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.
Acted in 126
1950s
- 1953
Here Come the Girls
Mr. Hungerford
- 1952
Something to Live For
Waiter (uncredited)
- 1951
- 1950
The Petty Girl
Moody (process server)
1940s
- 1949
Bride for Sale
Police Sergeant (uncredited)
- 1948
Blondie's Secret
Mr. Philpotts
The Girl from Manhattan
Oscar Newsome
So This Is New York
AJ Gluskoter
- 1947
It Had to Be You
Conductor Brown
The Gas House Kids in Hollywood
Police Captain
Heartaches
Mike Connelly, Vic's Agent
The Guilt of Janet Ames
Danny
Born to Speed
Breezy Bradley
- 1946
Wake Up and Dream
Milkman
The Bride Wore Boots
Judge (uncredited)
Murder in the Music Hall
Henderson
The Hoodlum Saint
Chronicle Editor (uncredited)
- 1945
She Went to the Races
Skelly
Tell It to a Star
Augustus T. Goodman
Pillow to Post
Clayfield Taxi Driver
- 1944
Storm Over Lisbon
Murgatroyd
The Impatient Years
Counterman
Wilson
Smith (uncredited)
Roger Touhy, Gangster
. Comic in Theater (uncredited)
- 1943
Sweet Rosie O'Grady
Taxi Driver
Coney Island
Bartender
Hello, Frisco, Hello
Lou, Bartender at Sharkey's
The Ox-Bow Incident
Larry Kinkaid (uncredited)
The Meanest Man in the World
Bartender (uncredited)
- 1942
Springtime in the Rockies
Bickel (uncredited)
Dr. Gillespie's New Assistant
Mike Ryan
Orchestra Wives
Rex Willet
Tales of Manhattan
Secondhand Clothes Dealer
Footlight Serenade
Mike
The Magnificent Dope
Messenger
Henry and Dizzy
Joe McGuire
My Gal Sal
McGuiness
Roxie Hart
Bar Client #2 (uncredited)
Dr. Kildare's Victory
Mike Ryan
Right to the Heart
Pete
Over My Dead Body
Detective
Blue, White and Perfect
Mr. Toby
- 1941
I Wake Up Screaming
Cemetery Caretaker
The People Vs. Dr. Kildare
Mike Ryan
Ride on Vaquero
Auctioneer
Come Live with Me
Jerry
Let's Make Music
Mr. Botts
Respect the Law
Peter Brennan
- 1940
Michael Shayne: Private Detective
Steve
You, the People
Soda Jerk
Dr. Kildare's Crisis
Mike Ryan, Cafe Owner
Father Is A Prince
Drugstore Proprieter
Gallant Sons
Newspaper Foreman (uncredited)
Mexican Spitfire Out West
Window Washer
Dr. Kildare Goes Home
Mike Ryan (uncredited)
Buyer Beware
Smith (uncredited)
Pier 13
Dead Pan Charlie
Gold Rush Maisie
Harris
Brother Orchid
Waiter at Fat Dutchy's (uncredited)
Florian
Detective
La Conga Nights
Dennis O'Brien
The Doctor Takes a Wife
New York Editor (uncredited)
Know Your Money
Tobacconist (uncredited)
1930s
- 1939
The Secret of Dr. Kildare
Mike
Fast and Furious
Captain Joe Burke
Dust Be My Destiny
Wedding Witness on Stage (uncredited)
Thunder Afloat
Old Sailor in Bilge Area (uncredited)
Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase
Captain Tweedy
Stanley and Livingstone
Newspaperman with Pills
Tell No Tales
Vic - Bartender (uncredited)
Calling Dr. Kildare
Mike Sullivan - Hospital Cafe Owner (uncredited)
Broadway Serenade
Mr. Fellows
Within the Law
Jim Jenks
Nancy Drew... Reporter
Captain Tweedy (uncredited)
Fast and Loose
Detective Hendricks (uncredited)
Idiot's Delight
Benny Zinsser
Burn 'Em Up O'Connor
Tim McKelvy
- 1938
Comet Over Broadway
Cab Driver (uncredited)
Nancy Drew… Detective
Captain Tweedy
Young Dr. Kildare
Mike Ryan (uncredited)
Mr. Chump
Sheriff Frank Hinton
Think It Over
Brown, Clothing Store Owner
Torchy Blane in Panama
First Leopard (uncredited)
The Patient in Room 18
Joe Higgins - Night Watchman
- 1937
Missing Witnesses
Gordon (uncredited)
The Footloose Heiress
Justice Abner Cuttler
Prairie Thunder
Wichita
The Devil's Saddle Legion
Judge Barko
Talent Scout
Burlesque Theatre Manager (uncredited)
Ever Since Eve
Cocktail Waiter (uncredited)
Marry the Girl
Bar owner
San Quentin
Convict in Bunkhouse (uncredited)
Land Beyond the Law
Shorty Long
- 1936
Polo Joe
Bert
Hot Money
Hank Ford
Two Against the World
Tommy - Bartender
- 1935
The Payoff
Porter (uncredited)
1920s
- 1929
A Bird in the Hand
Movie
Sound 1
1940s
- 1944
The Mummy's Curse
Songs