Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

188

Gender

Male

Birthday

1905-12-08

Day of Death

1985-08-02 (80 years old)

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

Acting

The Grapes of Wrath

1940

The Grapes of Wrath

as

Tim

It's a Wonderful Life

1946

It's a Wonderful Life

as

Ernie

When the Boys Meet the Girls

1965

When the Boys Meet the Girls

as

Phin Gray

Detective Story

1951

Detective Story

as

Det. Gallagher

The Reluctant Dragon

1941

The Reluctant Dragon

as

Orchestra Leader (uncredited)

You Came Along

1945

You Came Along

as

Bellboy (uncredited)

Gunfight at the O.K. Corral

1957

Gunfight at the O.K. Corral

as

Sheriff Cotton Wilson

Road to Rio

1947

Road to Rio

as

Trigger

The Palm Beach Story

1942

The Palm Beach Story

as

Taxi Driver (uncredited)

The Sniper

1952

The Sniper

as

Anderson

Come Live with Me

1941

Come Live with Me

as

Waiter

Riot in Cell Block 11

1954

Riot in Cell Block 11

as

Commissioner Haskell

The Lost Weekend

1945

The Lost Weekend

as

'Bim' Nolan

Terror at Midnight

1956

Terror at Midnight

as

Fred Hill

Convicted

1950

Convicted

as

Convict Ponti

Blood on the Moon

1948

Blood on the Moon

as

Jake Pindalest

99 River Street

1953

99 River Street

as

Stan Hogan

7th Cavalry

1956

7th Cavalry

as

Sgt. Kruger

The Lusty Men

1952

The Lusty Men

as

Al Dawson

Funny Girl

1968

Funny Girl

as

Keeney

The Blue Dahlia

1946

The Blue Dahlia

as

Man Recommending Motel

The Nevadan

1950

The Nevadan

as

Jeff

It's a Wonderful World

1939

It's a Wonderful World

as

Peters - Stagehand (uncredited)

Nick Carter, Master Detective

1939

Nick Carter, Master Detective

as

Pete Foley - 1st pilot

The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle

1939

The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle

as

Adjutant (uncredited)

They Won't Forget

1937

They Won't Forget

as

Reporter

The Canterville Ghost

1944

The Canterville Ghost

as

Lieutenant John Kane

Away All Boats

1956

Away All Boats

as

Chief Phillip P. 'Pappy' Moran

Kid Galahad

1937

Kid Galahad

as

Barney

Fourteen Hours

1951

Fourteen Hours

as

Walter, room service waiter

Blue Skies

1946

Blue Skies

as

Mack

Hangman's Knot

1952

Hangman's Knot

as

Cass Browne

To Each His Own

1946

To Each His Own

as

Babe

Race Street

1948

Race Street

as

Phil Dickson

Whispering Ghosts

1942

Whispering Ghosts

as

Curly

Thunder Afloat

1939

Thunder Afloat

as

Recruiting Officer (uncredited)

Maisie Gets Her Man

1942

Maisie Gets Her Man

as

Stage Manager (Uncredited)

The McConnell Story

1955

The McConnell Story

as

Sfc. Sykes

Copper Canyon

1950

Copper Canyon

as

Mullins

My Favorite Spy

1951

My Favorite Spy

as

Newton

North to Alaska

1960

North to Alaska

as

Arnie (uncredited)

Star Spangled Rhythm

1942

Star Spangled Rhythm

as

Soldier (uncredited)

Address Unknown

1944

Address Unknown

as

Jimmie Blake

California

1947

California

as

Whitey

San Quentin

1937

San Quentin

as

Convict Envying Hoffman (uncredited)

Variety Girl

1947

Variety Girl

as

Frank Faylen

The Mystery of the 13th Guest

1943

The Mystery of the 13th Guest

as

Speed Dugan

The Perils of Pauline

1947

The Perils of Pauline

as

Mr. Joe Gurt

Curtain Call

1940

Curtain Call

as

Spike Malone

Taxi, Mister

1943

Taxi, Mister

as

Henchman Silk

The Affairs of Susan

1945

The Affairs of Susan

as

Brooklyn Boy (Uncredited)

The Looters

1955

The Looters

as

Stan Leppich

Dino

1957

Dino

as

Frank Mandel

The Pride of the Yankees

1942

The Pride of the Yankees

as

Yankee Third Base Coach (uncredited)

Fluffy

1965

Fluffy

as

Catfish

The Lone Gun

1954

The Lone Gun

as

Fairweather

Passage West

1951

Passage West

as

Curly

Road Gang

1936

Road Gang

as

Radio Dispatcher (uncredited)

Standing Room Only

1944

Standing Room Only

as

Cabbie

No Place to Go

1939

No Place to Go

as

Pete Shaffer

King of Hockey

1936

King of Hockey

as

Swede

Easy Come, Easy Go

1947

Easy Come, Easy Go

as

Boss

Three Brave Men

1956

Three Brave Men

as

Enos Warren

Everything But the Truth

1956

Everything But the Truth

as

'Mac' McMillan

And the Angels Sing

1944

And the Angels Sing

as

Holman

Welcome Stranger

1947

Welcome Stranger

as

Bill Walters

Across the Pacific

1942

Across the Pacific

as

Sidewalk Toy Vendor (uncredited)

Reno

1939

Reno

as

J. Hezmer Briggs

The Monkey's Uncle

1965

The Monkey's Uncle

as

Mr. Dearborne

Two Years Before the Mast

1946

Two Years Before the Mast

as

Hansen

Married and in Love

1940

Married and in Love

as

Jim Carter, Man in Bar

Let's Go Collegiate

1941

Let's Go Collegiate

as

Speed Dorman

H.M. Pulham, Esq.

1941

H.M. Pulham, Esq.

as

Marine Sergeant (uncredited)

Somewhere I'll Find You

1942

Somewhere I'll Find You

as

Soldier Driving Jeep

Blame It on Love

1940

Blame It on Love

as

Studio Electrician

Alice in Movieland

1940

Alice in Movieland

as

Master of Ceremonies (uncredited)

Waterfront

1939

Waterfront

as

Skids Riley

Whatever Happened to Dobie Gillis?

1977

Whatever Happened to Dobie Gillis?

as

Herbert T. Gillis

Silver Skates

1943

Silver Skates

as

Eddie

Women in the Wind

1939

Women in the Wind

as

Chuck - the Mechanic (uncredited)

The Fighting 69th

1940

The Fighting 69th

as

Engineer Sergeant (uncredited)

Wine, Women and Horses

1937

Wine, Women and Horses

as

Horse Buyer

Whispering Smith

1948

Whispering Smith

as

Whitey Du Sang

The Invisible Menace

1938

The Invisible Menace

as

Private of the Guard

Hazard

1948

Hazard

as

Oscar

Ever Since Eve

1937

Ever Since Eve

as

Bandit Leader at Monteray Tavern (uncredited)

Masquerade in Mexico

1945

Masquerade in Mexico

as

Brooklyn (uncredited)

Cross My Heart

1946

Cross My Heart

as

Fingerprint Expert

The Case of the Stuttering Bishop

1937

The Case of the Stuttering Bishop

as

Charlie Downs

Dance Charlie Dance

1937

Dance Charlie Dance

as

Ted Parks

Idiot's Delight

1939

Idiot's Delight

as

Ed

The Flying Irishman

1939

The Flying Irishman

as

New York Mechanic

Prairie Chickens

1943

Prairie Chickens

as

Clem

Lucky Night

1939

Lucky Night

as

Play Palace Announcer (uncredited)

Five Came Back

1939

Five Came Back

as

Photographer (uncredited)

Gone with the Wind

1939

Gone with the Wind

as

Soldier Aiding Dr. Meade (uncredited)

Steel Against the Sky

1941

Steel Against the Sky

as

Egg Man in Diner (uncredited)

Francis

1950

Francis

as

Sergeant Chillingbacker

Thieves Fall Out

1941

Thieves Fall Out

as

Pick

Our Hearts Were Growing Up

1946

Our Hearts Were Growing Up

as

Federal Agent

The Cherokee Strip

1937

The Cherokee Strip

as

Joe Brady

Midnight Court

1937

Midnight Court

as

Reporter

Wake Island

1942

Wake Island

as

Thank Your Lucky Stars

1943

Thank Your Lucky Stars

as

Sailor (uncredited)

Night Waitress

1936

Night Waitress

as

Policeman at Torre's

Smart Blonde

1937

Smart Blonde

as

Ambulance Driver (uncredited)

Dixie Dugan

1943

Dixie Dugan

as

Soldier (uncredited)

The Unknown Guest

1943

The Unknown Guest

as

Truck Driver (uncredited)

The Gang's All Here

1943

The Gang's All Here

as

Marine Sergeant (uncredited)

The Sky Parade

1936

The Sky Parade

as

Pilot (uncredited)

Suddenly It's Spring

1947

Suddenly It's Spring

as

Harold Michaels

Brother Orchid

1940

Brother Orchid

as

Parkway Biltmore Desk Clerk (uncredited)

Edison, the Man

1940

Edison, the Man

as

Galbreath

All American Chump

1936

All American Chump

as

Reporter (uncredited)

No Time to Marry

1938

No Time to Marry

as

Waxler

Just a Cute Kid

1940

Just a Cute Kid

as

Benny

Father Steps Out

1941

Father Steps Out

as

Tall Hobo 'King', aka The King of Siam

Good Morning, Judge

1943

Good Morning, Judge

as

Ben Pollard

Tanks a Million

1941

Tanks a Million

as

Pvt. Skivic

Get Going

1943

Get Going

as

Hank

Fall In

1942

Fall In

as

Capt. Gillis

Yanks Ahoy

1943

Yanks Ahoy

as

Quartermaster Jenkins

Top Sergeant Mulligan

1941

Top Sergeant Mulligan

as

Pat Dolan

A-Haunting We Will Go

1942

A-Haunting We Will Go

as

Train Detective (uncredited)

Red Garters

1954

Red Garters

as

Billy Buckett

Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble

1944

Andy Hardy's Blonde Trouble

as

Taxi Driver #2 (uncredited)

Sergeant York

1941

Sergeant York

as

But! Boy (uncredited)

City for Conquest

1940

City for Conquest

as

Band Conductor and Emcee (uncredited)

Saturday's Children

1940

Saturday's Children

as

Cab Driver (uncredited)

No Time for Comedy

1940

No Time for Comedy

as

Cab Driver

Back in Circulation

1937

Back in Circulation

as

James Maxwell - a Reporter (uncredited)

East of the River

1940

East of the River

as

Tour Guide (uncredited)

Castle on the Hudson

1940

Castle on the Hudson

as

Guard Who is Slugged (uncredited)

They Drive by Night

1940

They Drive by Night

as

Driver in Cafe (uncredited)

Pop Always Pays

1940

Pop Always Pays

as

Minerva Auto Loan Cashier

You Can't Get Away with Murder

1939

You Can't Get Away with Murder

as

Boat Tour Guide (uncredited)

Young Ideas

1943

Young Ideas

as

Reporter (uncredited)

Double Exposure

1935

Double Exposure

as

Press Photographer (uncredited)

La Conga Nights

1940

La Conga Nights

as

Jeepers Peepers

The Eagle and the Hawk

1950

The Eagle and the Hawk

as

Red' Hyatt - Danzeeger's Foreman

Tough as They Come

1942

Tough as They Come

as

Collector

The Trouble with Women

1947

The Trouble with Women

as

Geeger

Corvette K-225

1943

Corvette K-225

as

Shipyard Painter

Border Flight

1936

Border Flight

as

Jimmie

Model Wife

1941

Model Wife

as

Master of Ceremonies

About Face

1942

About Face

as

Bartender Jerry

Mokey

1942

Mokey

as

Police Desk Sergeant

Yankee Doodle Dandy

1942

Yankee Doodle Dandy

as

Sergeant on Parade (uncredited)

Slightly Dangerous

1943

Slightly Dangerous

as

Gateman (uncredited)

The Go-Getter

1937

The Go-Getter

as

Country Club Man #2 (uncredited)

Crime Rave

1939

Crime Rave

as

The Well Groomed Bride

1946

The Well Groomed Bride

as

Cabbie

Marked Woman

1937

Marked Woman

as

Cabbie #2 (uncredited)

Bombalera

1945

Bombalera

as

Houlihan

Bring on the Girls

1945

Bring on the Girls

as

Sailor

A Guy Named Joe

1943

A Guy Named Joe

as

Major (uncredited)

Mission to Moscow

1943

Mission to Moscow

as

Reporter (uncredited)

Slapsie Maxie's

1939

Slapsie Maxie's

as

Tiger Dorsey

Blossoms in the Dust

1941

Blossoms in the Dust

as

Man with Man Carrying Dead Child

Nazty Nuisance

1943

Nazty Nuisance

as

Seaman Benson

The Falcon Strikes Back

1943

The Falcon Strikes Back

as

Cecil, a Hobo (uncredited)

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

1987

James Stewart: A Wonderful Life

as

Self (archive footage)

Bullets or Ballots

1936

Bullets or Ballots

as

Gatley - Pinball Racketeer (uncredited)

China Clipper

1936

China Clipper

as

Weatherman (uncredited)

Twelve Crowded Hours

1939

Twelve Crowded Hours

as

Henchman (uncredited)

Incendiary Blonde

1945

Incendiary Blonde

as

Hotel Clerk (uncredited)

Invisible Stripes

1939

Invisible Stripes

as

Steve - Henchman on Bank Job (uncredited)

See Here, Private Hargrove

1944

See Here, Private Hargrove

as

M.P. (uncredited)

Joe Smith, American

1942

Joe Smith, American

as

Man in Waiting Room with Matches (uncredited)

Footsteps in the Dark

1941

Footsteps in the Dark

as

Gus a Taxi Driver (uncredited)

Headin' East

1937

Headin' East

as

Joe

Romance in the Air

1936

Romance in the Air

as

Sure-Fire

The Colgate Comedy Hour

The Colgate Comedy Hour

as

Self

The Great Adventure

The Great Adventure

as

O'Brien

That Girl

That Girl

as

The Beverly Hillbillies

The Beverly Hillbillies

as

Petticoat Junction

Petticoat Junction

as

Ralph

General Electric Theater

General Electric Theater

as

Farber

Man with a Camera

Man with a Camera

as

My Mother the Car

My Mother the Car

as

Wanted: Dead or Alive

Wanted: Dead or Alive

as

Sheriff Earl Tipton

Racket Squad

Racket Squad

as

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

Dick Powell's Zane Grey Theatre

as

Doc Alvarez

Telephone Time

Telephone Time

as

The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis

The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis

as

Herbert T. Gillis

Maverick

Maverick

as

Red Harrison

The Bob Hope Show

The Bob Hope Show

as

Self

Quincy, M.E.

Quincy, M.E.

as

Janus

Production

Crew

Directing