Frank Sully
Acting Born Jun 17, 1908 Died Dec 17, 1975 Saint Louis, Missouri, USA 184 credits
Biography
Frank Sully, born Francis Thomas Sullivan on June 17, 1908, in Saint Louis, Missouri, was an American character actor known for his beefy and square-jawed appearance. He was typically cast as rustic types or dumb heavies, and he was a regular feature in Three Stooges shorts and comedies, as well as serving as the dumb detective in Boston Blackie features. Sully began his career as a comedian in vaudeville and appeared on Broadway starting in the late 1920s. His film credits include The Grapes of Wrath in 1940, The More the Merrier in 1943, and Bye Bye Birdie in 1963, alongside appearances in I Love Lucy, Byl jsem lynčován, and Johnny Staccato. He passed away on December 17, 1975, at the age of 67.
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Career overview
Francis Thomas Sullivan, known professionally as Frank Sully, was an American character actor born in Saint Louis, Missouri, on June 17, 1908. Described as beefy and square-jawed, Sully was typically cast as rustic types or dumb heavies throughout his career. Before his film and television work, he began his career as a comedian in vaudeville and appeared on Broadway starting in the late 1920s.
Sully was a regular feature in Three Stooges shorts, serving as a foil in many of their comedies. Today's audiences also know him best for his role as the dumb detective in the Boston Blackie features. His extensive filmography includes appearances in The Grapes of Wrath in 1940, The More the Merrier in 1943, and Bye Bye Birdie in 1963. Additional credits noted in his filmography include I Love Lucy, Byl jsem lynčován, and Johnny Staccato. Over the course of his career, he amassed 178 known acting credits.
Frank Sully passed away on December 17, 1975, at the age of 67.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Bye Bye Birdie
The VirginianThe VirginianThe VirginianThe Beverly HillbilliesGypsy
The Investigators
The Tall ManLet No Man Write My Epitaph
Johnny Staccato
The RiflemanWanted: Dead or AliveThe Last HurrahMan from God's CountryThe Female Animal
Perry MasonPerry MasonMaverickLeave It to BeaverSugarfoot
Hey, Jeannie!Hey, Jeannie!Friendly PersuasionYou Can't Run Away from ItFrontier Gambler
The Life and Legend of Wyatt EarpNavy LogAlfred Hitchcock PresentsAlfred Hitchcock PresentsThe 20th Century Fox Hour
Father Knows BestThe Adventures of Rin Tin TinSilver LodeBattle of Rogue RiverAin't It Aggravatin'
Bad for Each OtherPardon My BackfireSpies and GuysNorthern Patrol
The Ford Television TheatreMr. & Mrs. NorthGang BustersPat and MikeYoung Man with Ideas
DragnetI Love LucyThe Adventures of Wild Bill HickokMan in the SaddleFather's Little Dividend
Nursie BehaveThe Reformer and the RedheadThe Good Humor ManRookie FiremanKiller Shark
TrappedJoe Palooka in the CounterpunchBoston Blackie's Chinese Venture
Blondie's RewardTrapped by Boston BlackieGun Smugglers
Wild Harvest
RenegadesTalk About a LadyA Close Call for Boston BlackieOne Way to LoveThe Gentleman Misbehaves
Along Came JonesBoston Blackie Booked on SuspicionBoston Blackie's RendezvousI Love a BandleaderOut of the Depths
Two Girls and a SailorBachelor DazeSecret CommandThe Ghost That Walks Alone
One Dangerous NightThe More the MerrierThousands CheerPitchin' in the KitchenMurder in Times Square
My Sister EileenAll Through the NightRings on Her FingersA Man's WorldTwo Yanks in Trinidad
Nice Girl?She Knew All the AnswersGolden HoofsA Girl, a Guy, and a GobPrivate Nurse
The Grapes of WrathThe Return of Frank JamesYoung PeopleCity for ConquestThe Fighting 69th
Another Thin ManSome Like It HotSecond FiddleSorority HouseThe Night of Nights
Start CheeringHold That Co-edYouth Takes a Fling
Captains CourageousCriminals of the AirThey Gave Him a GunBlack LegionLive, Love and Learn
FuryTheodora Goes WildRhythm on the RangeGentle Julia
Mary Burns, Fugitive
Murder at the VanitiesCaravan
Full Filmography
184 titles- Bye Bye Birdie (1963) as Bartender
- The Virginian (1962) as Waiter
- The Virginian (1962) as Bartender
- The Virginian (1962) as Danny
- The Beverly Hillbillies (1962)
- Gypsy (1962) as Wichita Burlesque Audience Member (uncredited)
- The Investigators (1961)
- The Tall Man (1960)
- Let No Man Write My Epitaph (1960) as Drunk at Bar (uncredited)
- Johnny Staccato (1959)
- The Rifleman (1958)
- Wanted: Dead or Alive (1958) as Townsman (uncredited)
- The Last Hurrah (1958) as Fire Lieutenant (uncredited)
- Man from God's Country (1958) as Trail Cook (uncredited)
- The Female Animal (1958) as Taxicab Driver (uncredited)
- Perry Mason (1957) as Newspaper Delivery Man
- Perry Mason (1957) as Cop
- Maverick (1957)
- Leave It to Beaver (1957) as Cab Driver
- Sugarfoot (1957) as Frank the Bartender (uncredited)
- M Squad (1957) as Officer Ed Grady
- The Helen Morgan Story (1957) as Vendor (scenes deleted)
- The Buckskin Lady (1957) as Jed
- Domino Kid (1957)
- Rockabilly Baby (1957) as Bum
- Snowshoes: A Comedy of People and Horses (1957) as Cop
- A Merry Mix-Up (1957) as (uncredited)
- Hey, Jeannie! (1956) as Officer
- Hey, Jeannie! (1956) as Expressman
- Friendly Persuasion (1956) as Rebel Looter (uncredited)
- You Can't Run Away from It (1956) as Red
- Frontier Gambler (1956) as Bartender
- So You Want to Be Pretty (1956) as Harry (uncredited)
- The Desperados Are in Town (1956) as Carl Branch
- The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1955) as Mr. Miller (uncredited)
- Navy Log (1955)
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Desk Clerk
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as The Piano Player
- The 20th Century Fox Hour (1955)
- The 20th Century Fox Hour (1955) as Sergeant
- Screen Director's Playhouse (1955) as Diner Patron
- The Naked Street (1955)
- Fling in the Ring (1955) as Big Mike
- Women's Prison (1955)
- Seminole Uprising (1955)
- Apache Ambush (1955)
- Last of the Desperados (1955) as Murder Victim Tim (bit)
- Jungle Moon Men (1955) as Max
- Blunder Boys (1955) as Dean Watts D. Matter (uncredited)
- Father Knows Best (1954) as Waiter
- The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin (1954)
- Silver Lode (1954) as Paul Herbert, Telegrapher
- Battle of Rogue River (1954) as Pvt. Kohler
- Ain't It Aggravatin' (1954) as Neighbor (uncredited)
- Bad for Each Other (1953) as Tippy Kashko, Townsman
- Pardon My Backfire (1953) as Escaped Convict
- Spies and Guys (1953) as Enemy Soldier (uncredited)
- Northern Patrol (1953) as Bartender
- The Ford Television Theatre (1952) as Policeman
- Mr. & Mrs. North (1952)
- Gang Busters (1952)
- Pat and Mike (1952) as Photographer (uncredited)
- Young Man with Ideas (1952) as Salesman (uncredited)
- With a Song in My Heart (1952) as Soldier (uncredited)
- No Room for the Groom (1952) as Cousin Luke
- Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder (1952) as Harry, the Projectionist
- A Fool and His Honey (1952)
- Night Stage to Galveston (1952) as Policeman Kelly
- Strop, Look and Listen (1952) as Waiter
- Dragnet (1951)
- I Love Lucy (1951) as Delivery Man
- The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok (1951)
- Man in the Saddle (1951) as Lee Repp
- Father's Little Dividend (1951) as Infant Service Diaper Man (uncredited)
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951) as Coots Larkin
- The Red Badge of Courage (1951) as Veteran (uncredited)
- Let's Make It Legal (1951) as Laborer (uncredited)
- The Tall Target (1951) as Telegram Messenger (uncredited)
- The Big Gusher (1951) as Barfly
- Rhubarb (1951) as Big Head Charlie - Bookie (uncredited)
- Nursie Behave (1950) as Officer Murphy
- The Reformer and the Redhead (1950) as Joe (uncredited)
- The Good Humor Man (1950) as Cop (uncredited)
- Rookie Fireman (1950) as Charlie
- Killer Shark (1950)
- Joe Palooka Meets Humphrey (1950) as Looie
- Blondie's Hero (1950) as Mike McClusky, the Snorer (uncredited)
- Joe Palooka in Humphrey Takes a Chance (1950) as Looie
- Beauty on Parade (1950) as Murph
- Trapped (1949) as Sam the Bartender (uncredited)
- Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch (1949) as Looie
- Boston Blackie's Chinese Venture (1949) as Sergeant Matthews
- Blondie's Reward (1948) as Officer Carney
- Trapped by Boston Blackie (1948) as Sgt. Matthews
- Gun Smugglers (1948) as Corporal Clancy
- Wild Harvest (1947) as Nick
- Renegades (1946) as Link
- Talk About a Lady (1946) as Rocky Jordan
- A Close Call for Boston Blackie (1946) as Sgt. Matthews
- One Way to Love (1946) as Hopkins
- The Gentleman Misbehaves (1946) as Taxi Driver
- It's Great to Be Young (1946) as Burkett
- Dangerous Business (1946) as Bert
- The Phantom Thief (1946) as Detective Sergeant Matthews
- Crime Doctor's Man Hunt (1946) as Henchman 'Rigger'
- Throw a Saddle on a Star (1946) as Lawyer
- Boston Blackie and the Law (1946) as Sgt. Matthews
- Along Came Jones (1945) as Avery de Longpre
- Boston Blackie Booked on Suspicion (1945) as Sgt. Matthews
- Boston Blackie's Rendezvous (1945) as Mathews
- I Love a Bandleader (1945) as Dan Benson
- Out of the Depths (1945) as 'Speed' Brogan
- Two Girls and a Sailor (1944) as Private Adams
- Bachelor Daze (1944) as Ezra's neighbor
- Secret Command (1944) as Shawn
- The Ghost That Walks Alone (1944) as Beppo
- One Dangerous Night (1943) as Hertzog - Henchman
- The More the Merrier (1943) as FBI Agent Pike
- Thousands Cheer (1943) as Alan
- Pitchin' in the Kitchen (1943) as Albert, the Neighbor
- Murder in Times Square (1943) as Benny the Baboon
- There's Something About a Soldier (1943) as Alex Grybinski
- Dangerous Blondes (1943) as Detective Joe Henderson
- Power of the Press (1943) as Mack Gibbons (uncredited)
- Good Luck, Mr. Yates (1943) as Joe Briggs
- My Sister Eileen (1942) as Jenson
- All Through the Night (1942) as Spence
- Rings on Her Fingers (1942)
- A Man's World (1942) as Sammy Collins
- Two Yanks in Trinidad (1942) as Mike Paradise
- Parachute Nurse (1942) as Sgt. Peters
- Laugh Your Blues Away (1942) as Buck
- The Boogie Man Will Get You (1942) as Officer Joe Starrett
- Inside the Law (1942) as Jim Burke
- The Daring Young Man (1942) as Luke
- Lucky Legs (1942) as Mugg
- Sleepytime Gal (1942) as Dimples
- Nice Girl? (1941)
- She Knew All the Answers (1941) as Cop
- Golden Hoofs (1941) as Ed Muckle
- A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob (1941) as Salty
- Private Nurse (1941) as Eddie
- Let's Go Collegiate (1941) as Hercules 'Herk' Bevans
- The Grapes of Wrath (1940) as Noah
- The Return of Frank James (1940) as Actor
- Young People (1940) as Jeb
- City for Conquest (1940) as Radio Listener (uncredited)
- The Fighting 69th (1940) as Sergeant (uncredited)
- Lillian Russell (1940) as Hank
- Dr. Kildare's Crisis (1940) as John Root
- The Doctor Takes a Wife (1940) as Slapcovitch
- He Stayed for Breakfast (1940) as Butcher
- Cross-Country Romance (1940) as Mike
- Women Without Names (1940) as Friendly Motorist
- Castle on the Hudson (1940) as Second Prisoner (uncredited)
- Escape to Glory (1940) as Tommy Malone
- Yesterday's Heroes (1940) as Curly Walsh
- Spring Parade (1940) as Bert - Shawl Salesman
- Another Thin Man (1939) as Pete (uncredited)
- Some Like It Hot (1939) as Sailor Burke / The Living Corpse
- Second Fiddle (1939) as Townsman
- Sorority House (1939) as The Caterer (uncredited)
- The Night of Nights (1939) as Taxi Driver (uncredited)
- The Great Man Votes (1939) as Policeman at Parade
- Start Cheering (1938) as Jimmy
- Hold That Co-ed (1938) as Steve Wurgerski
- Youth Takes a Fling (1938) as Jim
- Captains Courageous (1937) as Taxi Driver (uncredited)
- Criminals of the Air (1937)
- They Gave Him a Gun (1937) as Comedy Soldier (uncredited)
- Black Legion (1937) as Truck Driver's Helper (uncredited)
- Live, Love and Learn (1937) as Marine (uncredited)
- Daughter of Shanghai (1937) as Jake Kelly
- Life Begins in College (1937) as Football Player
- White Bondage (1937) as Man in Pool Room
- Radio Patrol (1937) as Flynn
- The Romance Of Robert Burns (1937) as Jock Wilson (uncredited)
- Fury (1936) as Dynamiter (uncredited)
- Theodora Goes Wild (1936) as Clarence (uncredited)
- Rhythm on the Range (1936) as Splashed Rodeo Cowboy
- Gentle Julia (1936) as Mr. Toms
- Mary Burns, Fugitive (1935) as Steve
- Murder at the Vanities (1934) as Chorus Boy (uncredited)
- Caravan (1934) as Hungarian Soldier (Uncredited)
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Frank Sully best known for?
Frank Sully is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Bye Bye Birdie (1963), Flickering Lights (2000), Flickering Lights (2000), Flickering Lights (2000).
When and where was Frank Sully born?
Frank Sully was born on June 17, 1908 in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA. They passed away on December 17, 1975.
How many credits does Frank Sully have?
Frank Sully has accumulated over 184 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1934 to 1963.
What is Frank Sully's background in cinema and television?
Frank Sully, born Francis Thomas Sullivan on June 17, 1908, in Saint Louis, Missouri, was an American character actor known for his beefy and square-jawed appearance. He was typically cast as rustic types or dumb heavies, and he was a regular feature in Three Stooges shorts and comedies, as well as serving as the dumb ...
Frank Sully by the numbers
184credits
151films
33TV series
1934–1963active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- I Love Lucy (1951) as Delivery Man — aged about 43
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Desk Clerk — aged about 47
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as The Piano Player — aged about 47
- The Ford Television Theatre (1952) as Policeman — aged about 44
- The Grapes of Wrath (1940) as Noah — aged about 32
- Perry Mason (1957) as Newspaper Delivery Man — aged about 49
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