Frank Wilcox
Frank Reppy Wilcox was an American actor. He appeared in numerous films and television series, as well as Broadway plays.
Background
Wilcox was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Roger V. Wilcox. He was born in De Soto, Missouri, but the family moved to Atchison, Kansas. Wilcox worked in Kansas City as an oil company's sales manager.
Acting career
Wilcox joined the Pasadena Community Playhouse. By December 1924, he headed the Frank Wilcox Company, which produced plays in venues that included the Lyceum in Baltimore. In 1927, he became a member of The Lambs Club.
Wilcox became a contract player for Warner Bros., beginning with the 1939 short film The Monroe Doctrine, in which he was chosen to portray the American statesman Henry Clay during the early 1820s. He played Abraham Lincoln as a militia captain in another 1939 film short Old Hickory, based on key events in the public career of President Andrew Jackson.
During World War II Wilcox served on a destroyer.
Another film role was as the circus doctor in the 1952 production The [Greatest Show on Earth (film)|The Greatest Show on Earth], starring Charlton Heston.
In 1951, already at work in television, Wilcox was cast in two episodes of the police drama Racket Squad. From 1952 to 1955, he guest-starred four times in different roles on the television series The Lone Ranger. In 1956, Wilcox portrayed John Gould in "God's Healing" on the religion Crossroads. The same year, he was cast as Duncan Glowrie in the episode "Bonnie Lassie" of The Gale Storm Show. From 1955 to 1958, he appeared three times on the sitcom The People's Choice.
In 1957, Wilcox guest-starred in the episode "Quicksilver" of Sugarfoot, as a young frontier law student. His best known television role, the one which brought him great recognition from millions of viewers, was that of the oil executive John Brewster in the first five seasons of The Beverly Hillbillies.
Wilcox appeared in 1957 as Joe Spaulding in "Lucy Wants to Move to the Country," one of the later episodes of the CBS sitcom I Love Lucy. He also appeared on the sitcom Private Secretary.
From 1953 to 1956, Wilcox made 16 appearances in different roles on The [George Burns and Gracie Allen Show]. He appeared three times in two different roles from 1961 to 1962 on Pete and Gladys. In 1965, he was a guest star in an episode of The Cara Williams Show.
In 1959, he was cast as Colonel Dodge in the episode "Man to Man" of Frontier Doctor. He guest-starred on the ABC sitcoms Leave It to Beaver, The Donna Reed Show and The Real McCoys.
Wilcox made several guest appearances as a judge on Perry Mason during the nine-year run of that program. In 1961, he appeared as the judge on the "Jack Benny Show", titled "Jack on Trial for Murder", which had Raymond Burr as a guest star appearing as Perry Mason in a dream sequence where Jack dreams that he is on trial for murder and Perry Mason is his defense attorney. Wilcox also appeared as a judge in the 1961 episode "The Dentist" of Angel and as Jennings is the 1961 episode "Troubleshooter" of Straightaway. Wilcox also appeared in numerous episodes of The Untouchables as Federal District Attorney Beecher Asbury. He appeared in a 1965 episode of Kentucky Jones and in the first episode broadcast of The Munsters. His last television role was as Judge Moon in a 1973 episode of Kung Fu.
His hometown of De Soto, Missouri hosts the Frank Wilcox Film Festival every March during the weekend closest to his birthday. An actor who performed with Wilcox, or those with "Wilcoxian" careers as character actors, serve as the guest host of the event.
Wilcox's work on Broadway began with Yes or No and ended with Parlor Story.
Personal life and death
Wilcox and his wife Joy had three daughters. On March 3, 1974, Wilcox died at his home 10 days before his 67th birthday in Los Angeles.
Selected filmography
Postal Inspector – Postmaster GeneralThe Roaring Twenties – Cabbie at Grand Central The Fighting 69th – Lt. NormanCalling Philo Vance – 2nd Reporter Virginia City – Union Outpost Soldier'Til We Meet Again – Ass't. PurserTear Gas Squad – Sergeant CrumpMurder in the Air – Hotel ClerkGambling on the High Seas – StoneThe Sea Hawk – Martin Barrett They Drive by Night – Reporter #1 River's End – Constable KentishCity for Conquest – Party Guest Father Is a Prince – Income Tax InvestigatorLady with Red Hair – Defense Assistant Santa Fe Trail – James LongstreetFootsteps [in the Dark (film)|Footsteps in the Dark] – FBI Agent Harrow Knockout – DenningA [Shot in the Dark (1941 film)|A Shot in the Dark] – Naval OfficerStrange Alibi – Reporter The Wagons Roll at Night – TexAffectionately Yours – TomSergeant York – Sergeant Bad Men of Missouri – Funeral Minister Highway West – Murph – Motorcycle CopThe Smiling Ghost – Alan Winters in Photo Navy Blues – Seabag Inspection Officer Passage from Hong Kong – Clerk They Died with Their Boots On – Captain WebbWild Bill Hickok Rides – Jim Martin – Ned's LawyerCaptains of the Clouds – Flight Lt. Wood Bullet Scars – MikeLady Gangster – Kenneth PhillipsMurder in the Big House – RandallJuke Girl – Truck Driver Flying Fortress – Judge at Hearing Wings for the Eagle – StarkEscape from Crime – CornellSecret Enemies – Counter-Espionage ManBusses Roar – Detective QuinnAcross the Pacific – Capt. MorrisonThe Hidden Hand – Dr. Lawrence ChanningTruck Busters – Police Capt. GearEdge of Darkness – Jensen The North Star – Cmdr. PetrovThere's [Something About a Soldier (1943 film)|There's Something About a Soldier] – Tom The Impostor – ProsecutorChip Off the Old Block – Edward Storey The Fighting Sullivans – Officer Four Jills in a Jeep – Officer Follow the Boys – Capt. Williams The Story of Dr. Wassell – Captain's Aide for Evacuation The [Adventures of Mark Twain (1944 film)|The Adventures of Mark Twain] – Judge John Marshall Clemens Rainbow Island – Captain In the Meantime, Darling – Capt. MacAndrews Conflict – Robert Freston Night Editor – Douglas LoringWithout Reservations – Jack Strange Triangle – LawyerThe Devil's Mask – Prof. Arthur LoganNotorious – FBI Agent Cloak and Dagger – American Officer Born to Speed – Dark Passage – Vincent Parry Dead Reckoning – Hotel Desk Clerk The Arnelo Affair – McKingby The Beginning or the End – Dr. W. H. ZinnMr. District Attorney – Defense Attorney I Cover Big Town – Harry HiltonHit Parade of 1947 – Show Character Philo Vance Returns – George HullmanHigh Barbaree – Co-Pilot Something in the Wind – Mr. Masterson Philo Vance's Secret Mission – Thaddius Carter Unconquered – Richard Henry LeeCass Timberlane – Gregg MarlGentleman's Agreement – Harry Her Husband's Affairs – Floorwalker Out of the Past – Sheriff Ed Douglas Always Together – Donn's Lawyer Blondie's Anniversary – CarterThe [Voice of the Turtle (film)|The Voice of the Turtle] – Stanley Blake Caged Fury – Dan CoreyThe Miracle of the Bells – Dr. JenningsThe Babe Ruth Story – Surgeon Refusing to Treat Dog The Return of October – Mr. Rawlins Let's [Live a Little (film)|Let's Live a Little] – Bennett's Salesman Slightly French – Starr South of St. Louis – Captain The Clay Pigeon – Dr. Matson – Navy Hospital DoctorThe Fountainhead – Gordon Prescott House of Strangers – Minor Role Masked Raiders – Banker CorthellThe Mysterious Desperado – Elias P. StevensThe Doctor and the Girl – House Surgeon All the King's Men – Public Relations Man Samson and Delilah – Lord of EkronEast Side, West Side – Frank Belmar Malaya – Naval Officer with Businessmen Key to the City – Councilman The Kid from Texas – Sheriff Pat GarrettBlondie's Hero – Capt. Masters Nancy Goes to Rio – Kenneth Berten Annie Get Your Gun – Mr. Clay Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye – Doctor Bunco Squad – Mike Finlayson Three Secrets – Charlie The Fuller Brush Girl – Roberts Chain Gang – Lloyd Killgallen Mister 880 – Mr. Beddington The Flying Missile – Maj. Kennedy Gambling House – Mr. Warren Belle Le Grand – John Payment on Demand – Mr. Drake Inside Straight – Zoe's Doctor Go for Broke! – HQ General Cavalry Scout – MatsonAs Young as You Feel – Joe Show Boat – Gambler Mark Hallson The Whip Hand – Bradford The Greatest Show on Earth – Circus DoctorTrail Guide – ReganThe Treasure of Lost Canyon – Stranger Flesh and Fury – Businessman Deadline – U.S.A. – Senator Young Man with Ideas – Morton H. Clay The Half-Breed – SandsScaramouche – Deputy DeCrillion Carrie – Maitre D' Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair – Driver at Accident The Duel at Silver Creek – Dr. Clayton Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder – Sidney Gordon The Raiders – Sam SterlingThunderbirds – Uncle David 'Dave' GarrettRuby Gentry – Clyde PrattThe Mississippi Gambler – Judge The Story of Three Loves – Ship's Officer Invaders from Mars – Pentagon Chief of Staff Code Two – Police Capt. Stark Pony Express – Mr. Walstron Affair with a Stranger – Dr. Strong The Kid from Left Field – Man at Bar The Man from the Alamo – Texas Patriot at Meeting China Venture – Capt. Dryden Those Redheads from Seattle – Vance EdmondsThree Young Texans – Bill McAdooDangerous Mission – Jeremiah Kern The Black Dakotas – Zachary Paige A Star Is Born – Frank Naked Alibi – Councilman Edgar Goodwin Black Widow – Zachary Paige Masterson of Kansas – Prosecutor Carolina Cannonball – ProfessorAbbott and Costello Meet the Keystone Kops – Rudolph Snavely The Eternal Sea – Cmdr. Calivin Durgin Trial – Lawyer #2 The Court-Martial of Billy Mitchell – Maj. Tom Meet Me in Las Vegas – Sands Co-Owner Uranium Boom – Floyd GormanNever Say Goodbye – Dr. BarnesThe Price of Fear – Courtney The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit – Hopkins' Physician Earth vs. the Flying Saucers – Alfred Cassidy The First Traveling Saleslady – U.S. Marshal DuncanA Strange Adventure – The Public DefenderThe Ten Commandments – WazirHollywood or Bust – Director 7th Cavalry – Maj. RenoDance with Me, Henry – Father MullahyHell's Crossroads – Gov. Crittenden of MissouriKelly and Me – George HaldermanBeginning of the End – Gen. John T. ShortTip on a Dead Jockey – Shields Pal Joey – Col. Langley Man from God's Country – Beau SanteeJohnny Rocco – Gordon Lane Leave It To Beaver - Season 1, Episode 24 "The State Versus Beaver" - JudgeThe Restless Gun - Episode "The Sweet Sisters"Good Day for a Hanging – Judge Frazer Go, Johnny, Go! – Harold ArnoldNorth by Northwest – Herman Weitner The Jayhawkers! – Lieutenant at Checkpoint Please Don't Eat the Daisies – TV Interviewer Swingin' Along – PsychiatristA Majority of One – Noah PutnamRawhide – Mr. Draper in S3:E13, "Incident of the Promised Land"Rawhide – Marshal Cox in S3:E18, "Incident of the Running Iron"The Horizontal Lieutenant – General A Ticklish Affair – Bill Johnny Cool – FBI Agent I'll Take Sweden – Mr. Dow Million Dollar Duck – Bank Manager