Frank Mitchell (actor)
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Frank Mitchell | |
---|---|
North Hollywood, California , U.S. | |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1920–1980 |
Spouse |
Jane Fields (Gilbert)
(m. 1926; died 1979) |
Children | 2 |
Frank Mitchell (May 13, 1905 – January 21, 1991) was an American film actor. He appeared in over 70 films between 1920 and 1980.
Career
Frank Mitchell was a short, stocky, mischievous-looking comic and acrobat who got his start in entertainment by entering contests imitating Charles Chaplin. From there he broke into Vaudeville with a comedy acrobatic troupe and later toured with the International Seven in Europe. Aside from the stage, Mitchell also worked circuses performing stunts on horses as a trick rider. It was in the Vaudeville circuit that he met comic Jack Durant. The two formed the comedy duo "Mitchell & Durant," which appeared in The Earl Carroll Vanities of 1931.[1] Their success also led them in to films, most notably providing comic relief in several Alice Faye musicals such as She Learned About Sailors, 365 Nights in Hollywood and Music Is Magic.
After Mitchell and Durant split, Mitchell found minor comedy roles throughout the 1940s and 1950s films. Because of his experience as a trick-rider, Mitchell found himself working in several westerns. One of his more famous characters was in a series of Westerns for
The Three Stooges
In 1943, Mitchell appeared in an unofficial team alongside Stooges alumni Fred Sanborn and Shemp Howard in the Universal feature Crazy House.[citation needed]
In 1953, he appeared with the Three Stooges in the Columbia short
In 1974, The Three Stooges had booked a tour of stage and nightclub shows and personal appearances. However, Larry Fine had suffered a debilitating stroke in 1970, and Moe had been too sick to tour, so Moe suggested that
Personal life and death
Mitchell was born in New York City. He was married to Jane Fields from 1926 until her death in 1979. They had two children. Mitchell retired from films in 1980, and died of cardiac arrest on January 21, 1991, at age 85.
References
- ^ Smith, Bill. The Vaudevillians. New York: Macmillan, 1976, p. 110.
External links
- Frank Mitchell at IMDb