Francis Connolly Shannon (27 July 1874 – 1 February 1959) was an

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

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 ...

and

writer A writer is a person who uses written words in different writing styles and techniques to communicate ideas. Writers produce different forms of literary art and creative writing such as novels, short stories, books, poetry, travelogues, p ...

Career

stage Stage or stages may refer to: Acting * Stage (theatre), a space for the performance of theatrical productions * Theatre, a branch of the performing arts, often referred to as "the stage" * ''The Stage'', a weekly British theatre newspaper * Sta ...

actor and

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 ...

pioneer, Shannon made his screen debut in 1913's '' The Artist's Joke''. He later appeared in dozens of films through the mid-1920s, including ''

The Prisoner of Zenda ''The Prisoner of Zenda'' is an 1894 adventure novel by Anthony Hope, in which the King of Ruritania is drugged on the eve of his coronation and thus is unable to attend the ceremony. Political forces within the realm are such that, in orde ...

'' (1913) and '' Monsieur Beaucaire'' (1924). Shannon then returned to the stage until beckoned back to Hollywood in 1931 and played a few substantial supporting parts, including Captain McTavish in

Warner Bros. Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. (commonly known as Warner Bros. or abbreviated as WB) is an American film and entertainment studio headquartered at the Warner Bros. Studios complex in Burbank, California, and a subsidiary of Warner Bros. D ...

' '' Torchy Blaine'' series from 1937 to 1939, but he is most fondly remembered as the brilliant scientist Dr. Alexis Zarkov in the three ''Flash Gordon'' serials starring

Buster Crabbe Clarence Linden Crabbe II (; February 7, 1908 – April 23, 1983), known professionally as Buster Crabbe, was an American two-time Olympic swimmer and film and television actor. He won the 1932 Olympic gold medal for 400-meter freestyle swimmi ...

between 1936 and 1940. He worked afterwards as a writer for the TV-series ''

Tales of the Texas Rangers ''Tales of the Texas Rangers'' is a 20th century Western old-time radio and television police procedural drama which originally aired on NBC Radio from 1950 to 1952 and later on CBS Television from 1955 to 1958. Film star Joel McCrea voiced the ...

'' between 1955 and 1958.

Death

Shannon died in

Hollywood, Los Angeles, California Hollywood is a neighborhood in the central region of Los Angeles, California. Its name has come to be a shorthand reference for the U.S. film industry and the people associated with it. Many notable film studios, such as Columbia Pictures, ...

at the age of 84. He is interred at Holy Cross Cemetery, Culver City, California.

Partial filmography

*''

'' (1913) *''Perjury'' (1921) - Phil Rourke *''

Boomerang Bill ''Boomerang Bill'' is an extant 1922 American silent crime melodrama film produced by Cosmopolitan Productions and distributed through Paramount Pictures. Adapted from a Boston Blackie short story by Jack Boyle, it was directed by Tom Terriss and ...

'' (1922) - Terrence O'Malley *''

The Bride's Play ''The Bride's Play'' is a 1922 American silent romance film produced by William Randolph Hearst as a starring vehicle for Marion Davies. It was directed by George Terwilliger and distributed by Paramount Pictures. It is an extant film that is ...

'' (1922) - Sir John Mansfield *'' Icebound'' (1924) - Judge Bradford *'' Monsieur Beaucaire'' (1924) - Badger *''

Rasputin and the Empress ''Rasputin and the Empress'' is a 1932 American pre-Code film directed by Richard Boleslawski and written by Charles MacArthur. Produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), the film is set in Imperial Russia and stars the Barrymore siblings (John, a ...

'' (1932) - Staff General (uncredited) *'' Woman in the Dark'' (1934) - Prison Warden *'' G Men'' (1935) - Police Chief at Lodge (uncredited) *''

Men Without Names ''Men Without Names'' is a 1935 American crime film directed by Ralph Murphy and written by Kubec Glasmon and Howard J. Green. The film stars Fred MacMurray, Madge Evans, David Holt, Lynne Overman, Elizabeth Patterson, J. C. Nugent, Grant Mit ...

'' (1935) - Leahy *'' The Eagle's Brood'' (1935) - Henchman Mike *'' The Pace That Kills'' (1935) - Mr. Farley *''

The Murder of Dr. Harrigan ''The Murder of Dr. Harrigan'' is a 1936 American mystery film directed by Frank McDonald and written by Peter Milne and Sy Bartlett. The film stars Ricardo Cortez, Kay Linaker, John Eldredge, Mary Astor, Joseph Crehan and Frank Reicher. The f ...

'' (1936) - Police Sergeant (uncredited) *'' Black Gold'' (1936) - Dan O'Reilly *''

The Prisoner of Shark Island ''The Prisoner of Shark Island'' is a 1936 American drama film loosely based on the life of Maryland physician Samuel Mudd, who treated the injured presidential assassin John Wilkes Booth and later spent time in prison after his controversial c ...

'' (1936) - Judge Advocate General Joseph Holt *''

Road Gang ''Road Gang'' is a 1936 film directed by Louis King, written by Dalton Trumbo, produced by Bryan Foy, and starring Donald Woods and Kay Linaker. The film shows economic and social injustice due to political corruption. Premise The managing ...

'' (1936) - Chaplain (uncredited) *''

Flash Gordon Flash Gordon is the protagonist of a space adventure comic strip created and originally drawn by Alex Raymond. First published January 7, 1934, the strip was inspired by, and created to compete with, the already established ''Buck Rogers'' adve ...

'' (1936, Serial) - Dr. Alexis Zarkov *''

Anthony Adverse ''Anthony Adverse'' is a 1936 American epic historical drama film directed by Mervyn LeRoy and starring Fredric March and Olivia de Havilland. The screenplay by Sheridan Gibney draws elements of its plot from eight of the nine books in Herve ...

'' (1936) - Major Domo (uncredited) *'' The Texas Rangers'' (1936) - Captain Stafford *'' End of the Trail'' (1936) - Sheriff Anderson *''

Nancy Steele Is Missing! ''Nancy Steele Is Missing!'' is a 1937 American drama film directed by George Marshall and Otto Preminger and starring Victor McLaglen, Walter Connolly and Peter Lorre.Thomas p.83 The film's sets were designed by the British art director Hans ...

'' (1937) - 1917 Warden (uncredited) *''

Affairs of Cappy Ricks ''Affairs of Cappy Ricks'' is a 1937 American comedy-drama film directed by Ralph Staub and starring Walter Brennan, Mary Brian, Lyle Talbot, Frank Shields, and Frank Melton. The plot is about a captain who returns home from a long voyage and ...

'' (1937) - Captain Braddock *''

This Is My Affair ''This Is My Affair'' is a 1937 American crime film directed by William A. Seiter and starring Robert Taylor, Barbara Stanwyck, Victor McLaglen and Brian Donlevy. It was released by 20th Century Fox. Plot In 1901, US President William McKinl ...

'' (1937) - Root (uncredited) *'' Ever Since Eve'' (1937) - Desk Sergeant (uncredited) *''

High, Wide and Handsome ''High, Wide and Handsome'' is a 1937 American musical Western film starring Irene Dunne, Randolph Scott, Alan Hale, Sr., Charles Bickford and Dorothy Lamour. The film was directed by Rouben Mamoulian and written by Oscar Hammerstein II and G ...

'' (1937) - Peter's Man (uncredited) *''

Sophie Lang Goes West ''Sophie Lang Goes West'' is a 1937 American crime film directed by Charles Reisner, written by Frederick Irving Anderson, Doris Anderson, Brian Marlow and Robert Wyler, and starring Gertrude Michael, Lee Bowman, Sandra Storme, Buster Crabbe, B ...

'' (1937) - Detective *''

Roll Along, Cowboy ''Roll Along, Cowboy'' is a 1937 American musical Western film directed by Gus Meins. It is based on the 1931 novel ''The Dude Ranger'' by Zane Grey, and is the second adaptation of the novel, after the 1934 film ''The Dude Ranger''. Plot sum ...

'' (1937) - Fred Morgan (uncredited) *''

The Adventurous Blonde ''The Adventurous Blonde'' is a 1937 American romantic comedy film directed by Frank McDonald and written by Robertson White and David Diamond. The film stars Glenda Farrell and Barton MacLane. It was released on November 13, 1937. This is the ...

'' (1937) - Cap. McTavish *''Outlaws of the Prairie'' (1937) - Dart Collins Sr. (uncredited) *''

Mannequin A mannequin (also called a dummy, lay figure, or dress form) is a doll, often articulated, used by artists, tailors, dressmakers, window dressers and others, especially to display or fit clothing and show off different fabrics and textiles. P ...

'' (1937) - Police Sergeant at Jail (uncredited) *''

Blondes at Work ''Blondes at Work'' is a 1938 American comedy-drama film directed by Frank McDonald and written by Albert DeMond. The film stars Glenda Farrell and Barton MacLane. It is the fourth film in a series of Torchy Blane movies by Warner Bros. Release ...

'' (1938) - Cap. McTavish *''

Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars ''Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars'' is a 1938 Universal Pictures 15–chapter science-fiction movie serial based on the syndicated newspaper comic strip ''Flash Gordon''. It is the second of the three Flash Gordon serials made by Universal between 1 ...

'' (1938, Serial) - Dr. Alexis Zarkov *'' Over the Wall'' (1938) - Duke Slattery - Policeman with Warrant (uncredited) *''

Accidents Will Happen "Accidents Will Happen" is a song written by Elvis Costello and performed by Elvis Costello and the Attractions. It first appeared on the 1979 album '' Armed Forces''. Costello wrote the song about his many infidelities during this period of h ...

'' (1938) - Man on Crutches (uncredited) *''

Torchy Blane in Panama ''Torchy Blane in Panama'' is a 1938 American mystery film directed by William Clemens and starring Lola Lane, Paul Kelly, and Tom Kennedy. Released on May 7, 1938, the fifth film in a series of Torchy Blane movies by Warner Bros. It is foll ...

'' (1938) - Cap. McTavish *''

Holiday A holiday is a day set aside by custom or by law on which normal activities, especially business or work including school, are suspended or reduced. Generally, holidays are intended to allow individuals to celebrate or commemorate an event or tra ...

'' (1938) - Farmer (scenes deleted) *'' You Can't Take It with You'' (1938) - Mac (uncredited) *'' Torchy Gets Her Man'' (1938) - Cap. McTavish (uncredited) *''

Next Time I Marry ''Next Time I Marry'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Garson Kanin and written by John Twist and Helen Meinardi. The film stars Lucille Ball, James Ellison, Lee Bowman, Granville Bates and Mantan Moreland. The film was released on ...

'' (1938) - Police Lieutenant (uncredited) *''

Torchy Blane in Chinatown ''Torchy Blane in Chinatown'' is a 1939 American crime mystery film directed by William Beaudine and starring Glenda Farrell and Barton MacLane. Released on February 4, 1939, it is the seventh film in the Torchy Blane film series by Warner Bros. ...

'' (1939) - Cap. McTavish *''

Union Pacific The Union Pacific Railroad , legally Union Pacific Railroad Company and often called simply Union Pacific, is a freight-hauling railroad that operates 8,300 locomotives over routes in 23 U.S. states west of Chicago and New Orleans. Union Pac ...

'' (1939) - Old Man (uncredited) *''

Torchy Runs for Mayor ''Torchy Runs for Mayor'' is a 1939 American drama-comedy film directed by Ray McCarey. It is the eighth film in the Torchy Blane film series by Warner Bros., and the last film starring Glenda Farrell and Barton MacLane as Torchy Blane and Steve ...

'' (1939) - Cap. McTavish *'' Torchy Blane... Playing with Dynamite'' (1939) - Inspector McTavish *''

Rulers of the Sea ''Rulers of the Sea'' is a 1939 American historical drama film directed by Frank Lloyd and starring Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Margaret Lockwood and Will Fyffe. The film's story is based on the voyage of the , the first steamship to cross the North ...

'' (1939) - Kelsey (uncredited) *''

The Night of Nights ''The Night of Nights'' is a 1939 black-and-white drama film written by Donald Ogden Stewart and directed by Lewis Milestone for Paramount Pictures that starred Pat O'Brien, Olympe Bradna, and Roland Young. The film received positive contem ...

'' (1939) - Frank, the Bartender (uncredited) *'' Emergency Squad'' (1940) - Construction Supervisor at Elevator (uncredited) *''

Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe ''Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe'' is a 1940 American black-and-white science fiction 12-chapter movie serial from Universal Pictures, produced by Henry MacRae and co-directed by Ford Beebe and Ray Taylor. The serial stars Buster Crabbe, Ca ...

'' (1940, Serial) - Dr. Alexis Zarkov *''

The Return of Frank James ''The Return of Frank James'' is a 1940 Western film directed by Fritz Lang and starring Henry Fonda and Gene Tierney. It is a sequel to Henry King's 1939 film ''Jesse James''. Written by Sam Hellman, the film loosely follows the life of Fran ...

'' (1940) - Sheriff *''

Wildcat Bus ''Wildcat Bus'' is a 1940 American action film directed by Frank Woodruff and written by Lou Lusty. The film stars Fay Wray, Charles Lang, Paul Guilfoyle, Don Costello and Paul McGrath. The film was released on August 23, 1940, by RKO Pictures. ...

'' (1940) - Sweeney *''

Brigham Young Brigham Young (; June 1, 1801August 29, 1877) was an American religious leader and politician. He was the second President of the Church (LDS Church), president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), from 1847 until his ...

'' (1940) - Second Man with California Gold News (uncredited) *''

A Dispatch from Reuters ''A Dispatch from Reuters'' is a 1940 biographical film about Paul Reuter, the man who built the famous news service that bears his name.''Harrison's Reports'' review; November 2, 1940, page 174. Story behind Reuters Paul Reuter starts a messe ...

'' (1940) - Mr. O'Malley - Captain of the Nova Scotian (uncredited) *''

Dancing on a Dime Dancing on a Dime is a 1940 Paramount Pictures movie directed by Joseph Santley about five actors and dancers putting on a show while living in a theatre. It is adapted from a novel of the same name written by Dorothy Young, which itself is bas ...

'' (1940) - Policeman (uncredited) *''

Rage in Heaven ''Rage in Heaven'' is a 1941 American psychological thriller film noir about the destructive power of jealousy. It was directed by W.S. Van Dyke and based on the 1932 novel by James Hilton. It features Robert Montgomery, Ingrid Bergman, and Geo ...

'' (1941) - Workers' Delegate (uncredited) *'' Federal Fugitives'' (1941) - Col. Hammond *''

Rawhide Rangers ''Rawhide Rangers'' is a 1941 American Western film directed by Ray Taylor and written by Ed Earl Repp. The film stars Johnny Mack Brown, Fuzzy Knight, Kathryn Adams Doty, Nell O'Day, Riley Hill and Harry Cording. The film was released on Jul ...

'' (1941) - Ranger Captain McDowell *'' Unfinished Business'' (1941) - Groom's Father (uncredited) *''

Reap the Wild Wind ''Reap the Wild Wind'' is a 1942 American adventure film produced and directed by Cecil B. DeMille and starring Ray Milland, John Wayne, and Paulette Goddard, with a supporting cast featuring Raymond Massey, Robert Preston, Lynne Overman, Sus ...

'' (1942) - Captain in Café (uncredited) *''

Ten Gentlemen from West Point ''Ten Gentlemen from West Point'' is a 1942 American Western film directed by Henry Hathaway and starring George Montgomery, Maureen O'Hara and John Sutton. Its cinematography was nominated for an Academy Award in 1943. George Montgomery replac ...

'' (1942) - Senator (uncredited) *'' The Secret Code'' (1942, Serial) - Police Commissioner

h.1 H1, H-1, H01, H I may refer to: Places *Interstate H-1, a highway in Hawaii * Area H1, the area of Hebron controlled by the Palestinian Authority under the Hebron Protocol Science * H1 (particle detector) * Histamine H1 receptor * Histone H1, ...

*''

Batman Batman is a superhero appearing in American comic books published by DC Comics. The character was created by artist Bob Kane and writer Bill Finger, and debuted in Detective Comics 27, the 27th issue of the comic book ''Detective Comics'' on ...

'' (1943, Serial) - Dr. Hayden (uncredited) *''

The Iron Major ''The Iron Major'' is a 1943 American biographical film about the famed college football coach and World War I hero, Frank Cavanaugh. Directed by Ray Enright, the screenplay was written by Aben Kandel and Warren Duff, based on Florence E. Cava ...

'' (1943) - Pa Cavanaugh (uncredited) *''

The Phantom ''The Phantom'' is an American adventure comic strip, first published by Lee Falk in February 1936. The main character, the Phantom, is a fictional costumed crime-fighter who operates from the fictional African country of Bangalla. The charact ...

'' (1943, Serial) - Prof. Davidson (uncredited) *'' The Desert Hawk'' (1944, Serial) - (uncredited) *'' Man Alive'' (1945) - Show Boat Character (uncredited) *'' Crack-Up'' (1946) - Train Station Gateman (uncredited) *''

A Dangerous Profession ''A Dangerous Profession'' is a 1949 American film noir directed by Ted Tetzlaff, written by Warren Duff and Martin Rackin, and starring George Raft, Ella Raines, and Pat O'Brien.Everett Aaker, ''The Films of George Raft'', McFarland & Compan ...

'' (1949) - Barman (uncredited) (final film role)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Shannon, Frank 1874 births 1959 deaths Irish male film actors Irish male silent film actors Irish male stage actors Male film serial actors 20th-century Irish male actors Irish expatriate male actors in the United States