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Frank Albertson

Frank Albertson

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.

  • BIRTH 02/02/1909
  • DEATH 29/02/1964
  • Country United States
  • SHOWS 8
  • MOVIES 21

Shows (8)

Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
George Wyncliff / Regis / Sergeant Kirby
Wanted: Dead or Alive
Wanted: Dead or Alive
George Elkins / Sheriff Mike Strata
Perry Mason
Perry Mason
Duck Hunter
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
Tom Batterman
The Andy Griffith Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Colonel Watson
The F.B.I.
The F.B.I.
Padre
The Virginian
The Virginian
Sheriff Webb
M Squad
M Squad
Walter Ashton

Movies (21)

Psycho
Psycho
Tom Cassidy
The Man Who Knew Too Much
The Man Who Knew Too Much
Taxidermist (uncredited)
It's a Wonderful Life
It's a Wonderful Life
Sam Wainwright
Room Service
Room Service
Leo Davis
The Plainsman
The Plainsman
A Young Trooper
Enter Madame
Enter Madame
John Fitzgerald
Alice Adams
Alice Adams
Walter Adams
Fury
Fury
Charlie Wilson
Ah, Wilderness!
Ah, Wilderness!
Arthur Miller
Nightfall
Nightfall
Dr. Edward Gurston
Gay Blades
Gay Blades
Frankie Dowell
The Enemy Below
The Enemy Below
Lt. J.G. Crain
Men Without Women
Men Without Women
Ensign Price
Rosie the Riveter
Rosie the Riveter
Charlie Doran
Blue Skies
Blue Skies
Richard Lewis (episode 2)
Bye Bye Birdie
Bye Bye Birdie
Mayor
Shepherd of the Ozarks
Shepherd of the Ozarks
Lieutenant James J. 'Jimmy' Maloney, Jr.
The Shining Hour
The Shining Hour
Benny Collins
The Last Hurrah
The Last Hurrah
Jack Mangan
The Brat
The Brat
Stephen Forester
Bachelor Mother
Bachelor Mother
Freddie Miller