Frank Albertson

Acting

Frank Albertson

Born 1909-02-02 · Fergus Falls, Minnesota, USA

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Francis Healey Albertson (February 2, 1909 – February 29, 1964) was an American character actor who made his debut in a minor part in Hollywood at age thirteen. He had supporting roles in films such as It's a Wonderful Life (1946) and Psycho (1960). Albertson made well over 100 appearances (1923–1964) in movies and television. In his early career he often sang and danced in such films as Just Imagine (1930) and A Connecticut Yankee (1931). He was featured in Alice Adams (1935) as the title character's brother, and in Room Service (1938) he played opposite the Marx Brothers. He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces' First Motion Picture Unit making training films during World War II. As he aged he moved from featured roles to supporting and character parts—in his later career he can be seen as Sam Wainwright, the businessman fond of saying "Hee-Haw" in the movie It's a Wonderful Life (1946). Albertson portrayed future U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt in the 1956 episode "Rough Rider" of the CBS western television series My Friend Flicka. He guest starred in the early NBC western series The Californians and twice in the David Janssen crime drama Richard Diamond, Private Detective. He was cast in 1959 and 1962 in different roles on Walter Brennan's sitcom The Real McCoys. In 1960, he appeared as General Devery in the episode "Strange Encounter" of the ABC/Warner Brothers western series Colt .45. In 1960, he played the wealthy rancher Tom Cassidy at the beginning of Psycho (1960) who provides the $40,000 in cash that Janet Leigh's character later steals. In the 1960-61 television season, he played the character Mr. Cooper in five episodes of the CBS sitcom Bringing Up Buddy, starring Frank Aletter. In 1964, Albertson was cast as Jim O'Neal in the episode "The Death of a Teacher" of the NBC education drama Mr. Novak. One of his final screen appearances was as "Sam," the bewildered mayor of Sweet Apple, Ohio, in the 1963 film musical Bye Bye Birdie. His last appearance was on The Andy Griffith Show, in which he played a Marine commander completing an inspection. The episode aired on May 19, 1964, three months after Albertson died.

Acting credits

Psycho poster
8.4

When larcenous real estate clerk Marion Crane goes on the lam with a wad of cash and hopes of starting a new life, she ends up at the notorious Bates Motel, where manager Norman Bates cares for his housebound mother.

Psycho

1960

It's a Wonderful Life poster
8.3

George Bailey has spent his entire life giving to the people of Bedford Falls. All that prevents rich skinflint Mr. Potter from taking over the entire town is George's modest building and loan company. But on Christmas Eve the business's $8,000 is lost and George's troubles begin.

It's a Wonderful Life

1946

The Man Who Knew Too Much poster
7.4

An American doctor and his wife, a former singing star, witness a murder while vacationing in Morocco, and are drawn into a twisting plot of international intrigue when their young son is kidnapped.

The Man Who Knew Too Much

1956

Bye Bye Birdie poster
5.9

A singer goes to a small town for a performance before he is drafted.

Bye Bye Birdie

1963

Hollywood Mystery poster
5.8

A PR man for a low-budget movie studio comes up with what he believes is the perfect gimmick--to make a gangster picture with a real mobster in the lead role.

Hollywood Mystery

1934

Johnny Cool poster
5.3

A deported gangster trains an Italian convict to take over his operations in the U.S.

Johnny Cool

1963

The Enemy Below poster
7.2

The crew of the American destroyer escort, the USS Haynes, detects a German U-Boat—resulting in a prolonged, deadly battle of wits.

The Enemy Below

1957

The Plainsman poster
6.5

Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, and Buffalo Bill go up against Indians and a gunrunner.

The Plainsman

1936

Born Reckless poster
5.7

In order to use the publicity to get re-elected, a judge sentences a notorious gangster to fight in the war.

Born Reckless

1930

The Last Hurrah poster
7.2

In a changing world where television has become the main source of information, Adam Caulfield, a young sports journalist, witnesses how his uncle, Frank Skeffington, a veteran and honest politician, mayor of a New England town, tries to be reelected while bankers and captains of industry conspire in the shadows to place a weak and manageable candidate in the city hall.

The Last Hurrah

1958

Louisiana Purchase poster
6.7

A bumbling senator investigating graft in Louisiana is the target of a scheme involving a Viennese beauty.

Louisiana Purchase

1941

Killer Dill poster
7.3

Door-to-door salesman Johnny Dill, the exact double of a notorious gangster, finds himself struck between the forces of good and evil.

Killer Dill

1947

Man-Made Monster poster
6.1

Mad scientist turns a man into an electrically-controlled monster to do his bidding.

Man-Made Monster

1941

Fury poster
7.5

Joe, who owns a gas station along with his brothers and is about to marry Katherine, travels to the small town where she lives to visit her, but is wrongly mistaken for a wanted kidnapper and arrested.

Fury

1936

Nightfall poster
6.9

An innocent man turns fugitive as he reconstructs events that implicate him for a murder and robbery he did not commit.

Nightfall

1956

Bachelor Mother poster
7.2

Polly Parrish, a clerk at Merlin's Department Store, is mistakenly presumed to be the mother of a foundling. Outraged at Polly's unmotherly conduct, David Merlin becomes determined to keep the single woman and "her" baby together.

Bachelor Mother

1939

East of Java poster
7.5

Survivors of a shipwreck find refuge on a tropical island--but so do the ship's cargo of lions and tigers.

East of Java

1935

Dangerous Crossroads poster
6.5

A railroad detective is having a difficult time stopping or even slowing down a gang that is robbing the merchandise carried on the freight trains, with inside information. However, his son and his son's young friends notice something that helps the railway detective get on the right trail.

Dangerous Crossroads

1933

Room Service poster
6.6

Broke Gordon Miller tries to land a backer for his new play while he has to deal with with the hotel manager trying to evict him and his cast.

Room Service

1938

Ann Carver's Profession poster
7.0

Newlyweds experience marital problems when the wife's highly successful job as an attorney overshadows her husband's stagnant career.

Ann Carver's Profession

1933

Ever in My Heart poster
5.6

World War I brings tribulations to an American woman married to a German.

Ever in My Heart

1933

Big Business Girl poster
6.8

A young woman goes to New York and finds success in advertising thanks to her legs while her boyfriend spends the summer in Europe with his band.

Big Business Girl

1931

Happy Days poster
6.3

In Fox's contribution to the all-star revue cycle of early talkies, showboat singer Margie, hearing that the show is in arrears, goes to New York to gather all of the former stars to stage a minstrel show as a benefit.

Happy Days

1929

Main Street to Broadway poster
7.3

In New York, a surly, down-on-his-heels playwright meets a country girl who's giving up trying to act and returning home. He goes with her for inspiration when his agent convinces a stage star to take his next effort. When he returns to Broadway, his girl stays behind and starts seeing a local businessman.

Main Street to Broadway

1953