Frank Albertson
Biography
Frank Albertson was an American character actor born on February 2, 1909, in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and he died on February 29, 1964. He made his Hollywood debut in a minor part at age thirteen and accumulated well over one hundred appearances in movies and television throughout his career from 1923 to 1964, with 168 known acting credits listed on The Movie Database. In his early career, he often sang and danced in films such as Just Imagine in 1930 and A Connecticut Yankee in 1931. He played the title character's brother in Alice Adams in 1935, appeared opposite the Marx Brothers in Room Service in 1938, and had supporting roles in It's a Wonderful Life in 1946 and Psycho in 1960. He also served in the United States Army Air Forces' First Motion Picture Unit.
Career overview
Francis Healey Albertson was an American character actor born on February 2, 1909, in Fergus Falls, Minnesota. He made his Hollywood film debut in a minor part at the age of thirteen. Throughout his career spanning from 1923 to 1964, Albertson made well over 100 appearances in movies and television, with known credits totaling 168. In his early career, he frequently sang and danced in features such as Just Imagine in 1930 and A Connecticut Yankee in 1931.
As his career progressed, Albertson took on a variety of supporting roles in notable films. He appeared as the title character's brother in Alice Adams in 1935 and played opposite the Marx Brothers in Room Service in 1938. His later film work included supporting roles in the 1946 film It's a Wonderful Life and the 1960 film Psycho. During his life, he also served in the United States Army Air Forces' First Motion Picture Unit making training films.
Albertson passed away on February 29, 1964, at the age of 55. His extensive body of work established him as a recognizable character actor across both film and television media during a career that lasted more than four decades.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
180 titles- The F.B.I. (1965) as Padre
- Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963) as Morgan
- Mr. Novak (1963) as Jim O'Neal
- Johnny Cool (1963) as Bill Blakely
- Bye Bye Birdie (1963) as Mayor
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) as Tom Batterman
- The Virginian (1962) as Sheriff Webb
- Sam Benedict (1962)
- Going My Way (1962)
- The Lloyd Bridges Show (1962) as Walter Asch
- Don't Knock the Twist (1962) as Herbert Walcott
- 87th Precinct (1961) as Pop Smith
- The Investigators (1961) as Insurance adjustor
- Tallahassee 7000 (1961)
- Man-Trap (1961) as Paul Snavely
- The Andy Griffith Show (1960) as Colonel Watson
- Thriller (1960) as Charles Salisbury
- Psycho (1960) as Tom Cassidy
- Checkmate (1960) as Jimmy Purdy
- Johnny Midnight (1960)
- The Aquanauts (1960) as Mr. Linden
- Bringing Up Buddy (1960)
- The Tom Ewell Show (1960)
- Michael Shayne (1960)
- Bonanza (1959) as Sam Walker
- The Untouchables (1959) as Jason MacIntyre
- The Deputy (1959) as Nick Harper
- Hawaiian Eye (1959) as Paul Charring
- Hawaiian Eye (1959) as Wally Gibbs
- The Third Man (1959) as Philip Reiner
- Peter Gunn (1958)
- Lawman (1958) as Clint Porter
- Lawman (1958) as Henry Bildy
- Wanted: Dead or Alive (1958) as George Elkins
- Wanted: Dead or Alive (1958) as Sheriff Mike Strata
- Bronco (1958)
- Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer (1958) as Abner Reed
- Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer (1958) as Jason Gill
- The Last Hurrah (1958) as Jack Mangan
- Perry Mason (1957) as Duck Hunter
- The Real McCoys (1957)
- Maverick (1957) as Harvey Storey
- Leave It to Beaver (1957) as Mr. Gannon
- Richard Diamond, Private Detective (1957) as Stuart Simons
- Richard Diamond, Private Detective (1957) as Gerald Clayton
- Sugarfoot (1957) as Sheriff Crabtree
- Sugarfoot (1957) as Judge Mortimer Hall
- Sugarfoot (1957) as Amos Markham
- Sugarfoot (1957) as Sheriff Billy Boyce
- M Squad (1957) as Walter Ashton
- Official Detective (1957)
- The Restless Gun (1957) as Jeb Lacey
- The Enemy Below (1957) as Lt. J.G. Crain
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Lane Fullerton
- Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre (1956) as Sheriff Charlie Horn
- State Trooper (1956) as John Henderson
- The Gale Storm Show (1956) as Stevens
- The Man Who Knew Too Much (1956) as Taxidermist (uncredited)
- Nightfall (1956) as Dr. Edward Gurston
- Cheyenne (1955) as Johnny Kent
- The Millionaire (1955) as Howard Bayliss
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Regis
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Sergeant Kirby
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as George Wyncliff
- The Phil Silvers Show (1955) as The Producer
- Lassie (1954) as Norman Talley
- Father Knows Best (1954) as Mr. Wickett
- Kraft Television Theatre (1953) as Biff Grimes
- Girl on the Run (1953) as Hank
- Main Street to Broadway (1953) as Self (uncredited)
- The Red Skelton Show (1951) as General Scott
- Tales of Tomorrow (1951)
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951)
- Robert Montgomery Presents (1950)
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Mr. Edgar
- Lux Video Theatre (1950) as Dr. Coffee
- The Billy Rose Show (1950)
- Studio One (1948) as Colonel Greer
- The Philco Television Playhouse (1948)
- Shed No Tears (1948) as Hutton
- Kraft Television Theatre (1947)
- Ginger (1947) as Barney O'Hara
- The Hucksters (1947) as Max Herman
- Killer Dill (1947) as William T. Allen
- It's a Wonderful Life (1946) as Sam Wainwright
- Gay Blades (1946) as Frankie Dowell
- They Made Me a Killer (1946) as Patrolman Al Wilson
- Arson Squad (1945) as Tom Mitchell
- How DOooo You Do (1945) as Tom Brandon
- Smart Boy (1945) as Bill Adams
- I Love a Soldier (1944) as Little Soldier
- And the Angels Sing (1944) as Oliver
- Flight Characteristics of the P-51 Airplane (1944) as Major
- Rosie the Riveter (1944) as Charlie Doran
- Here Comes Elmer (1943) as Joe Maxwell
- O, My Darling Clementine (1943) as 'Dapper' Dan Franklin
- Mystery Broadcast (1943) as Michael Jerome
- Keep 'Em Slugging (1943) as Frank
- Silent Witness (1943) as Bruce L. Strong - Attorney
- Wake Island (1942) as Johnny Rudd
- Junior G-Men of the Air (1942) as Jerry Markham
- Shepherd of the Ozarks (1942) as Lieutenant James J. 'Jimmy' Maloney, Jr.
- Dead End Kids Go To War (1942) as Jerry Markham
- Underground Agent (1942) as Johnny Davis
- Man From Headquarters (1942) as Larry Doyle
- City of Silent Men (1942) as Gil Davis
- Man-Made Monster (1941) as Mark Adams
- Flying Cadets (1941) as Bob Ames
- Louisiana Purchase (1941) as Robert Davis, Jr.
- Citadel of Crime (1941) as Jim Rogers
- Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery (1941) as Sanders
- Burma Convoy (1941) as Mike Weldon
- Father Steps Out (1941) as Jimmy Dugan
- When the Daltons Rode (1940) as Emmett Dalton
- The Ghost Comes Home (1940) as Ernest
- Behind the News (1940) as Jeff Flavin
- Framed (1940) as Hank Parker
- Dr. Christian Meets the Women (1940) as Bill Ferris
- Bachelor Mother (1939) as Freddie Miller
- I'll Tell the World (1939) as Jimmy Hawkins
- Rhumba Rhythm at the Hollywood La Conga (1939) as Himself (uncredited)
- Room Service (1938) as Leo Davis
- Fugitives for a Night (1938) as Matt Ryan
- The Shining Hour (1938) as Benny Collins
- Mother Carey's Chickens (1938) as Tom Hamilton Jr.
- The Magician's Daughter (1938) as Bob Wilson
- Spring Madness (1938) as Hat
- Hold That Kiss (1938) as Steve Evans
- Navy Blue and Gold (1937) as Weeks
- Fury (1936) as Charlie Wilson
- The Plainsman (1936) as A Young Trooper
- The Farmer in the Dell (1936) as Davy Davenport
- No Place like Rome (1936) as Flavius - Roman Bachelor
- Ah, Wilderness! (1935) as Arthur Miller
- Alice Adams (1935) as Walter Adams
- East of Java (1935) as Larry Page
- Personal Maid's Secret (1935) as Kent Fletcher
- Waterfront Lady (1935) as Ronny Hillyer aka Bill
- Kind Lady (1935) as Peter Santard
- Enter Madame (1935) as John Fitzgerald
- Doubting Thomas (1935) as Jimmy Brown
- Hollywood Mystery (1934) as Daniel Patrick Ryan
- The Life of Vergie Winters (1934) as Ranny Truesdale
- Love Detectives (1934) as Bob
- Tripping Through the Tropics (1934) as Jack
- The Last Gentleman (1934) as Allan Blaine, Augusta's adopted son
- Dangerous Crossroads (1933) as Jimmie Blake
- Ann Carver's Profession (1933) as Jim
- Ever in My Heart (1933) as Sam Archer
- The Billion Dollar Scandal (1933) as "Babe" Partos
- The Cohens and Kellys in Trouble (1933) as Bob Graham
- King for a Night (1933) as Dick Morris
- Rainbow Over Broadway (1933) as Don Hayes
- Midshipman Jack (1933) as Russell H. Burns
- The Plumber and the Lady (1933) as James Fawcett
- Huddle (1932) as Larry
- Air Mail (1932) as Tommy Bogan
- The Lost Special (1932) as Tom Hood
- Boys Will Be Boys (1932) as Frank Albertson
- Racing Youth (1932) as Teddy Blue
- Way Back Home (1931) as David Clark
- Big Business Girl (1931) as Johnny Saunders
- The Brat (1931) as Stephen Forester
- A Connecticut Yankee (1931) as Emile le Poulet / Clarence
- Traveling Husbands (1931) as Barry Greene
- Just Imagine (1930) as RT-42
- Men Without Women (1930) as Ensign Price
- So This Is London (1930) as Junior Draper
- Son of the Gods (1930) as Kicker
- Born Reckless (1930) as Frank Sheldon
- The Big Party (1930) as Jack Hunter
- Wild Company (1930) as Larry Grayson
- Spring Is Here (1930) as Stacy Adams
- Blue Skies (1929) as Richard Lewis (episode 2)
- Salute (1929) as Midshipman Albert Edward Price
- Happy Days (1929) as Frankie Albertson
- Words and Music (1929) as Skeet Mulroy
- The Farmer's Daughter (1928) as Allan Boardman Jr.
- Prep and Pep (1928) as Bunk Hill
- The Covered Wagon (1923) as Bit (uncredited)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Frank Albertson best known for?
Frank Albertson is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including The F.B.I. (1965), It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963), Mr. Novak (1963), Johnny Cool (1963).
When and where was Frank Albertson born?
Frank Albertson was born on February 2, 1909 in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, USA. They passed away on February 29, 1964.
How many credits does Frank Albertson have?
Frank Albertson has accumulated over 180 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1923 to 1965.
What is Frank Albertson's background in cinema and television?
Frank Albertson was an American character actor born on February 2, 1909, in Fergus Falls, Minnesota, and he died on February 29, 1964. He made his Hollywood debut in a minor part at age thirteen and accumulated well over one hundred appearances in movies and television throughout his career from 1923 to 1964, with 168...
Frank Albertson by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) — aged about 42
- Psycho (1960) as Tom Cassidy — aged about 51
- It's a Wonderful Life (1946) as Sam Wainwright — aged about 37
- The Untouchables (1959) as Jason MacIntyre — aged about 50
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) as Tom Batterman — aged about 53
- 87th Precinct (1961) as Pop Smith — aged about 52
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