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{{short description|American actor}}
{{short description|American actor}}
{{for|the actor husband of Ayn Rand|Charles Francis O'Connor}}
{{for|the actor husband of Ayn Rand|Frank O'Connor (actor, born 1897)}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| name = Frank O'Connor
| name = Frank O'Connor
| image = Frank O'Connor - Oct 1921 EH.jpg
| image = Frank O'Connor - Oct 1921 EH.jpg
| caption = Portrait of O'Connor in the October 15, 1921 ''Exhibitors Herald''
| caption = Portrait of O'Connor in the October 15, 1921 ''Exhibitors Herald''
| birth_date = {{birth date|1881|4|11}}
| birth_date = {{circa|1881}}
| death_date = November 22, 1959 (aged 78)
| birth_place = [[New York City]], [[New York (state)|New York]], United States
| death_date = {{death date and age|1959|11|22|1881|4|11}}
| death_place = [[Los Angeles]], [[California]], United States
| death_place = [[Los Angeles]], [[California]], United States
| birth_name =
| birth_name =
| other_names = Frank A. Connor, Frank L.A. O'Connor
| occupation = Actor, director, writer
| occupation = Actor, director
| spouse =
| spouse =
| years_active = 1917–59
| years_active = 1920–59
}}
}}


'''Frank O'Connor''' (April 11, 1881 – November 22, 1959) was an American [[character actor]] and director, whose career spanned five decades and included appearances in over 600 films and television shows. Early in his career he was also billed as '''Frank A. Connor''' and '''Frank L.A. O'Connor'''. During the [[silent film]] era, he directed or was the assistant director on numerous films; he also penned several screenplays in both the silent and [[sound film]] eras. He is sometimes erroneously identified with the [[Charles Francis O'Connor|Frank O'Connor]] who was married to author [[Ayn Rand]].
'''Frank O'Connor''' (died November 22, 1959) was an American [[character actor]] and director involved in approximately 300 productions. He was a director of several [[Film|films]]; he also penned multiple screenplays.


==Life and career==
==Career==
In 1920, Frank O'Connor arrived in [[Hollywood, Los Angeles|Hollywood]], where he joined the Lasky Players.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=November 24, 1959 |title=Funeral Set for Veteran Film Figure |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-obituary-for-frank/141803796/ |work=Los Angeles Times |page=76}}</ref> [[Henry Miller (actor)|Henry Miller]] mentored him.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=June 23, 1935 |title=Movie Queens of Other Days now 'Extra Girls' |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/457969171/?clipping_id=141808610&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjQ1Nzk2OTE3MSwiaWF0IjoxNzA4NzI3NjQ0LCJleHAiOjE3MDg4MTQwNDR9.io9Mc7913_58gbLeSRn27oG1fdCEOqCKmWPQGyKk2EM |work=San Francisco Examiner |page=7}}</ref> Later, O'Connor was a freelance writer and [[character actor]].<ref name=":0" /> After a career as a [[film director]], he attempted to produce his own and, in the words of the ''[[San Francisco Examiner]]'', "went broke"; he subsequently worked as an [[Extra (acting)|extra]].<ref name=":1" />
Born on April 11, 1881, in New York City, O'Connor would begin his film career with a starring role in the 1915 silent film, ''[[The Voice in the Fog]]'', which also starred [[Donald Brian]] and [[Adda Gleason]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=16627 | title=The Voice in the Fog: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | access-date= May 8, 2015}}</ref> He starred or had featured roles in six more films between 1917 and 1920, before focusing on work behind the camera. During the remainder of the silent film era, he would write and/or direct over two dozen films, [[May McAvoy]] (several films, including ''[[Everything for Sale (1921 film)|Everything for Sale]]'', 1921), [[Ralph Lewis (actor)|Ralph Lewis]] (several films, including ''[[One of the Bravest]]'', 1925), [[Clara Bow]] (several films, including ''[[Free to Love]]'', 1925), [[Owen Moore]] (''[[Go Straight (1925 film)|Go Straight]]'', 1925), [[Jean Arthur]] (''The Block Signal'', 1926, which O'Connor also wrote), [[Gayne Whitman]] (''Exclusive Rights'', 1926), [[Wanda Hawley]] (''Hearts and Spangles'', 1926), [[Madge Bellamy]] (''Colleen'', 1927), [[Phyllis Haver]] (''Your Wife and Mine'', 1927), and [[Betty Compson]] (''Masked Angel'', 1928). He also wrote four screenplays for silent films during the 1920s.<ref name=AFIF>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/SearchResult.aspx?s=&Type=PN&Tbl=&CatID=DATABIN_CAST&ID=53858&searchedFor=Frank_O'Connor_&SortType=ASC&SortCol=RELEASE_YEAR | publisher=American Film Institute | title=Frank O'Connor | access-date=May 8, 2015 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref name=AFIF2>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/SearchResult.aspx?s=&retailCheck=&Type=PN&CatID=DATABIN_CAST&ID=54389&AN_ID=&searchedFor=Frank_L._A._O'Connor_ | publisher=American Film Institute | title=Frank L.A. O'Connor | access-date=May 8, 2015 }}{{Dead link|date=December 2019 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>


== Personal life ==
With the advent of sound in films, O'Connor would once again move in front of the camera. After 1930 he would only direct 2 sound films, ''The Call of the Circus'' in 1930, starring [[Francis X. Bushman]],<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=3168 | title=The Call of the Circus: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | access-date= May 8, 2015}}</ref> and 1939's ''The Mystic Circle Murder'', which starred [[Robert Fiske (actor)|Robert Fiske]] and Betty Compson, and which O'Connor also wrote.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=7842 | title=The Mystic Circle Murder: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | access-date= May 8, 2015}}</ref> He would write the story for ''[[Sailor Be Good]]'' (1933), directed by [[James Cruze]] and starring [[Jack Oakie]],<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=7284 | title=Sailor Be Good: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | access-date= May 8, 2015}}</ref> as well as ''[[Adventure in Diamonds]]'', directed by [[George Fitzmaurice]] and starring [[George Brent]] and [[Isa Miranda]].<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=6812 | title=Adventure in Diamonds: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | access-date= May 8, 2015}}</ref>
O'Connor was married to a woman named Susan, and they had three children; he died in [[Los Angeles]], [[California]] on November 22, 1959, at 78 years old.<ref name=":0" />

From 1930 right up to the year of his death in 1959, O'Connor would appear in over 600 films, [[Serial film|serials]], [[Short film|shorts]], and television shows, mostly in small roles.<ref name=AFIF/> Some of the more notable films he appeared in include: the original ''[[King Kong (1933 film)|King Kong]]'' (1933), starring [[Fay Wray]],<ref name="KK">{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=4005 | title=King Kong: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | access-date= May 8, 2015}}</ref> as well as its sequel, ''[[The Son of Kong]]'', also in 1933;<ref name="KK"/> 1935's ''[[The Little Colonel (1935 film)|The Little Colonel]]'', starring [[Shirley Temple]] and [[Lionel Barrymore]];<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=1145 | title=The Little Colonel: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | access-date= May 8, 2015}}</ref> [[John Ford]]'s ''[[The Whole Town's Talking]]'', starring [[Edward G. Robinson]] and Jean Arthur;<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=4140 | title=The Whole Town's Talking: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | access-date= May 8, 2015}}</ref> the 1937 version of ''[[The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (1938 film)|The Adventures of Tom Sawyer]]'';<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=913 | title=The Adventures of Tom Sawyer: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | access-date= May 8, 2015}}</ref> [[Frank Capra]]'s classic ''[[Mr. Smith Goes to Washington]]'', again with Jean Arthur, also starring [[James Stewart]] and [[Claude Rains]];<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=6445 | title=Mr. Smith Goes to Washington: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | access-date= May 8, 2015}}</ref> [[John Ford]]'s classic ''[[The Grapes of Wrath (film)|The Grapes of Wrath]]'', adapted from [[The Grapes of Wrath|the novel of the same name]] by [[John Steinbeck]], and starring [[Henry Fonda]] and [[Jane Darwell]];<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=6073 | title=The Grapes of Wrath: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | access-date= May 8, 2015}}</ref> the iconic ''[[Citizen Kane]]'', directed by and starring [[Orson Welles]];<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=27624 | title=Citizen Kane: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | access-date= May 8, 2015}}</ref> ''[[Cover Girl (film)|Cover Girl]]'' (1944) starring [[Rita Hayworth]] and [[Gene Kelly]];<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=378 | title=Cover Girl: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | access-date= May 8, 2015}}</ref> Capra's ''[[It's a Wonderful Life]]'' (1947), starring Jimmy Stewart and [[Donna Reed]];<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=27682 | title=It's a Wonderful Life: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | access-date= May 8, 2015}}</ref> the 1950 [[John Wayne]] vehicle, ''[[Sands of Iwo Jima]]'' (1950);<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=26092 | title=Sands of Iwo Jima: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | access-date= May 8, 2015}}</ref> [[Billy Wilder]]'s ''[[Sunset Boulevard (film)|Sunset Blvd.]]'' (1950), starring [[William Holden]] and [[Gloria Swanson]];<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=26513 | title=Sunset Blvd.: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | access-date= May 8, 2015}}</ref> and the 1955 version of ''[[My Sister Eileen (1955 film)|My Sister Eileen]]'' starring [[Janet Leigh]], [[Jack Lemmon]], and [[Betty Garrett]].<ref name="MySis">{{cite web | url=http://www.afi.com/members/catalog/DetailView.aspx?s=&Movie=51595 | title=My Sister Eileen: Detail View | publisher=American Film Institute | access-date= May 8, 2015}}</ref> One of his final big screen performances would be in another small role in 1957's ''[[Jet Pilot (film)|Jet Pilot]]'', starring John Wayne and Janet Leigh.<ref name="MySis"/> In addition to his feature film work, O'Connor would appear in several serials, including ''[[G-Men Never Forget]]'' in 1948, ''[[Superman (serial)|Superman]]'' in 1948, ''[[Ghost of Zorro]]'' (1949), ''[[Batman and Robin (serial)|Batman and Robin]]'' (1949), ''[[King of the Rocket Men]]'' (1949), ''[[The Invisible Monster]]'' (1950), ''[[Atom Man vs. Superman]]'' (1950), and ''[[Captain Video: Master of the Stratosphere]]'' (1951).<ref name=imdb>{{cite web | url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0175410/?ref_=fn_nm_nm_1 | publisher=imdb.com | title=Frank O'Connor | access-date=May 8, 2015}}</ref>

With the advent of television, O'Connor would make numerous appearances on the small screen. His first appearance was in a 1952 episode of ''[[Racket Squad]]''. Other series on which he appeared include: ''[[Dragnet (1951 TV series)|Dragnet]]'', ''[[Adventures of Superman (TV series)|Adventures of Superman]]'', and ''[[Perry Mason (1957 TV series)|Perry Mason]]''. His final performance would be on a 1959 episode of ''[[M Squad]]'', which aired on April 17, shortly before his death.<ref name=imdb />

O'Connor died on November 22, 1959, at the age of 77, in Los Angeles, California.


==Partial filmography==
==Partial filmography==
{{See also category|Films directed by Frank O'Connor}}
Throughout his career, O'Connor was involved in approximately 300 [[Film|films]] with various roles, including actor, director, and writer:<ref name=":AFI">{{Cite web |title=Frank O'Connor |url=https://catalog.afi.com/Person/53858-Frank-OConnor |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230106090039/https://catalog.afi.com/Person/53858-Frank-OConnor |archive-date=January 6, 2023 |access-date=February 23, 2024 |website=AFI Catalog}}</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
*''[[The Voice in the Fog]]'' (1915)
*''[[The Unwritten Code (1919 film)|The Unwritten Code]]'' (1919), as Thompson
*''[[Everything for Sale (1921 film)|Everything for Sale]]'' (1921), director
*''[[Madame Sherry]]'' (1917)
*''[[A Virginia Courtship]]'' (1921), director
*''[[The Silent Witness (1917 film)|The Silent Witness]]'' (1917)
*''[[A Homespun Vamp]]'' (1922), director
*''[[The Unwritten Code (1919 film)|The Unwritten Code]]'' (1919)
*''[[The Lawful Cheater]]'' (1925), director
*''[[Everything for Sale (1921 film)|Everything for Sale]]'' (1921)
*''[[A Virginia Courtship]]'' (1921)
*''[[One of the Bravest]]'' (1925), director
*''[[A Homespun Vamp]]'' (1922)
*''[[Go Straight (1925 film)|Go Straight]]'' (1925), director
*''[[The Lawful Cheater]]'' (1925)
*''[[Free to Love]]'' (1925), director
*''[[One of the Bravest]]'' (1925)
*''[[The Block Signal]]'' (1926), writer and director
*''[[Go Straight (1925 film)|Go Straight]]'' (1925)
*''[[Exclusive Rights (film)|Exclusive Rights]]'' (1926), director
*''[[Free to Love]]'' (1925)
*''[[Hearts and Spangles]]'' (1926), director
*''[[The Block Signal]]'' (1926)
*''[[Devil's Island (1926 film)|Devil's Island]]'' (1926), director
*''[[Exclusive Rights (film)|Exclusive Rights]]'' (1926)
*''[[The Silent Power]]'' (1926), director
*''[[Hearts and Spangles]]'' (1926)
*''[[Spangles (1926 film)|Spangles]]'' (1926), director
*''[[Devil's Island (1926 film)|Devil's Island]]'' (1926)
*''[[Heroes of the Night]]'' (1927), director
*''[[The Silent Power]]'' (1926)
*''[[Your Wife and Mine]]'' (1927), director
*''[[Spangles (1926 film)|Spangles]]'' (1926)
*''[[Colleen (1927 film)|Colleen]]'' (1927), director
*''[[Heroes of the Night]]'' (1927)
*''[[Why Sailors Go Wrong]]'' (1928), writer
*''[[Your Wife and Mine]]'' (1927)
*''[[The Masked Angel]]'' (1928), director
*''[[Colleen (1927 film)|Colleen]]'' (1927)
*''[[Call of the Circus]]'' (1930), director
*''[[Why Sailors Go Wrong]]'' (1928)
*''[[King Kong (1933 film)|King Kong]]'' (1933), as Reporter
*''[[The Masked Angel]]'' (1928)
*''[[Sailor Be Good]]'' (1933), writer
*''[[Call of the Circus]]'' (1930)
*''[[Men of the Night (1934 film)|Men of the Night]]'' (1934), as Boss painter
*''[[King Kong (1933 film)|King Kong]]'' (1933)
*''[[The Son of Kong]]'' (1933)
*''[[Roast Beef and Movies]]'' (1934)
*''[[Men of the Night (1934 film)|Men of the Night]]'' (1934)
*''[[Buried Loot]]'' (1935) (uncredited)
*''[[Air Hawks]]'' (1935) (uncredited)
*''[[Air Hawks]]'' (1935) (uncredited)
*''[[His Fighting Blood]]'' (1935)
*''[[The Whole Town's Talking]]'' (1935), as Detective
*''[[To Mary - with Love]]'' (1936) (uncredited)
*''[[His Fighting Blood]]'' (1935) (uncredited)
*''[[The Little Colonel (1935 film)|The Little Colonel]], as Aide
*''[[Wives Never Know]]'' (1936) (uncredited)
*''[[The Man Who Lived Twice]]'' (1936) (uncredited)
*''[[To Mary - with Love]]'' (1936), as Conductor
*''[[Reefer Madness]]'' (1936)
*''[[Wives Never Know]]'' (1936), as Police sergeant
*''[[Mr. Smith Goes to Washington]] (1939), as Senator Alfred
*''[[Midnight Taxi (1937 film)|Midnight Taxi]]'' (1937)
*''[[52nd Street (film)|52nd Street]]'' (1937)
*''[[Adventure in Diamonds]]'' (1940), writer
*''[[Lawless Valley (1938 film)|Lawless Valley]]'' (1938)
*''[[The Grapes of Wrath (film)|The Grapes of Wrath]]'' (1940), as Deputy
*''[[Sunset Murder Case]]'' (1938)
*''[[Man Made Monster]]'' (1941), as Detective
*''[[Man Made Monster]]'' (1941)
*''[[Sunset Murder Case]]'' (1941), as Tom O'Connor
*''[[Roar of the Press]]'' (1941)
*''[[Roar of the Press]]'' (1941) (uncredited)
*''[[The Gay Falcon]]'' (1941) (uncredited)
*''[[The Gay Falcon]]'' (1941), as Police officer in hallway
*''[[Thundering Hoofs]]'' (1942) (uncredited)
*''[[Citizen Kane]]'' (1941), as Man at Madison Square Garden
* ''[[The Man Who Lost Himself (1941 film)|The Man Who Lost Himself]]'' (1941) as cab driver (uncredited)<ref>{{cite web|title=''The Man Who Lost Himself'' (1941|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/26798-THE-MANWHOLOSTHIMSELF?sid=0d9e501b-d5bb-49d9-b6f6-757283b2b1a4&sr=12.743741&cp=1&pos=0|website=[[AFI Catalog of Feature Films]])}}</ref>
*''[[X Marks the Spot (1942 film)|X Marks the Spot]]'' (1942) (uncredited)
*''[[A Gem of a Jam]]'' (1943)
*''[[X Marks the Spot (1942 film)|X Marks the Spot]]'' (1942), as Policeman
*''[[Cover Girl (film)|Cover Girl]]'' (1944)
*''[[Cover Girl (film)|Cover Girl]]'' (1944), as Cook
*''[[Lone Texas Ranger]]'' (1945) (uncredited)
*''[[Lone Texas Ranger]]'' (1945), as Horace Carter
*''[[Three's a Crowd (1945 film)|Three's a Crowd]]'' (1945)
*''[[Mama Loves Papa (1945 film)|Mama Loves Papa]]'' (1945), as Official
*''[[Mama Loves Papa (1945 film)|Mama Loves Papa]]'' (1945) (uncredited)
*''[[Days of Buffalo Bill]]'' (1946), as Sam, cashier
*''[[Days of Buffalo Bill]]'' (1946)
*''[[It's a Wonderful Life]]'' (1946) (uncredited)
*''[[Congo Bill (serial)|Congo Bill]]'' (1948){{cn|date=February 2024}}
*''[[The Madonna's Secret]]'' (1946)
*''[[It's a Wonderful Life]]'' (1946)
*''[[Sands of Iwo Jima]]'' (1950), as Waiter
*''[[Congo Bill (serial)|Congo Bill]]'' (1948)
*''[[Angel Face (1953 film)|Angel Face]]'' (1953), as Bailiff
*''[[Ghost of Zorro]]'' (1949)
*''[[The Traveling Saleswoman]]'' (1950) (uncredited)
*''[[The Return of Jesse James]]'' (1950)
*''[[Smoky Canyon]]'' (1952) (uncredited)
*''[[Leadville Gunslinger]]'' (1952) (uncredited)
*''[[The Quiet Man]]'' (1952) (uncredited)
*''[[Angel Face (1953 film)|Angel Face]]'' (1953)
*''[[Savage Frontier (film)|Savage Frontier]]'' (1953) (uncredited)
*''[[Red River Shore]]'' (1953) (uncredited)
*''[[Red River Shore]]'' (1953) (uncredited)
*''[[My Sister Eileen (1955 film)|My Sister Eileen]]'' (1955) (uncredited)
*''[[Jet Pilot (film)|Jet Pilot]]'' (1957) (uncredited)
{{div col end}}
{{div col end}}


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[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:American male screenwriters]]
[[Category:American male screenwriters]]
[[Category:American film directors]]
[[Category:Film directors from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Male actors from New York City]]
[[Category:Male actors from New York City]]
[[Category:American male silent film actors]]
[[Category:American male silent film actors]]
[[Category:Silent film directors]]
[[Category:American silent film directors]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Screenwriters from New York (state)]]
[[Category:20th-century American male writers]]
[[Category:20th-century American male writers]]

Latest revision as of 09:25, 20 July 2024

Frank O'Connor
Portrait of O'Connor in the October 15, 1921 Exhibitors Herald
Bornc. 1881
DiedNovember 22, 1959 (aged 78)
Los Angeles, California, United States
Occupation(s)Actor, director, writer
Years active1920–59

Frank O'Connor (died November 22, 1959) was an American character actor and director involved in approximately 300 productions. He was a director of several films; he also penned multiple screenplays.

Career

[edit]

In 1920, Frank O'Connor arrived in Hollywood, where he joined the Lasky Players.[1] Henry Miller mentored him.[2] Later, O'Connor was a freelance writer and character actor.[1] After a career as a film director, he attempted to produce his own and, in the words of the San Francisco Examiner, "went broke"; he subsequently worked as an extra.[2]

Personal life

[edit]

O'Connor was married to a woman named Susan, and they had three children; he died in Los Angeles, California on November 22, 1959, at 78 years old.[1]

Partial filmography

[edit]

Throughout his career, O'Connor was involved in approximately 300 films with various roles, including actor, director, and writer:[3]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Funeral Set for Veteran Film Figure". Los Angeles Times. November 24, 1959. p. 76.
  2. ^ a b "Movie Queens of Other Days now 'Extra Girls'". San Francisco Examiner. June 23, 1935. p. 7.
  3. ^ "Frank O'Connor". AFI Catalog. Archived from the original on January 6, 2023. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  4. ^ "The Man Who Lost Himself (1941". AFI Catalog of Feature Films).
[edit]