Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Born
December 8, 1905
Died
August 2, 1985 (age 79)
Place of Birth
Saint Louis, Missouri, USA
Also Known As
Francis Charles Ruf
Frank Ruf
Charles Francis Ruf
Frank Faylen
Biography
Frank Faylen (born Francis Charles Ruf) was an American stage, screen, and television actor. He is best remembered for his movie performances as the cynical male nurse in The Lost Weekend (1945) and Ernie the taxi driver in It's a Wonderful Life (1946), as well as for his portrayal of long-suffering grocer Herbert T. Gillis on the 1950s television sitcom The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.
Known For
TV
Maverick
Red Harrison
1957
TV
Quincy, M.E.
Janus
1976
TV
Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre
Doc Alvarez
1956
TV
The Beverly Hillbillies
1962
TV
Petticoat Junction
Ralph
1963
TV
The Colgate Comedy Hour
Self
1950
TV
Wanted: Dead or Alive
Sheriff Earl Tipton
1958
TV
Telephone Time
1956
TV
The Bob Hope Show
Self
1950
TV
That Girl
1966
TV
The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis
Herbert T. Gillis
1959
TV
The Great Adventure
O'Brien
1963
Film
Gone with the Wind
Soldier Aiding Dr. Meade (uncredited)
1939
TV
Racket Squad
1951
Film
It's a Wonderful Life
Ernie
1946
Film
Footsteps in the Dark
Gus a Taxi Driver (uncredited)
1941
TV
Man with a Camera
1958
TV
My Mother the Car
1965
Film
Funny Girl
Keeney
1968
Film
Incendiary Blonde
Hotel Clerk (uncredited)
1945
Filmography
1987FilmJames Stewart: A Wonderful Lifeas Self (archive footage)1977FilmWhatever Happened to Dobie Gillis?as Herbert T. Gillis1976TVQuincy, M.E.as Janus1968FilmFunny Girlas Keeney1966TVThat Girl1965FilmWhen the Boys Meet the Girlsas Phin Gray1965TVMy Mother the Car1965FilmThe Monkey's Uncleas Mr. Dearborne1965FilmFluffyas Catfish1963TVThe Great Adventureas O'Brien1963TVPetticoat Junctionas Ralph1962TVThe Beverly Hillbillies1960FilmNorth to Alaskaas Arnie (uncredited)1959TVThe Many Loves of Dobie Gillisas Herbert T. Gillis1959FilmThe Sunrise Gunas Doc Alvarez1958TVMan with a Camera1958TVWanted: Dead or Aliveas Sheriff Earl Tipton1957TVMaverickas Red Harrison1957FilmDinoas Frank Mandel1957FilmGunfight at the O.K. Corralas Sheriff Cotton Wilson1956Film7th Cavalryas Sgt. Kruger1956FilmThree Brave Menas Enos Warren1956FilmEverything But the Truthas 'Mac' McMillan1956TVDick Powell's Zane Grey Theatreas Doc Alvarez1956FilmAway All Boatsas Chief Phillip P. 'Pappy' Moran1956FilmTerror at Midnightas Fred Hill1956TVTelephone Time1955FilmThe McConnell Storyas Sfc. Sykes1955FilmThe Lootersas Stan Leppich1954FilmThe Lone Gunas Fairweather1954FilmRiot in Cell Block 11as Commissioner Haskell1954FilmRed Gartersas Billy Buckett1953Film99 River Streetas Stan Hogan1953TVGeneral Electric Theateras Farber1952FilmHangman's Knotas Cass Browne1952FilmThe Lusty Menas Al Dawson1952FilmThe Sniperas Anderson1951FilmMy Favorite Spyas Newton1951FilmDetective Storyas Det. Gallagher1951FilmPassage Westas Curly1951TVRacket Squad1951FilmFourteen Hoursas Walter, room service waiter1950FilmCopper Canyonas Mullins1950FilmThe Eagle and the Hawkas Red' Hyatt - Danzeeger's Foreman1950TVThe Colgate Comedy Houras Self1950FilmConvictedas Convict Ponti1950TVThe Bob Hope Showas Self1950FilmFrancisas Sergeant Chillingbacker1950FilmThe Nevadanas Jeff1948FilmWhispering Smithas Whitey Du Sang1948FilmBlood on the Moonas Jake Pindalest1948FilmRace Streetas Phil Dickson1948FilmHazardas Oscar1947FilmRoad to Rioas Trigger1947FilmVariety Girlas Frank Faylen1947FilmThe Perils of Paulineas Mr. Joe Gurt1947FilmThe Trouble with Womenas Geeger1947FilmWelcome Strangeras Bill Walters1947FilmEasy Come, Easy Goas Boss1947FilmCaliforniaas Whitey1947FilmSuddenly It's Springas Harold Michaels1946FilmIt's a Wonderful Lifeas Ernie1946FilmCross My Heartas Fingerprint Expert1946FilmTwo Years Before the Mastas Hansen1946FilmBlue Skiesas Mack1946FilmOur Hearts Were Growing Upas Federal Agent1946FilmThe Well Groomed Brideas Cabbie1946FilmThe Blue Dahliaas Man Recommending Motel1946FilmTo Each His Ownas Babe1945FilmMasquerade in Mexicoas Brooklyn (uncredited)1945FilmThe Lost Weekendas 'Bim' Nolan1945FilmIncendiary Blondeas Hotel Clerk (uncredited)1945FilmThe Affairs of Susanas Brooklyn Boy (uncredited)1945FilmYou Came Alongas Bellboy (uncredited)1945FilmBring on the Girlsas Sailor1945FilmBombaleraas Houlihan1944FilmThe Canterville Ghostas Lieutenant John Kane1944FilmAddress Unknownas Jimmie Blake1944FilmAndy Hardy's Blonde Troubleas Taxi Driver #2 (uncredited)1944FilmAnd the Angels Singas Holman1944FilmSee Here, Private Hargroveas M.P. (uncredited)1944FilmA Guy Named Joeas Major (uncredited)1944FilmStanding Room Onlyas Cabbie1943FilmThe Gang's All Hereas Marine Sergeant (uncredited)1943FilmThe Mystery of the 13th Guestas Speed Dugan1943FilmThe Unknown Guestas Truck Driver (uncredited)1943FilmCorvette K-225as Shipyard Painter1943FilmThank Your Lucky Starsas Sailor (uncredited)1943FilmNazty Nuisanceas Seaman Benson1943FilmYoung Ideasas Reporter (uncredited)1943FilmYanks Ahoyas Quartermaster Jenkins1943FilmGet Goingas Hank1943FilmPrairie Chickensas Clem1943FilmGood Morning, Judgeas Ben Pollard1943FilmMission to Moscowas Reporter (uncredited)1943FilmTaxi, Misteras Henchman Silk1943FilmSlightly Dangerousas Gateman (uncredited)1943FilmThe Falcon Strikes Backas Cecil, a Hobo (uncredited)1943FilmDixie Duganas Soldier (uncredited)1943FilmSilver Skatesas Eddie1942FilmFall Inas Capt. Gillis1942FilmAcross the Pacificas Sidewalk Toy Vendor (uncredited)1942FilmThe Palm Beach Storyas Taxi Driver (uncredited)1942FilmSomewhere I'll Find Youas Soldier Driving Jeep1942FilmWake Island1942FilmA-Haunting We Will Goas Train Detective (uncredited)1942FilmThe Pride of the Yankeesas Yankee Third Base Coach (uncredited)1942FilmTough as They Comeas Collector1942FilmMaisie Gets Her Manas Stage Manager (Uncredited)1942FilmYankee Doodle Dandyas Sergeant on Parade (uncredited)1942FilmWhispering Ghostsas Curly1942FilmAbout Faceas Bartender Jerry1942FilmMokeyas Police Desk Sergeant1942FilmStar Spangled Rhythmas Soldier (uncredited)1942FilmJoe Smith, Americanas Man in Waiting Room with Matches (uncredited)1941FilmSteel Against the Skyas Egg Man in Diner (uncredited)1941FilmH.M. Pulham, Esq.as Marine Sergeant (uncredited)1941FilmTop Sergeant Mulliganas Pat Dolan1941FilmSergeant Yorkas But! Boy (uncredited)1941FilmLet's Go Collegiateas Speed Dorman1941FilmTanks a Millionas Pvt. Skivic1941FilmBlossoms in the Dustas Man with Man Carrying Dead Child1941FilmFather Steps Outas Tall Hobo 'King', aka The King of Siam1941FilmThe Reluctant Dragonas Orchestra Leader (uncredited)1941FilmThieves Fall Outas Pick1941FilmModel Wifeas Master of Ceremonies1941FilmFootsteps in the Darkas Gus a Taxi Driver (uncredited)1941FilmCome Live with Meas Waiter1940FilmEast of the Riveras Tour Guide (uncredited)1940FilmJust a Cute Kidas Benny1940FilmCity for Conquestas Band Conductor and Emcee (uncredited)1940FilmNo Time for Comedyas Cab Driver1940FilmThey Drive by Nightas Driver in Cafe (uncredited)1940FilmPop Always Paysas Minerva Auto Loan Cashier1940FilmBlame It on Loveas Studio Electrician1940FilmBrother Orchidas Parkway Biltmore Desk Clerk (uncredited)1940FilmLa Conga Nightsas Jeepers Peepers1940FilmEdison, the Manas Galbreath1940FilmSaturday's Childrenas Cab Driver (uncredited)1940FilmCurtain Callas Spike Malone1940FilmThe Grapes of Wrathas Tim1940FilmAlice in Movielandas Master of Ceremonies (uncredited)1940FilmCastle on the Hudsonas Guard Who is Slugged (uncredited)1940FilmThe Fighting 69thas Engineer Sergeant (uncredited)1940FilmMarried and in Loveas Jim Carter, Man in Bar1939FilmInvisible Stripesas Steve - Henchman on Bank Job (uncredited)1939FilmGone with the Windas Soldier Aiding Dr. Meade (uncredited)1939FilmNick Carter, Master Detectiveas Pete Foley - 1st pilot1939FilmRenoas J. Hezmer Briggs1939FilmNo Place to Goas Pete Shaffer1939FilmSlapsie Maxie'sas Tiger Dorsey1939FilmThunder Afloatas Recruiting Officer (uncredited)1939FilmWaterfrontas Skids Riley1939FilmFive Came Backas Photographer (uncredited)1939FilmIt's a Wonderful Worldas Peters - Stagehand (uncredited)1939FilmLucky Nightas Play Palace Announcer (uncredited)1939FilmWomen in the Windas Chuck - the Mechanic (uncredited)1939FilmThe Flying Irishmanas New York Mechanic1939FilmThe Story of Vernon and Irene Castleas Adjutant (uncredited)1939FilmYou Can't Get Away with Murderas Boat Tour Guide (uncredited)1939FilmTwelve Crowded Hoursas Henchman (uncredited)1939FilmIdiot's Delightas Ed1939FilmCrime Rave1938FilmToo Hot to Handleas Assistant Dubber (uncredited)1938FilmNo Time to Marryas Waxler1938FilmThe Invisible Menaceas Private of the Guard1937FilmHeadin' Eastas Joe1937FilmWine, Women and Horsesas Horse Buyer1937FilmThat Certain Womanas Reporter (uncredited)1937FilmBack in Circulationas James Maxwell - a Reporter (uncredited)1937FilmEver Since Eveas Bandit Leader at Monteray Tavern (uncredited)1937FilmThey Won't Forgetas Reporter1937FilmDance Charlie Danceas Ted Parks1937FilmThe Case of the Stuttering Bishopas Charlie Downs1937FilmKid Galahadas Barney1937FilmSan Quentinas Convict Envying Hoffman (uncredited)1937FilmThe Go-Getteras Country Club Man #2 (uncredited)1937FilmThe Cherokee Stripas Joe Brady1937FilmMarked Womanas Cabbie #2 (uncredited)1937FilmMidnight Courtas Reporter1937FilmSmart Blondeas Ambulance Driver (uncredited)1936FilmKing of Hockeyas Swede1936FilmNight Waitressas Policeman at Torre's1936FilmAll American Chumpas Reporter (uncredited)1936FilmThe Sky Paradeas Pilot (uncredited)1936FilmChina Clipperas Weatherman (uncredited)1936FilmBullets or Ballotsas Gatley - Pinball Racketeer (uncredited)1936FilmBorder Flightas Jimmie1936FilmRomance in the Airas Sure-Fire1936FilmRoad Gangas Radio Dispatcher (uncredited)1935FilmDouble Exposureas Press Photographer (uncredited)