Frank Albertson (Frank Albertson)

Frank Albertson

Actor.  Born the first child of Frank B. and Mary Healey Albertson.  Frank’s given name was Francis Healey Albertson and he was a native of Fergus Falls, Minnesota. Frank spent his childhood first in nearby Frazee, and also in Puyallup, Washington. He first became interested in the entertainment business when he began working as a prop boy in 1922. He played a role in Salute in 1929 and also in Men without Women in 1930. After his appearance in a few more movies, he took a break from them to serve in the U.S. Army Air Forces’ First Motion Picture Unit making training films during World War II. After the war he returned to making an acting career. Frank made well over one hundred appearances between 1923 to1964 in movies and television. In his early career he often sang and danced in such films as Just Imagine in 1930 and A Connecticut Yankee in 1931. He was featured in Alice Adams in 1935 as the title character’s brother, and in Room Service in 1938. He played opposite the Marx Brothers. 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 from 1946. One of his final screen appearances was as “Sam,” the bewildered mayor of Sweet Apple, Ohio, in the 1963 musical Bye Bye Birdie. For his contributions to the motion picture industry, Frank Albertson was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Frank married twice, the first time to Virginia Shelley they would have two children, this marriage would end in divorce, he then married Grace Gillern, they would have three children, and they would remain married until Frank passed away in his sleep, at the age of 55. (bio by: Shock)

Born

  • February, 02, 1909
  • USA

Died

  • February, 02, 1964
  • USA

Cemetery

  • Holy Cross Cemetery
  • California
  • USA

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