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Frank Faylen

Personal Information

Known ForActing
GenderMale
Born / DiedDec 8, 1905 (Died at 80)
Zodiac Sign♐Sagittarius
Place of BirthSaint Louis, Missouri, USA
Career Span1935 – 1985
Known Credits188 Titles
Official Links
ActingPopularity Score 1

Frank Faylen

Also known as:Francis Charles RufFrank RufCharles Francis Ruf
Total Works

188

172 movies • 16 shows

Avg Rating

6.6 / 10

across rated releases

Box Office

—

worldwide gross

Global Reach

#1

TMDB star index

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.

Signature Roles & Milestones

It's a Wonderful Life
8.3
as Ernie
Gone with the Wind
7.9
Gone with the Wind
1939•movie
as Soldier Aiding Dr. Meade (uncredited)
The Grapes of Wrath
7.8
as Tim
The Lost Weekend
7.6
The Lost Weekend
1945•movie
as 'Bim' Nolan

Full Filmography & Credits

Showing 188 titles featuring Frank Faylen

It's a Wonderful Life
8.3

as Ernie

Gone with the Wind
7.9
Gone with the Wind
1939•movie

as Soldier Aiding Dr. Meade (uncredited)

The Grapes of Wrath
7.8

as Tim

The Lost Weekend
7.6
The Lost Weekend
1945•movie

as 'Bim' Nolan

Funny Girl
7.1
Funny Girl
1968•movie

as Keeney

Gunfight at the O.K. Corral
7.0

as Sheriff Cotton Wilson

Sergeant York
7.2
Sergeant York
1941•movie

as But! Boy (uncredited)

Yankee Doodle Dandy
7.0

as Sergeant on Parade (uncredited)

The Palm Beach Story
7.0

as Taxi Driver (uncredited)

The Blue Dahlia
6.7
The Blue Dahlia
1946•movie

as Man Recommending Motel

Detective Story
7.0
Detective Story
1951•movie

as Det. Gallagher

The Reluctant Dragon
6.6

as Orchestra Leader (uncredited)

The Pride of the Yankees
7.3

as Yankee Third Base Coach (uncredited)

North to Alaska
6.5
North to Alaska
1960•movie

as Arnie (uncredited)

They Drive by Night
6.9

as Driver in Cafe (uncredited)

The Beverly Hillbillies
6.9
1 eps
Quincy, M.E.
7.5
1 eps
Quincy, M.E.
1976•series

as Janus

The Lusty Men
6.7
The Lusty Men
1952•movie

as Al Dawson

Across the Pacific
6.6
Across the Pacific
1942•movie

as Sidewalk Toy Vendor (uncredited)

The Sniper
6.7
The Sniper
1952•movie

as Anderson

99 River Street
6.8
99 River Street
1953•movie

as Stan Hogan

Marked Woman
6.6
Marked Woman
1937•movie

as Cabbie #2 (uncredited)

Riot in Cell Block 11
7.1

as Commissioner Haskell

Blood on the Moon
6.2
Blood on the Moon
1948•movie

as Jake Pindalest

Kid Galahad
7.1
Kid Galahad
1937•movie

as Barney

A Guy Named Joe
6.7
A Guy Named Joe
1944•movie

as Major (uncredited)

Bullets or Ballots
6.6
Bullets or Ballots
1936•movie

as Gatley - Pinball Racketeer (uncredited)

Fourteen Hours
7.3
Fourteen Hours
1951•movie

as Walter, room service waiter

It's a Wonderful World
6.5

as Peters - Stagehand (uncredited)

The Canterville Ghost
6.9

as Lieutenant John Kane

Road to Rio
6.8
Road to Rio
1947•movie

as Trigger

The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle
7.0

as Adjutant (uncredited)

The Gang's All Here
5.9

as Marine Sergeant (uncredited)

Maverick
7.0
1 eps
Maverick
1957•series

as Red Harrison

Five Came Back
6.3
Five Came Back
1939•movie

as Photographer (uncredited)

Brother Orchid
6.6
Brother Orchid
1940•movie

as Parkway Biltmore Desk Clerk (uncredited)

A-Haunting We Will Go
6.2

as Train Detective (uncredited)

Petticoat Junction
5.9
1 eps
Petticoat Junction
1963•series

as Ralph

Thank Your Lucky Stars
6.2

as Sailor (uncredited)

City for Conquest
6.9
City for Conquest
1940•movie

as Band Conductor and Emcee (uncredited)

Blossoms in the Dust
6.6

as Man with Man Carrying Dead Child

Wanted: Dead or Alive
7.1
1 eps

as Sheriff Earl Tipton

Come Live with Me
6.8
Come Live with Me
1941•movie

as Waiter

Hangman's Knot
6.5
Hangman's Knot
1952•movie

as Cass Browne

That Girl
6.2
2 eps
That Girl
1966•series
To Each His Own
7.0
To Each His Own
1946•movie

as Babe

Convicted
6.2
Convicted
1950•movie

as Convict Ponti

They Won't Forget
5.9
They Won't Forget
1937•movie

as Reporter

San Quentin
6.7
San Quentin
1937•movie

as Convict Envying Hoffman (uncredited)

Address Unknown
6.4
Address Unknown
1944•movie

as Jimmie Blake

Blue Skies
6.2
Blue Skies
1946•movie

as Mack (uncredited)

The Monkey's Uncle
5.8
The Monkey's Uncle
1965•movie

as Mr. Dearborne

The Fighting 69th
5.9
The Fighting 69th
1940•movie

as Engineer Sergeant (uncredited)

Wake Island
5.8
Wake Island
1942•movie
Invisible Stripes
6.2
Invisible Stripes
1939•movie

as Steve - Henchman on Bank Job (uncredited)

Francis
5.8
Francis
1950•movie

as Sergeant Chillingbacker

Edison, the Man
6.8
Edison, the Man
1940•movie

as Galbreath

You Can't Get Away with Murder
5.8

as Boat Tour Guide (uncredited)

Away All Boats
5.3
Away All Boats
1956•movie

as Chief Phillip P. 'Pappy' Moran

Copper Canyon
5.7
Copper Canyon
1950•movie

as Mullins

Whispering Smith
6.7
Whispering Smith
1948•movie

as Whitey Du Sang

The Nevadan
5.9
The Nevadan
1950•movie

as Jeff

California
6.8
California
1947•movie

as Whitey

Too Hot to Handle
6.1
Too Hot to Handle
1938•movie

as Assistant Dubber (uncredited)

Mission to Moscow
5.7
Mission to Moscow
1943•movie

as Reporter (uncredited)

Race Street
6.0
Race Street
1948•movie

as Phil Dickson

That Certain Woman
5.6
That Certain Woman
1937•movie

as Reporter (uncredited)

7th Cavalry
6.1
7th Cavalry
1956•movie

as Sgt. Kruger

The Lone Gun
5.6
The Lone Gun
1954•movie

as Fairweather

My Favorite Spy
6.0
My Favorite Spy
1951•movie

as Newton

The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
6.3
147 eps

as Herbert T. Gillis

Idiot's Delight
6.1
Idiot's Delight
1939•movie

as Ed

The Falcon Strikes Back
5.7

as Cecil, a Hobo (uncredited)

Somewhere I'll Find You
5.7

as Soldier Driving Jeep

Castle on the Hudson
7.0

as Guard Who is Slugged (uncredited)

Nazty Nuisance
4.1
Nazty Nuisance
1943•movie

as Seaman Benson

Nick Carter, Master Detective
6.0

as Pete Foley - 1st pilot

Ever Since Eve
5.8
Ever Since Eve
1937•movie

as Bandit Leader at Monteray Tavern (uncredited)

Smart Blonde
6.4
Smart Blonde
1937•movie

as Ambulance Driver (uncredited)

Corvette K-225
6.2
Corvette K-225
1943•movie

as Shipyard Painter

Footsteps in the Dark
7.0

as Gus a Taxi Driver (uncredited)

The Colgate Comedy Hour
6.9
1 eps

as Self

Variety Girl
6.5
Variety Girl
1947•movie

as Frank Faylen

The Invisible Menace
4.3

as Private of the Guard

Tanks a Million
5.8
Tanks a Million
1941•movie

as Pvt. Skivic

No Time for Comedy
5.3
No Time for Comedy
1940•movie

as Cab Driver

China Clipper
5.8
China Clipper
1936•movie

as Weatherman (uncredited)

Star Spangled Rhythm
6.2

as Soldier (uncredited)

The Mystery of the 13th Guest
5.7

as Speed Dugan

The Perils of Pauline
6.7

as Mr. Joe Gurt

H.M. Pulham, Esq.
7.1
H.M. Pulham, Esq.
1941•movie

as Marine Sergeant (uncredited)

Red Garters
5.0
Red Garters
1954•movie

as Billy Buckett

My Mother the Car
4.8
2 eps
My Mother the Car
1965•series
Terror at Midnight
5.2
Terror at Midnight
1956•movie

as Fred Hill

The Affairs of Susan
6.5

as Brooklyn Boy (uncredited)

Two Years Before the Mast
6.5

as Hansen

Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble
6.2

as Taxi Driver #2 (uncredited)

Saturday's Children
6.9

as Cab Driver (uncredited)

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
6.2
1 eps

as Doc Alvarez

Alice in Movieland
6.4
Alice in Movieland
1940•movie

as Master of Ceremonies (uncredited)

Incendiary Blonde
5.1
Incendiary Blonde
1945•movie

as Hotel Clerk (uncredited)

The Looters
6.1
The Looters
1955•movie

as Stan Leppich

The Case of the Stuttering Bishop
7.2

as Charlie Downs

Suddenly It's Spring
4.2

as Harold Michaels

East of the River
6.2
East of the River
1940•movie

as Tour Guide (uncredited)

The Eagle and the Hawk
5.9

as Red' Hyatt - Danzeeger's Foreman

Slightly Dangerous
6.0
Slightly Dangerous
1943•movie

as Gateman (uncredited)

Whispering Ghosts
6.8
Whispering Ghosts
1942•movie

as Curly

And the Angels Sing
7.3

as Holman

Welcome Stranger
6.9
Welcome Stranger
1947•movie

as Bill Walters

Lucky Night
6.8
Lucky Night
1939•movie

as Play Palace Announcer (uncredited)

All American Chump
6.2
All American Chump
1936•movie

as Reporter (uncredited)

Thunder Afloat
6.1
Thunder Afloat
1939•movie

as Recruiting Officer (uncredited)

Taxi, Mister
4.2
Taxi, Mister
1943•movie

as Henchman Silk

Married and in Love
5.7

as Jim Carter, Man in Bar

Masquerade in Mexico
6.0

as Brooklyn (uncredited)

The Flying Irishman
5.0

as New York Mechanic

Bring on the Girls
6.2
Bring on the Girls
1945•movie

as Sailor

Joe Smith, American
6.5

as Man in Waiting Room with Matches (uncredited)

General Electric Theater
6.8
1 eps

as Farber

Man with a Camera
5.5
1 eps
Man with a Camera
1958•series
Curtain Call
7.2
Curtain Call
1940•movie

as Spike Malone

Dino
7.4
Dino
1957•movie

as Frank Mandel

Passage West
6.6
Passage West
1951•movie

as Curly

Road Gang
7.0
Road Gang
1936•movie

as Radio Dispatcher (uncredited)

King of Hockey
5.4
King of Hockey
1936•movie

as Swede

Three Brave Men
6.3
Three Brave Men
1956•movie

as Enos Warren

Let's Go Collegiate
5.4

as Speed Dorman

Women in the Wind
6.8
Women in the Wind
1939•movie

as Chuck - the Mechanic (uncredited)

Steel Against the Sky
5.4

as Egg Man in Diner (uncredited)

Midnight Court
5.1
Midnight Court
1937•movie

as Reporter

Yanks Ahoy
6.6
Yanks Ahoy
1943•movie

as Quartermaster Jenkins

Young Ideas
5.3
Young Ideas
1943•movie

as Reporter (uncredited)

Double Exposure
7.4
Double Exposure
1935•movie

as Press Photographer (uncredited)

About Face
6.6
About Face
1942•movie

as Bartender Jerry

The Go-Getter
6.2
The Go-Getter
1937•movie

as Country Club Man #2 (uncredited)

Twelve Crowded Hours
5.7

as Henchman (uncredited)

The Bob Hope Show
7.0
1 eps
The Bob Hope Show
1950•series

as Self

When the Boys Meet the Girls
4.8

as Phin Gray

The McConnell Story
6.8

as Sfc. Sykes

Waterfront
6.5
Waterfront
1939•movie

as Skids Riley

Wine, Women and Horses
5.2

as Horse Buyer

Thieves Fall Out
6.0
Thieves Fall Out
1941•movie

as Pick

Night Waitress
6.4
Night Waitress
1936•movie

as Policeman at Torre's

Fall In
6.5
Fall In
1942•movie

as Capt. Gillis

Back in Circulation
6.5

as James Maxwell - a Reporter (uncredited)

Racket Squad
6.5
1 eps
Racket Squad
1951•series
Telephone Time
6.5
1 eps
Telephone Time
1956•series
You Came Along
7.3
You Came Along
1945•movie

as Bellboy (uncredited)

Maisie Gets Her Man
6.7

as Stage Manager (Uncredited)

Fluffy
7.0
Fluffy
1965•movie

as Catfish

Standing Room Only
5.7
Standing Room Only
1944•movie

as Cabbie

Everything But the Truth
8.2

as 'Mac' McMillan

Reno
6.7
Reno
1939•movie

as J. Hezmer Briggs

Silver Skates
6.3
Silver Skates
1943•movie

as Eddie

Hazard
8.0
Hazard
1948•movie

as Oscar

Our Hearts Were Growing Up
6.5

as Federal Agent

Pop Always Pays
6.7
Pop Always Pays
1940•movie

as Minerva Auto Loan Cashier

La Conga Nights
7.7
La Conga Nights
1940•movie

as Jeepers Peepers

Mokey
6.7
Mokey
1942•movie

as Police Desk Sergeant

The Well Groomed Bride
5.7

as Cabbie

Slapsie Maxie's
6.0
Slapsie Maxie's
1939•movie

as Tiger Dorsey

No Place to Go
8.0
No Place to Go
1939•movie

as Pete Shaffer

Blame It on Love
4.8
Blame It on Love
1940•movie

as Studio Electrician

Dance Charlie Dance
8.0

as Ted Parks

The Cherokee Strip
6.5
The Cherokee Strip
1937•movie

as Joe Brady

Dixie Dugan
6.5
Dixie Dugan
1943•movie

as Soldier (uncredited)

No Time to Marry
7.0
No Time to Marry
1938•movie

as Waxler

Father Steps Out
6.5
Father Steps Out
1941•movie

as Tall Hobo 'King', aka The King of Siam

Top Sergeant Mulligan
6.5

as Pat Dolan

The Trouble with Women
9.5

as Geeger

Border Flight
6.5
Border Flight
1936•movie

as Jimmie

Model Wife
6.5
Model Wife
1941•movie

as Master of Ceremonies

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
6.5

as Self (archive footage)

See Here, Private Hargrove
6.5

as M.P. (uncredited)

Easy Come, Easy Go
7.0
Easy Come, Easy Go
1947•movie

as Boss

Whatever Happened to Dobie Gillis?
10.0

as Herbert T. Gillis

Cross My Heart
9.0
Cross My Heart
1946•movie

as Fingerprint Expert

Prairie Chickens
8.0
Prairie Chickens
1943•movie

as Clem

The Unknown Guest
7.0
The Unknown Guest
1943•movie

as Truck Driver (uncredited)

The Sky Parade
8.0
The Sky Parade
1936•movie

as Pilot (uncredited)

Just a Cute Kid
7.0
Just a Cute Kid
1940•movie

as Benny

Good Morning, Judge
10.0

as Ben Pollard

Get Going
7.0
Get Going
1943•movie

as Hank

Tough as They Come
9.0
Tough as They Come
1942•movie

as Collector

Headin' East
10.0
Headin' East
1937•movie

as Joe

Romance in the Air
10.0
Romance in the Air
1936•movie

as Sure-Fire

The Great Adventure
10.0
1 eps
The Great Adventure
1963•series

as O'Brien