Frank Orth
Known For: Acting
Gender: Male
Date of Birth: February 20, 1880
Day of Death: March 17, 1962 (82 years old)
Place of Birth: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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.
1953
1952
1951
1950
1949
1948
1947
1946
Actor Hotel Clerk
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers
Actor Milkman
Wake Up and Dream
Actor Chronicle Editor (uncredited)
The Hoodlum Saint
Actor Judge (uncredited)
The Bride Wore Boots
Actor Henderson
Murder in the Music Hall
Actor Franklin Johnson
It's Great to Be Young
Actor Floyd Greer (Uncredited)
Lady in the Lake
1945
1944
1943
1942
Actor Mike
Footlight Serenade
Actor Bickel (uncredited)
Springtime in the Rockies
Actor Joe McGuire
Henry and Dizzy
Actor Mr. Toby
Blue, White, and Perfect
Actor Detective
Over My Dead Body
Actor Rex Willet
Orchestra Wives
Actor Mike Ryan
Dr. Kildare's Victory
Actor McGuiness
My Gal Sal
Actor Bar Client #2 (uncredited)
Roxie Hart
Actor Kellogg
Rings on Her Fingers
Actor Mike Ryan
Dr. Gillespie's New Assistant
Actor Messenger
The Magnificent Dope
Actor Secondhand Clothes Dealer (Rogers sequence)
Tales of Manhattan
1941
Actor Cemetery Caretaker
I Wake Up Screaming
Actor Jerry
Come Live with Me
Actor Mike Ryan
The People Vs. Dr. Kildare
Actor Auctioneer
Ride on Vaquero
Actor Drummer (uncredited)
Sergeant York
Actor Peter Brennan
Respect the Law
Actor Barfly (uncredited)
They Died with Their Boots On
Actor Lou, Cafe Proprietor
Broadway Limited
1940
Actor Duffy
His Girl Friday
Actor Dead Pan Charlie
Pier 13
Actor Steve
Michael Shayne: Private Detective
Actor Barber
Boom Town
Actor Soda Jerk
You, the People
Actor Waiter at Fat Dutchy's (uncredited)
Brother Orchid
Actor Newspaper Foreman (uncredited)
Gallant Sons
Actor New York Editor (uncredited)
The Doctor Takes a Wife
Actor Hong Kong Bartender (uncredited)
'Til We Meet Again
Actor Drugstore Proprieter
Father Is A Prince
Actor Detective
Florian
Actor Mike Ryan, Cafe Owner
Dr. Kildare's Crisis
Actor Mike Ryan (uncredited)
Dr. Kildare Goes Home
Actor Mike Ryan, Sullivan's Hospital Cafe
Dr. Kildare's Strange Case
Actor Dennis O'Brien
La Conga Nights
Actor Window Washer
Mexican Spitfire Out West
Actor Tobacconist (uncredited)
Know Your Money
Actor Smith (uncredited)
Buyer Beware
Actor Harris
Gold Rush Maisie
1939
Actor Captain Tweedy
Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase
Actor Mr. Fellows
Broadway Serenade
Actor Joe Burke
Fast and Furious
Actor Tim McKelvy
Burn 'Em Up O'Connor
Actor Vic - Bartender (uncredited)
Tell No Tales
Actor Chef in Diner (uncredited)
At the Circus
Actor Benny Zinsser
Idiot's Delight
Actor Captain Tweedy (uncredited)
Nancy Drew... Reporter
Actor Detective Hendricks
Fast and Loose
Actor Jim Jenks
Within the Law
Actor Mike Sullivan - Hospital Cafe Owner (uncredited)
Calling Dr. Kildare
Actor Loafer (uncredited)
Young Mr. Lincoln
Actor Old Sailor in Bilge Area (uncredited)
Thunder Afloat
Actor Newspaperman with Pills
Stanley and Livingstone
Actor Mike Sullivan
The Secret of Dr. Kildare
Actor Wedding Witness on Stage (uncredited)
Dust Be My Destiny
1938
Actor Captain Tweedy
Nancy Drew… Detective
Actor Brown, Clothing Store Owner
Think It Over
Actor Sheriff Frank Hinton
Mr. Chump
Actor Joe Higgins - Night Watchman
The Patient in Room 18
Actor Mike Ryan (uncredited)
Young Dr. Kildare
Actor First Leopard (uncredited)
Torchy Blane in Panama
Actor Cab Driver (uncredited)
Comet Over Broadway
1937
Actor Convict in Bunkhouse (uncredited)
San Quentin
Actor Bar owner
Marry the Girl
Actor Shorty Long
Land Beyond the Law
Actor Cocktail Waiter (uncredited)
Ever Since Eve
Actor Justice Abner Cuttler
The Footloose Heiress
Actor Gordon (uncredited)
Missing Witnesses
Actor Judge Barko
The Devil's Saddle Legion
Actor Wichita
Prairie Thunder
Actor Burlesque Theatre Manager (uncredited)
Talent Scout
