Photo of Frank Albertson
Acting

Frank Albertson

Profession
Acting
Born
February 2, 1909 · Fergus Falls, Minnesota, USA
Died
February 29, 1964

Biography

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Francis Healey Albertson (February 2, 1909 – February 29, 1964) was an American character actor who made his debut in a minor part in Hollywood at age thirteen. He had supporting roles in films such as It's a Wonderful Life (1946) and Psycho (1960). Albertson made well over 100 appearances (1923–1964) in movies and television. In his early career he often sang and danced in such films as Just Imagine (1930) and A Connecticut Yankee (1931). He was featured in Alice Adams (1935) as the title character's brother, and in Room Service (1938) he played opposite the Marx Brothers. He served in the U.S. Army Air Forces' First Motion Picture Unit making training films during World War II. As he aged he moved from featured roles to supporting and character parts—in his later career he can be seen as Sam Wainwright, the businessman fond of saying "Hee-Haw" in the movie It's a Wonderful Life (1946). Albertson portrayed future U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt in the 1956 episode "Rough Rider" of the CBS western television series My Friend Flicka. He guest starred in the early NBC western series The Californians and twice in the David Janssen crime drama Richard Diamond, Private Detective. He was cast in 1959 and 1962 in different roles on Walter Brennan's sitcom The Real McCoys. In 1960, he appeared as General Devery in the episode "Strange Encounter" of the ABC/Warner Brothers western series Colt .45. In 1960, he played the wealthy rancher Tom Cassidy at the beginning of Psycho (1960) who provides the $40,000 in cash that Janet Leigh's character later steals. In the 1960-61 television season, he played the character Mr. Cooper in five episodes of the CBS sitcom Bringing Up Buddy, starring Frank Aletter. In 1964, Albertson was cast as Jim O'Neal in the episode "The Death of a Teacher" of the NBC education drama Mr. Novak. One of his final screen appearances was as "Sam," the bewildered mayor of Sweet Apple, Ohio, in the 1963 film musical Bye Bye Birdie. His last appearance was on The Andy Griffith Show, in which he played a Marine commander completing an inspection. The episode aired on May 19, 1964, three months after Albertson died.

Known for

Psycho poster
Psycho
Film · 1960 · ★ 8.4
It's a Wonderful Life poster
It's a Wonderful Life
Film · 1946 · ★ 8.3
The Man Who Knew Too Much poster
The Man Who Knew Too Much
Film · 1956 · ★ 7.4
Bonanza poster
Bonanza
Series · 1959 · ★ 7.5
Alfred Hitchcock Presents poster
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Series · 1955 · ★ 7.8
Fury poster
Fury
Film · 1936 · ★ 7.5
The Enemy Below poster
The Enemy Below
Film · 1957 · ★ 7.2
The Andy Griffith Show poster
The Andy Griffith Show
Series · 1960 · ★ 7.6
Perry Mason poster
Perry Mason
Series · 1957 · ★ 7.7
The Untouchables poster
The Untouchables
Series · 1959 · ★ 8.0
Bye Bye Birdie poster
Bye Bye Birdie
Film · 1963 · ★ 5.9
Nightfall poster
Nightfall
Film · 1956 · ★ 6.9

Filmography