Frank Faylen
Known for Acting · 190 credits
- Born
- 1905-12-08
- Died
- 1985-08-02
- Place of birth
- Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
- Also known as
- Francis Charles Ruf · Frank Ruf · Charles Francis Ruf
Biography
Frank Faylen (born Francis Charles Ruf) was an American stage, screen, and television actor. He is best remembered for his movie performances as the cynical male nurse in The Lost Weekend (1945) and Ernie the taxi driver in It's a Wonderful Life (1946), as well as for his portrayal of long-suffering grocer Herbert T. Gillis on the 1950s television sitcom The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.
Known For
TV Shows (16)
Maverick
1957
as Red Harrison
The Beverly Hillbillies
1962
Petticoat Junction
1963
as Ralph
Quincy, M.E.
1976
as Janus
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956
as Doc Alvarez
The Colgate Comedy Hour
1950
as Self
Wanted: Dead or Alive
1958
as Sheriff Earl Tipton
The Bob Hope Show
1950
as Self
That Girl
1966
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
1959
as Herbert T. Gillis
Telephone Time
1956
The Great Adventure
1963
as O'Brien
Racket Squad
1951
Man with a Camera
1958
My Mother the Car
1965
General Electric Theater
1953
as Farber
Movies (174)
Gone with the Wind
1939
as Soldier Aiding Dr. Meade (uncredited)
It's a Wonderful Life
1946
as Ernie
Fourteen Hours
1951
as Walter, room service waiter
Yankee Doodle Dandy
1942
as Sergeant on Parade (uncredited)
Blue Skies
1946
as Mack (uncredited)
The Grapes of Wrath
1940
as Tim
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
1957
as Sheriff Cotton Wilson
Away All Boats
1956
as Chief Phillip P. 'Pappy' Moran
Nazty Nuisance
1943
as Seaman Benson
Funny Girl
1968
as Keeney
Sergeant York
1941
as But! Boy (uncredited)
The Sky Parade
1936
as Pilot (uncredited)
Welcome Stranger
1947
as Bill Walters
North to Alaska
1960
as Arnie (uncredited)
The Lost Weekend
1945
as 'Bim' Nolan
The Unknown Guest
1943
as Truck Driver (uncredited)
It's a Wonderful World
1939
as Peters - Stagehand (uncredited)
The Reluctant Dragon
1941
as Orchestra Leader (uncredited)
Night Waitress
1936
as Policeman at Torre's
Riot in Cell Block 11
1954
as Commissioner Haskell
And the Angels Sing
1944
as Holman
About Face
1942
as Bartender Jerry
They Drive by Night
1940
as Driver in Cafe (uncredited)
The Gang's All Here
1943
as Marine Sergeant (uncredited)
Road Gang
1936
as Radio Dispatcher (uncredited)
Blood on the Moon
1948
as Jake Pindalest
Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble
1944
as Taxi Driver #2 (uncredited)
Star Spangled Rhythm
1942
as Soldier (uncredited)
The Pride of the Yankees
1942
as Yankee Third Base Coach (uncredited)
Variety Girl
1947
as Frank Faylen
Dino
1957
as Frank Mandel
The Blue Dahlia
1946
as Man Recommending Motel
Detective Story
1951
as Det. Gallagher
The Go-Getter
1937
as Country Club Man #2 (uncredited)
See Here, Private Hargrove
1944
as M.P. (uncredited)
Marked Woman
1937
as Cabbie #2 (uncredited)
Invisible Stripes
1939
as Steve - Henchman on Bank Job (uncredited)
My Favorite Spy
1951
as Newton
Incendiary Blonde
1945
as Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Model Wife
1941
as Master of Ceremonies
The Sniper
1952
as Anderson
Hangman's Knot
1952
as Cass Browne
Bombalera
1945
as Houlihan
The Lusty Men
1952
as Al Dawson
Across the Pacific
1942
as Sidewalk Toy Vendor (uncredited)
California
1947
as Whitey
Five Came Back
1939
as Photographer (uncredited)
7th Cavalry
1956
as Sgt. Kruger
Corvette K-225
1943
as Shipyard Painter
Copper Canyon
1950
as Mullins
Wake Island
1942
A-Haunting We Will Go
1942
as Train Detective (uncredited)
A Guy Named Joe
1944
as Major (uncredited)
The Lone Gun
1954
as Fairweather
Bullets or Ballots
1936
as Gatley - Pinball Racketeer (uncredited)
Cross My Heart
1946
as Fingerprint Expert
Come Live with Me
1941
as Waiter
Steel Against the Sky
1941
as Egg Man in Diner (uncredited)
Brother Orchid
1940
as Parkway Biltmore Desk Clerk (uncredited)
City for Conquest
1940
as Band Conductor and Emcee (uncredited)
Kid Galahad
1937
as Barney
Somewhere I'll Find You
1942
as Soldier Driving Jeep
The McConnell Story
1955
as Sfc. Sykes
Tough as They Come
1942
as Collector
Footsteps in the Dark
1941
as Gus a Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Slightly Dangerous
1943
as Gateman (uncredited)
Blossoms in the Dust
1941
as Man with Man Carrying Dead Child
The Palm Beach Story
1942
as Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Mission to Moscow
1943
as Reporter (uncredited)
To Each His Own
1946
as Babe
The Perils of Pauline
1947
as Mr. Joe Gurt
Address Unknown
1944
as Jimmie Blake
The Fighting 69th
1940
as Engineer Sergeant (uncredited)
No Time for Comedy
1940
as Cab Driver
Edison, the Man
1940
as Galbreath
The Well Groomed Bride
1946
as Cabbie
Two Years Before the Mast
1946
as Hansen
Idiot's Delight
1939
as Ed
Whispering Smith
1948
as Whitey Du Sang
You Can't Get Away with Murder
1939
as Boat Tour Guide (uncredited)
Castle on the Hudson
1940
as Guard Who is Slugged (uncredited)
The Monkey's Uncle
1965
as Mr. Dearborne
San Quentin
1937
as Convict Envying Hoffman (uncredited)
Too Hot to Handle
1938
as Assistant Dubber (uncredited)
Thank Your Lucky Stars
1943
as Sailor (uncredited)
That Certain Woman
1937
as Reporter (uncredited)
Easy Come, Easy Go
1947
as Boss
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
1987
as Self (archive footage)
Married and in Love
1940
as Jim Carter, Man in Bar
Francis
1950
as Sergeant Chillingbacker
Joe Smith, American
1942
as Man in Waiting Room with Matches (uncredited)
Father Steps Out
1941
as Tall Hobo 'King', aka The King of Siam
Road to Rio
1947
as Trigger
Whispering Ghosts
1942
as Curly
The Eagle and the Hawk
1950
as Red' Hyatt - Danzeeger's Foreman
The Flying Irishman
1939
as New York Mechanic
The Canterville Ghost
1944
as Lieutenant John Kane
The Looters
1955
as Stan Leppich
Tanks a Million
1941
as Pvt. Skivic
Standing Room Only
1944
as Cabbie
Fall In
1942
as Capt. Gillis
Everything But the Truth
1956
as 'Mac' McMillan
The Affairs of Susan
1945
as Brooklyn Boy (uncredited)
Thunder Afloat
1939
as Recruiting Officer (uncredited)
Slapsie Maxie's
1939
as Tiger Dorsey
Young Ideas
1943
as Reporter (uncredited)
They Won't Forget
1937
as Reporter
Dixie Dugan
1943
as Soldier (uncredited)
Maisie Gets Her Man
1942
as Stage Manager (Uncredited)
Let's Go Collegiate
1941
as Speed Dorman
The Invisible Menace
1938
as Private of the Guard
Taxi, Mister
1943
as Henchman Silk
99 River Street
1953
as Stan Hogan
Nick Carter, Master Detective
1939
as Pete Foley - 1st pilot
Saturday's Children
1940
as Cab Driver (uncredited)
Race Street
1948
as Phil Dickson
Smart Blonde
1937
as Ambulance Driver (uncredited)
No Time to Marry
1938
as Waxler
Headin' East
1937
as Joe
H.M. Pulham, Esq.
1941
as Marine Sergeant (uncredited)
About Frank Faylen
Frank Faylen (born Francis Charles Ruf) was an American stage, screen, and television actor. He is best remembered for his movie performances as the cynical male nurse in The Lost Weekend (1945) and Ernie the taxi driver in It's a Wonderful Life (1946), as well as for his portrayal of long-suffering grocer Herbert T. Gillis on the 1950s television sitcom The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis. With 190 credits spanning from 1935 to 1987, Frank Faylen has appeared in 174 films and 16 TV shows.
Fans searching for Frank Faylen movies, Frank Faylen filmography, or the latest projects starring Frank Faylen can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Frank Faylen Movies
- Gone with the Wind (1939) — as Soldier Aiding Dr. Meade (uncredited)
- It's a Wonderful Life (1946) — as Ernie
- Fourteen Hours (1951) — as Walter, room service waiter
- Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) — as Sergeant on Parade (uncredited)
- Blue Skies (1946) — as Mack (uncredited)
Where to Watch Frank Faylen Films
Most Frank Faylen movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Frank Faylen, check our movies catalogue and browse page.