Frank Faylen (1905–1985)

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American character actor who specialized in average-guy parts and who could be equally effective in sympathetic or unlikeable roles. His parents, the vaudeville team of Ruf and Cusik, took him onstage with them when he was a baby, and Faylen grew up in the theatre. He attended St. Joseph's Preparatory College in Kirkwood, Missouri, but returned to ... See full bio »

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That Girl
There Sure Are a Bunch of Cards in St. Louis: Part I (S5, Ep6)
Mon, Aug 15 12:00 PM PDT on KTLADT2 (1258)
North to Alaska
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Known For

It's a Wonderful Life
It's a Wonderful Life Ernie
(1946)
The Lost Weekend
The Lost Weekend 'Bim' Nolan
(1945)
Blood on the Moon
Blood on the Moon Jake Pindalest
(1948)
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis Herbert T. Gillis
(1959-1963)
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Filmography

Hide Hide Show Show Actor (224 credits)
 1978 Quincy M.E. (TV Series)
Janus
- Crib Job (1978) ... 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
- There Sure Are a Bunch of Cards in St. Louis: Part II (1970) ... Bert Hollinger
- There Sure Are a Bunch of Cards in St. Louis: Part I (1970) ... Bert Hollinger
 1968 Funny Girl
Keeney
 1968 Petticoat Junction (TV Series)
Ralph
- Girl of Our Dreams (1968) ... Ralph
 1966 The Beverly Hillbillies (TV Series)
Marvin
- Clampett Cha Cha Cha (1966) ... Marvin
 1965-1966 My Mother the Car (TV Series)
Conrad Byron / Manager
- It Might as Well Be Spring as Not (1966) ... Conrad Byron
- And Leave the Drive-In to Us (1965) ... 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
- Karen Robs the Cradle (1965) ... George Morton
 1963 The Great Adventure (TV Series)
O'Brien
- The Man Who Stole New York City (1963) ... O'Brien
 1959-1963 The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis (TV Series)
Herbert T. Gillis
- The Devil and Dobie Gillis (1963) ... Herbert T. Gillis
- The Call of the Like Wild (1963) ... Herbert T. Gillis
- Beauty Is Only Kin Deep (1963) ... Herbert T. Gillis
- I Was a Spy for the F.O.B. (1963) ... Herbert T. Gillis
- Requiem for an Underweight Heavyweight (1963) ... Herbert T. Gillis
Show all 118 episodes
 1960 North to Alaska
Arnie (uncredited)
 1959 Whirlybirds (TV Series)
Denfield
- Sitting Duck (1959) ... Denfield
 1959 The Rough Riders (TV Series)
Daniel Eddiman
- The Wagon Raiders (1959) ... Daniel Eddiman
 1959 Zane Grey Theatre (TV Series)
Doc Alvarez
- The Sunrise Gun (1959) ... Doc Alvarez
 1958 Man with a Camera (TV Series)
Jim Costigan
- Double Negative (1958) ... Jim Costigan
 1958 The Ann Sothern Show (TV Series)
Detective
- The Masquerade Ball (1958) ... Detective
 1958 Wanted: Dead or Alive (TV Series)
Sheriff Earl Tipton
- The Giveaway Gun (1958) ... Sheriff Earl Tipton
 1958 Maverick (TV Series)
Red Harrison
- The Third Rider (1958) ... Red Harrison
 1957 Telephone Time (TV Series)
- Death of a Nobody (1957)
 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
- Farewell to Kennedy (1955) ... Farber
 1955 The Danny Thomas Show (TV Series)
- Love Thy Neighbor (1955)
 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)
- The Case of Just a Little Larceny (1951)
 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
 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 (Documentary 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 Follow the Band
Brooks (uncredited)
 1943 Good Morning, Judge
Ben Pollard
 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 Let's Go Collegiate
Speed Dorman
 1941 Tanks a Million
Pvt. Skivic
 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/I 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 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)
 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 Back in Circulation
James Maxwell - a Reporter (uncredited)
 1937 Wine, Women and Horses
Horse Buyer (uncredited)
 1937 That Certain Woman
Reporter (uncredited)
 1937 Talent Scout
Master of Ceremonies (scenes deleted)
 1937 They Won't Forget
Reporter
 1937 Public Wedding
Trainman (scenes deleted)
 1937 Dance Charlie Dance
Ted Parks
 1937 Ever Since Eve
Bandit Leader at Monteray Tavern (uncredited)
 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 Border Flight
Jimmie
 1936 Bullets or Ballots
Gatley - Pinball Racketeer (uncredited)
 1936 Romance in the Air (Short)
Sure-Fire
 1936 Sky Parade
Pilot (uncredited)
 1936 Road Gang
Police Radio Dispatcher (uncredited)
Show Show Soundtrack (3 credits)
Show Show Self (5 credits)
Show Show Archive footage (6 credits)

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Personal Details

Other Works:

Unsold pilot: Co-starred in a sitcom pilot called "The Donald O'Connor Show" in which Donald O'Connor played a scientist who worked with ferocious-looking but tame animals like Fluffy the Lion.

Publicity Listings:

3 Articles | See more »

Height:

5' 10" (1.78 m)

Spouse:

Carol Hughes  (his death)  (2 children)

Children:

Carol Faylen | See more »

Parents:

Otto Ruf | Maryann Madeline Cusik
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Did You Know?

Trivia:

The muppet "Ernie" on Sesame Street (1969) was rumored to be named after Faylen's character (Ernie the Taxi Driver) in It's a Wonderful Life (1946). See more »
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