---
name: "Buck Kartalian"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/buck-kartalian"
roles: []
born: "13 August 1922"
died: "24 May 2016"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 2
average_fi1m_score: 78
average_over: 2
updated: "2026-09-19T16:42:49.226566+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Buck Kartalian

Actor. Born 13 August 1922 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. Died 24 May 2016.

## Details

- **Born:** 13 August 1922, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- **Died:** 24 May 2016
- **Active:** 1968–1972
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1960s 84 (1), 1970s 73 (1)
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buck_Kartalian, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q24237783, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0440203/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/111489

## Biography

Buck Kartalian (1922–2016) was an American character actor. Born Vahe Kartalian in Detroit, Michigan, to Armenian immigrant parents, he moved to New York City as a child, served in the US Navy during the Second World War, and later worked as a bodybuilder and professional wrestler before entering acting.

He appeared on Broadway, including as Sampson opposite Olivia de Havilland in a 1951 production of *Romeo and Juliet*. Kartalian moved to Los Angeles and built a career in film and television spanning more than fifty years. He is best known for playing the gorilla Julius in *Planet of the Apes* (1968) and the gorilla Frank in *Conquest of the Planet of the Apes* (1972). Other notable film roles include Dynamite in *Cool Hand Luke* (1967), a shopkeeper in *The Outlaw Josey Wales* (1976) and a reverend in *The Rock* (1996). He also guest-starred in numerous television series, including *Friends*, *ER*, *Curb Your Enthusiasm* and *How I Met Your Mother*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, variety.com, hollywoodreporter.com, planetoftheapes.fandom.com.*

## On Fi1m (2)

- *Conquest of the Planet of the Apes* (1972), Fi1m 73, as Frank - Gorilla — [page](https://film.one/film/conquest-of-the-planet-of-the-apes.md)
- *Planet of the Apes* (1968), Fi1m 84, as Julius — [page](https://film.one/film/planet-of-the-apes.md)

## Complete filmography (60)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Cattle Call* (2006), as Janitor
- *How I Met Your Mother* (2005), series, as Henry
- *Standing Still* (2005), as Older Man
- *The Third Wheel* (2002), as Old Man
- *Tomcats* (2001), as Grandfather MacDonald
- *Curb Your Enthusiasm* (2000), series, as Shoe Repair Guy — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/curb-your-enthusiasm.md)
- *Even Stevens* (2000), series, as Old Guy #2
- *The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas* (2000), as Old Man at Bronto King
- *Magicians* (2000), as Bagel Shop Clerk
- *My Favorite Martian* (1999), as Muscle Man
- *Felicity* (1998), series, as Guard
- *Just Shoot Me!* (1997), series, as Clerk
- *Eight Days a Week* (1997), as Nonno
- *The Jamie Foxx Show* (1996), series, as Rutherford B.. White
- *The Rock* (1996), as Reverend — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/the-rock.md)
- *Josh Kirby... Time Warrior: Trapped on Toyworld* (1995), as Gepetto
- *Friends* (1994), series, as Frankie — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/friends.md)
- *ER* (1994), series, as Lloyd Frick — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/er.md)
- *Big Girls Don't Cry... They Get Even* (1992), as Dog Owner
- *Promised Land: A Musical* (1987), as Irving J. Schwartz
- *Real Men* (1987), as Produce Hawker
- *Checkpoint* (1987), as Bus driver
- *Gymkata* (1985), as The Kahn
- *Cagney & Lacey* (1982), series, as Rocky Menukian — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/cagney-and-lacey.md)
- *Forty Days of Musa Dagh* (1982), as Village Spokesman
- *The Man with Bogart's Face* (1980), as Nicky
- *Skag* (1980), Actor
- *Lou Grant* (1977), series, as Leon Hartounian
- *Monster Squad* (1976), series, as Bruce W. Wolf
- *The Great NBC Smilin' Saturday Mornin' Parade* (1976), as Bruce W. Wolf
- *The Outlaw Josey Wales* (1976), as Shopkeeper
- *Sons of Sassoun* (1975), Actor
- *Please Don't Eat My Mother!* (1973), as Henry Fudd
- *The Secret Sharer* (1973), as Francis
- *Conquest of the Planet of the Apes* (1972), as Frank - Gorilla — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/film/conquest-of-the-planet-of-the-apes.md)
- *Octaman* (1971), as Raul
- *Goodbye, Raggedy Ann* (1971), as Tony
- *Nichols* (1971), series, as Samuel
- *Blood Legacy* (1971), as Igor Garin
- *Breakout* (1970), as Hogan
- *Myra Breckinridge* (1970), as Jeff
- *Booby Trap* (1970), as Scarpo
- *Women for All Reasons* (1969), Actor
- *Mark of the Gun* (1969), as Bert
- *Stay Away, Joe* (1968), as Bull Shortgun
- *Planet of the Apes* (1968), as Julius — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/planet-of-the-apes.md)
- *The Acid Eaters* (1968), as Artie / The Devil
- *Cool Hand Luke* (1967), as Dynamite
- *Devil's Angels* (1967), as Funky
- *Batman* (1966), series, as John
- *Get Smart* (1965), series, as Leopold
- *The Wild Wild West* (1965), series, as Lieutenant Bengston
- *Morituri* (1965), as Merchant Marine (uncredited)
- *Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea* (1964), series, as Crew Member (uncredited)
- *Sail a Crooked Ship* (1961), as Finster
- *The Untouchables* (1959), series, as Al Gross
- *Naked City* (1958), series, as Sanitation Worker
- *Mister Roberts* (1955), as Mason
- *Cell 2455 Death Row* (1955), as Monk
- *Mister Universe* (1951), as Senior Garitzio

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/buck-kartalian