Frank Craven

• Name — Frank Craven • Born — 24 August 1875 • Birthplace — Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. • Died — 1 September 1945 • Occupation — Actor, director, playwright, producer • Years Active — 1928–1945 • Spouse — Mazie B. Daly Mary Blyth • Children — John Craven

Craven was born in Boston. His parents, John T. Craven and Ella Mayer Craven, were actors, and he first appeared on stage when he was three years old, in a child's part in The Silver King, in which his father was acting. His next appearance on stage occurred 13 years later in another production of the same play. That experience stirred an interest in acting as a career.

• Illustration — Frank Craven, Martha Scott and John Craven in the original Broadway production of Our Town (1938) Before he acted in films, Craven worked in stage productions, not limiting his activity to acting. "I would do anything around the place," he said. He found later that work with carpentry, painting, and other backstage activities proved "invaluable" to him. His initial success in New York came in the role of James Gilley in Bought and Paid For (1911). He also played the same role in a production in London. He also was a playwright, penning hits such as Too Many Cooks (1914) and The First Year (1920). Craven was a character actor who often portrayed wry, small-town figures. His first film role was in We Americans (1928), and he appeared in State Fair (1933), Penrod and Sam (1937), Jack London (1943), and Son of Dracula (1943), among many others. He wrote numerous screenplays, most notably for the Laurel and Hardy film Sons of the Desert (1933). In 1938, Craven played the Stage Manager in Our Town on Broadway, and reprised the role in the 1940 film version of the play, co-writing the screenplay. His son John Craven starred as George Gibbs in the stage version, a role played by William Holden in the 1940 film. Craven was a Republican who campaigned for Thomas Dewey in the 1944 United States presidential election.

When he died, Craven was married to the former Mary Blyth, an actress. He had one son and one stepdaughter. He died at his home of a heart ailment in Beverly Hills, California, on September 1, 1945, shortly after finishing his work in Colonel Effingham's Raid.

• Illustration — Frank Craven as the Stage Manager in the original Broadway production of Our Town (1938) • Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1928 — We Americans — Uncredited • 1929 — The Very Idea — Alan Camp • 1932 — Handle with Care — Radio Announcer • 1933 — State Fair — Storekeeper • 1934 — City Limits — J.B. Matthews • He Was Her Man — Pop Sims, aka Jim Parker • Let's Talk It Over — Mr. Rockland • That's Gratitude — Bob Grant • 1935 — Car 99 — Sheriff Pete Arnot • Vagabond Lady — 'Spiggy' Spiggins • Barbary Coast — Col. Marcus Aurelius Cobb • 1936 — It's Up To You — Pop' Kane • Small Town Girl — Will 'Pa' Brannan • The Harvester — Mr. Biddle • 1937 — Penrod and Sam — Mr. Schofield • Blossoms on Broadway — P.J. Quinterfield Sr. • You're Only Young Once — Frank Redmond (Carvel Newspaper Owner) • 1938 — Penrod and His Twin Brother — Mr. Schofield • 1939 — Miracles for Sale — Dad Morgan • Our Neighbors – The Carters — Doc Carter • 1940 — Our Town — Mr. Morgan • City for Conquest — Old Timer • Dreaming Out Loud — Dr. Walter Barnes • 1941 — The Lady from Cheyenne — Hank Foreman • The Richest Man In Town — Abb Crothers • 1942 — In This Our Life — Asa Timberlake • Thru Different Eyes — Steve Pettijohn • Girl Trouble — Ambrose Murdock Flint • Pittsburgh — 'Doc' Powers • Keeper of the Flame — Dr. Fielding • 1943 — Harrigan's Kid — Walter Garnet • Dangerous Blondes — Inspector Joseph Clinton • Son of Dracula — Doctor Brewster • Jack London — Old Tom • 1944 — My Best Gal — Danny O'Hara • Destiny — Clem Broderick • 1945 — Forever Yours — Uncle Charles • 1946 — Colonel Effingham's Raid — Dewey — (final film role)