kids encyclopedia robot

Frank Perry facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Frank Perry
Frank Perry.jpg
Born
Frank Joseph Perry Jr.

(1930-08-21)August 21, 1930
New York City, New York, U.S.
Died August 29, 1995(1995-08-29) (aged 65)
Manhattan, New York City, New York, U.S.
Education University of Miami
Alma mater The Actors Studio
University of Miami
Occupation Director, filmmaker
Years active 1955–1992
Employer Westport Country Playhouse
Spouse(s)
Eleanor Rosenfeld
​
​
(m. 1958; div. 1971)​
​
​
(m. 1977; div. 1992)​
Virginia Brush Ford
​
(m. 1992)​
Relatives Katy Perry (niece)

Frank Joseph Perry Jr. (born August 21, 1930 – died August 29, 1995) was an American director and filmmaker. He made movies and TV shows.

One of his most famous films was David and Lisa (1962). This movie earned him a nomination for an Academy Award (also known as an Oscar) for best director. His then-wife, Eleanor Perry, wrote the script for it. They worked together on several other films. These included The Swimmer and Diary of a Mad Housewife. He also directed A Christmas Memory, which was based on a story by Truman Capote. Later in his career, Frank Perry directed the movie Mommie Dearest. His last film, On the Bridge, was a documentary about his fight with prostate cancer.

Early Life and Beginnings

Frank Joseph Perry Jr. was born in New York City. His father was a stockbroker, and his mother worked for Alcoholics Anonymous.

When Frank was a teenager, he became interested in theater. He got a job parking cars at the Westport Country Playhouse in Westport, Connecticut. He later studied at the University of Miami. He also learned from a famous acting teacher named Lee Strasberg in New York. Frank produced several plays at the Westport Country Playhouse. For a while, he also produced TV documentaries.

Frank Perry's Career

After serving in the Korean War, Frank Perry returned to the entertainment world. He directed his first movie, David and Lisa, in 1962. This film was made with a small budget. It was about two teenagers who had emotional problems. His wife, Eleanor Rosenfeld, wrote the script. The movie was very popular and received good reviews. Frank Perry was nominated for an Oscar for directing it.

Frank Perry was known for making movies that focused on the characters. He directed and produced many films. Often, these movies were based on books or stories. Some examples include:

  • The Swimmer (1968), based on a story by John Cheever.
  • Last Summer (1969).
  • Trilogy (1969), which was written by Truman Capote.

He also directed Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970). The main actress in that film, Carrie Snodgress, was nominated for an Oscar. Another film, Play It as It Lays (1972), starred Tuesday Weld. She was nominated for a Golden Globe award for her role.

Frank Perry is perhaps best remembered for directing Mommie Dearest (1981). This movie was based on a book about actress Joan Crawford. The film became very popular over time, even though critics had mixed feelings about it.

Some of Frank Perry's old film materials and personal papers are kept at the Wesleyan University Cinema Archives. This is a place where people can study his work.

Personal Life and Passing

In 1958, Frank Perry married his first wife, Eleanor. She was 15 years older than him and had two children from a previous marriage. Frank and Eleanor worked together on many film projects. Their daughter, Ann, actually brought the book David and Lisa to Eleanor's attention, which led to them making the movie. They separated in 1971. A few years later, Eleanor Perry wrote a book called Blue Pages about their relationship. She passed away from cancer in 1981.

In 1977, Frank Perry married Barbara Goldsmith. She was a writer and one of the people who started New York magazine. They divorced in 1992. Soon after, he married Virginia Brush Ford. She was his ski instructor in Aspen, Colorado.

Frank Perry's sister is Mary Christine Perry. She is a pastor and is the mother of famous singers Katy Perry and David Hudson. This means Katy Perry is Frank Perry's niece!

Frank Perry died on August 29, 1995, just eight days after his 65th birthday. He passed away from prostate cancer in New York City. His last film, On the Bridge (1992), was a documentary about his illness. His ashes were scattered in the mountains of Aspen, Colorado, where he had lived for his last three years.

A writer named Justin Bozung has been working on an official book about Frank Perry's life and films since 2013.

Filmography

Film

Title Year Credited as Production Company Distributor Ref
Director Producer Writer
David and Lisa 1962 Yes No No Lisa and David Company Continental Distributing
Ladybug Ladybug 1963 Yes Yes No Francis Productions United Artists
The Swimmer 1968 Yes Yes No Horizon Pictures Columbia Pictures
Last Summer 1969 Yes Yes No Francis Productions Allied Artists
Trilogy 1969 Yes Yes No Francis Productions Allied Artists
Diary of a Mad Housewife 1970 Yes Yes No Frank Perry Films Universal Pictures
Doc 1971 Yes Yes No Frank Perry Films United Artists
Play It as It Lays 1972 Yes Yes No Frank Perry Films Universal Pictures
Man on a Swing 1974 Yes No No Jaffilms Paramount Pictures
Rancho Deluxe 1975 Yes No No Elliott Kastner Productions United Artists
Mommie Dearest 1981 Yes No Yes Frank Yablans Presentations Paramount Pictures
Monsignor 1982 Yes No No Frank Yablans Presentations 20th Century Fox
Compromising Positions 1985 Yes Yes No C.P. Productions Paramount Pictures
Hello Again 1987 Yes Yes No Touchstone Pictures Buena Vista Pictures
Miss Firecracker 1989 No Yes No Corsair Pictures Corsair Pictures
A Shock to the System 1990 No Yes No Corsair Pictures Corsair Pictures
On the Bridge 1992 Yes Yes Yes Frank Perry Films Frank Perry Films

Television

Series Episode Year Credited as Production Company Network
Director Producer
Playwright at Work All episodes 1961 No Yes National Educational Television and Radio Center
ABC Stage 67 A Christmas Memory 1966 Yes Yes Francis Productions American Broadcasting Company
TV movie Among the Paths to Eden 1967 Yes Yes Francis Productions American Broadcasting Company
TV movie The Thanksgiving Visitor 1967 Yes Yes Francis Productions American Broadcasting Company
TV movie Miriam 1970 Yes Yes Francis Productions American Broadcasting Company
TV movie Dummy 1979 Yes No The Königsberg Company Columbia Broadcasting System
Skag Pilot 1980 Yes No Lorimar Productions National Broadcasting Company
TV movie J.F.K.: A One-Man Show 1984 Yes No Public Broadcasting Service Public Broadcasting Service

Images for kids

  • Kids robot

    A robot for kids.

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Frank Perry Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.