Frank H. Wilson facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frank H. Wilson
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Frank H. Wilson (center) as Porgy, with Percy Verwayne and Evelyn Ellis in the original Broadway production of Porgy (1927)
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| Born |
Frank Henry Wilson
May 4, 1886 |
| Died | February 16, 1956 (aged 69) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1914–1954 |
| Spouse(s) |
Effie King (stage name of Anna Green; maiden; 1887–1944)
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| Children |
Emmett Barrymore Wilson (1923–2013)
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Frank Henry Wilson (born May 4, 1886 – died February 16, 1956) was an American actor and writer. He performed on stage, radio, and in movies.
A Life in Acting
Frank H. Wilson began his acting journey in early forms of entertainment like vaudeville and minstrel shows. These were popular types of live performances in the early 1900s.
Famous Stage Roles
Frank Wilson acted in many important plays. One of his most famous roles was playing Porgy in the original 1927 Broadway play Porgy. He acted alongside Rose McClendon and Evelyn Ellis in this show.
He also appeared in plays by famous writer Eugene O'Neill. In 1922, he was in O'Neill's play All God's Chillun Got Wings. Later, in 1925, he performed in a new version of O'Neill's play The Emperor Jones. Frank Wilson also acted in Clifford Odets' play The Big Knife in 1949.
From Stage to Screen
Frank Wilson started acting in films in 1932. Many of his movie roles came from plays he had already performed in. For example, he acted in the film The Emperor Jones in 1933. He also appeared in the Warner Bros. films Green Pastures (1936) and Watch on the Rhine (1943).
He made his first appearance on television in 1953, just a few years before he passed away in 1956.
Selected Movies
Here are some of the movies Frank Wilson acted in:
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1932 | The Girl from Chicago | Wade Washington | |
| 1933 | The Emperor Jones | Jeff | |
| 1936 | The Green Pastures | Moses | |
| 1940 | Paradise in Harlem | Lem Anderson | Also helped write the original story |
| 1941 | Murder on Lenox Avenue | Wrote the original story | |
| 1941 | Sunday Sinners | Wrote the original story | |
| 1943 | Watch on the Rhine | Joseph | |
| 1946 | Beware | Professor Drury |
His Family Life
Frank Wilson was married to an actress named Effie King. Her real name was Anna Green. They got married on June 12, 1907, in Manhattan, New York. They had one child, a son named Emmett Barrymore Wilson.
Effie King was a talented performer herself. She was a dancer and a singer. For a few years, she was part of a performing duo called Ford Dabney's Ginger Girls.
