--- name: "Frank McHugh" canonical: "https://film.one/person/frank-mchugh" roles: ["Actor"] born: "22 May 1898" died: "11 September 1981" reviewed_on_fi1m: 5 average_fi1m_score: 73 average_as: "actor" average_over: 5 updated: "2026-09-20T01:06:51.995090+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." --- # Frank McHugh Actor. Born 22 May 1898 in Homestead, Pennsylvania, USA. Died 11 September 1981. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 22 May 1898, Homestead, Pennsylvania, USA - **Died:** 11 September 1981 - **Active:** 1934–1945 - **Also known as:** Francis Curray McHugh - **Average Fi1m score:** 73, as actor, over 5 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1930s 73 (3), 1940s 72 (2) - **Score spread:** 0 at 80+, 5 at 60–79, 0 under 60 - **Lead roles:** 0 of 5 acting credits billed first or second - **Genres:** Comedy 3, Drama 3, Romance 3, Music 2, Fantasy 1, War 1 - **Screen time:** 9 hours of reviewed films - **Box office:** $41m across 2 films with figures - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_McHugh, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q82284, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0570451/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/74875 ## Fi1m on Frank McHugh > Frank McHugh spent the 1930s at Warner Bros as the friend: the hangdog face at James Cagney's elbow, the nervous laugh, the sidekick who never wanted to be here. Seldom given much to do, he did it well, and the films are thinner without him. Watch the man standing slightly behind the star. In a Warner Bros picture of the 1930s that is usually Frank McHugh, and his face is doing the work before he has a line: eyes down, mouth pulled in, the look of someone who has just heard the plan and does not think much of it. Then the laugh, high and nervous, which tells you he will go along with the plan anyway. He put it himself, later: "Mostly I wound up as the friend—dumb but loyal. I guess my dumb look was convincing." It was. He came out of vaudeville and stock companies as a child, reached Broadway in *The Fall Guy* in 1925, and went to Warner Bros under contract in 1930. He then made more than 90 films in a dozen years, nearly all of them in support: the jittery reporter McCue in *The Front Page* (1931), comic relief in *Footlight Parade* (1933), Danny Green at Cagney's side in *The Roaring Twenties* (1939). He and Cagney made eleven films together, he and Allen Jenkins twelve, and Pat O'Brien was often in the frame as well. The studio kept a stock company and McHugh was its reliable drunk, its Irish-American pal, its mechanic and its buddy, whichever the week required. *Here Comes the Navy* (1934) shows the job at its most typical. Cagney needles, O'Brien bellows, and McHugh's Droopy Mullins is the sidekick who did not want to be here and says so with his shoulders. We liked him more than the film seems to, because in a picture that treats the Navy as a great lark his reluctance is the only reaction that looks like a person's. The film gives its best supporting minutes to Maude Eburne as his mother, and he takes that in his stride too; it is what friends are for. By *State Fair* (1945) he was the song plugger McGee, working hard around the edges of a Walter Lang musical that did not give him or Harry Morgan much to work with. That is the risk of the trade. A supporting player depends on the writing coming to him, and when it does not, all he can do is be present and alert, which McHugh always was. *Going My Way* (1944), as Father Timothy O'Dowd alongside Bing Crosby, asked him for the comedy and something quieter as well; we have not reviewed it and will not judge it here. The parts got smaller in the 1950s, though *The Last Hurrah* (1958) gave him Festus Garvey in a serious political drama, and after that came radio and television, including *The Bing Crosby Show* in 1964 and 1965. His last film was *Easy Come, Easy Go* in 1967. Nobody ever built a film around Frank McHugh, and he seems not to have expected one. Look for him in the Cagney pictures, a step to the left of the star, and notice that the scene is funnier for having him in it. ## Biography Frank McHugh was an American film and television actor. Born in Homestead, Pennsylvania, he came from a theatrical family and began performing on stage as a child. He made his Broadway debut in 1925 and was signed by Warner Bros. as a contract player in 1930. McHugh appeared in more than 150 films, often in supporting roles or providing comic relief, and worked with many of the studio's stars. He was a close friend of James Cagney and appeared with him in eleven films between 1932 and 1953. Among his notable roles are McGee in *State Fair* (1945), Droopy Mullins in *Here Comes the Navy* (1934), and parts in *The Roaring Twenties* (1939), *Going My Way* (1944) and *There's No Business Like Show Business* (1954). In the 1960s he had a recurring role on the sitcom *The Bing Crosby Show*. *Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org.* ## On Fi1m (5) - *State Fair* (1945), Fi1m 70, as McGee — [page](https://film.one/film/state-fair.md) - *Going My Way* (1944), Fi1m 74, as Father Timothy O'Dowd — [page](https://film.one/film/going-my-way.md) - *Four Daughters* (1938), Fi1m 75, as Ben Crowley — [page](https://film.one/film/four-daughters-1938.md) - *A Midsummer Night's Dream* (1935), Fi1m 74, as Quince — [page](https://film.one/film/a-midsummer-nights-dream.md) - *Here Comes the Navy* (1934), Fi1m 70, as Droopy Mullins — [page](https://film.one/film/here-comes-the-navy.md) ## Complete filmography (141) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Lancer* (1968), series, Actor - *Way Down Cellar* (1968), as Constable Seely - *Easy Come, Easy Go* (1967), as Captain Jack - *F Troop* (1965), series, Actor - *The Bing Crosby Show* (1964), series, as Willie Walters - *A Tiger Walks* (1964), as Bill Watkins - *Going My Way* (1962), series, Actor - *The Lucy Show* (1962), series, as Mr. Snowden - *The Spiral Staircase* (1961), as Constable Williams - *Cain's Hundred* (1961), series, as Wilbur Morton - *The Defenders* (1961), series, as Henry Schell - *Route 66* (1960), series, Actor - *Outlaws* (1960), series, Actor - *Career* (1959), as Charlie Gallagher - *Say One for Me* (1959), as Jim Dugan - *The Last Hurrah* (1958), as Festus Garvey - *The Further Adventures of Ellery Queen* (1958), series, Actor - *DuPont Show of the Month* (1957), series, as Lefty - *Three Men on a Horse* (1957), as Charlie - *The Millionaire* (1955), series, as Charles N. Bradwell - *There's No Business Like Show Business* (1954), as Eddie Dugan - *A Lion Is in the Streets* (1953), as Frank Rector - *It Happens Every Thursday* (1953), as Fred Hawley - *My Son John* (1952), as Father O'Dowd - *The Gulf Playhouse* (1952), series, Actor - *The Pace That Thrills* (1952), as Rocket Anderson - *Tales of Tomorrow* (1951), series, Actor - *The Tougher They Come* (1950), as Gig Rafferty - *Armstrong Circle Theatre* (1950), series, Actor - *Paid in Full* (1950), as Ben, Bartender - *Miss Grant Takes Richmond* (1949), as Kilcoyne - *Mighty Joe Young* (1949), as Windy - *Studio One* (1948), series, as Nobby Bishop, Barney, Horace Potter, Ben Ames - *The Velvet Touch* (1948), as Ernie Boyle - *Easy Come, Easy Go* (1947), as Carey - *Carnegie Hall* (1947), as John Donovan - *The Runaround* (1946), as Wally Quayle - *The Hoodlum Saint* (1946), as Three Finger - *Little Miss Big* (1946), as Charlie Bryan - *State Fair* (1945), as McGee — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/state-fair.md) - *A Medal for Benny* (1945), as Edgar Lovekin - *Bowery to Broadway* (1944), as Joe Kirby - *Marine Raiders* (1944), as Sgt. Louis Leary - *Going My Way* (1944), as Father Timothy O'Dowd — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/going-my-way.md) - *Her Cardboard Lover* (1942), as Chappie Champagne - *All Through the Night* (1942), as Barney - *Manpower* (1941), as Omaha - *Back Street* (1941), as Ed Porter - *Four Mothers* (1941), as Ben Crowley - *City for Conquest* (1940), as 'Mutt' - *I Love You Again* (1940), as 'Doc' Ryan - *'Til We Meet Again* (1940), as Rockingham T. Rockingham - *Virginia City* (1940), as Mr. Upjohn - *Alex in Wonderland* (1940), as Narrator (voice) - *The Fighting 69th* (1940), as "Crepe Hanger" Burke - *Four Wives* (1939), as Ben Crowley - *The Roaring Twenties* (1939), as Danny Green - *On Your Toes* (1939), as Paddy Reilly - *Dust Be My Destiny* (1939), as Caruthers - *Indianapolis Speedway* (1939), as Spuds Connors - *Daughters Courageous* (1939), as George - *Dodge City* (1939), as Joe Clemens - *Wings of the Navy* (1939), as Scat Allen - *Breakdowns of 1938* (1938), as Popeye Bronson (archive footage) (uncredited) - *Valley of the Giants* (1938), as 'Fingers' McCarthy - *Boy Meets Girl* (1938), as Rossetti - *Four Daughters* (1938), as Ben Crowley — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/four-daughters-1938.md) - *Little Miss Thoroughbred* (1938), as Tod Harrington - *He Couldn't Say No* (1938), as Lambert T. Hunkins - *Swing Your Lady* (1938), as Popeye Bronson - *Submarine D-1* (1937), as "Lucky" Jones - *Sunday Night at the Trocadero* (1937), as Frank McHugh - *Mr. Dodd Takes the Air* (1937), as Sniffer Sears - *Ever Since Eve* (1937), as Mike 'Mabel DeCraven' McGillicuddy - *Marry the Girl* (1937), as David Partridge - *A Day at Santa Anita* (1937), as Frank McHugh (uncredited) - *Three Men on a Horse* (1936), as Erwin Trowbridge - *Stage Struck* (1936), as Sid - *Bullets or Ballots* (1936), as Herman - *Snowed Under* (1936), as Orlando Rowe - *Moonlight Murder* (1936), as William - *Freshman Love* (1936), as Coach Hammond - *Stars Over Broadway* (1935), as Offkey Cramer - *A Midsummer Night's Dream* (1935), as Quince — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/a-midsummer-nights-dream.md) - *Page Miss Glory* (1935), as Ed Olson - *The Irish in Us* (1935), as Mike O'Hara - *Gold Diggers of 1935* (1935), as Humbolt Prentiss - *Devil Dogs of the Air* (1935), as Crash Kelly - *Maybe It's Love* (1935), as Willie Sands - *Happiness Ahead* (1934), as Tom - *6 Day Bike Rider* (1934), as Clinton - *Here Comes the Navy* (1934), as Droopy Mullins — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/here-comes-the-navy.md) - *Return of the Terror* (1934), as Joe Hastings - *Smarty* (1934), as George - *Let’s Be Ritzy* (1934), as Bill Damroy Robert - *Merry Wives of Reno* (1934), as Al - *Heat Lightning* (1934), as Frank - *Fashions of 1934* (1934), as Snap - *The House on 56th Street* (1933), as Chester Hunt - *Convention City* (1933), as Will Goodwin - *Son of a Sailor* (1933), as Gaga - *Havana Widows* (1933), as Mr. Duffy, the Lawyer - *Footlight Parade* (1933), as Francis - *Professional Sweetheart* (1933), as Speed - *Tomorrow at Seven* (1933), as Clancy - *Hold Me Tight* (1933), as Billy Wade - *Ex-Lady* (1933), as Hugo Van Hugh - *Lilly Turner* (1933), as David 'Dave' Dixon - *Elmer, the Great* (1933), as Healy High-Hips - *Private Jones* (1933), as 'Greasy' - the Cook - *The Telegraph Trail* (1933), as Corporal Tippy - *Grand Slam* (1933), as Philip 'Speed' McCann - *Mystery of the Wax Museum* (1933), as Jim - *Parachute Jumper* (1933), as Toodles Cooper - *One Way Passage* (1932), as Skippy - *Blessed Event* (1932), as Reilly - *Life Begins* (1932), as Ringer Banks - *The Dark Horse* (1932), as Joe - *The Strange Love of Molly Louvain* (1932), as Skeets, a Reporter - *The Crowd Roars* (1932), as Spud Connors - *Extra! Extra!* (1932), as Peter Burke - *Union Depot* (1932), as The Drunk - *High Pressure* (1932), as Mike Donahey - *The Wide Open Spaces* (1931), as Matt - a Gambler - *Corsair* (1931), as 'Chub' Hopping - *The Big Scoop* (1931), as Pete - *The Great Junction Hotel* (1931), as Peeping Tom - *Bad Company* (1931), as Doc-Henchmen - *The Hot Spot* (1931), as Peter Burke - *Traveling Husbands* (1931), as Pinkie - *Men of the Sky* (1931), Actor - *Up for Murder* (1931), as Collins - *The Front Page* (1931), as McCue - *Millie* (1931), as John Holmes - *Kiss Me Again* (1931), as Francois - *Going Wild* (1930), as 'Ricky' Freeman - *The Widow from Chicago* (1930), as Slug O'Donnell - *College Lovers* (1930), as Speed Haskins - *Bright Lights* (1930), as Fish - *Top Speed* (1930), as Tad Jordan - *The Dawn Patrol* (1930), as Flaherty ## Gallery - ![Frank McHugh](https://film.one/media/person/1226796/gallery-9a3f83da434e.jpg) Frank McHugh — Trailer screenshot Licencing information :https://web.archive.org/web/20080321033709/http://www.sabucat.com/?pg=copyright and http://www.creativeclearance.com/guidelines.html#D2, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/75/Frank_McHugh_in_Four_Daughters_trailer.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Frank McHugh](https://film.one/media/person/1226796/gallery-31e53fbbbd62.jpg) Frank McHugh — Image via TMDB - ![Frank McHugh](https://film.one/media/person/1226796/gallery-ce4c81988060.jpg) Frank McHugh — Image via TMDB - ![Frank McHugh](https://film.one/media/person/1226796/gallery-26e8e252b320.jpg) Frank McHugh — Image via TMDB --- © 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/frank-mchugh