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Frank Orth

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
128

Gender
Male

Birthday
February 20, 1880 (146 years old)

Place of Birth
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Frank Orth

Biography

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.

Known For

Acting

1953Here Come the Girlsas Mr. Hungerford
1953Houdinias Mr. Hunter
1952The Adventures of Ozzie and Harrietas Uncle John
1952Something to Live Foras Waiter (uncredited)
1951Double Dynamiteas Mr. Kofer
1951Boston Blackieas Inspector Faraday
1950The Petty Girlas Moody (process server)
1950Father of the Brideas Joe
1950Cheaper by the Dozenas Higgins (uncredited)
1950The Great Rupertas Mr. Frank Dingle
1949Bride for Saleas Police Sergeant (uncredited)
1949Red Lightas Wallace 'Wally' Stoner
1948Blondie's Secretas Mr. Philpotts
1948The Girl from Manhattanas Oscar Newsome
1948So This Is New Yorkas AJ Gluskoter
1948The Big Clockas Burt
1947It Had to Be Youas Conductor Brown
1947The Gas House Kids in Hollywoodas Police Captain
1947Heartachesas Mike Connelly, Vic's Agent
1947The Guilt of Janet Amesas Danny
1947Born to Speedas Breezy Bradley
1946Lady in the Lakeas Floyd Greer (Uncredited)
1946Wake Up and Dreamas Milkman
1946It's Great to Be Youngas Franklin Johnson
1946The Strange Love of Martha Iversas Hotel Clerk
1946The Bride Wore Bootsas Judge (uncredited)
1946Murder in the Music Hallas Henderson
1946The Hoodlum Saintas Chronicle Editor (uncredited)
1945Doll Faceas Peters
1945The Lost Weekendas Opera Cloak Room Attendant
1945She Went to the Racesas Skelly
1945Tell It to a Staras Augustus T. Goodman
1945Pillow to Postas Clayfield Taxi Driver
1944Storm Over Lisbonas Murgatroyd
1944Tall in the Saddleas 'Shorty' Davis (uncredited)
1944Greenwich Villageas Ordway
1944The Impatient Yearsas Counterman
1944Wilsonas Smith (uncredited)
1944Summer Stormas Cafe Maitre d' at End (uncredited)
1944Roger Touhy, Gangsteras . Comic in Theater (uncredited)
1943Sweet Rosie O'Gradyas Taxi Driver
1943Coney Islandas Bartender
1943Hello, Frisco, Helloas Lou, Bartender at Sharkey's
1943The Ox-Bow Incidentas Larry Kinkaid (uncredited)
1943The Meanest Man in the Worldas Bartender (uncredited)
1942Springtime in the Rockiesas Bickel (uncredited)
1942Dr. Gillespie's New Assistantas Mike Ryan
1942Orchestra Wivesas Rex Willet
1942Tales of Manhattanas Secondhand Clothes Dealer
1942Footlight Serenadeas Mike
1942The Magnificent Dopeas Messenger
1942Henry and Dizzyas Joe McGuire
1942My Gal Salas McGuiness
1942Rings on Her Fingersas Kellogg
1942Roxie Hartas Bar Client #2 (uncredited)
1942Dr. Kildare's Victoryas Mike Ryan
1942Right to the Heartas Pete
1942Over My Dead Bodyas Detective
1942Blue, White and Perfectas Mr. Toby
1941They Died with Their Boots Onas Barfly (uncredited)
1941I Wake Up Screamingas Cemetery Caretaker
1941Sergeant Yorkas Drummer (uncredited)
1941Broadway Limitedas Lou, Cafe Proprietor
1941The People Vs. Dr. Kildareas Mike Ryan
1941Ride on Vaqueroas Auctioneer
1941The Strawberry Blondeas Baxter - Livery Stable Owner (uncredited)
1941Come Live with Meas Jerry
1941Let's Make Musicas Mr. Botts
1941Respect the Lawas Peter Brennan
1940Michael Shayne: Private Detectiveas Steve
1940You, the Peopleas Soda Jerk
1940Dr. Kildare's Crisisas Mike Ryan, Cafe Owner
1940Father Is A Princeas Drugstore Proprieter
1940Gallant Sonsas Newspaper Foreman (uncredited)
1940Mexican Spitfire Out Westas Window Washer
1940Dr. Kildare Goes Homeas Mike Ryan (uncredited)
1940Boom Townas Barber
1940Buyer Bewareas Smith (uncredited)
1940Pier 13as Dead Pan Charlie
1940Gold Rush Maisieas Harris
1940Brother Orchidas Waiter at Fat Dutchy's (uncredited)
1940Florianas Detective
1940La Conga Nightsas Dennis O'Brien
1940The Doctor Takes a Wifeas New York Editor (uncredited)
1940'Til We Meet Againas Hong Kong Bartender (uncredited)
1940Dr. Kildare's Strange Caseas Mike
1940Know Your Moneyas Tobacconist (uncredited)
1940His Girl Fridayas Duffy
1939The Secret of Dr. Kildareas Mike
1939At the Circusas Chef in Diner (uncredited)
1939Fast and Furiousas Captain Joe Burke
1939Dust Be My Destinyas Wedding Witness on Stage (uncredited)
1939Thunder Afloatas Old Sailor in Bilge Area (uncredited)
1939Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircaseas Captain Tweedy
1939Stanley and Livingstoneas Newspaperman with Pills
1939Tell No Talesas Vic - Bartender (uncredited)
1939Young Mr. Lincolnas Loafer (uncredited)
1939Calling Dr. Kildareas Mike Sullivan - Hospital Cafe Owner (uncredited)
1939Broadway Serenadeas Mr. Fellows
1939Within the Lawas Jim Jenks
1939Nancy Drew... Reporteras Captain Tweedy (uncredited)
1939Fast and Looseas Detective Hendricks (uncredited)
1939Idiot's Delightas Benny Zinsser
1939Burn 'Em Up O'Connoras Tim McKelvy
1938Comet Over Broadwayas Cab Driver (uncredited)
1938Nancy Drew… Detectiveas Captain Tweedy
1938Young Dr. Kildareas Mike Ryan (uncredited)
1938Mr. Chumpas Sheriff Frank Hinton
1938Think It Overas Brown, Clothing Store Owner
1938Torchy Blane in Panamaas First Leopard (uncredited)
1938The Patient in Room 18as Joe Higgins - Night Watchman
1937Missing Witnessesas Gordon (uncredited)
1937The Footloose Heiressas Justice Abner Cuttler
1937Prairie Thunderas Wichita
1937The Devil's Saddle Legionas Judge Barko
1937Talent Scoutas Burlesque Theatre Manager (uncredited)
1937Ever Since Eveas Cocktail Waiter (uncredited)
1937Marry the Girlas Bar owner
1937San Quentinas Convict in Bunkhouse (uncredited)
1937Land Beyond the Lawas Shorty Long
1936Polo Joeas Bert
1936Hot Moneyas Hank Ford
1936Two Against the Worldas Tommy - Bartender
1935Unwelcome Strangeras Jackson
1935The Payoffas Porter (uncredited)
1931The Victimas The Husband
1930Taking Waysas
1929A Bird in the Handas

Production

1944The Mummy's Curse...Songs