Frank Richards (actor)
Frank Richards was an American character actor, typically portraying a hoodlum or thug with a menacing appearance.
Biography
Richards was born in New York City and raised in Fall River, Massachusetts.
Richards began acting in stock theater in Cape Cod while he worked 16 hours a day as a driver of a fruit truck. He continued his stock acting for eight years. He acted on Broadway in The Wanhope Building, Embezzled Heaven, The World We Make, and Brown Danube.
After serving in the military during World War II, Richards studied dialects, diction, and speech in New York, in addition to working in radio and television.
He appeared in 150 films and televisions shows from 1940 into the mid 1980s. He appeared in a 1952 episode of Superman "The Night of Terror" and a 1953 episode of The Lone Ranger. His first stage appearance was in 1938 and his last film was John Cassavetes' A Woman Under the Influence in 1974.
Death
On April 15, 1992, Richards died in Las Vegas, Nevada. He is interred at Palm Memorial Park in Las Vegas.
Selected filmography
Before I Hang - Otto Kron, ConvictArizona - Dugan Tall, Dark and Handsome - Mobster Sky Raiders - Murdock, Henchman Hold That Ghost - Gunman Public Enemies - ShelbyThe Corsican Brothers - Colonna's Henchman Reap the Wild Wind - Cutler Man in Barrel Room Alias Boston Blackie - Mack, Prisoner Next to Joe Sunday Punch - Bystander Cairo - AlfredA Man's World - Thomas You Can't Escape Forever - Scotty, Greer's Henchman Redhead from Manhattan - Fisherman The House on 92nd Street - German Spy Trainee A Double Life - Stagehand The Story of Mr. Hobbs - SpikeAppointment with Murder - 2nd Thug I Cheated the Law - Bartender The Set-Up - Bat, Program Vendor The Crooked Way - Nick, Bailbondsman Canadian Pacific - Railroad Worker Come to the Stable - Lefty, Rossi's Goon Slattery's Hurricane - Bartender The Cowboy and the Indians - Smiley MartinThieves' Highway - Cab Driver Prison Warden - Cory Tough Assignment - SteveThe Threat - LeftyThe Outriders - Outrider with Knife Black Hand - Semi-Moron Western Pacific Agent - KeystoneFather of the Bride - Truck Driver Love That Brute - Gangster No Way Out - Mac Wyoming Mail - Prison Contact Kim - Abul California Passage - Sneed The Scarf - Gargantua Double Crossbones - Tavern Bouncer Across the Wide Missouri - Tige Shannon South of Caliente - Studsy DenningLove Is Better Than Ever - Mr. Carney, Wardrobe Man Carbine Williams - TruexPat and Mike - Sam GarsellThe Savage - Sergeant NorrisStop, You're Killing Me - Black Hat Gallagher Girls in the Night - Bartender Danny The System - Charley, Merrick's ButlerThe Caddy - Burly Caddie I, the Jury - Killer Thompson Clipped Wings - Cralia Dupree Prisoners of the Casbah - 2nd ThiefMoney from Home - Angry Truck Driver Tennessee Champ - J.B. BackettReturn from the Sea - BartenderDestry - DummyThe Atomic Kid - Casino Officer Pirates of Tripoli - Zurtah New York Confidential - Hoodlum A Bullet for Joey - Ship Officer Spy Chasers - GeorgeGuys and Dolls - Man with Packages The Man with the Golden Arm - Blind Barfly The Killing - Track Employee in Locker Room Man from Del Rio - Ken, the Stableman Running Target - CastagnaThe Desperados Are in Town - Mr. Tawson The Storm Rider - Will FeylanThe Persuader - SteveGun Battle at Monterey - Gus The Hard Man - Vince Kane Escape from Red Rock - PriceThe World Was His Jury - Able-Bodied Seaman Milo Radvitch aka Mikel Petrov Teacher's Pet - Cab Driver How to Make a Monster - Studio Groundskeeper The Cry Baby Killer - Pete GambelliThe Black Orchid - Hood Revolt in the Big House - JakeLonelyhearts - Taxi DriverArson for Hire - Man Making Phone CallsThe Hangman - Zimmerman The Gunfight at Dodge City - Burly Man with Saloon Girl Bells Are Ringing - Barney Lampwick's Friend - Man on Street From the Terrace - The Bartender The Hook - Crewman KaskevitchThe Greatest Story Ever Told - A Woman Under the Influence - Adolph