Frank Fenton Moran (April 9, 1906 – July 24, 1957), known as Frank Fenton, was an American stage, film and television actor.

Early years

Born Francis Fenton Moran,''Los Angeles Times'', January 5, 1937, Pg. 15 the

Georgetown University Georgetown University is a private university, private research university in the Georgetown (Washington, D.C.), Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded by Bishop John Carroll (archbishop of Baltimore), John Carroll in 1789 as Georg ...

graduate lettered as a tackle on the school's football team. He also was active in Georgetown's undergraduate dramatic club, for which he directed and wrote plays.

Career

Fenton started his career on stage in New York, acting on Broadway in ''An American Tragedy'' (1926) billed as Frank Moran. As Frank Fenton, he starred in the Broadway versions of '' Susan and God'' with

Gertrude Lawrence Gertrude Lawrence (4 July 1898 – 6 September 1952) was an English actress, singer, dancer and musical comedy performer known for her stage appearances in the West End of London and on Broadway in New York. Early life Lawrence was born Gertr ...

and as George Kittredge in '' The Philadelphia Story'' (1939) alongside

Katharine Hepburn Katharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12, 1907 – June 29, 2003) was an American actress in film, stage, and television. Her career as a Hollywood leading lady spanned over 60 years. She was known for her headstrong independence, spirited perso ...

. His other Broadway credits include ''Stork Mad'', ''O Evening Star'', ''Dead End'', and ''The O'Flynn''. He also appeared on stage in London, and toured with Katherine Cornell in ''

Romeo & Juliet ''Romeo and Juliet'' is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare early in his career about the romance between two Italian youths from feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular plays during his lifetime and, along with ''Ham ...

'' and other plays. Fenton's film debut came in ''

The Navy Comes Through ''The Navy Comes Through'' is a 1942 American World War II film directed by A. Edward Sutherland. It stars Pat O'Brien, George Murphy and Jane Wyatt. Vernon L. Walker and James G. Stewart were nominated for an Oscar for Best Special Effects. ...

'' (1942). After moving to Hollywood for

Barbara Stanwyck Barbara Stanwyck (; born Ruby Catherine Stevens; July 16, 1907 – January 20, 1990) was an American actress, model and dancer. A stage, film, and television star, during her 60-year professional career she was known for her strong, realistic sc ...

's ''

Lady of Burlesque ''Lady of Burlesque'' (also known as ''The G-String Murders'' and in the UK, ''Striptease Lady'') is a 1943 American musical comedy-mystery film, produced by RKO Pictures and directed by William A. Wellman and starring Barbara Stanwyck and Mich ...

'' (1943), the

Hartford, Connecticut Hartford is the capital city of the U.S. state of Connecticut. It was the seat of Hartford County until Connecticut disbanded county government in 1960. It is the core city in the Greater Hartford metropolitan area. Census estimates since the ...

native appeared in more than 80 movies and television programs. Although the majority of his motion picture career was spent in supporting roles, he starred alongside

John Carradine John Carradine ( ; born Richmond Reed Carradine; February 5, 1906 – November 27, 1988) was an American actor, considered one of the greatest character actors in American cinema. He was a member of Cecil B. DeMille's stock company and later Jo ...

in ''

Isle of Forgotten Sins ''Isle of Forgotten Sins'' is an American South Seas adventure film released on August 15, 1943 by PRC, with Leon Fromkess in charge of production, directed by Edgar G. Ulmer (also credited with original story) and featuring top-billed John Carr ...

'' (1943), which was re-issued as ''

Monsoon A monsoon () is traditionally a seasonal reversing wind accompanied by corresponding changes in precipitation but is now used to describe seasonal changes in atmospheric circulation and precipitation associated with annual latitudinal oscil ...

''. Fenton was married from 1934 to 1948 to the former Aqueena Bilotti, daughter of sculptor Salvadore Bilotti. The couple had two daughters, Alicia and Honoree. They divorced in 1948. He is often confused—in print and online—with screenwriter and novelist Frank Fenton (1903 – August 23, 1971). The actor dropped his last name early in his career to avoid confusion with other well-known Morans in New York City, including prizefighter Frank Moran, drama reporter Frank Moran, and George Moran of the popular comedy team

Moran and Mack The Two Black Crows (also called The Black Crows and Moran and Mack) was a blackface comedy act popular in the 1920s and 1930s. The duo appeared in vaudeville, on Broadway, on radio, comedy records, and in film features and shorts. History The a ...

Death

Fenton died at UCLA Medical Center on July 24, 1957, at age 51. He is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.

Partial filmography

* ''

'' (1942) - Hodum * '' Claudia'' (1943) - Hartley (uncredited) * ''

Aerial Gunner ''Aerial Gunner'' is a 1943 American black-and-white World War II propaganda film produced by William C. Thomas and William H. Pine, who also directed. The film stars Chester Morris, Richard Arlen, and Jimmy Lydon. This was the first feature film ...

'' (1943) - Colonel - HAGS CO (uncredited) * ''

'' (1943) - Russell Rogers * ''

'' (1943) - Jack Burke * ''

A Scream in the Dark ''A Scream in the Dark'' is an American comedy crime mystery film, mystery directed by George Sherman and written by Anthony Coldeway and Gerald Schnitzer in 1943. The film stars Robert Lowery (actor), Robert Lowery, Marie McDonald, Edward Brophy ...

'' (1943) - Sam 'Benny' Lackey * ''

Minesweeper A minesweeper is a small warship designed to remove or detonate naval mines. Using various mechanisms intended to counter the threat posed by naval mines, minesweepers keep waterways clear for safe shipping. History The earliest known usage of ...

'' (1943) - Lt. Ralph Gilpin * ''

Hi, Good Lookin'! ''Hi, Good Lookin'!'' is a 1944 American comedy film directed by Edward C. Lilley and written by Paul Gerard Smith, Bradford Ropes and Eugene Conrad. The film stars Harriet Nelson, Eddie Quillan, Kirby Grant, Betty Kean, Roscoe Karns, Vivian ...

'' (1944) - Gib Dickson * ''

Rosie the Riveter Rosie the Riveter is an allegorical cultural icon in the United States who represents the women who worked in factories and shipyards during World War II, many of whom produced munitions and war supplies. These women sometimes took entirely new ...

'' (1944) - Wayne Calhoun * ''

Buffalo Bill William Frederick Cody (February 26, 1846January 10, 1917), known as "Buffalo Bill", was an American soldier, Bison hunting, bison hunter, and showman. He was born in Le Claire, Iowa, Le Claire, Iowa Territory (now the U.S. state of Iowa), but ...

'' (1944) - Murdo Carvell * ''

Secret Command ''Secret Command'' is a 1944 American drama war film directed by A. Edward Sutherland and starring Pat O'Brien and Carole Landis. It was nominated for the Oscar for Best Effects ( David Allen, Ray Cory, Robert Wright, Russell Malmgren, H ...

'' (1944) - Simms * '' The Big Noise'' (1944) - Charlton * ''

Destiny Destiny, sometimes referred to as fate (from Latin ''fatum'' "decree, prediction, destiny, fate"), is a predetermined course of events. It may be conceived as a predetermined future, whether in general or of an individual. Fate Although often ...

'' (1944) - Sam Baker * ''

This Man's Navy ''This Man's Navy'' (aka ''Airship Squadron No. 4.'' and ''Lighter Than Air'') is a 1945 World War II film about U.S. Navy blimps directed by William A. Wellman and starring Wallace Beery, Tom Drake, Jan Clayton and James Gleason. The supporting ...

'' (1945) - Captain Grant * ''

Hold That Blonde ''Hold That Blonde'' is a 1945 American comedy crime film directed by George Marshall and starring Eddie Bracken, Veronica Lake and Albert Dekker. Plot Bracken plays a kleptomaniac who unwittingly becomes involved with a gang of jewel thieves, i ...

'' (1945) - Mr. Phillips * '' Club Havana'' (1945) - Detective Lieutenant (uncredited) * '' Getting Gertie's Garter'' (1945) - Winters (uncredited) * ''

The French Key ''The French Key'' is a 1946 American mystery film directed by Walter Colmes and written by Frank Gruber. The film stars Albert Dekker, Mike Mazurki, Evelyn Ankers, John Eldredge, Frank Fenton and Selmer Jackson. The film was released on May 18 ...

'' (1946) - Horatio Vedder * ''

Big Town ''Big Town'' is a popular long-running radio drama featuring a corruption-fighting newspaper editor initially played from 1937 to 1942 by Edward G. Robinson in his first radio role, with echoes of the conscience-stricken tabloid editor he had ...

'' (1946) - Fletcher (uncredited) * ''

Swamp Fire A swamp is a forested wetland.Keddy, P.A. 2010. Wetland Ecology: Principles and Conservation (2nd edition). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK. 497 p. Swamps are considered to be transition zones because both land and water play a role in ...

'' (1946) - Capt. Pete Dailey * '' If I'm Lucky'' (1946) - Marc Dwyer, Political Boss (uncredited) * ''

It's a Wonderful Life ''It's a Wonderful Life'' is a 1946 American Christmas by medium#Films, Christmas Fantasy film, fantasy drama film produced and directed by Frank Capra, based on the short story and booklet ''The Greatest Gift'', which Philip Van Doren Stern se ...

'' (1946) - Violet's Boyfriend (uncredited) * ''

Hit Parade of 1947 ''Hit Parade of 1947'' is a 1947 American comedy film directed by Frank McDonald and written by Mary Loos. The film stars Eddie Albert, Constance Moore, Joan Edwards, Gil Lamb, Bill Goodwin and William Frawley. The film was released on March 2 ...

'' (1947) - Mr. Bonardi * '' The Adventures of Don Coyote'' (1947) - Big Foot Ferguson * '' Philo Vance's Secret Mission'' (1947) - Paul Morgan * ''

Magic Town ''Magic Town'' is a 1947 comedy film directed by William A. Wellman and starring James Stewart and Jane Wyman. The picture is one of the first films about the then-new practice of public opinion polling. The film was inspired by the Middletown ...

'' (1947) - Birch * ''

Relentless Relentless may refer to: Film * ''Relentless'' (1948 film), an American film directed by George Sherman * ''Relentless'', a 1977 American television film starring Will Sampson * ''Relentless'' (1989 film), an American crime film starring Jud ...

'' (1948) - Jim Rupple * ''

Hazard A hazard is a potential source of harm Harm is a moral and legal concept. Bernard Gert construes harm as any of the following: * pain * death * disability * mortality * loss of abil ity or freedom * loss of pleasure. Joel Feinberg giv ...

'' (1948) - Utah Sheriff Bob Waybill * ''

A Foreign Affair ''A Foreign Affair'' is a 1948 American romantic comedy-drama film directed by Billy Wilder and starring Jean Arthur, Marlene Dietrich, and John Lund. The screenplay by Wilder, Charles Brackett, and Richard L. Breen is based on a story by David ...

'' (1948) - Major Mathews * ''

Bodyguard A bodyguard (or close protection officer/operative) is a type of security guard, government law enforcement officer, or servicemember who protects a person or a group of people — usually witnesses, high-ranking public officials or officers, w ...

'' (1948) - Lt. Borden * '' Renegades of Sonora'' (1948) - Sheriff Jim Crawford * ''

Mexican Hayride ''Mexican Hayride'' is a 1948 film starring the comedy team of Abbott and Costello. The film is based on Cole Porter's Broadway musical '' Mexican Hayride'' starring Bobby Clark. No songs from the stage musical were used in the film. Plot Joe ...

'' (1948) - Gus Adamson * '' Rustlers'' (1949) - Brad Carew * ''

The Clay Pigeon ''The Clay Pigeon'' is a 1949 American film noir directed by Richard Fleischer and written by Carl Foreman, based on a true story. The drama features Bill Williams and Barbara Hale, a real-life husband and wife. Plot Jim Fletcher (Williams), ...

'' (1949) - Lt. Cmdr. Prentice * '' Joe Palooka in the Big Fight'' (1949) - Detective * ''

The Doolins of Oklahoma ''The Doolins of Oklahoma'' is a 1949 American Western film directed by Gordon Douglas and starring Randolph Scott, George Macready and Louise Allbritton. It was distributed by Columbia Pictures. Plot When the Daltons are killed at Coffeyvill ...

'' (1949) - Red Buck * '' Ranger of Cherokee Strip'' (1949) - McKinnon * '' The Golden Stallion'' (1949) - Oro City Sheriff * '' Port of New York'' (1949) - G.W. Wyley (uncredited) * ''

The Lawless ''The Lawless'' is a 1950 American film noir directed by Joseph Losey and features Macdonald Carey, Gail Russell and Johnny Sands. A newspaper editor in California becomes concerned about the plight of the state's fruit pickers, mostly immigrant ...

'' (1950) - Mr. Prentiss * ''

Sideshow In North America, a sideshow is an extra, secondary production associated with a circus, carnival, fair, or other such attraction. Types There are four main types of classic sideshow attractions: *The Ten-in-One offers a program of ten seq ...

'' (1950) - Manson * '' Trigger, Jr.'' (1950) - Sheriff * ''

A Modern Marriage ''A Modern Marriage'' is a 1950 American Drama (film and television), drama film directed by Paul Landres and written by Samuel Roeca and George Wallace Sayre. The film stars Reed Hadley, Margaret Field, Robert Clarke, Nana Bryant, Burt Wenland a ...

'' (1950) - Mr. Brown * ''

Streets of Ghost Town ''Streets of Ghost Town'' is a 1950 American Western film directed by Ray Nazarro and written by Barry Shipman. The film, reusing footage from the 1946 Durango Kid films ''Gunning for Vengeance'' and ''Landrush'', stars Charles Starrett, Ge ...

'' (1950) - Bart Selby * ''

Three Secrets ''Three Secrets'' is a 1950 American drama film directed by Robert Wise and starring Eleanor Parker, Patricia Neal and Ruth Roman. It was released by Warner Bros. Plot A private plane crashes in the California mountains and a 5-year-old boy sur ...

'' (1950) - Sheriff Neil MacDonald (uncredited) * '' Wyoming Mail'' (1950) - Gilson * ''

Tripoli Tripoli or Tripolis may refer to: Cities and other geographic units Greece *Tripoli, Greece, the capital of Arcadia, Greece * Tripolis (region of Arcadia), a district in ancient Arcadia, Greece * Tripolis (Larisaia), an ancient Greek city in ...

'' (1950) - Capt. Adams * '' Double Deal'' (1950) - Pete (uncredited) * '' Prairie Roundup'' (1951) - Buck Prescott * '' Rogue River'' (1951) - Joe Dandridge * ''

Texans Never Cry ''Texans Never Cry'' is a 1951 American Western film directed by Frank McDonald and written by Norman S. Hall. The film stars Gene Autry, Mary Castle, Russell Hayden, Gail Davis, Tom Keene and Don C. Harvey. The film was released on March ...

'' (1951) - Captain Weldon (uncredited) * '' Silver City'' (1951) - Creede (uncredited) * ''The Legend of the Lone Ranger'' (1952) - Ranger Captain (uncredited) * ''

Man in the Dark ''Man in the Dark'' is a 1953 film noir drama 3-D film directed by Lew Landers and starring Edmond O'Brien, Audrey Totter and Ted de Corsia. It is a remake of the 1936 Ralph Bellamy film '' The Man Who Lived Twice''. It was the first Columbi ...

'' (1953) - Detective Driver (uncredited) * ''

Raiders of the Seven Seas ''Raiders of the Seven Seas'' is a 1953 American swashbuckler film directed by Sidney Salkow and starring John Payne and Donna Reed. The supporting cast features Gerald Mohr, Lon Chaney Jr. and Anthony Caruso. Plot The pirate Barbarossa raids ...

'' (1953) - Salcedo's Officer (uncredited) * '' Island in the Sky'' (1953) - Capt. Turner * ''

Vicki Vicky, Vicko, Vick, Vickie or Vicki is a feminine given name, often a hypocorism of Victoria. The feminine name Vicky in Greece comes from the name Vasiliki. Women * Family nickname of Victoria, Princess Royal (1840–1901), wife of German ...

'' (1953) - Eric (uncredited) * ''

Gun Fury ''Gun Fury'' is a 1953 3-D American Western crime film directed by Raoul Walsh and starring Rock Hudson and Donna Reed, with major supporting roles for Philip Carey and Leo Gordon. The film is based on the novel ''Ten Against Caesar'' by Kat ...

'' (1953) - Chuck - First Poker Player (uncredited) * ''

The Nebraskan ''The Nebraskan'' is a 1953 3-D Film, 3-D American Western (genre), Western film directed by Fred F. Sears starring Philip Carey, Phil Carey and Roberta Haynes. ''The Nebraskan'' was one of seven feature films from prolific director Fred Sears ...

'' (1953) - Army Captain (uncredited) * ''

Fury at Gunsight Pass ''Fury at Gunsight Pass'' is a 1956 American western film directed by Fred F. Sears and starring David Brian, Neville Brand and Richard Long. It was produced and distributed by Columbia Pictures. Plot Bank robbers hold townspeople hostage, t ...

'' (1956) - Sheriff Meeker * ''

The Naked Hills ''The Naked Hills'' is a 1956 American Western film directed by Josef Shaftel, starring David Wayne, Keenan Wynn, and James Barton. Plot summary Tracy Powell, an Indiana farmer, gets the gold fever and heads for Stockton, California in 1849 ...

'' (1956) - Harold * ''

Cha-Cha-Cha Boom! ''Cha-Cha-Cha Boom!'' is a 1956 American musical film starring Dámaso Pérez Prado, Stephen Dunne, the Mary Kaye Trio, Helen Grayco, Luis Arcaraz and his Orchestra, Lucerto Bárcenas, and Manny López and his Orchestra. It was produced by Sa ...

'' (1956) - Head of Board of Directors (uncredited) * ''

Emergency Hospital ''Emergency Hospital'' is a 1956 American drama film directed by Lee Sholem and written by Don Martin. The film stars Walter Reed, Margaret Lindsay, John Archer, Byron Palmer, Rita Johnson and Peg La Centra. The film was released on November 2, ...

'' (1956) - Edward Northrup (uncredited) * ''

Gun the Man Down ''Gun the Man Down'' is a 1956 Western film directed by Andrew V. McLaglen and starring James Arness and Angie Dickinson in her first leading role. The film was produced by Robert E. Morrison for his brother John Wayne's company Batjac Producti ...

'' (1956) - Sheriff Leading Posse (uncredited) * '' Hell Bound'' (1957) - Harry Quantro (final film role)

References

External links

*
Brief biography and links to films
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fenton, Frank 1906 births 1957 deaths 20th-century American male actors American male film actors American male stage actors Georgetown University alumni Male actors from Hartford, Connecticut