Ben Frank (September 2, 1934 – September 11, 1990) was a veteran character actor. His wife was producer Bobbi Frank.[1]

Ben Frank
Born(1934-09-02)September 2, 1934
DiedSeptember 11, 1990(1990-09-11) (aged 56)
SpouseBobbi Frank

Biography

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Frank was born in New York on September 2, 1934. As a child from the ages of 6 to 12 he sang on stage. In later years he was a professional boxer and had only two losses from twenty bouts.[2]

Career

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His career spanned 28 years. He appeared in 20 motion movies and had 125 television roles. He also appeared in 20 stage plays, including the then renowned West Hollywood Gallery Theatre’s 1971 production of “King of the Schnorrers” where he created the re-written role of Yankela. [3] His first role was in 1963, in the horror movie Terrified where he played the part of Duell. Other films included So Evil, My Sister, a 1974 film that starred Susan Strasberg. In 1975 he appeared as Hopper McGee in the movie about Murph the Surf released as Live A Little, Steal A Lot, a film that starred Robert Conrad and Don Stroud. He also appeared in the Battlestar Galactica episode "Murder on the Rising Star" (1979), and later in the movie Death Wish II (1982) playing the part of Lt. Mankiewicz.[4] He appeared in the Tales from the Darkside episode "A New Lease on Life" (1986).

Frank produced and had the lead in a 1986 film [5] called Hollywood Zap in which he played a hustler.[6]

He was involved in an anti smoking commercial not long before he died.[7]

Partial filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1963 Terrified Duell
1974 So Evil, My Sister Woody
1975 Jessi's Girls Brock
1975 Murph the Surf Hopper Magee
1979 Just You and Me, Kid First Policeman
1980 Foxes Daryl
1980 Don't Answer the Phone Sergeant Hatcher
1980 Falling in Love Again Cabbie #1 (Present day)
1982 Death Wish II Lieutenant Art Mankiewicz
1982 Slapstick of Another Kind Quentin, The handyman
1986 Hollywood Vice Squad Daley
1986 Hollywood Zap! Nash

References

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  1. ^ Los Angeles Times September 17, 1990 Ben Frank, 56; TV, Film and Stage Actor
  2. ^ Los Angeles Times September 17, 1990 Ben Frank, 56; TV, Film and Stage Actor
  3. ^ Los Angeles Times September 17, 1990 Ben Frank, 56; TV, Film and Stage Actor
  4. ^ Imdb Ben Frank
  5. ^ imdb Full cast and crew for Hollywood Zap
  6. ^ Rotten Tomatoes Hollywood Zap (1986)
  7. ^ Los Angeles Times September 17, 1990 Ben Frank, 56; TV, Film and Stage Actor
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