Frank Sully


Francis Thomas Sullivan, known professionally as Frank Sully, was an American film actor. He appeared in over 240 films between 1934 and 1968. Today's audiences know him best as the dumb detective in the Boston Blackie features, and as the foil in many Three Stooges comedies.

Career

After working on the vaudeville stage, Sully entered the film industry in 1934. He played small parts and bits for several years at various studios, usually as tough guys. Gradually he was cast in higher-budgeted features, including Another Thin Man where Sully plays one of Nick Charles's streetwise pals, and John Ford's The Grapes of Wrath with Sully cast as Noah Joad, whose family treks across America for a new life.
Sully's first major role came in 1941 for Monogram Pictures, a "budget" studio that often gave opportunities to ambitious actors. In the Frankie Darro campus comedy Let's Go Collegiate, Sully was featured as a dumb truck driver recruited to masquerade as a star athlete. The role gave Sully good exposure, and the actor received excellent notices. The Exhibitor noted that "Sully takes acting honors, with Darro, (Keye) Luke, and (Jackie) Moran very good in their roles."
In 1942 Sully signed with Columbia Pictures. The studio had a company policy of casting its contract players in as many films as possible, regardless of class or budget, and Sully kept busy in dozens of Columbia's feature films, series comedies, westerns, and short subjects. When the studio's series of Boston Blackie comedy-mysteries needed a new sidekick for detective inspector Farraday, Sully was recruited and remained in the role of the slow-witted "Matthews" until the end of the series in 1949.
In 1943 Sully began working in Columbia's two-reel comedy unit, where he remained a familiar presence off and on through 1957. He supported star comedians Hugh Herbert, Vera Vague, Slim Summerville, Wally Vernon and Eddie Quillan, Joe Besser, and most memorably The Three Stooges. Sully is featured in such Stooge comedies as Fling in the Ring, Pardon My Backfire, and Guns a Poppin!. He is most prominent in A Merry Mix Up as the bewildered waiter who thinks he's seeing triple; Sully also narrates the film.

Television

In addition to his film work, Sully also had bit parts in several television shows. Credits include Maverick, The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, Leave It to Beaver, I Love Lucy and The Beverly Hillbillies and "Charley" on Topper. Sully also had a recurring role as Danny the bartender on The Virginian.

Death

Sully died on December 17, 1975, at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital. He is buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Long Beach, California.

Selected filmography

Caravan .... Hungarian Soldier Murder at the Vanities .... Chorus Boy 365 Nights in Hollywood .... Mr. Sully, Student Actor Alibi Ike .... Ball Player Fighting Youth .... Football Player from St. LouisMary Burns, Fugitive .... SteveFollow the Fleet .... Sailor Gentle Julia .... Mr. TomsSmall Town Girl .... Bill Fury .... Dynamiter Poppy .... Bit part We Went to College .... Student as Othello Rhythm on the Range .... Splashed Rodeo Cowboy Theodora Goes Wild .... Clarence Black Legion .... Truck Driver's Helper Criminals of the Air .... Contact They Gave Him a Gun .... Comedy Soldier Captains Courageous .... Taxi Driver Riding on Air .... Harrison's Truck Driver High, Wide and Handsome .... Gabby Johnson White Bondage .... Man in Pool Room Life Begins in College .... Acting CaptainRadio Patrol .... Flynn That's My Story .... Reporter Live, Love and Learn .... Marine Daughter of Shanghai .... Jake Kelly White Banners .... Butcher's Delivery Man Start Cheering .... Jimmy - Student Accosting Jean Test Pilot .... Pilot in Cafe The Crowd Roars .... Harry, Second Croquet Player Hold That Co-ed .... SteveYouth Takes a Fling .... Jim His Exciting Night .... Milk Truck Driver Thanks for Everything .... Lem SliningerNewsboys' Home .... Assistant to Hartley The Great Man Votes .... Policeman at Parade Society Lawyer .... First Cab Driver Sorority House .... The Caterer Some Like It Hot .... Sailor Burke / The Living CorpseSecond Fiddle .... Townsman Mickey the Kid .... Curly Another Thin Man .... Pete, a Father The Night of Nights .... Taxi Driver The Grapes of Wrath .... Noah JoadThe Fighting 69th .... Sergeant Castle on the Hudson .... Second Prisoner Women Without Names .... Friendly Motorist The Doctor Takes a Wife .... SlapcovitchLillian Russell .... HankEscape to Glory .... Tommy MaloneI Can't Give You Anything But Love, Baby .... Henchman Wilky Cross-Country Romance .... Mike The Return of Frank James .... ActorYoung People .... JebHe Stayed for Breakfast .... ButcherYesterday's Heroes .... Curly WalshCity for Conquest .... Radio Listener Spring Parade .... Bert, Shawl Salesman Street of Memories .... Elliott Dr. Kildare's Crisis .... John Root Golden Hoofs .... Ed Muckle Nice Girl? .... Jake Murder Among Friends .... Service Station Attendant A Girl, a Guy, and a Gob .... SaltyDouble Date .... HankThe Flame of New Orleans .... Oyster Bed Cafe Waiter She Knew All the Answers .... CopMountain Moonlight .... Bill JacksonPrivate Nurse .... EddieLet's Go Collegiate .... Hercules 'Herk' BevansYou'll Never Get Rich .... Robert's Guard The Body Disappears .... Rest Home Attendant You're in the Army Now .... Hog Caller All Through the Night .... SpenceSleepytime Gal .... DimplesRings on Her Fingers .... Taxi DriverTrue to the Army .... MuggTo the Shores of Tripoli .... Truck Driver Two Yanks in Trinidad .... Mike ParadiseInside the Law .... Jim BurkeYankee Doodle Dandy .... Army Recruiter Parachute Nurse .... Sergeant PetersThe Talk of the Town .... Policeman in Station Wagon A Man's World .... Sammy CollinsMy Sister Eileen .... JensonLucky Legs .... Mugg Daring Young Man .... LukeThe Boogie Man Will Get You .... Police Officer Joe Starrett Laugh Your Blues Away .... BuckOne Dangerous Night .... Hertzog, HenchmanPower of the Press .... Mack Gibbons They Got Me Covered .... RedMurder in Times Square .... Benny the Baboon Redhead from Manhattan .... Henchman The More the Merrier .... FBI Agent PikeIt's a Great Life .... Elevator Starter Two Señoritas from Chicago .... BruiserGood Luck, Mr. Yates .... Joe BriggsThousands Cheer .... AlanDangerous Blondes .... Detective Joe HendersonThere's Something About a Soldier .... Alex GrybinskiThe Ghost That Walks Alone .... Beppo