
| 1941 | Unholy Partners | Roger Ordway (uncredited) |
| 1941 | Top Sergeant Mulligan | Pat Dolan |
| 1941 | Tanks a Million | Pvt. Skivic |
| 1941 | Let's Go Collegiate | Speed Dorman |
| 1941 | International Squadron | Process Server (uncredited) |
| 1941 | Father Steps Out | Tall Hobo 'King', aka The King of Siam |
| 1941 | Sergeant York | But! Boy (uncredited) |
| 1941 | Blossoms in the Dust | Man With Man Carrying Dead Child (uncredited) |
| 1941 | Affectionately Yours | Ambulance Driver (uncredited) |
| 1941 | Thieves Fall Out | Pick |
| 1941 | Model Wife | Master of Ceremonies (uncredited) |
| 1941 | Knockout | Fighter in Locker Room (uncredited) |
| 1941 | Footsteps in the Dark | Gus - Taxi Driver (uncredited) |
| 1941 | Come Live with Me | Waiter |
| 1941 | The Reluctant Dragon | Frank - Orchestra Leader (uncredited) |
| 1940 | East of the River | Tour Guide (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Just a Cute Kid (Short) | Benny |
| 1940 | Margie | Mr. Leffingwell |
| 1940 | City for Conquest | Band Conductor and Emcee (uncredited) |
| 1940 | No Time for Comedy | Cab Driver |
| 1940 | They Drive by Night | Driver in Café (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Pop Always Pays | Minerva Auto Loan Cashier (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Blame It on Love | Studio Electrician |
| 1940 | La Conga Nights | Jeepers Peepers (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Brother Orchid | Parkway Biltmore Desk Clerk (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Edison, the Man | Galbreath (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Saturday's Children | Cab Driver (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Curtain Call | Spike Malone |
| 1940 | Millionaire Playboy | (scenes deleted) |
| 1940 | Alice in Movieland (Short) | Master of Ceremonies (uncredited) |
| 1940 | Castle on the Hudson | Guard Who is Slugged (uncredited) |
| 1940 | The Fighting 69th | Engineer Sergeant at Cave-In (uncredited) |
| 1940 | The Grapes of Wrath | Tim |
| 1940 | Married and in Love | Jim Carter, Man in Bar |
| 1939 | Invisible Stripes | Steve - Henchman on Bank Job (uncredited) |
| 1939 | Gone with the Wind | Soldier Aiding Dr. Meade (uncredited) |
| 1939 | Nick Carter, Master Detective | Pete |
| 1939 | Reno | J. Hezmer 'Hezzy' Briggs |
| 1939 | No Place to Go | Pete Shafter |
| 1939 | Slapsie Maxie's (Short) | Tiger Dorsey, the Champ |
| 1939 | Thunder Afloat | Petty Officer (uncredited) |
| 1939 | The Star Maker | First Reporter (uncredited) |
| 1939 | Waterfront | Skids Riley |
| 1939 | They All Come Out | Indoctrination Guard at Reformatory (uncredited) |
| 1939 | Five Came Back | Photographer (uncredited) |
| 1939 | It's a Wonderful World | Peters - Stagehand (uncredited) |
| 1939 | Lucky Night | Play Palace Announcer (uncredited) |
| 1939 | Women in the Wind | Chuck - the Mechanic (uncredited) |
| 1939 | The Flying Irishman | New York Mechanic (uncredited) |
| 1939 | The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle | Adjutant (uncredited) |
| 1939 | You Can't Get Away with Murder | Boat Tour Guide (uncredited) |
| 1939 | Twelve Crowded Hours | Henchman (uncredited) |
| 1939 | Idiot's Delight | Ed (uncredited) |
| 1939 | Crime Rave (Short) | Unknown |
| 1938 | Too Hot to Handle | Assistant Dubber (uncredited) |
| 1938 | Four's a Crowd | Taxi Driver (uncredited) |
| 1938 | No Time to Marry | Waxler |
| 1938 | The Invisible Menace | Private of the Guard |
| 1937 | Headin' East | Joe |
| 1937 | Wine, Women and Horses | Horse Buyer (uncredited) |
| 1937 | That Certain Woman | Reporter (uncredited) |
| 1937 | Back in Circulation | James Maxwell - a Reporter (uncredited) |
| 1937 | Talent Scout | Master of Ceremonies (scenes deleted) |
| 1937 | They Won't Forget | Reporter |
| 1937 | Dance Charlie Dance | Ted Parks |
| 1937 | Ever Since Eve | Bandit Leader at Monteray Tavern (uncredited) |
| 1937 | Public Wedding | Trainman (scenes deleted) |
| 1937 | Kid Galahad | Barney |
| 1937 | The Case of the Stuttering Bishop | Charlie Downs |
| 1937 | San Quentin | Convict Envying Hoffman (uncredited) |
| 1937 | The Go Getter | Country Club Man #2 (uncredited) |
| 1937 | The Cherokee Strip | Henchman Joe Brady |
| 1937 | Marked Woman | 2nd Cabbie (uncredited) |
| 1937 | Midnight Court | Reporter (uncredited) |
| 1937 | Smart Blonde | Ambulance Driver (uncredited) |
| 1936 | Gold Diggers of 1937 | Man Shaving on Train (uncredited) |
| 1936 | Night Waitress | Policeman at Torre's (uncredited) |
| 1936 | King of Hockey | Swede - Nick's Associate |
| 1936 | All American Chump | Reporter (uncredited) |
| 1936 | Down the Stretch | Ben - Bookie (uncredited) |
| 1936 | China Clipper | Weatherman (uncredited) |
| 1936 | Bullets or Ballots | Gatley - Pinball Racketeer (uncredited) |
| 1936 | Border Flight | Jimmie |
| 1936 | Romance in the Air (Short) | Sure-Fire |
| 1936 | Sky Parade | Pilot (uncredited) |
| 1936 | Road Gang | Police Radio Dispatcher (uncredited) |