Frank Marion Thomas (July 13, 1889 – November 25, 1989) was an American character actor of stage, screen and television. He and his wife, actress Mona Bruns, both lived to 100 years old. He died the day before her 90th birthday; she died 11 years later. Their son was

Frankie Thomas Frank Marion Thomas Jr. (April 9, 1921 – May 11, 2006), was an American actor, author and bridge-strategy expert who played both lead and supporting roles on Broadway, in films, in post-World War II radio, and in early television. He was ...

Biography

Thomas' parents were Jesse and Virginia Thomas.1910 Census, Buchanan County, Missouri. He first appeared on Broadway in 1914. Thomas also played many supporting roles in films from the 1930s through the 1970s. His best-known films were ''We Who Are About To Die'' (1937), '' A Man to Remember'' (1938), ''A Shot In the Dark'' (1941), ''Desert Trail'' (1942), and ''

No Place for a Lady ''No Place for a Lady'' is a 1943 black and white mystery film, directed by James P. Hogan. Plot At a warehouse in Los Angeles, trucks are loaded with stacks of tires to be delivered to a San Francisco warehouse. On a country road under cover ...

'' (1943). His last screen appearance was in ''

The Killing of a Chinese Bookie ''The Killing of a Chinese Bookie'' is a 1976 American neo-noir crime film written and directed by John Cassavetes and starring Ben Gazzara. A rough and gritty film, this is the second of their three collaborations, following ''Husbands'' and pre ...

'' (1976). He performed frequently on television from the 1950s to the 1970s. He was president (Shepherd) of

The Lambs The Lambs, Inc. (also known as The Lambs Club) is a social club in New York City for actors, songwriters, and others involved in the theatre. It is America's oldest theatrical organization. "The Lambs" is a registered trademark of The Lambs, Inc ...

(1962–63). His film appearances were so prolific at one point in his career that, in 1937 alone, he appeared in 21 films.

Filmography

(Per

AFI AFI may refer to: * ''Address-family identifier'', a 16 bit field of the Routing Information Protocol * Ashton Fletcher Irwin, an Australian drummer * AFI (band), an American rock band ** ''AFI'' (2004 album), a retrospective album by AFI rele ...

database) * ''

Nearly Married ''Nearly Married'' is a 1917 American silent comedy film directed by Chester Withey and starring Madge Kennedy. It is based on a 1913 stage play of the same name by Edgar Selwyn. It also featured an early film appearance by future gossip columni ...

'' (1917) as Harry Lindsey * ''

Deadline at Eleven ''Deadline at Eleven'' is a lost film, lost 1920 American silent drama film directed by George Fawcett and starring Corinne Griffith. It was produced by and distributed by the Vitagraph Company of America. Cast References External links

...

'' (1920) as Jack Rawson * '' Wednesday's Child'' (1934) as Attorney for the Defense (as Frank Thomas Sr.) * '' M'liss'' (1936) * '' The Big Game'' (1936) * '' The Ex-Mrs. Bradford'' (1936) * ''

Don't Turn 'Em Loose ''Don't Turn 'Em Loose'' is a 1936 American crime drama film directed by Ben Stoloff and produced by RKO Radio Pictures, who released the film on September 18, 1936. Written by Harry Segall and Ferdinand Reyher, the production’s screenplay is a ...

'' (1936) * '' Mummy's Boys'' (1936) * '' Grand Jury'' (1936) * '' The Last Outlaw'' (1936) * ''

Without Orders ''Without Orders'' is a 1936 American drama film directed by Lew Landers and starring Sally Eilers, Robert Armstrong, Frances Sage, Charley Grapewin and Vinton Haworth. It was produced by RKO Radio Pictures, who released the picture on October 2 ...

'' (1936) * ''

Wanted! Jane Turner ''Wanted! Jane Turner'' is a 1936 American crime drama film directed by Edward Killy from a screenplay by Edmund L. Hartmann and John Twist, based on Twist's story. Produced by RKO Radio Pictures, it was premiered in New York City on November 2 ...

'' (1936) * '' Behind the Headlines'' (1937) * ''

Breakfast for Two ''Breakfast for Two'' is a 1937 American screwball comedy film made by RKO Radio Pictures. It was directed by Alfred Santell. The film stars Barbara Stanwyck, Herbert Marshall and Glenda Farrell. Stanwyck and Marshall worked together once more, ...

'' (1937) * ''

The Toast of New York ''The Toast of New York'' is a 1937 American biopic directed by Rowland V. Lee and starring Edward Arnold, Cary Grant, Frances Farmer, and Jack Oakie. The film is a fictionalized account of the lives of financiers James Fisk and Edward S. St ...

'' (1937) * ''

Forty Naughty Girls ''Forty Naughty Girls'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by Edward F. Cline and written by John Grey. The film stars James Gleason, ZaSu Pitts, Marjorie Lord, George Shelley and Joan Woodbury. It is the sixth and final entry in RKO Pict ...

'' (1937) * ''

Danger Patrol ''Danger Patrol'' is a 1937 American drama film directed by Lew Landers from a screenplay by Sy Bartlett based on a story by Helen Vreeland and Hilda Vincent. Produced and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures, it was released on December 3, 1937 ...

'' (1937) * ''

We're on the Jury ''We're on the Jury'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by Ben Holmes and starring Victor Moore and Helen Broderick Helen Broderick (August 11, 1891 – September 25, 1959) was an American actress known for her comic roles, especia ...

'' (1937) * ''

The Man Who Found Himself ''The Man Who Found Himself'', also known as ''Wings of Mercy'', is a 1937 American aviation film based on the unpublished story "Wings of Mercy" by Alice F. Curtis. The film marked the first starring role for 19-year-old Joan Fontaine, who was b ...

'' (1937) * '' Don't Tell the Wife'' (1937) * ''

We Who Are About to Die ''We Who Are About to Die'' is a 1937 film directed by Christy Cabanne and starring Preston Foster, Ann Dvorak Ann Dvorak (born Anna McKim; August 2, 1911 – December 10, 1979) was an American stage and film actress. Asked how to pronounc ...

'' (1937) * '' Criminal Lawyer'' (1937) * ''

Quick Money ''Quick Money'' is a 1937 film. It lost $37,000. Plot summary Cast * Fred Stone as Mayor Jonas Tompkins * Gordon Jones as Bill Adams * Dorothy Moore as Alice Tompkins * Berton Churchill as Bluford H. Smythe * Paul Guilfoyle as Ambrose Ames * H ...

'' (1937) * '' Racing Lady'' (1937) * ''

The Outcasts of Poker Flat "The Outcasts of Poker Flat" (1869) is a short story written by writer of the American West Bret Harte. An example of naturalism and local color of California during the first half of the nineteenth century. The story was first published in Janua ...

'' (1937) * ''

You Can't Buy Luck ''You Can't Buy Luck'' is a 1937 murder mystery film directed by Lew Landers and starring Onslow Stevens and Helen Mack. Plot Superstitious New York gambler Joe Baldwin (Onslow Stevens), owner of the thoroughbred racing horse Sarcasm, believes ...

'' (1937) * ''

They Wanted to Marry ''They Wanted to Marry'' is a 1937 romantic comedy film directed by Lew Landers from a screenplay by Paul Yawitz and Ethel B. Borden, Ethel Borden, based on a story by Larry Bachmann and Daniel L. Teilhet. RKO produced and distributed the film, r ...

'' (1937) * ''

The Soldier and the Lady ''The Soldier and the Lady'' is the 1937 American adventure film version of the oft-produced 1876 Jules Verne novel, '' Michel Strogoff''. Produced by Pandro S. Berman, he hired as his associate producer, Joseph Ermolieff. Ermolieff had produc ...

'' (1937) * ''

You Can't Beat Love ''You Can't Beat Love'' is a 1937 American comedy film directed by Christy Cabanne and written by Maxwell Shane and David Silverstein. The film stars Preston Foster, Joan Fontaine, Herbert Mundin, William Brisbane and Alan Bruce. The film was r ...

'' (1937) * '' High Flyers'' (1937) * '' Meet the Missus'' (1937) * '' The Big Shot'' (1937) * '' China Passage'' (1937) * '' The Renegade Ranger'' (1938) * '' Maid's Night Out'' (1938) * ''

Night Spot ''Night Spot'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Christy Cabanne and written by Lionel Houser. The film stars Harry Parke, Allan Lane, Gordon Jones, Joan Woodbury, and Lee Patrick. The film was released on February 25, 1938, by RKO P ...

'' (1938) * ''

Joy of Living ''Joy of Living'' is a 1938 American musical comedy film directed by Tay Garnett and starring Irene Dunne and Douglas Fairbanks Jr. with supporting performances from Alice Brady, Guy Kibbee, Jean Dixon, Eric Blore and Lucille Ball. It features ...

'' (1938) * '' Crashing Hollywood'' (1938) * ''

Vivacious Lady ''Vivacious Lady'' is a 1938 American black-and-white romantic comedy film directed by George Stevens and starring Ginger Rogers and James Stewart. It was released by RKO Radio Pictures. The screenplay was written by P.J. Wolfson and Ernest Paga ...

'' (1938) * ''

Blind Alibi ''Blind Alibi'' is a 1938 American drama film directed by Lew Landers and written by Lionel Houser, Harry Segall and Ron Ferguson. The film stars Richard Dix, Whitney Bourne, Eduardo Ciannelli, Frances Mercer and Paul Guilfoyle. The film was rele ...

'' (1938) * ''

Go Chase Yourself ''Go Chase Yourself'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Edward F. Cline and written by Paul Yawitz and Bert Granet. The film stars Joe Penner, Lucille Ball, Richard Lane, June Travis, Fritz Feld and Tom Kennedy. The film was released ...

'' (1938) * '' Everybody's Doing It'' (1938) * ''

Crime Ring Organized crime (or organised crime) is a category of transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals to engage in illegal activity, most commonly for profit. While organized crime is generally th ...

'' (1938) * '' Mr. Doodle Kicks Off'' (1938) * ''

Law of the Underworld ''Law of the Underworld'' is a 1938 American drama film directed by Lew Landers and written by Bert Granet and Edmund L. Hartmann. The film stars Chester Morris, Anne Shirley, Eduardo Ciannelli, Walter Abel and Richard Bond. The film was released ...

'' (1938) * '' The Saint in New York'' (1938) * '' Smashing the Rackets'' (1938) * ''

This Marriage Business ''This Marriage Business'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by Christy Cabanne from a screenplay by Gladys Atwater and J. Robert Bren, based on a story by Mel Riddle and Alex Rubin. The film stars Allan Lane, Jack Carson, Victor Moore, ...

'' (1938) * ''

Bringing Up Baby ''Bringing Up Baby'' is a 1938 American screwball comedy film directed by Howard Hawks, and starring Katharine Hepburn and Cary Grant. It was released by RKO Radio Pictures. The film tells the story of a paleontologist in a number of predic ...

'' (1938) * '' A Man to Remember'' (1938) * '' Strange Faces'' (1938) * '' Disbarred'' (1939) * ''

The Rookie Cop ''The Rookie Cop'' is a 1939 film directed by David Howard and starring Tim Holt as a rookie cop who wants to prove his friend wasn't involved with a robbery. The film also stars Virginia Weidler, Janet Shaw, Frank M. Thomas, and Muriel Evans ...

'' (1939) * ''

They Made Her a Spy ''They Made Her a Spy'' is a 1939 American spy drama film produced and distributed by RKO Radio Pictures. It was the first film directed by Jack Hively, who after toiling as an editor for RKO for the prior five years, was given the opportunity ...

'' (1939) * '' Saga of Death Valley'' (1939) * ''

Death of a Champion ''Death of a Champion'' is a 1939 American film starring Lynne Overman, Virginia Dale, Joseph Allen, and Donald O'Connor. Its plot concerns an effort by detectives to discover who killed a famous show dog. The film also stars Robert Paige, w ...

'' (1939) * ''

Society Lawyer ''Society Lawyer'' is a 1939 crime film directed by Edwin L. Marin and starring Walter Pidgeon and Virginia Bruce. It is a milder remake of the pre-Code '' Penthouse'' (1933). Box office According to MGM records the film made $312,000 in the US ...

'' (1939) * ''

Bachelor Mother ''Bachelor Mother'' (1939) is an American romantic comedy film directed by Garson Kanin, and starring Ginger Rogers, David Niven, and Charles Coburn. The screenplay was written by Norman Krasna from an Academy Award-nominated story by Felix Jac ...

'' (1939) * '' They All Come Out'' (1939) * '' Secret Service of the Air'' (1939) * ''

Scandal Sheet Tabloid journalism is a popular style of largely sensationalist journalism (usually dramatized and sometimes unverifiable or even blatantly false), which takes its name from the tabloid newspaper format: a small-sized newspaper also known as ...

'' (1939) * '' Mr. Smith Goes to Washington'' (1939) as Hendricks (uncredited) * '' The Mysterious Miss X'' (1939) * ''

Grand Jury Secrets ''Grand Jury Secrets'' is a 1939 American mystery film directed by James P. Hogan and written by Irving Reis, Maxwell Shane and Robert Yost. The film stars John Howard, Gail Patrick, William Frawley, Jane Darwell, Porter Hall and Harvey Stephens ...

'' (1939) * ''

$1,000 a Touchdown ''$1,000 a Touchdown'' is a 1939 American comedy film directed by James P. Hogan, written by Delmer Daves, and starring Joe E. Brown, Martha Raye, Eric Blore, Susan Hayward, John Hartley and Joyce Mathews. It was released on October 4, 1939, by ...

'' (1939) * ''

Burn 'Em Up O'Connor ''Burn 'Em Up O'Connor'' is a 1939 race car film directed by Edward Sedgwick and starring Dennis O'Keefe, Cecilia Parker, Nat Pendleton and Harry Carey. The screenplay was written by Milton Merlin and Byron Morgan from the novel ''Salute to the ...

'' (1939) * ''

Beware Spooks! ''Beware Spooks!'' is a 1939 American comedy film directed by Edward Sedgwick and starring Joe E. Brown, Mary Carlisle and Clarence Kolb.Gehring p.100 Synopsis Rookie cop Roy L. Gifford is kicked off the force after he accidentally assists a ...

'' (1939) * '' Geronimo'' (1939) * ''

Lillian Russell Lillian Russell (born Helen Louise Leonard; December 4, 1860 or 1861 – June 6, 1922), was an American actress and singer. She became one of the most famous actresses and singers of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, known for her beauty ...

'' (1940) * '' Brigham Young - Frontiersman'' (1940) * ''

Chad Hanna ''Chad Hanna'' is a 1940 American drama romance film directed by Henry King, and was adapted from a bestseller of sorts that was published that same year. The novel was written by Walter Dumaux Edmonds (after it had first been published in seri ...

'' (1940) * ''

Maryland Maryland ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It shares borders with Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware and the Atlantic Ocean to ...

'' (1940) * ''

Women Without Names ''Women Without Names'' is a 1940 American drama film directed by Robert Florey. Plot Cast * Ellen Drew as Joyce King * Robert Paige as Fred MacNeil * Judith Barrett as Peggy Athens * John Miljan as District Attorney John Marlin * ...

'' (1940) * ''

High School A secondary school describes an institution that provides secondary education and also usually includes the building where this takes place. Some secondary schools provide both '' lower secondary education'' (ages 11 to 14) and ''upper seconda ...

'' (1940) * '' The Man from Dakota'' (1940) * ''

City of Chance ''City of Chance'' is a 1940 American crime drama film directed by Ricardo Cortez and written by John Larkin and Barry Trivers. The film stars Lynn Bari, C. Aubrey Smith, Donald Woods and Amanda Duff. The film was released on January 13, 1940, b ...

'' (1940) * ''

Shooting High ''Shooting High'' is a 1940 American Western film directed by Alfred E. Green and starring Jane Withers, Gene Autry, and Marjorie Weaver. Written by Lou Breslow and Owen Francis, the film is about a generations-old feud between two families. Th ...

'' (1940) * '' Queen of the Mob'' (1940) * ''

Among the Living ''Among the Living'' is the third studio album by American heavy metal band Anthrax. It was released on March 16, 1987, by Megaforce Records in the US and by Island Records in the rest of the world. The album is dedicated to Cliff Burton of ...

'' (1941) * ''

Arkansas Judge '' Arkansas Judge '' is a 1941 American Western (genre), Western film directed by Frank McDonald (director), Frank McDonald and starring Roy Rogers, Spring Byington, and Veda Ann Borg. Premise Tom Martel, a judge's son, returns to town out Wes ...

'' (1941) * ''

Dangerously They Live ''Dangerously They Live'' is a 1941 American World War II spy film directed by Robert Florey and starring John Garfield, Nancy Coleman and Raymond Massey. The plot concerns Nazi spies who try to pry information out of a British agent. Plot I ...

'' (1941) * ''

Life with Henry ''Life with Henry'' is a 1941 American comedy film directed by Theodore Reed and written by Clifford Goldsmith and Don Hartman. The film stars Jackie Cooper, Leila Ernst, Eddie Bracken, Fred Niblo, Hedda Hopper and Kay Stewart. The film was relea ...

'' (1941) * ''

Man at Large ''Man at Large'' is a 1941 American mystery film directed by Eugene Forde and written by John Larkin. The film stars Marjorie Weaver, George Reeves, Richard Derr, Steven Geray, Milton Parsons and Spencer Charters. The film was released on Sep ...

'' (1941) * ''

The Monster and the Girl ''The Monster and the Girl'' is a 1941 American black-and-white horror film directed by Stuart Heisler and released by Paramount Pictures. Plot The film revolves around a small-town church organist named Scot Webster ( Philip Terry) attempti ...

'' (1941) * '' A Shot in the Dark'' (1941) * '' Sierra Sue'' (1941) * ''

Three Sons o' Guns ''Three Sons o' Guns'' is a 1941 American comedy film directed by Benjamin Stoloff, written by Fred Niblo, Jr., and starring Wayne Morris, Marjorie Rambeau, Irene Rich, Tom Brown, William T. Orr, Susan Peters and Moroni Olsen. It was released b ...

'' (1941) * '' Wyoming Wildcat'' (1941) * ''

Apache Trail The Apache Trail in Arizona was a stagecoach trail that ran through the Superstition Mountains. It was named the Apache Trail after the Apache Indians who originally used this trail to move through the Superstition Mountains. The historic A ...

'' (1942) * '' A Desperate Chance for Ellery Queen'' (1942) * ''

Eyes in the Night ''Eyes in the Night'' is a 1942 American crime mystery directed by Fred Zinnemann, based on Baynard Kendrick's 1941 novel ''The Odor of Violets'' and starring Edward Arnold, Ann Harding and Donna Reed. The film was followed by a sequel (also ...

'' (1942) * '' Flight Lieutenant'' (1942) * ''

The Great Man's Lady ''The Great Man's Lady'' is a 1942 American Western film directed by William A. Wellman and starring Barbara Stanwyck and Joel McCrea. It is based on the short story "The Human Side" by Viña Delmar. It was filmed at two locations in Thousand ...

'' (1942) * ''

Henry Aldrich, Editor ''Henry Aldrich, Editor'' is a 1942 American comedy film directed by Hugh Bennett and written by Muriel Roy Bolton and Val Burton. The film stars Jimmy Lydon, Charles Smith, John Litel, Olive Blakeney, Rita Quigley and Vaughan Glaser. The film ...

'' (1942) * ''

Obliging Young Lady ''Obliging Young Lady'' is a 1942 American romantic comedy film directed by Richard Wallace (director), Richard Wallace and starring Joan Carroll, Edmond O'Brien, Ruth Warrick. Plot On the instructions of their lawyer, the wealthy young daughter ...

'' (1942) * ''

The Postman Didn't Ring ''The Postman Didn't Ring'' is a 1942 American comedy film directed by Harold D. Schuster and written by Mortimer Braus. The film stars Richard Travis, Brenda Joyce, Spencer Charters, Stanley Andrews, William Bakewell and Emma Dunn. The film w ...

'' (1942) * ''

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) * ''

Sunset on the Desert ''Sunset on the Desert'' is a 1942 American Western film directed by Joseph Kane and starring Roy Rogers, and George "Gabby" Hayes. Plot Cast *Roy Rogers as Roy Rogers / Deputy Bill Sloan * George "Gabby" Hayes as Gabby Whittaker * Lynn ...

'' (1942) * '' Sunset Serenade'' (1942) * '' The Talk of the Town'' (1942) * ''

Wild Bill Hickok Rides ''Wild Bill Hickok Rides'' is a 1942 American Western film directed by Ray Enright and starring Constance Bennett, Bruce Cabot and Warren William. Bennett was paid $10,000 for her appearance, a significant drop from what she had recently been e ...

'' (1942) * '' Flight for Freedom'' (1943) * ''

Hello Frisco, Hello ''Hello, Frisco, Hello'' is a 1943 American musical film directed by H. Bruce Humberstone and starring Alice Faye Alice Faye (born Alice Jeanne Leppert; May 5, 1915 – May 9, 1998) was an American actress and singer. A musical star of 20th ...

'' (1943) * '' Mountain Rhythm'' (1943) * ''

'' (1943) * ''

The Desert Song ''The Desert Song'' is an operetta with music by Sigmund Romberg and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, Otto Harbach and Frank Mandel. It was inspired by the 1925 uprising of the Riffs, a group of Moroccan fighters, against French colo ...

'' (1944) * ''The Story of Kenneth W. Randall, M.D.'' (1946) * '' The Sleeping City'' (1950)

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Thomas, Frank M. 1889 births 1989 deaths Male actors from Missouri People from St. Joseph, Missouri American male silent film actors American male stage actors American centenarians The Lambs presidents 20th-century American male actors Men centenarians