--- name: "Frank Sully" canonical: "https://film.one/person/frank-sully" roles: ["Actor"] born: "17 June 1908" died: "17 December 1975" reviewed_on_fi1m: 3 average_fi1m_score: 84 average_as: "actor" average_over: 2 updated: "2026-09-20T00:59:22.029603+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 Sully Actor. Born 17 June 1908 in Saint Louis, Missouri, USA. Died 17 December 1975. ## Details - **Work:** Actor - **Born:** 17 June 1908, Saint Louis, Missouri, USA - **Died:** 17 December 1975 - **Active:** 1940–1943 - **Also known as:** Francis Thomas Sullivan, Frank Sullivan - **Titles on Fi1m:** 3: 2 acting, 1 other - **Average Fi1m score:** 84, as actor, over 2 titles - **Fi1m score by decade:** 1930s 84 (1), 1940s 84 (2) - **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Sully, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q5489839, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0838412/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/34610 ## Streaming the US now - **The Roku Channel:** [*The More the Merrier*](https://film.one/film/the-more-the-merrier.md) (82) For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country. ## Biography Frank Sully (born Francis Thomas Sullivan) was an American character actor. He appeared in more than 240 films between 1934 and 1968, usually in supporting roles as rustic types or heavies. He began his career in vaudeville and on Broadway in the late 1920s before entering films. Sully is known for his performance as Noah Joad in *The Grapes of Wrath* (1940). He had recurring roles as the slow-witted detective Sergeant Matthews in the Boston Blackie film series and appeared in several Three Stooges shorts. His television credits include episodes of *I Love Lucy*, *Alfred Hitchcock Presents*, *Perry Mason* and *The Beverly Hillbillies*. *Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.* ## On Fi1m (3) ### Performed in (2) — the average rests on these - *The More the Merrier* (1943), Fi1m 82, as FBI Agent Pike — [page](https://film.one/film/the-more-the-merrier.md) - *The Grapes of Wrath* (1940), Fi1m 86, as Noah — [page](https://film.one/film/the-grapes-of-wrath.md) ### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited - *Captains Courageous* (1937), Fi1m 84, as Taxi Driver (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/captains-courageous.md) ## Complete filmography (178) Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page. - *Bye Bye Birdie* (1963), as Bartender - *Gypsy* (1962), as Wichita Burlesque Audience Member (uncredited) - *The Beverly Hillbillies* (1962), series, Actor - *The Virginian* (1962), series, as Waiter, Bartender, Danny - *The Investigators* (1961), series, Actor - *Let No Man Write My Epitaph* (1960), as Drunk at Bar (uncredited) - *The Tall Man* (1960), series, Actor - *Johnny Staccato* (1959), series, Actor - *The Last Hurrah* (1958), as Fire Lieutenant (uncredited) - *The Rifleman* (1958), series, Actor - *Wanted: Dead or Alive* (1958), series, as Townsman (uncredited) - *Man from God's Country* (1958), as Trail Cook (uncredited) - *The Female Animal* (1958), as Taxicab Driver (uncredited) - *Rockabilly Baby* (1957), as Bum - *Leave It to Beaver* (1957), series, as Cab Driver - *The Helen Morgan Story* (1957), as Vendor (scenes deleted) - *Domino Kid* (1957), Actor - *Maverick* (1957), series, Actor - *Perry Mason* (1957), series, as Newspaper Delivery Man, Cop - *M Squad* (1957), series, as Officer Ed Grady - *Sugarfoot* (1957), series, as Frank the Bartender (uncredited) - *The Buckskin Lady* (1957), as Jed - *A Merry Mix-Up* (1957), as (uncredited) - *Snowshoes: A Comedy of People and Horses* (1957), as Cop - *The Desperados Are in Town* (1956), as Carl Branch - *Friendly Persuasion* (1956), as Rebel Looter (uncredited) — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/friendly-persuasion.md) - *You Can't Run Away from It* (1956), as Red - *Hey, Jeannie!* (1956), series, as Officer, Expressman - *Frontier Gambler* (1956), as Bartender - *So You Want to Be Pretty* (1956), as Harry (uncredited) - *Blunder Boys* (1955), as Dean Watts D. Matter (uncredited) - *Last of the Desperados* (1955), as Murder Victim Tim (bit) - *The 20th Century Fox Hour* (1955), series, as Sergeant - *Screen Director's Playhouse* (1955), series, as Diner Patron - *Alfred Hitchcock Presents* (1955), series, as Desk Clerk, The Piano Player - *Navy Log* (1955), series, Actor - *The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp* (1955), series, as Mr. Miller (uncredited) - *Apache Ambush* (1955), Actor - *The Naked Street* (1955), Actor - *Seminole Uprising* (1955), Actor - *Jungle Moon Men* (1955), as Max - *Women's Prison* (1955), Actor - *Fling in the Ring* (1955), as Big Mike - *The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin* (1954), series, Actor - *Father Knows Best* (1954), series, as Waiter - *Silver Lode* (1954), as Paul Herbert, Telegrapher - *Battle of Rogue River* (1954), as Pvt. Kohler - *Ain't It Aggravatin'* (1954), as Neighbor (uncredited) - *Bad for Each Other* (1953), as Tippy Kashko, Townsman - *Pardon My Backfire* (1953), as Escaped Convict - *Northern Patrol* (1953), as Bartender - *Spies and Guys* (1953), as Enemy Soldier (uncredited) - *Strop, Look and Listen* (1952), as Waiter - *Mr. & Mrs. North* (1952), series, Actor - *The Ford Television Theatre* (1952), series, as Policeman - *Pat and Mike* (1952), as Photographer (uncredited) - *No Room for the Groom* (1952), as Cousin Luke - *Young Man with Ideas* (1952), as Salesman (uncredited) - *With a Song in My Heart* (1952), as Soldier (uncredited) - *Gang Busters* (1952), series, Actor - *Night Stage to Galveston* (1952), as Policeman Kelly - *Rainbow 'Round My Shoulder* (1952), as Harry, the Projectionist - *A Fool and His Honey* (1952), Actor - *Dragnet* (1951), series, Actor - *Man in the Saddle* (1951), as Lee Repp - *Let's Make It Legal* (1951), as Laborer (uncredited) - *I Love Lucy* (1951), series, as Delivery Man - *Schlitz Playhouse of Stars* (1951), series, as Coots Larkin - *The Red Badge of Courage* (1951), as Veteran (uncredited) - *Rhubarb* (1951), as Big Head Charlie - Bookie (uncredited) - *The Tall Target* (1951), as Telegram Messenger (uncredited) - *The Big Gusher* (1951), as Barfly - *The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok* (1951), series, Actor - *Father's Little Dividend* (1951), as Infant Service Diaper Man (uncredited) - *Rookie Fireman* (1950), as Charlie - *Joe Palooka in Humphrey Takes a Chance* (1950), as Looie - *Nursie Behave* (1950), as Officer Murphy - *The Reformer and the Redhead* (1950), as Joe (uncredited) - *Beauty on Parade* (1950), as Murph - *The Good Humor Man* (1950), as Cop (uncredited) - *Killer Shark* (1950), Actor - *Blondie's Hero* (1950), as Mike McClusky, the Snorer (uncredited) - *Joe Palooka Meets Humphrey* (1950), as Looie - *Trapped* (1949), as Sam the Bartender (uncredited) - *Joe Palooka in the Counterpunch* (1949), as Looie - *Boston Blackie's Chinese Venture* (1949), as Sergeant Matthews - *Gun Smugglers* (1948), as Corporal Clancy - *Blondie's Reward* (1948), as Officer Carney - *Trapped by Boston Blackie* (1948), as Sgt. Matthews - *Wild Harvest* (1947), as Nick - *Boston Blackie and the Law* (1946), as Sgt. Matthews - *Crime Doctor's Man Hunt* (1946), as Henchman 'Rigger' - *It's Great to Be Young* (1946), as Burkett - *Dangerous Business* (1946), as Bert - *Renegades* (1946), as Link - *The Phantom Thief* (1946), as Detective Sergeant Matthews - *Talk About a Lady* (1946), as Rocky Jordan - *Throw a Saddle on a Star* (1946), as Lawyer - *The Gentleman Misbehaves* (1946), as Taxi Driver - *A Close Call for Boston Blackie* (1946), as Sgt. Matthews - *One Way to Love* (1946), as Hopkins - *Out of the Depths* (1945), as 'Speed' Brogan - *I Love a Bandleader* (1945), as Dan Benson - *Along Came Jones* (1945), as Avery de Longpre - *Boston Blackie's Rendezvous* (1945), as Mathews - *Boston Blackie Booked on Suspicion* (1945), as Sgt. Matthews - *Secret Command* (1944), as Shawn - *Two Girls and a Sailor* (1944), as Private Adams - *Bachelor Daze* (1944), as Ezra's neighbor - *The Ghost That Walks Alone* (1944), as Beppo - *There's Something About a Soldier* (1943), as Alex Grybinski - *Dangerous Blondes* (1943), as Detective Joe Henderson - *Thousands Cheer* (1943), as Alan - *Pitchin' in the Kitchen* (1943), as Albert, the Neighbor - *Good Luck, Mr. Yates* (1943), as Joe Briggs - *The More the Merrier* (1943), as FBI Agent Pike — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/the-more-the-merrier.md) - *Murder in Times Square* (1943), as Benny the Baboon - *Power of the Press* (1943), as Mack Gibbons (uncredited) - *One Dangerous Night* (1943), as Hertzog - Henchman - *Laugh Your Blues Away* (1942), as Buck - *The Boogie Man Will Get You* (1942), as Officer Joe Starrett - *The Daring Young Man* (1942), as Luke - *Lucky Legs* (1942), as Mugg - *My Sister Eileen* (1942), as Jenson - *A Man's World* (1942), as Sammy Collins - *Parachute Nurse* (1942), as Sgt. Peters - *Inside the Law* (1942), as Jim Burke - *Two Yanks in Trinidad* (1942), as Mike Paradise - *Rings on Her Fingers* (1942), Actor - *Sleepytime Gal* (1942), as Dimples - *All Through the Night* (1942), as Spence - *Let's Go Collegiate* (1941), as Hercules 'Herk' Bevans - *Private Nurse* (1941), as Eddie - *She Knew All the Answers* (1941), as Cop - *A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob* (1941), as Salty - *Nice Girl?* (1941), Actor - *Golden Hoofs* (1941), as Ed Muckle - *Dr. Kildare's Crisis* (1940), as John Root - *Spring Parade* (1940), as Bert - Shawl Salesman - *City for Conquest* (1940), as Radio Listener (uncredited) - *Yesterday's Heroes* (1940), as Curly Walsh - *He Stayed for Breakfast* (1940), as Butcher - *Young People* (1940), as Jeb - *The Return of Frank James* (1940), as Actor - *Cross-Country Romance* (1940), as Mike - *Lillian Russell* (1940), as Hank - *Escape to Glory* (1940), as Tommy Malone - *The Doctor Takes a Wife* (1940), as Slapcovitch - *The Grapes of Wrath* (1940), as Noah — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/the-grapes-of-wrath.md) - *Women Without Names* (1940), as Friendly Motorist - *Castle on the Hudson* (1940), as Second Prisoner (uncredited) - *The Fighting 69th* (1940), as Sergeant (uncredited) - *The Night of Nights* (1939), as Taxi Driver (uncredited) - *Another Thin Man* (1939), as Pete (uncredited) - *Second Fiddle* (1939), as Townsman - *Some Like It Hot* (1939), as Sailor Burke / The Living Corpse - *Sorority House* (1939), as The Caterer (uncredited) - *The Great Man Votes* (1939), as Policeman at Parade - *Youth Takes a Fling* (1938), as Jim - *Hold That Co-ed* (1938), as Steve Wurgerski - *Start Cheering* (1938), as Jimmy - *Daughter of Shanghai* (1937), as Jake Kelly - *Live, Love and Learn* (1937), as Marine (uncredited) - *Radio Patrol* (1937), as Flynn - *Life Begins in College* (1937), as Football Player - *White Bondage* (1937), as Man in Pool Room - *Captains Courageous* (1937), as Taxi Driver (uncredited) — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/captains-courageous.md) - *They Gave Him a Gun* (1937), as Comedy Soldier (uncredited) - *Criminals of the Air* (1937), Actor - *The Romance Of Robert Burns* (1937), as Jock Wilson (uncredited) - *Black Legion* (1937), as Truck Driver's Helper (uncredited) - *Theodora Goes Wild* (1936), as Clarence (uncredited) - *Rhythm on the Range* (1936), as Splashed Rodeo Cowboy - *Fury* (1936), as Dynamiter (uncredited) - *Gentle Julia* (1936), as Mr. Toms - *Mary Burns, Fugitive* (1935), as Steve - *Caravan* (1934), as Hungarian Soldier (Uncredited) - *Murder at the Vanities* (1934), as Chorus Boy (uncredited) ## Gallery - ![Frank Sully](https://film.one/media/person/1229780/gallery-8d6e3ab05076.jpg) Frank Sully — film screenshot (Monogram Pictures), Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/Frank_Sully_in_Let%27s_Go_Collegiate.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled) - ![Frank Sully](https://film.one/media/person/1229780/gallery-0b56d2aa6795.jpg) Frank Sully — 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-sully