Frank Faylen
Known for Acting · 191 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
Quincy, M.E.
1976
as Janus
The Beverly Hillbillies
1962
Petticoat Junction
1963
as Ralph
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
1956
as Doc Alvarez
Wanted: Dead or Alive
1958
as Sheriff Earl Tipton
That Girl
1966
The Colgate Comedy Hour
1950
as Self
The Bob Hope Show
1950
as Self
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 (175)
Gone with the Wind
1939
as Soldier Aiding Dr. Meade (uncredited)
It's a Wonderful Life
1946
as Ernie
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
1957
as Sheriff Cotton Wilson
Funny Girl
1968
as Keeney
Sergeant York
1941
as But! Boy (uncredited)
The Grapes of Wrath
1940
as Tim
The Lost Weekend
1945
as 'Bim' Nolan
The Go-Getter
1937
as Country Club Man #2 (uncredited)
Dino
1957
as Frank Mandel
North to Alaska
1960
as Arnie (uncredited)
Detective Story
1951
as Det. Gallagher
Mokey
1942
as Police Desk Sergeant
7th Cavalry
1956
as Sgt. Kruger
Bullets or Ballots
1936
as Gatley - Pinball Racketeer (uncredited)
The Pride of the Yankees
1942
as Yankee Third Base Coach (uncredited)
The Looters
1955
as Stan Leppich
A Guy Named Joe
1944
as Major (uncredited)
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
1987
as Self (archive footage)
Copper Canyon
1950
as Mullins
Fall In
1942
as Capt. Gillis
Whispering Ghosts
1942
as Curly
Five Came Back
1939
as Photographer (uncredited)
California
1947
as Whitey
Riot in Cell Block 11
1954
as Commissioner Haskell
Wake Island
1942
Midnight Court
1937
as Reporter
Yankee Doodle Dandy
1942
as Sergeant on Parade (uncredited)
The Fighting 69th
1940
as Engineer Sergeant (uncredited)
Blood on the Moon
1948
as Jake Pindalest
Hangman's Knot
1952
as Cass Browne
The Reluctant Dragon
1941
as Orchestra Leader (uncredited)
The Palm Beach Story
1942
as Taxi Driver (uncredited)
Marked Woman
1937
as Cabbie #2 (uncredited)
The Blue Dahlia
1946
as Man Recommending Motel
Blossoms in the Dust
1941
as Man with Man Carrying Dead Child
Brother Orchid
1940
as Parkway Biltmore Desk Clerk (uncredited)
Fourteen Hours
1951
as Walter, room service waiter
They Drive by Night
1940
as Driver in Cafe (uncredited)
Kid Galahad
1937
as Barney
Too Hot to Handle
1938
as Assistant Dubber (uncredited)
City for Conquest
1940
as Band Conductor and Emcee (uncredited)
Francis
1950
as Sergeant Chillingbacker
Variety Girl
1947
as Frank Faylen
China Clipper
1936
as Weatherman (uncredited)
Road to Rio
1947
as Trigger
Waterfront
1939
as Skids Riley
Star Spangled Rhythm
1942
as Soldier (uncredited)
Welcome Stranger
1947
as Bill Walters
The Nevadan
1950
as Jeff
Mission to Moscow
1943
as Reporter (uncredited)
Convicted
1950
as Convict Ponti
The McConnell Story
1955
as Sfc. Sykes
Slightly Dangerous
1943
as Gateman (uncredited)
Two Years Before the Mast
1946
as Hansen
Across the Pacific
1942
as Sidewalk Toy Vendor (uncredited)
A-Haunting We Will Go
1942
as Train Detective (uncredited)
Whispering Smith
1948
as Whitey Du Sang
The Gang's All Here
1943
as Marine Sergeant (uncredited)
Away All Boats
1956
as Chief Phillip P. 'Pappy' Moran
Blue Skies
1946
as Mack
Thunder Afloat
1939
as Recruiting Officer (uncredited)
Race Street
1948
as Phil Dickson
Thank Your Lucky Stars
1943
as Sailor (uncredited)
About Face
1942
as Bartender Jerry
Invisible Stripes
1939
as Steve - Henchman on Bank Job (uncredited)
Nazty Nuisance
1943
as Seaman Benson
The Perils of Pauline
1947
as Mr. Joe Gurt
Young Ideas
1943
as Reporter (uncredited)
The Trouble with Women
1947
as Geeger
You Can't Get Away with Murder
1939
as Boat Tour Guide (uncredited)
Edison, the Man
1940
as Galbreath
The Sniper
1952
as Anderson
The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle
1939
as Adjutant (uncredited)
The Canterville Ghost
1944
as Lieutenant John Kane
San Quentin
1937
as Convict Envying Hoffman (uncredited)
The Lusty Men
1952
as Al Dawson
The Monkey's Uncle
1965
as Mr. Dearborne
Steel Against the Sky
1941
as Egg Man in Diner (uncredited)
The Case of the Stuttering Bishop
1937
as Charlie Downs
Curtain Call
1940
as Spike Malone
Smart Blonde
1937
as Ambulance Driver (uncredited)
99 River Street
1953
as Stan Hogan
It's a Wonderful World
1939
as Peters - Stagehand (uncredited)
And the Angels Sing
1944
as Holman
To Each His Own
1946
as Babe
Nick Carter, Master Detective
1939
as Pete Foley - 1st pilot
Castle on the Hudson
1940
as Guard Who is Slugged (uncredited)
Dance Charlie Dance
1937
as Ted Parks
Somewhere I'll Find You
1942
as Soldier Driving Jeep
The Falcon Strikes Back
1943
as Cecil, a Hobo (uncredited)
Lucky Night
1939
as Play Palace Announcer (uncredited)
Address Unknown
1944
as Jimmie Blake
Reno
1939
as J. Hezmer Briggs
Idiot's Delight
1939
as Ed
See Here, Private Hargrove
1944
as M.P. (uncredited)
Hazard
1948
as Oscar
They Won't Forget
1937
as Reporter
Corvette K-225
1943
as Shipyard Painter
Terror at Midnight
1956
as Fred Hill
Come Live with Me
1941
as Waiter
The Mystery of the 13th Guest
1943
as Speed Dugan
That Certain Woman
1937
as Reporter (uncredited)
H.M. Pulham, Esq.
1941
as Marine Sergeant (uncredited)
The Unknown Guest
1943
as Truck Driver (uncredited)
Thieves Fall Out
1941
as Pick
Headin' East
1937
as Joe
Suddenly It's Spring
1947
as Harold Michaels
You Came Along
1945
as Bellboy (uncredited)
East of the River
1940
as Tour Guide (uncredited)
Joe Smith, American
1942
as Man in Waiting Room with Matches (uncredited)
The Affairs of Susan
1945
as Brooklyn Boy (uncredited)
Alice in Movieland
1940
as Master of Ceremonies (uncredited)
Road Gang
1936
as Radio Dispatcher (uncredited)
The Lone Gun
1954
as Fairweather
Incendiary Blonde
1945
as Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
Our Hearts Were Growing Up
1946
as Federal Agent
Passage West
1951
as Curly
Model Wife
1941
as Master of Ceremonies
Ever Since Eve
1937
as Bandit Leader at Monteray Tavern (uncredited)
Prairie Chickens
1943
as Clem
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 191 credits spanning from 1935 to 1987, Frank Faylen has appeared in 175 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
- Gunfight at the O.K. Corral (1957) — as Sheriff Cotton Wilson
- Funny Girl (1968) — as Keeney
- Sergeant York (1941) — as But! Boy (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.