Frank Orth
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- February 20, 1880
- Died
- March 17, 1962 (aged 82)
- Birthplace
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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
Filmography
Houdini
Movie · as Mr. Hunter
Here Come the Girls
Movie · as Mr. Hungerford
Something to Live For
Movie · as Waiter (uncredited)
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
TV · as Uncle John · 1 ep
Double Dynamite
Movie · as Mr. Kofer
Boston Blackie
TV · as Inspector Faraday · 58 eps
Father of the Bride
Movie · as Joe
Cheaper by the Dozen
Movie · as Higgins (uncredited)
The Great Rupert
Movie · as Mr. Frank Dingle
The Petty Girl
Movie · as Moody (process server)
Red Light
Movie · as Wallace 'Wally' Stoner
Bride for Sale
Movie · as Police Sergeant (uncredited)
Blondie's Secret
Movie · as Mr. Philpotts
The Big Clock
Movie · as Burt
The Girl from Manhattan
Movie · as Oscar Newsome
So This Is New York
Movie · as AJ Gluskoter
The Guilt of Janet Ames
Movie · as Danny
It Had to Be You
Movie · as Conductor Brown
Born to Speed
Movie · as Breezy Bradley
Heartaches
Movie · as Mike Connelly, Vic's Agent
The Gas House Kids in Hollywood
Movie · as Police Captain
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers
Movie · as Hotel Clerk
Wake Up and Dream
Movie · as Milkman
The Hoodlum Saint
Movie · as Chronicle Editor (uncredited)
The Bride Wore Boots
Movie · as Judge (uncredited)
Murder in the Music Hall
Movie · as Henderson
It's Great to Be Young
Movie · as Franklin Johnson
Lady in the Lake
Movie · as Floyd Greer (Uncredited)
Blondie's Lucky Day
Movie · as Shaving Kit Salesman (uncredited)
The Lost Weekend
Movie · as Opera Cloak Room Attendant
Pillow to Post
Movie · as Clayfield Taxi Driver
Doll Face
Movie · as Peters
Tell It to a Star
Movie · as Augustus T. Goodman
She Went to the Races
Movie · as Skelly
Storm Over Lisbon
Movie · as Murgatroyd
Wilson
Movie · as Smith (uncredited)
Greenwich Village
Movie · as Ordway
Summer Storm
Movie · as Cafe Maitre d' at End (uncredited)
Roger Touhy, Gangster
Movie · as . Comic in Theater (uncredited)
The Impatient Years
Movie · as Counterman
Tall in the Saddle
Movie · as 'Shorty' Davis (uncredited)
Sweet Rosie O'Grady
Movie · as Taxi Driver
The Ox-Bow Incident
Movie · as Larry Kinkaid (uncredited)
Coney Island
Movie · as Bartender
Hello, Frisco, Hello
Movie · as Lou, Bartender at Sharkey's
The Meanest Man in the World
Movie · as Bartender (uncredited)
Footlight Serenade
Movie · as Mike
Springtime in the Rockies
Movie · as Bickel (uncredited)
Henry and Dizzy
Movie · as Joe McGuire
Blue, White and Perfect
Movie · as Mr. Toby
Over My Dead Body
Movie · as Detective
Orchestra Wives
Movie · as Rex Willet
Dr. Kildare's Victory
Movie · as Mike Ryan
My Gal Sal
Movie · as McGuiness
Roxie Hart
Movie · as Bar Client #2 (uncredited)
Rings on Her Fingers
Movie · as Kellogg
Dr. Gillespie's New Assistant
Movie · as Mike Ryan
The Magnificent Dope
Movie · as Messenger
Tales of Manhattan
Movie · as Secondhand Clothes Dealer
Right to the Heart
Movie · as Pete
I Wake Up Screaming
Movie · as Cemetery Caretaker
Come Live with Me
Movie · as Jerry
The People Vs. Dr. Kildare
Movie · as Mike Ryan
Ride on Vaquero
Movie · as Auctioneer
Sergeant York
Movie · as Drummer (uncredited)
Respect the Law
Movie · as Peter Brennan
They Died with Their Boots On
Movie · as Barfly (uncredited)
Broadway Limited
Movie · as Lou, Cafe Proprietor
The Strawberry Blonde
Movie · as Baxter - Livery Stable Owner (uncredited)
Let's Make Music
Movie · as Mr. Botts
His Girl Friday
Movie · as Duffy
Pier 13
Movie · as Dead Pan Charlie
Michael Shayne: Private Detective
Movie · as Steve
Boom Town
Movie · as Barber
You, the People
Movie · as Soda Jerk
Brother Orchid
Movie · as Waiter at Fat Dutchy's (uncredited)
Gallant Sons
Movie · as Newspaper Foreman (uncredited)
The Doctor Takes a Wife
Movie · as New York Editor (uncredited)
'Til We Meet Again
Movie · as Hong Kong Bartender (uncredited)
Father Is A Prince
Movie · as Drugstore Proprieter
Florian
Movie · as Detective
Dr. Kildare's Crisis
Movie · as Mike Ryan, Cafe Owner
Dr. Kildare Goes Home
Movie · as Mike Ryan (uncredited)
Dr. Kildare's Strange Case
Movie · as Mike
La Conga Nights
Movie · as Dennis O'Brien
Mexican Spitfire Out West
Movie · as Window Washer
Know Your Money
Movie · as Tobacconist (uncredited)
Buyer Beware
Movie · as Smith (uncredited)
Gold Rush Maisie
Movie · as Harris
Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase
Movie · as Captain Tweedy
Broadway Serenade
Movie · as Mr. Fellows
Fast and Furious
Movie · as Captain Joe Burke
Burn 'Em Up O'Connor
Movie · as Tim McKelvy
Tell No Tales
Movie · as Vic - Bartender (uncredited)
At the Circus
Movie · as Chef in Diner (uncredited)
Idiot's Delight
Movie · as Benny Zinsser
Nancy Drew... Reporter
Movie · as Captain Tweedy (uncredited)
Fast and Loose
Movie · as Detective Hendricks (uncredited)
Within the Law
Movie · as Jim Jenks
Calling Dr. Kildare
Movie · as Mike Sullivan - Hospital Cafe Owner (uncredited)
Young Mr. Lincoln
Movie · as Loafer (uncredited)
Thunder Afloat
Movie · as Old Sailor in Bilge Area (uncredited)
Stanley and Livingstone
Movie · as Newspaperman with Pills
The Secret of Dr. Kildare
Movie · as Mike
Dust Be My Destiny
Movie · as Wedding Witness on Stage (uncredited)
Nancy Drew… Detective
Movie · as Captain Tweedy
Think It Over
Movie · as Brown, Clothing Store Owner
Mr. Chump
Movie · as Sheriff Frank Hinton
The Patient in Room 18
Movie · as Joe Higgins - Night Watchman
Young Dr. Kildare
Movie · as Mike Ryan (uncredited)
Torchy Blane in Panama
Movie · as First Leopard (uncredited)
Comet Over Broadway
Movie · as Cab Driver (uncredited)
San Quentin
Movie · as Convict in Bunkhouse (uncredited)
Marry the Girl
Movie · as Bar owner
Land Beyond the Law
Movie · as Shorty Long
Ever Since Eve
Movie · as Cocktail Waiter (uncredited)
The Footloose Heiress
Movie · as Justice Abner Cuttler
Missing Witnesses
Movie · as Gordon (uncredited)
The Devil's Saddle Legion
Movie · as Judge Barko
Prairie Thunder
Movie · as Wichita
Talent Scout
Movie · as Burlesque Theatre Manager (uncredited)
Polo Joe
Movie · as Bert
Two Against the World
Movie · as Tommy - Bartender
Hot Money
Movie · as Hank Ford
Unwelcome Stranger
Movie · as Jackson
The Payoff
Movie · as Porter (uncredited)
The Victim
Movie · as The Husband
Taking Ways
Movie
A Bird in the Hand
Movie