Frank McHugh
Biography
Francis Curray Frank McHugh was an American film and television actor born on May 23, 1898, in Homestead, Pennsylvania, though another source lists his birthday as May 22, 1898. He came from a theatrical family whose parents ran a stock theatre company, and he performed on stage as a young child alongside his brother Matt and sister Kitty. Another brother, Ed, became a stage manager and agent in New York, and the family quit the stage around 1930. McHugh debuted on Broadway in The Fall Guy in 1925 and was hired by Warner Bros. as a contract player in 1930. In Hollywood, he belonged to a group of friends known as the Irish Mafia, which included James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, Spencer Tracy, Allen Jenkins, Ralph Bellamy, Frank Morgan, and Lynne. He passed away on September 11, 1981, at the age of 83.
Career overview
Francis Curray Frank McHugh was an American film and television actor born in Homestead, Pennsylvania, on May 23, 1898, with sources also noting his birthday on May 22, 1898. He came from a theatrical family whose parents ran a stock theatre company, allowing McHugh to perform on stage as a young child. By the time he was ten years old, he performed in an act with his brother Matt and sister Kitty. Another brother, Ed, became a stage manager and agent in New York, and the family eventually quit the stage around 1930.
McHugh debuted on Broadway in The Fall Guy in 1925. In 1930, Warner Bros. hired him as a contract player. Over the course of his career, McHugh played everything from lead actor to sidekick and would often provide comedy. He was known for having 143 known acting credits across movies and television shows.
In Hollywood, McHugh belonged to a group of friends known as the Irish Mafia. This group included his close friends James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, and Spencer Tracy, along with fellow actors Allen Jenkins, Ralph Bellamy, Frank Morgan, and Lynne. McHugh passed away on September 11, 1981, at the age of 83.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
146 titles- Lancer (1968)
- Way Down Cellar (1968) as Constable Seely
- Easy Come, Easy Go (1967) as Captain Jack
- F Troop (1965)
- The Bing Crosby Show (1964) as Willie Walters
- A Tiger Walks (1964) as Bill Watkins
- The Lucy Show (1962) as Mr. Snowden
- Going My Way (1962)
- The Defenders (1961) as Henry Schell
- Cain's Hundred (1961) as Wilbur Morton
- The Spiral Staircase (1961) as Constable Williams
- Route 66 (1960)
- Outlaws (1960)
- Say One for Me (1959) as Jim Dugan
- Career (1959) as Charlie Gallagher
- The Further Adventures of Ellery Queen (1958)
- The Last Hurrah (1958) as Festus Garvey
- DuPont Show of the Month (1957) as Lefty
- Three Men on a Horse (1957) as Charlie
- The Millionaire (1955) as Charles N. Bradwell
- There's No Business Like Show Business (1954) as Eddie Dugan
- A Lion Is in the Streets (1953) as Frank Rector
- It Happens Every Thursday (1953) as Fred Hawley
- The Pace That Thrills (1952) as Rocket Anderson
- My Son John (1952) as Father O'Dowd
- The Gulf Playhouse (1952)
- Tales of Tomorrow (1951)
- Armstrong Circle Theatre (1950)
- Paid in Full (1950) as Ben, Bartender
- The Tougher They Come (1950) as Gig Rafferty
- Mighty Joe Young (1949) as Windy
- Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949) as Kilcoyne
- Studio One (1948) as Nobby Bishop
- Studio One (1948) as Barney
- Studio One (1948) as Horace Potter
- Studio One (1948) as Ben Ames
- The Velvet Touch (1948) as Ernie Boyle
- Carnegie Hall (1947) as John Donovan
- Easy Come, Easy Go (1947) as Carey
- The Hoodlum Saint (1946) as Three Finger
- The Runaround (1946) as Wally Quayle
- Little Miss Big (1946) as Charlie Bryan
- State Fair (1945) as McGee
- A Medal for Benny (1945) as Edgar Lovekin
- Going My Way (1944) as Father Timothy O'Dowd
- Bowery to Broadway (1944) as Joe Kirby
- Marine Raiders (1944) as Sgt. Louis Leary
- All Through the Night (1942) as Barney
- Her Cardboard Lover (1942) as Chappie Champagne
- Back Street (1941) as Ed Porter
- Manpower (1941) as Omaha
- Four Mothers (1941) as Ben Crowley
- Virginia City (1940) as Mr. Upjohn
- I Love You Again (1940) as 'Doc' Ryan
- 'Til We Meet Again (1940) as Rockingham T. Rockingham
- The Fighting 69th (1940) as "Crepe Hanger" Burke
- City for Conquest (1940) as 'Mutt'
- Alex in Wonderland (1940) as Narrator (voice)
- Dodge City (1939) as Joe Clemens
- The Roaring Twenties (1939) as Danny Green
- Daughters Courageous (1939) as George
- Wings of the Navy (1939) as Scat Allen
- On Your Toes (1939) as Paddy Reilly
- Four Wives (1939) as Ben Crowley
- Dust Be My Destiny (1939) as Caruthers
- Indianapolis Speedway (1939) as Spuds Connors
- Valley of the Giants (1938) as 'Fingers' McCarthy
- Four Daughters (1938) as Ben Crowley
- Breakdowns of 1938 (1938) as Popeye Bronson (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Boy Meets Girl (1938) as Rossetti
- Swing Your Lady (1938) as Popeye Bronson
- He Couldn't Say No (1938) as Lambert T. Hunkins
- Little Miss Thoroughbred (1938) as Tod Harrington
- Sunday Night at the Trocadero (1937) as Frank McHugh
- A Day at Santa Anita (1937) as Frank McHugh (uncredited)
- Ever Since Eve (1937) as Mike 'Mabel DeCraven' McGillicuddy
- Mr. Dodd Takes the Air (1937) as Sniffer Sears
- Marry the Girl (1937) as David Partridge
- Submarine D-1 (1937) as "Lucky" Jones
- Bullets or Ballots (1936) as Herman
- Snowed Under (1936) as Orlando Rowe
- Three Men on a Horse (1936) as Erwin Trowbridge
- Freshman Love (1936) as Coach Hammond
- Stage Struck (1936) as Sid
- Moonlight Murder (1936) as William
- A Midsummer Night's Dream (1935) as Quince
- Devil Dogs of the Air (1935) as Crash Kelly
- Stars Over Broadway (1935) as Offkey Cramer
- The Irish in Us (1935) as Mike O'Hara
- A Dream Comes True (1935) as Himself (uncredited)
- Page Miss Glory (1935) as Ed Olson
- Maybe It's Love (1935) as Willie Sands
- Gold Diggers of 1935 (1935) as Humbolt Prentiss
- Hollywood Newsreel (1934) as Himself
- Fashions of 1934 (1934) as Snap
- 6 Day Bike Rider (1934) as Clinton
- Heat Lightning (1934) as Frank
- Merry Wives of Reno (1934) as Al
- Happiness Ahead (1934) as Tom
- Here Comes the Navy (1934) as Droopy Mullins
- Return of the Terror (1934) as Joe Hastings
- Let’s Be Ritzy (1934) as Bill Damroy Robert
- Smarty (1934) as George
- Footlight Parade (1933) as Francis
- Professional Sweetheart (1933) as Speed
- Convention City (1933) as Will Goodwin
- Mystery of the Wax Museum (1933) as Jim
- Lilly Turner (1933) as David 'Dave' Dixon
- The Telegraph Trail (1933) as Corporal Tippy
- The House on 56th Street (1933) as Chester Hunt
- Parachute Jumper (1933) as Toodles Cooper
- Ex-Lady (1933) as Hugo Van Hugh
- Elmer, the Great (1933) as Healy High-Hips
- Grand Slam (1933) as Philip 'Speed' McCann
- Tomorrow at Seven (1933) as Clancy
- Son of a Sailor (1933) as Gaga
- Havana Widows (1933) as Mr. Duffy, the Lawyer
- Private Jones (1933) as 'Greasy' - the Cook
- Hold Me Tight (1933) as Billy Wade
- The Dark Horse (1932) as Joe
- One Way Passage (1932) as Skippy
- Union Depot (1932) as The Drunk
- The Crowd Roars (1932) as Spud Connors
- High Pressure (1932) as Mike Donahey
- Blessed Event (1932) as Reilly
- Life Begins (1932) as Ringer Banks
- The Strange Love of Molly Louvain (1932) as Skeets, a Reporter
- Extra! Extra! (1932) as Peter Burke
- The Front Page (1931) as McCue
- The Hot Spot (1931) as Peter Burke
- Corsair (1931) as 'Chub' Hopping
- Millie (1931) as John Holmes
- Bad Company (1931) as Doc-Henchmen
- Up for Murder (1931) as Collins
- Traveling Husbands (1931) as Pinkie
- Kiss Me Again (1931) as Francois
- Men of the Sky (1931)
- The Wide Open Spaces (1931) as Matt - a Gambler
- The Great Junction Hotel (1931) as Peeping Tom
- College Lovers (1930) as Speed Haskins
- The Dawn Patrol (1930) as Flaherty
- Going Wild (1930) as 'Ricky' Freeman
- Bright Lights (1930) as Fish
- The Widow from Chicago (1930) as Slug O'Donnell
- An Intimate Dinner in Celebration of Warner Bros. Silver Jubilee (1930) as Self
- Top Speed (1930) as Tad Jordan
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Frank McHugh best known for?
Frank McHugh is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Legal Eagles (1986), Easy Come, Easy Go (1967), F Troop (1965), One Night at McCool's (2001).
When and where was Frank McHugh born?
Frank McHugh was born on May 22, 1898 in Homestead, Pennsylvania, USA. They passed away on September 11, 1981.
How many credits does Frank McHugh have?
Frank McHugh has accumulated over 146 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1930 to 1968.
What is Frank McHugh's background in cinema and television?
Francis Curray Frank McHugh was an American film and television actor born on May 23, 1898, in Homestead, Pennsylvania, though another source lists his birthday as May 22, 1898. He came from a theatrical family whose parents ran a stock theatre company, and he performed on stage as a young child alongside his brother M...
Frank McHugh by the numbers
Age in their best-rated roles
- DuPont Show of the Month (1957) as Lefty — aged about 59
- The Last Hurrah (1958) as Festus Garvey — aged about 60
- The Lucy Show (1962) as Mr. Snowden — aged about 64
- Route 66 (1960) — aged about 62
- Outlaws (1960) — aged about 62
- Going My Way (1962) — aged about 64
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