Acting
Frank Orth
Frank Orth was an American actor born in Philadelphia. He is probably best remembered for his portrayal of Inspector Faraday in the 1951-1953 television series “Boston Blackie”. By 1897, Orth was performing in vaudeville with his wife, Ann Codee, in an act called “Codee and Orth.” In 1909, he expanded into song writing, with songs such as “The Phone Bell Rang” and “Meet Me on the Boardwalk, Dearie.” His first contact with motion pictures was in 1928, when he was part of the first foreign-language shorts in sound produced by Warner Bros. He and his wife also appeared together in a series of two-reel comedies in the early 1930s. Orth's first major screen credit was in “Prairie Thunder,” a Dick Foran western, in 1937. From then on, he was often cast as bartenders, pharmacists, and grocery clerks, and always distinctly Irish. He had a recurring role in the Dr. Kildare series of films and also in the Nancy Drew series as the befuddled Officer Tweedy. Among his better roles were the newspaper man Cary Grant telephones early in “His Girl Friday,” one of the quartet singing “Gary Owen” in “They Died with Their Boots On” (thereby giving Errol Flynn as Gen. Custer the idea of associating the tune with the 7th Cavalry), and as the little man carrying the sign reading “The End Is Near” throughout Colonel Effingham's Raid. However, Orth is probably best remembered for his portrayal of Inspector Faraday in the 1951-1953 television series “Boston Blackie.” A short, plump, round-faced man, often smoking a cigar, Orth as Faraday wore his own dark-rimmed spectacles, though rarely in feature films. In 1959, Orth retired from show business after throat surgery. His wife died in 1961 after around fifty years of marriage. Orth died on March 17, 1962. He is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in the Hollywood Hills next to his wife.
Filmography
Houdini
Film · 1953
Here Come the Girls
Film · 1953
Something to Live For
Film · 1952
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
Series · 1952
Double Dynamite
Film · 1951
Boston Blackie
Series · 1951
Father of the Bride
Film · 1950
Cheaper by the Dozen
Film · 1950
The Great Rupert
Film · 1950
The Petty Girl
Film · 1950
Red Light
Film · 1949
Bride for Sale
Film · 1949
Blondie's Secret
Film · 1948
The Big Clock
Film · 1948
The Girl from Manhattan
Film · 1948
So This Is New York
Film · 1948
The Guilt of Janet Ames
Film · 1947
It Had to Be You
Film · 1947
Born to Speed
Film · 1947
Heartaches
Film · 1947
The Gas House Kids in Hollywood
Film · 1947
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers
Film · 1946
Wake Up and Dream
Film · 1946
The Hoodlum Saint
Film · 1946
The Bride Wore Boots
Film · 1946
Murder in the Music Hall
Film · 1946
It's Great to Be Young
Film · 1946
Lady in the Lake
Film · 1946
The Lost Weekend
Film · 1945
Pillow to Post
Film · 1945
Doll Face
Film · 1945
Tell It to a Star
Film · 1945
She Went to the Races
Film · 1945
Storm Over Lisbon
Film · 1944
Wilson
Film · 1944
Greenwich Village
Film · 1944
Summer Storm
Film · 1944
Roger Touhy, Gangster
Film · 1944
The Impatient Years
Film · 1944
Tall in the Saddle
Film · 1944
Sweet Rosie O'Grady
Film · 1943
The Ox-Bow Incident
Film · 1943
Coney Island
Film · 1943
Hello, Frisco, Hello
Film · 1943
The Meanest Man in the World
Film · 1943
Footlight Serenade
Film · 1942
Springtime in the Rockies
Film · 1942
Henry and Dizzy
Film · 1942
Blue, White and Perfect
Film · 1942
Over My Dead Body
Film · 1942
Orchestra Wives
Film · 1942
Dr. Kildare's Victory
Film · 1942
My Gal Sal
Film · 1942
Roxie Hart
Film · 1942
Rings on Her Fingers
Film · 1942
Dr. Gillespie's New Assistant
Film · 1942
The Magnificent Dope
Film · 1942
Tales of Manhattan
Film · 1942
Right to the Heart
Film · 1942
I Wake Up Screaming
Film · 1941
Come Live with Me
Film · 1941
The People Vs. Dr. Kildare
Film · 1941
Ride on Vaquero
Film · 1941
Sergeant York
Film · 1941
Respect the Law
Film · 1941
They Died with Their Boots On
Film · 1941
Broadway Limited
Film · 1941
The Strawberry Blonde
Film · 1941
Let's Make Music
Film · 1941
His Girl Friday
Film · 1940
Pier 13
Film · 1940
Michael Shayne: Private Detective
Film · 1940
Boom Town
Film · 1940
You, the People
Film · 1940
Brother Orchid
Film · 1940
Gallant Sons
Film · 1940
The Doctor Takes a Wife
Film · 1940
'Til We Meet Again
Film · 1940
Father Is A Prince
Film · 1940
Florian
Film · 1940
Dr. Kildare's Crisis
Film · 1940
Dr. Kildare Goes Home
Film · 1940
Dr. Kildare's Strange Case
Film · 1940
La Conga Nights
Film · 1940
Mexican Spitfire Out West
Film · 1940
Know Your Money
Film · 1940
Buyer Beware
Film · 1940
Gold Rush Maisie
Film · 1940
Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase
Film · 1939
Broadway Serenade
Film · 1939
Fast and Furious
Film · 1939
Burn 'Em Up O'Connor
Film · 1939
Tell No Tales
Film · 1939
At the Circus
Film · 1939
Idiot's Delight
Film · 1939
Nancy Drew... Reporter
Film · 1939
Fast and Loose
Film · 1939
Within the Law
Film · 1939
Calling Dr. Kildare
Film · 1939
Young Mr. Lincoln
Film · 1939
Thunder Afloat
Film · 1939
Stanley and Livingstone
Film · 1939
The Secret of Dr. Kildare
Film · 1939
Dust Be My Destiny
Film · 1939
Nancy Drew… Detective
Film · 1938
Think It Over
Film · 1938
Mr. Chump
Film · 1938
The Patient in Room 18
Film · 1938
Young Dr. Kildare
Film · 1938
Torchy Blane in Panama
Film · 1938
Comet Over Broadway
Film · 1938
San Quentin
Film · 1937
Marry the Girl
Film · 1937
Land Beyond the Law
Film · 1937
Ever Since Eve
Film · 1937
The Footloose Heiress
Film · 1937
Missing Witnesses
Film · 1937
The Devil's Saddle Legion
Film · 1937
Prairie Thunder
Film · 1937
Talent Scout
Film · 1937
Polo Joe
Film · 1936
Two Against the World
Film · 1936
Hot Money
Film · 1936
Unwelcome Stranger
Film · 1935
The Payoff
Film · 1935
The Victim
Film · 1931
Taking Ways
Film · 1930
A Bird in the Hand
Film · 1929