Frank Dwight Alexander (May 25, 1879 – September 8, 1937) was an American

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) or key lines of dialogue may, when ...

comedian A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing Amusement is the state of experiencing humorous and entertaining events or situations while the person or a ...

and

actor An actor or actress is a person who portrays a character in a performance. The actor performs "in the flesh" in the traditional medium of the theatre or in modern media such as film, radio, and television. The analogous Greek term is (), li ...

. He was occasionally billed as Fatty Alexander.

Biography

In the mid-1910s, Alexander acted in comedy roles for

Keystone Studios Keystone Studios was an early film studio founded in Edendale, California (which is now a part of Echo Park) on July 4, 1912 as the Keystone Pictures Studio by Mack Sennett with backing from actor-writer Adam Kessel (1866–1946) and Charle ...

, often with

Sydney Chaplin Sydney John Chaplin (; 16 March 1885 – 16 April 1965) was an English actor. Chaplin was the elder half-brother of actor and director Charlie Chaplin and served as his business manager in later life. Through their mother Hannah, they were o ...

. Alexander, who was

morbidly obese Obesity is a risk factor for many chronic physical and mental illnesses. The health effects of being overweight but not obese are controversial, with some studies showing that the mortality rate for individuals who are classified as overweight ( ...

(350 pounds), played villains in the films of

Larry Semon Lawrence Semon (February 9, 1889 – October 8, 1928) was an American actor, director, producer, and screenwriter during the silent film era. In his day, Semon was considered a major movie comedian, but he is now remembered mainly for working ...

, who are often the

father A father is the male parent of a child. Besides the paternal bonds of a father to his children, the father may have a parental, legal, and social relationship with the child that carries with it certain rights and obligations. An adoptive fathe ...

of Semon's

love interest ''Gli Innamorati'' (, meaning "The Lovers") were stock characters within the theatre style known as commedia dell'arte, who appeared in 16th century Italy. In the plays, everything revolved around the Lovers in some regard. These dramatic and pos ...

. He is best known to contemporary audiences for portraying a villainous interpretation of

Uncle Henry Uncle Henry is a fictional character from The Oz Books by L. Frank Baum.Jack Snow (writer), Jack Snow, ''Who's Who in Oz'', Chicago, Reilly & Lee, 1954; New York, Peter Bedrick Books, 1988; p. 227. He is the uncle of Dorothy Gale and husband of A ...

, eventually proclaimed "Prince of Whales" upon reaching the

Emerald City The Emerald City (sometimes called the City of Emeralds) is the capital city of the fictional Land of Oz in L. Frank Baum's Oz books, first described in ''The Wonderful Wizard of Oz'' (1900). Fictional description Located in the center of the La ...

in Semon's '' Wizard of Oz''. He was also part of the comedy team called " A Ton Of Fun" with two other large actors, Kewpie Ross and Hilliard Karr. The Rent Collector (1921) - 2

Richard M. Roberts's article in ''

Classic Images ''Classic Images'' is a monthly American mail-subscription newspaper in tabloid format, founded in 1962 by film collector Samuel K. Rubin, dedicated to film and television of the "Golden Age". Its offices are located in Muscatine, Iowa and it is ...

'' listed the top ten ingredients of a Larry Semon film, which began with these four: # Larry Semon # A heroine (usually Larry's current girlfriend or wife) # A fat guy (usually

Oliver Hardy Oliver Norvell Hardy (born Norvell Hardy; January 18, 1892 – August 7, 1957) was an American comic actor and one half of Laurel and Hardy, the double act that began in the era of silent films and lasted from 1926 to 1957. He appeared with his c ...

, to play the villain) # A really fat guy (usually Frank Alexander, to play Larry's current girlfriend's father) He was proclaimed at the time as one of the three fattest actors ever to appear on the screen, with

Roscoe "Fatty" Arbuckle Roscoe Conkling "Fatty" Arbuckle (; March 24, 1887 – June 29, 1933) was an American silent film actor, comedian, director, and screenwriter. He started at the Selig Polyscope Company and eventually moved to Keystone Studios, where he worked w ...

as one of the others. Alexander died of a heart attack on September 8, 1937, aged 58. He weighted 465 pounds when he died. He was cremated two days later at Hollywood Cemetery. His ashes are unmarked but lie in the Garden of Beginnings at

Hollywood Forever Cemetery Hollywood Forever Cemetery is a full-service cemetery, funeral home, crematory, and cultural events center which regularly hosts community events such as live music and summer movie screenings. It is one of the oldest cemeteries in Los Angeles ...

near

Los Angeles Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

.Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14000 Famous Persons by Scott Wilson

Filmography

* '' Melting Millions'' (1917) * ''

By the Sad Sea Waves ''By the Sad Sea Waves'' is a 1917 American short comedy film featuring Harold Lloyd. Plot Trying to woo Bebe on a beach, Harold impersonates a life guard. Among his misadventures, Harold is wrongly credited with saving two male swimmers from ...

'' (1917) * '' Rainbow Island'' (1917) * ''

Huns and Hyphens The Huns were a nomadic people who lived in Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Eastern Europe between the 4th and 6th century AD. According to European tradition, they were first reported living east of the Volga River, in an area that was part ...

'' (1918) * ''

Bears and Bad Men ''Bears and Bad Men'' is a 1918 American silent comedy film directed by Larry Semon and featuring Stan Laurel. Cast * Larry Semon as Larry Cutshaw * Madge Kirby as The Slawson Daughter * Stan Laurel as Pete * William McCall as Stranded acto ...

'' (1918) * ''

The Simple Life ''The Simple Life'' is an American reality television series starring Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie. It depicts the two wealthy socialites, as they struggle to do manual, low-paying jobs such as cleaning rooms, farm work, serving meals in fast ...

'' (1919) * ''

Dull Care ''Dull Care'' is a 1919 American silent comedy film featuring Oliver Hardy. Cast * Larry Semon as Larry, a Detective * William Hauber as Chief Crook (as Bill Hauber) * Frank Alexander as Chief of Police * Lucille Carlisle as Chief of Polic ...

'' (1919) * '' The Star Boarder'' (1919) * ''

The Stage Hand ''The Stage Hand'' is a 1920 American silent short comedy film featuring Oliver Hardy. Cast * Larry Semon as The Stage Hand * Lucille Carlisle as The Leading Lady * Frank Alexander as The Stage Manager * Thelma Percy as The Animal Trainer * ...

'' (1920) * ''

The Bakery ''The Bakery'' is a 1921 American short comedy film featuring Oliver Hardy that was directed by Larry Semon and Norman Taurog. Cast * Larry Semon as Larry, a Bakery Clerk * Oliver Hardy as Foreman (credited as Babe Hardy) * Frank Alexander as ...

'' (1921) * ''

The Rent Collector ''The Rent Collector'' is a 1921 American silent comedy film directed by Larry Semon and Norman Taurog. It featured Semon and Oliver Hardy. It was produced by Larry Semon's production company and distributed by the Vitagraph Company of America. ...

'' (1921) * ''

The Fall Guy ''The Fall Guy'' is an American action/adventure television series produced for ABC and originally broadcast from November 4, 1981, to May 2, 1986. It starred Lee Majors, Douglas Barr, and Heather Thomas as Hollywood stunt performers who moonli ...

'' (1921) * ''

The Bell Hop ''The Bell Hop'' is a 1921 American silent comedy film directed by Larry Semon and Norman Taurog and featuring Oliver Hardy. Cast * Larry Semon as The bellhop * Oliver Hardy as Hotel manager (as Babe Hardy) * Frank Alexander as A governme ...

'' (1921) * ''

The Sawmill ''The Sawmill'' is a 1922 American silent comedy film, comedy short film directed by Larry Semon and featuring Oliver Hardy. ''The Sawmill'' was shot at Hume Lake. Cast * Larry Semon as The dumb-bell * Oliver Hardy as The foreman (credited as B ...

'' (1922) * ''

The Show Show or The Show may refer to: Competition, event, or artistic production * Agricultural show, associated with agriculture and animal husbandry * Animal show, a judged event in the hobby of animal fancy ** Cat show ** Dog show ** Horse show ** Sp ...

'' (1922) * ''

Cyclone Jones ''Cyclone Jones'' is a 1923 American silent Western film directed by Charles R. Seeling and starring Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams, Bill Patton and Kathleen Collins. Cast * Guinn 'Big Boy' Williams as Cyclone Jones * Bill Patton as Kirk Davis * ...

'' (1923) * ''

Her Boy Friend ''Her Boy Friend'' is a 1924 American silent comedy film featuring Oliver Hardy.Kid Speed ''Kid Speed'' also known as ''The Four Wheeled Terror'' is a 1924 American silent comedy film directed by Larry Semon and featuring Oliver Hardy. Plot A group of young men are tuning up their race cars and sportsters in a small garage. Danger ...

'' (1924) * '' Wizard of Oz'' (1925) as

* ''

Hop to It! ''Hop to It!'', also released as ''Hop to It, Bellhop'', is a 1925 American silent comedy film featuring Oliver Hardy. Cast * Bobby Ray as A bellhop * Oliver Hardy as A bellhop (as Babe Hardy) * Janet Dawn as Saleswoman * Frank Alexander a ...

'' (1925) * ''

The Perfect Clown ''The Perfect Clown'' is a 1925 American silent slapstick comedy film starring Larry Semon and Kate Price. It features an early screen appearance by Oliver Hardy. Directed by Fred C. Newmeyer, the screenplay was written by Thomas J. Crizer, w ...

'' (1925) *'' Oh, What a Night!'' (1926) * '' Play Safe'' (1927) with

Monty Banks Montague (Monty) Banks (18 July 1897 – 7 January 1950), born Mario Bianchi, was a 20th century Italian-born American comedian, film actor, director and producer who achieved success in the UK and the United States. Career Banks was born Mario ...

* ''

The Barber Shop ''The Barber Shop'' (1933) is a short American pre-Code comedy film starring W.C. Fields, directed by Arthur Ripley, and produced by Mack Sennett. Cast List * W. C. Fields ... Cornelius O'Hare * Elise Cavanna ... Mrs. O'Hare * Harry Watson .. ...

'' (1933) with

W. C. Fields William Claude Dukenfield (January 29, 1880 – December 25, 1946), better known as W. C. Fields, was an American comedian, actor, juggler, and writer. Fields's comic persona was a misanthropic and hard-drinking egotist who remained a sympathe ...

References

External links

*
Frank Alexander; IBDb.com
* * 1879 births 1937 deaths American male silent film actors Male actors from Washington (state) Burials at Hollywood Forever Cemetery 20th-century American male actors {{US-film-actor-1870s-stub