Frank Orth

Biography

Frank Orth was an American actor born in Philadelphia, known notably for his role as Inspector Faraday in the television series “Boston Blackie,” which aired from 1951 to 1953. His performance in this series left a lasting impression on audiences. Orth's career began in vaudeville in 1897, performing with his wife, Ann Codee, in their act “Codee and Orth.” By 1909, he had ventured into songwriting, creating popular tunes like “The Phone Bell Rang” and “Meet Me on the Boardwalk, Dearie.”

Orth made his film debut in 1928, participating in Warner Bros.' early foreign-language sound shorts. Throughout the early 1930s, he appeared alongside his wife in a series of two-reel comedies. His first notable film role was in the 1937 western “Prairie Thunder.” Following this, he frequently portrayed characters such as bartenders, pharmacists, and grocery clerks, often with a distinctly Irish persona. He enjoyed recurring roles in the Dr. Kildare films and as Officer Tweedy in the Nancy Drew series. Orth's memorable performances also included a newspaper man in “His Girl Friday” and a singer in “They Died with Their Boots On.”

After undergoing throat surgery, Orth retired from acting in 1959. He was married to Ann for nearly fifty years until her passing in 1961. Frank Orth passed away on March 17, 1962, and is interred at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Hollywood Hills alongside his beloved wife.