Frank Marth
Frank Marth (July 29, 1922 – January 12, 2014) was an American film and television actor. He may be best known as a cast-member of Cavalcade of Stars (1949; 1950–1957), especially segments of The Honeymooners, which later became a television series (1955–56).
Frank Marth | |
|---|---|
 Frank Marth in Mission Impossible 1967 | |
| Born | July 29, 1922 |
| Died | January 12, 2014 (aged 91) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1949–1987 |
| Spouse(s) | Hope Holiday (1967–2014, his death) |
| Parent(s) | Mr. and Mrs. Frank Marth, Sr. |
Early years
Marth was born in the Washington Heights neighborhood of Manhattan to Mr. And Mrs. Frank Marth, Sr. He attended public schools graduating from Commerce High School. He initially worked in building construction, but after World War II he attended the Feagin School of Dramatic Art with plans to work in radio.[1]
Career
Early in his career, Marth worked in radio, including being announcer, commentator, and disc jockey on WOV in New York City and WWDX-FM[1] and WPAT in New Jersey.[2]
On stage, Marth acted in productions of local and regional theaters, including the Greenwood Playhouse in Maine and the Willimantic Playhouse in Connecticut.[2]
Marth's big screen scredits included roles in films such as Madame X (1966), Madigan (1968), Pendulum (1969), The Lost Man (1969), Marooned (1969) and Telefon (1977).
On television, Marth appeared in two episodes of Perry Mason, five episodes of The Big Valley, one episode of The Wild, Wild West and Mannix, five episodes of Hogan's Heroes, two episodes of Mission: Impossible, as well as on Hawaii Five-O, The Fugitive, Cannon, The Invaders, The Streets of San Francisco, The Six Million Dollar Man, and M*A*S*H. In 1970 Marth appeared as Rawlings in the western TV series The Virginian in the episode titled "The Gift." In 1976, he appeared in an episode of Sara and played the Commanding Officer of Ben Murphy's leading officer in the TV mini series version of The Dirty Dozen.[3] He also played Ben Fraser, Jr. in the NBC drama From These Roots (1958-1961)[3]:369 and was a regular on Jackie Gleason and His American Scene Magazine and The Jackie Gleason Show.[3]:521
Tall and fair-haired, Marth, often in tandem with the short, dark-haired George O. Petrie, played various recurring and one-time roles on The Honeymooners, i.e. as one of the brutal hoods who hold the Kramdens and Ed Norton hostage after Ralph witnesses a bank robbery; as Harvey Walstatter, who hires Alice Kramden to babysit his son, Harvey, Jr.; and as the inquiring news photographer who lands Ralph Kramden in hot water after he quotes Kramden declaring that he is "head of the household".
Death
Marth died of congestive heart failure and Alzheimer's disease on January 12, 2014, in Rancho Mirage, California, aged 91.[4]
Filmography (partial)
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Fright | George Morley | |
| 1961 | Breakfast at Tiffany's | Party Guest | Uncredited |
| 1963 | Love with the Proper Stranger | Carlos | Uncredited |
| 1966 | Madame X | Det. Combs | |
| 1968 | Madigan | Lt. James Price | |
| 1969 | Pendulum | Lt. Smithson | |
| 1969 | The Lost Man | Warren | |
| 1969 | Marooned | Air Force Systems Director | |
| 1977 | Telefon | Harley Sandburg | |
| 1993 | Loving Deadly | Joe Reynolds | |
| 1994 | Loving Deadly | John | (final film role) |
Television (partial)
1955-1957 The Honeymooners
- 1964 Combat!
Season 3, Episode 7 "Operation Fly Trap" as a German Captain
- 1964 My Favorite Martian
Season 2, Episode 8 "The Great Brain Robbery" as Capt. Edward Prescott
- 1965 Hogan's Heroes
Season 1, Episode 13 "Hogan's Hofbrau" as Capt. Milheiser
- 1966 Combat!
Season 4, Episode 30 "Run, Sheep, Run" as Lt. Vogler
- 1970 The Virginian
Season 8, Episode 24 "The Gift" as Emmett Rawlings
- 1974-1976 Cannon
Season 4, Episode 1 "Kelly's Song" as Captain Royce
Season 5, Episode 23 "Point After Death" as Eliott Strickland
- 1977 Wonder Woman
Season 2, Episode 5 "Knockout" as Tall Man
- 1983-1986 The A-Team
Season 3, Episode 18 "Road Games" as Jim Sullivan
References
- "Marth Joins WWDX Announcing Staff". The Herald-News. New Jersey, Passaic. January 21, 1948. p. 1. Retrieved April 16, 2019 – via Newspapers.com.
- "At Greenwood". Portland Press Herald. July 24, 1949. p. 29. Retrieved October 18, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
- Terrace, Vincent (January 10, 2011). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010 (2nd ed.). Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company. p. 264. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.
- Barnes, Mike (January 13, 2014). ""Honeymooners" Actor Frank Marth dies at 91". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 23, 2019.
