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Frank Orth

Frank Orth

Actor · Died March 17, 1962, aged 82 · Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

Frank Orth was an American actor born in Philadelphia. He is probably best remembered for his portrayal of Inspector Faraday in the 1951-1953 television series “Boston Blackie”. By 1897, Orth was performing in vaudeville with his wife, Ann Codee, in an act called “Codee and Orth.” In 1909, he expanded into song writing, with songs such as “The Phone Bell Rang” and “Meet Me on the Boardwalk, Dearie.” His first contact with motion pictures was in 1928, when he was part of the first foreign-language shorts in sound produced by Warner Bros. He and his wife also appeared together in a series of two-reel comedies in the early 1930s. Orth's first major screen credit was in “Prairie Thunder,” a Dick Foran western, in 1937. From then on, he was often cast as bartenders, pharmacists, and grocery clerks, and always distinctly Irish. He had a recurring role in the Dr. Kildare series of films and also in the Nancy Drew series as the befuddled Officer Tweedy. Among his better roles were the newspaper man Cary Grant telephones early in “His Girl Friday,” one of the quartet singing “Gary Owen” in “They Died with Their Boots On” (thereby giving Errol Flynn as Gen. Custer the idea of associating the tune with the 7th Cavalry), and as the little man carrying the sign reading “The End Is Near” throughout Colonel Effingham's Raid. However, Orth is probably best remembered for his portrayal of Inspector Faraday in the 1951-1953 television series “Boston Blackie.” A short, plump, round-faced man, often smoking a cigar, Orth as Faraday wore his own dark-rimmed spectacles, though rarely in feature films. In 1959, Orth retired from show business after throat surgery. His wife died in 1961 after around fifty years of marriage. Orth died on March 17, 1962. He is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in the Hollywood Hills next to his wife.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 20, 1880
Died
March 17, 1962 (aged 82)
From
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
58 on MovieCove · 129 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 45% in 30 days

What are Frank Orth's films like?

Across their 14 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 91st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
26%
Morality
23%
Self
22%
Society
10%
Power
8%
Survival
7%
Ideas
4%
Romantic love9 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition4 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception4 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeClass2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this themeGuilt2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 14 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 10 · Serious 2 · Dark 2

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 5 · Stylized 8 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 9 · Charged 3 · Intense 2

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 9 · Shifting 5 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 4 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 4

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 7 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 8 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 12 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

1 analyzed role

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Romantic
9
Joyful
8
Warm
4
Tense
4
Absurd
4
Other
9

How their films linger

Feel-good10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet2
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Frank Orth's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 13 of their 58 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (10).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Frank Orth's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

129 credits, 58 with a MovieCove page.

  • Here Come the Girls (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Mr. Hungerford

  • Houdini(1953)

    as Mr. Hunter

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Uncle John

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all shows

  • Something to Live For(1952)

    as Waiter (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • Double Dynamite(1951)

    as Mr. Kofer

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Boston Blackie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 58 episodes · as Inspector Faraday

  • The Petty Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Moody (process server)

  • Father of the Bride(1950)

    as Joe

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Cheaper by the Dozen(1950)

    as Higgins (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • The Great Rupert(1950)

    as Mr. Frank Dingle

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Bride for Sale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1949)

    as Police Sergeant (uncredited)

  • Red Light(1949)

    as Wallace 'Wally' Stoner

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Blondie's Secret (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Mr. Philpotts

  • The Girl from Manhattan(1948)

    as Oscar Newsome

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • So This Is New York(1948)

    as AJ Gluskoter

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Big Clock(1948)

    as Burt

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • It Had to Be You(1947)

    as Conductor Brown

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • The Gas House Kids in Hollywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Police Captain

  • Heartaches(1947)

    as Mike Connelly, Vic's Agent

    Midcredits score: 22nd percentile of all films

  • The Guilt of Janet Ames(1947)

    as Danny

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Born to Speed (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Breezy Bradley

  • Lady in the Lake(1946)

    as Floyd Greer (Uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Wake Up and Dream (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Milkman

  • It's Great to Be Young (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Franklin Johnson

  • The Strange Love of Martha Ivers(1946)

    as Hotel Clerk

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • The Bride Wore Boots(1946)

    as Judge (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 42nd percentile of all films

  • Murder in the Music Hall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Henderson

  • The Hoodlum Saint (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Chronicle Editor (uncredited)

  • Doll Face(1945)

    as Peters

    Midcredits score: 29th percentile of all films

  • The Lost Weekend(1945)

    as Opera Cloak Room Attendant

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • She Went to the Races (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Skelly

  • Tell It to a Star (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Augustus T. Goodman

  • Pillow to Post (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Clayfield Taxi Driver

  • The Mummy's Curse(1944)

    Songs

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Storm Over Lisbon(1944)

    as Murgatroyd

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • Tall in the Saddle(1944)

    as 'Shorty' Davis (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Greenwich Village(1944)

    as Ordway

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Impatient Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Counterman

  • Wilson(1944)

    as Smith (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films

  • Summer Storm(1944)

    as Cafe Maitre d' at End (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Roger Touhy, Gangster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as . Comic in Theater (uncredited)

  • Sweet Rosie O'Grady(1943)

    as Taxi Driver

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all films

  • Coney Island (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Bartender

  • Hello Frisco, Hello(1943)

    as Lou, Bartender at Sharkey's

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • The Ox-Bow Incident(1943)

    as Larry Kinkaid (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Meanest Man in the World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Bartender (uncredited)

  • Springtime in the Rockies(1942)

    as Bickel (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Dr. Gillespie's New Assistant (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Mike Ryan

  • Orchestra Wives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Rex Willet

  • Tales of Manhattan(1942)

    as Secondhand Clothes Dealer

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Footlight Serenade (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Mike

  • The Magnificent Dope (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Messenger

  • Henry and Dizzy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Joe McGuire

  • My Gal Sal(1942)

    as McGuiness

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Rings on Her Fingers(1942)

    as Kellogg

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Roxie Hart(1942)

    as Bar Client #2 (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Dr. Kildare's Victory(1942)

    as Mike Ryan

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Right to the Heart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Pete

  • Over My Dead Body (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Detective

  • Blue, White and Perfect (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Mr. Toby

  • They Died with Their Boots On(1941)

    as Barfly (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • I Wake Up Screaming(1941)

    as Cemetery Caretaker

    Midcredits score: 85th percentile of all films

  • Sergeant York(1941)

    as Drummer (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all films

  • Broadway Limited(1941)

    as Lou, Cafe Proprietor

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • The People Vs. Dr. Kildare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Mike Ryan

  • Ride on Vaquero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Auctioneer

  • The Strawberry Blonde(1941)

    as Baxter - Livery Stable Owner (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Come Live with Me(1941)

    as Jerry

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • Let's Make Music (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Mr. Botts

  • Respect the Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as Peter Brennan

  • Michael Shayne: Private Detective(1940)

    as Steve

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all films

  • You, the People (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Soda Jerk

  • Dr. Kildare's Crisis (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Mike Ryan, Cafe Owner

  • Father Is a Prince(1940)

    as Drugstore Proprieter

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Gallant Sons(1940)

    as Newspaper Foreman (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Mexican Spitfire Out West (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Window Washer

  • Dr. Kildare Goes Home(1940)

    as Mike Ryan (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Boom Town(1940)

    as Barber

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Buyer Beware (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Smith (uncredited)

  • Pier 13 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Dead Pan Charlie

  • Gold Rush Maisie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Harris

  • Brother Orchid(1940)

    as Waiter at Fat Dutchy's (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • Florian (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Detective

  • La Conga Nights (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Dennis O'Brien

  • The Doctor Takes a Wife(1940)

    as New York Editor (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • 'Til We Meet Again(1940)

    as Hong Kong Bartender (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Dr. Kildare's Strange Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Mike

  • Know Your Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Tobacconist (uncredited)

  • His Girl Friday(1940)

    as Duffy

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • The Secret of Dr. Kildare(1939)

    as Mike

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • At the Circus(1939)

    as Chef in Diner (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Fast and Furious (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Captain Joe Burke

  • Dust Be My Destiny(1939)

    as Wedding Witness on Stage (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films

  • Thunder Afloat (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Old Sailor in Bilge Area (uncredited)

  • Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Captain Tweedy

  • Stanley and Livingstone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Newspaperman with Pills

  • Tell No Tales (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Vic - Bartender (uncredited)

  • Young Mr. Lincoln(1939)

    as Loafer (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all films

  • Calling Dr. Kildare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Mike Sullivan - Hospital Cafe Owner (uncredited)

  • Broadway Serenade(1939)

    as Mr. Fellows

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Within the Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Jim Jenks

  • Nancy Drew... Reporter(1939)

    as Captain Tweedy (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Fast and Loose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Detective Hendricks (uncredited)

  • Idiot's Delight(1939)

    as Benny Zinsser

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Burn 'Em Up O'Connor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Tim McKelvy

  • Comet Over Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Cab Driver (uncredited)

  • Nancy Drew… Detective (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Captain Tweedy

  • Young Dr. Kildare (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Mike Ryan (uncredited)

  • Mr. Chump (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Sheriff Frank Hinton

  • Think It Over (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Brown, Clothing Store Owner

  • Torchy Blane in Panama(1938)

    as First Leopard (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • The Patient in Room 18 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Joe Higgins - Night Watchman

  • Missing Witnesses (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Gordon (uncredited)

  • The Footloose Heiress (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Justice Abner Cuttler

  • Prairie Thunder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Wichita

  • The Devil's Saddle Legion (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Judge Barko

  • Talent Scout (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Burlesque Theatre Manager (uncredited)

  • Ever Since Eve (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Cocktail Waiter (uncredited)

  • Marry the Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Bar owner

  • San Quentin(1937)

    as Convict in Bunkhouse (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Land Beyond the Law (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Shorty Long

  • Polo Joe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Bert

  • Hot Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Hank Ford

  • Two Against the World (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Tommy - Bartender

  • Unwelcome Stranger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Jackson

  • The Payoff (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1935)

    as Porter (uncredited)

  • The Victim (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1931)

    as The Husband

  • Taking Ways (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1930)

    Actor

  • A Bird in the Hand (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1929)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 93rd percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 129 titles from 1929 to 1953.

Biggest box office

The Lost Weekend (1945)

$1.1K worldwide

Highest rated

The Lost Weekend (1945)

Midcredits 97th

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting128 of 129: 128 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score62ndOther crew1 of 129: 1 only other crew, 0 with another role

By decade

1920s1 · acting1930s39 · acting1940s79 · 78 acting · 1 crew1950s10 · acting

Billing

usually 13th · top billed in 0% of 17 roles
374247

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Frank Orth's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 62nd percentile, the median of all 57; across their 14 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 54th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Approval · how many liked their films

51stpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Reach · how many have seen their films

35thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Midcredits score across 58 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up18
  • 50th to 74th26
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th4

Shape of the crowd

None of their 58 titles divides audiences: 39 are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved6
  • Crowd Pleaser39
  • Broadly Agreed9
  • Mixed4

Most loved · actor

The Ox-Bow Incident (1943)

Midcredits 97th · 86% liked

Reviewers score the acting 63/100 in their films, across 14 reviewed titles; fans 73, detractors 40. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Frank Orth work with?

People who share at least 2 of Frank Orth's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Leigh Harline shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers

Producers