Known For
Acting
Known Credits
128
Gender
Male
Birthday
February 20, 1880 (146 years old)
Place of Birth
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Frank Orth was an American actor born in Philadelphia. He is probably best remembered for his portrayal of Inspector Faraday in the 1951-1953 television series “Boston Blackie”. By 1897, Orth was performing in vaudeville with his wife, Ann Codee, in an act called “Codee and Orth.” In 1909, he expanded into song writing, with songs such as “The Phone Bell Rang” and “Meet Me on the Boardwalk, Dearie.” His first contact with motion pictures was in 1928, when he was part of the first foreign-language shorts in sound produced by Warner Bros. He and his wife also appeared together in a series of two-reel comedies in the early 1930s. Orth's first major screen credit was in “Prairie Thunder,” a Dick Foran western, in 1937. From then on, he was often cast as bartenders, pharmacists, and grocery clerks, and always distinctly Irish. He had a recurring role in the Dr. Kildare series of films and also in the Nancy Drew series as the befuddled Officer Tweedy. Among his better roles were the newspaper man Cary Grant telephones early in “His Girl Friday,” one of the quartet singing “Gary Owen” in “They Died with Their Boots On” (thereby giving Errol Flynn as Gen. Custer the idea of associating the tune with the 7th Cavalry), and as the little man carrying the sign reading “The End Is Near” throughout Colonel Effingham's Raid. However, Orth is probably best remembered for his portrayal of Inspector Faraday in the 1951-1953 television series “Boston Blackie.” A short, plump, round-faced man, often smoking a cigar, Orth as Faraday wore his own dark-rimmed spectacles, though rarely in feature films. In 1959, Orth retired from show business after throat surgery. His wife died in 1961 after around fifty years of marriage. Orth died on March 17, 1962. He is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in the Hollywood Hills next to his wife.
| 1953 | Here Come the Girlsas Mr. Hungerford | |
| 1953 | Houdinias Mr. Hunter | |
| 1952 | The Adventures of Ozzie and Harrietas Uncle John | |
| 1952 | Something to Live Foras Waiter (uncredited) | |
| 1951 | Double Dynamiteas Mr. Kofer | |
| 1951 | Boston Blackieas Inspector Faraday | |
| 1950 | The Petty Girlas Moody (process server) | |
| 1950 | Father of the Brideas Joe | |
| 1950 | Cheaper by the Dozenas Higgins (uncredited) | |
| 1950 | The Great Rupertas Mr. Frank Dingle | |
| 1949 | Bride for Saleas Police Sergeant (uncredited) | |
| 1949 | Red Lightas Wallace 'Wally' Stoner | |
| 1948 | Blondie's Secretas Mr. Philpotts | |
| 1948 | The Girl from Manhattanas Oscar Newsome | |
| 1948 | So This Is New Yorkas AJ Gluskoter | |
| 1948 | The Big Clockas Burt | |
| 1947 | It Had to Be Youas Conductor Brown | |
| 1947 | The Gas House Kids in Hollywoodas Police Captain | |
| 1947 | Heartachesas Mike Connelly, Vic's Agent | |
| 1947 | The Guilt of Janet Amesas Danny | |
| 1947 | Born to Speedas Breezy Bradley | |
| 1946 | Lady in the Lakeas Floyd Greer (Uncredited) | |
| 1946 | Wake Up and Dreamas Milkman | |
| 1946 | It's Great to Be Youngas Franklin Johnson | |
| 1946 | The Strange Love of Martha Iversas Hotel Clerk | |
| 1946 | The Bride Wore Bootsas Judge (uncredited) | |
| 1946 | Murder in the Music Hallas Henderson | |
| 1946 | The Hoodlum Saintas Chronicle Editor (uncredited) | |
| 1945 | Doll Faceas Peters | |
| 1945 | The Lost Weekendas Opera Cloak Room Attendant | |
| 1945 | She Went to the Racesas Skelly | |
| 1945 | Tell It to a Staras Augustus T. Goodman | |
| 1945 | Pillow to Postas Clayfield Taxi Driver | |
| 1944 | Storm Over Lisbonas Murgatroyd | |
| 1944 | Tall in the Saddleas 'Shorty' Davis (uncredited) | |
| 1944 | Greenwich Villageas Ordway | |
| 1944 | The Impatient Yearsas Counterman | |
| 1944 | Wilsonas Smith (uncredited) | |
| 1944 | Summer Stormas Cafe Maitre d' at End (uncredited) | |
| 1944 | Roger Touhy, Gangsteras . Comic in Theater (uncredited) | |
| 1943 | Sweet Rosie O'Gradyas Taxi Driver | |
| 1943 | Coney Islandas Bartender | |
| 1943 | Hello, Frisco, Helloas Lou, Bartender at Sharkey's | |
| 1943 | The Ox-Bow Incidentas Larry Kinkaid (uncredited) | |
| 1943 | The Meanest Man in the Worldas Bartender (uncredited) | |
| 1942 | Springtime in the Rockiesas Bickel (uncredited) | |
| 1942 | Dr. Gillespie's New Assistantas Mike Ryan | |
| 1942 | Orchestra Wivesas Rex Willet | |
| 1942 | Tales of Manhattanas Secondhand Clothes Dealer | |
| 1942 | Footlight Serenadeas Mike | |
| 1942 | The Magnificent Dopeas Messenger | |
| 1942 | Henry and Dizzyas Joe McGuire | |
| 1942 | My Gal Salas McGuiness | |
| 1942 | Rings on Her Fingersas Kellogg | |
| 1942 | Roxie Hartas Bar Client #2 (uncredited) | |
| 1942 | Dr. Kildare's Victoryas Mike Ryan | |
| 1942 | Right to the Heartas Pete | |
| 1942 | Over My Dead Bodyas Detective | |
| 1942 | Blue, White and Perfectas Mr. Toby | |
| 1941 | They Died with Their Boots Onas Barfly (uncredited) | |
| 1941 | I Wake Up Screamingas Cemetery Caretaker | |
| 1941 | Sergeant Yorkas Drummer (uncredited) | |
| 1941 | Broadway Limitedas Lou, Cafe Proprietor | |
| 1941 | The People Vs. Dr. Kildareas Mike Ryan | |
| 1941 | Ride on Vaqueroas Auctioneer | |
| 1941 | The Strawberry Blondeas Baxter - Livery Stable Owner (uncredited) | |
| 1941 | Come Live with Meas Jerry | |
| 1941 | Let's Make Musicas Mr. Botts | |
| 1941 | Respect the Lawas Peter Brennan | |
| 1940 | Michael Shayne: Private Detectiveas Steve | |
| 1940 | You, the Peopleas Soda Jerk | |
| 1940 | Dr. Kildare's Crisisas Mike Ryan, Cafe Owner | |
| 1940 | Father Is A Princeas Drugstore Proprieter | |
| 1940 | Gallant Sonsas Newspaper Foreman (uncredited) | |
| 1940 | Mexican Spitfire Out Westas Window Washer | |
| 1940 | Dr. Kildare Goes Homeas Mike Ryan (uncredited) | |
| 1940 | Boom Townas Barber | |
| 1940 | Buyer Bewareas Smith (uncredited) | |
| 1940 | Pier 13as Dead Pan Charlie | |
| 1940 | Gold Rush Maisieas Harris | |
| 1940 | Brother Orchidas Waiter at Fat Dutchy's (uncredited) | |
| 1940 | Florianas Detective | |
| 1940 | La Conga Nightsas Dennis O'Brien | |
| 1940 | The Doctor Takes a Wifeas New York Editor (uncredited) | |
| 1940 | 'Til We Meet Againas Hong Kong Bartender (uncredited) | |
| 1940 | Dr. Kildare's Strange Caseas Mike | |
| 1940 | Know Your Moneyas Tobacconist (uncredited) | |
| 1940 | His Girl Fridayas Duffy | |
| 1939 | The Secret of Dr. Kildareas Mike | |
| 1939 | At the Circusas Chef in Diner (uncredited) | |
| 1939 | Fast and Furiousas Captain Joe Burke | |
| 1939 | Dust Be My Destinyas Wedding Witness on Stage (uncredited) | |
| 1939 | Thunder Afloatas Old Sailor in Bilge Area (uncredited) | |
| 1939 | Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircaseas Captain Tweedy | |
| 1939 | Stanley and Livingstoneas Newspaperman with Pills | |
| 1939 | Tell No Talesas Vic - Bartender (uncredited) | |
| 1939 | Young Mr. Lincolnas Loafer (uncredited) | |
| 1939 | Calling Dr. Kildareas Mike Sullivan - Hospital Cafe Owner (uncredited) | |
| 1939 | Broadway Serenadeas Mr. Fellows | |
| 1939 | Within the Lawas Jim Jenks | |
| 1939 | Nancy Drew... Reporteras Captain Tweedy (uncredited) | |
| 1939 | Fast and Looseas Detective Hendricks (uncredited) | |
| 1939 | Idiot's Delightas Benny Zinsser | |
| 1939 | Burn 'Em Up O'Connoras Tim McKelvy | |
| 1938 | Comet Over Broadwayas Cab Driver (uncredited) | |
| 1938 | Nancy Drew… Detectiveas Captain Tweedy | |
| 1938 | Young Dr. Kildareas Mike Ryan (uncredited) | |
| 1938 | Mr. Chumpas Sheriff Frank Hinton | |
| 1938 | Think It Overas Brown, Clothing Store Owner | |
| 1938 | Torchy Blane in Panamaas First Leopard (uncredited) | |
| 1938 | The Patient in Room 18as Joe Higgins - Night Watchman | |
| 1937 | Missing Witnessesas Gordon (uncredited) | |
| 1937 | The Footloose Heiressas Justice Abner Cuttler | |
| 1937 | Prairie Thunderas Wichita | |
| 1937 | The Devil's Saddle Legionas Judge Barko | |
| 1937 | Talent Scoutas Burlesque Theatre Manager (uncredited) | |
| 1937 | Ever Since Eveas Cocktail Waiter (uncredited) | |
| 1937 | Marry the Girlas Bar owner | |
| 1937 | San Quentinas Convict in Bunkhouse (uncredited) | |
| 1937 | Land Beyond the Lawas Shorty Long | |
| 1936 | Polo Joeas Bert | |
| 1936 | Hot Moneyas Hank Ford | |
| 1936 | Two Against the Worldas Tommy - Bartender | |
| 1935 | Unwelcome Strangeras Jackson | |
| 1935 | The Payoffas Porter (uncredited) | |
| 1931 | The Victimas The Husband | |
| 1930 | Taking Waysas | |
| 1929 | A Bird in the Handas |
| 1944 | The Mummy's Curse...Songs |