Frank Fenton (actor)

Frank Fenton (actor)
Frank Fenton Moran (April 9, 1906 – July 24, 1957), known as Frank Fenton, was an American stage, film and television actor.
Early years
Born Francis Fenton Moran, the Georgetown University graduate lettered as a tackle on the school's football team. He also was active in Georgetown's undergraduate dramatic club, for which he directed and wrote plays.
Career
Fenton started his career on stage in New York, acting on Broadway in An American Tragedy (1926) billed as Frank Moran. As Frank Fenton, he starred in the Broadway versions of Susan and God with Gertrude Lawrence and as George Kittredge in The Philadelphia Story (1939) alongside Katharine Hepburn. His other Broadway credits include Stork Mad, O Evening Star, Dead End, and The O'Flynn. He also appeared on stage in London, and toured with Katherine Cornell in Romeo & Juliet and other plays.
Fenton's film debut came in The Navy Comes Through (1942). After moving to Hollywood for Barbara Stanwyck's Lady of Burlesque (1943), the Hartford, Connecticut native appeared in more than 80 movies and television programs. Although the majority of his motion picture career was spent in supporting roles, he starred alongside John Carradine in Isle of Forgotten Sins (1943), which was re-issued as Monsoon.
Fenton was married from 1934 to 1948 to the former Aqueena Bilotti, daughter of sculptor Salvadore Bilotti. The couple had two daughters, Alicia and Honoree. They divorced in 1948.
He is often confused—in print and online—with screenwriter and novelist Frank Fenton (1903 – August 23, 1971). The actor dropped his last name early in his career to avoid confusion with other well-known Morans in New York City, including prizefighter Frank Moran, drama reporter Frank Moran, and George Moran of the popular comedy team Moran and Mack.
Death
Fenton died at UCLA Medical Center on July 24, 1957, at age 51. He is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, California.
Partial filmography
The Navy Comes Through (1942) - Hodum
Claudia (1943) - Hartley (uncredited)
Aerial Gunner (1943) - Colonel - HAGS CO (uncredited)
Lady of Burlesque (1943) - Russell Rogers
Isle of Forgotten Sins (1943) - Jack Burke
A Scream in the Dark (1943) - Sam 'Benny' Lackey
Minesweeper (1943) - Lt. Ralph Gilpin
Hi, Good Lookin'! (1944) - Gib Dickson
Rosie the Riveter (1944) - Wayne Calhoun
Buffalo Bill (1944) - Murdo Carvell
Secret Command (1944) - Simms
The Big Noise (1944) - Charlton
Destiny (1944) - Sam Baker
This Man's Navy (1945) - Captain Grant
Hold That Blonde (1945) - Mr. Phillips
Club Havana (1945) - Detective Lieutenant (uncredited)
Getting Gertie's Garter (1945) - Winters (uncredited)
The French Key (1946) - Horatio Vedder
Big Town (1946) - Fletcher (uncredited)
Swamp Fire (1946) - Capt. Pete Dailey
If I'm Lucky (1946) - Marc Dwyer, Political Boss (uncredited)
It's a Wonderful Life (1946) - Violet's Boyfriend (uncredited)
Hit Parade of 1947 (1947) - Mr. Bonardi
The Adventures of Don Coyote (1947) - Big Foot Ferguson
Philo Vance's Secret Mission (1947) - Paul Morgan
Magic Town (1947) - Birch
Relentless (1948) - Jim Rupple
Hazard (1948) - Utah Sheriff Bob Waybill
A Foreign Affair (1948) - Major Mathews
Bodyguard (1948) - Lt. Borden
Renegades of Sonora (1948) - Sheriff Jim Crawford
Mexican Hayride (1948) - Gus Adamson
Rustlers (1949) - Brad Carew
The Clay Pigeon (1949) - Lt. Cmdr. Prentice
Joe Palooka in the Big Fight (1949) - Detective
The Doolins of Oklahoma (1949) - Red Buck
Ranger of Cherokee Strip (1949) - McKinnon
The Golden Stallion (1949) - Oro City Sheriff
Port of New York (1949) - G.W. Wyley (uncredited)
The Lawless (1950) - Mr. Prentiss
Sideshow (1950) - Manson
Trigger, Jr. (1950) - Sheriff
A Modern Marriage (1950) - Mr. Brown
Streets of Ghost Town (1950) - Bart Selby
Three Secrets (1950) - Sheriff Neil MacDonald (uncredited)
Wyoming Mail (1950) - Gilson
Tripoli (1950) - Capt. Adams
Double Deal (1950) - Pete (uncredited)
Prairie Roundup (1951) - Buck Prescott
Rogue River (1951) - Joe Dandridge
Texans Never Cry (1951) - Captain Weldon (uncredited)
Silver City (1951) - Creede (uncredited)
The Legend of the Lone Ranger (1952) - Ranger Captain (uncredited)
Man in the Dark (1953) - Detective Driver (uncredited)
Raiders of the Seven Seas (1953) - Salcedo's Officer (uncredited)
Island in the Sky (1953) - Capt. Turner
Vicki (1953) - Eric (uncredited)
Gun Fury (1953) - Chuck - First Poker Player (uncredited)
The Nebraskan (1953) - Army Captain (uncredited)
Fury at Gunsight Pass (1956) - Sheriff Meeker
The Naked Hills (1956) - Harold
Cha-Cha-Cha Boom! (1956) - Head of Board of Directors (uncredited)
Emergency Hospital (1956) - Edward Northrup (uncredited)
Gun the Man Down (1956) - Sheriff Leading Posse (uncredited)
Hell Bound (1957) - Harry Quantro (final film role)
References
External links
Brief biography and links to films
1906 births
1957 deaths
20th-century American male actors
American male film actors
American male stage actors
Georgetown University alumni
Male actors from Hartford, Connecticut