Frank Nelson

Frank Nelson was a versatile character talent who had one of those instantly identifiable faces which could made you laugh as soon as you saw him, then he would open his mouth and you would start laughing all over again! The short statured comedic veteran with his trademark trimmed mustache and patented vocal catchphrase ("Eeeeee-yeeeeeeesss?") went on to tickle the audience funny bone on film, TV, radio and in voiceovers for over six decades. These distinct mannerisms and personality quirks would often be parodied on TV and in animated features. Seen here, there and everywhere, especially in the 50s and 60s TV, Frank usually playing a sardonic, pop-eyed, hot-tempered foil to the likes of TV's top comedic crème de la crème like Jack Benny and Lucille Ball. Born Frank Brandon Nelson on May 6, 1911, he would start on Denver radio as an announcer at age 15. At age 18, Nelson decided to try his luck in Hollywood and found immediate work in local radio dramatic shows, usually playing the leading man! His first popular effort that reached a national market was in 1932 with the sitcom radio program "Flywheel, Shyster, and Flywheel" which starred Groucho Marx and Chico Marx. Other "leading man" vocals included "The Three Musketeers" and "Calling All Cars." In 1936, Frank entered films playing uncredited announcer parts in such films as in Fugitive in the Sky (1936), Black Legion (1937), Hold 'Em Navy (1937), International Crime (1938) and Gang Bullets (1938), however little came from it and he kept his focus on war-time radio. After scores and scores of radio voices, Frank's malleable mug finally earned "second banana" popularity as the put-upon foil to Jack Benny on Benny's highly popular radio show. Nelson first started working on the show years earlier in the late 1930's but eventually was given a regular role playing various flustered or disdainful customer service types. He provided a wide range of vocals on the finest radio shows of the day such as "The Great Gildersleeve," "Burns and Allen Show," ''Fibber McGee and Molly," "The Bing Crosby Show," "The Eddie Cantor Show," "The Bob Hope Show" and "Abbott and Costello," each and every one making jolly use of his droll, squealing voice and "slow burn" comic takes. He could be a standout in even the tiniest of servile/professional roles Despite obvious talents in dramatic fare, on camera, Frank would be best known for his comic support. Often appearing as a fastidious clerk, agent, boss, neighbor or, of course, announcer), post WWII films would include Down Memory Lane (1949), The Milkman (1950), You Never Can Tell (1951), Bonzo Goes to College (1952), Remains to Be Seen (1953), It Should Happen to You (1954) and Kiss Them for Me (1957). In 1949, he appeared in the short film So You Want to Get Rich Quick (1949) and added his special brand of hilarity to several others in the Joe McDoakes "So You Want to..." comedy series starring George O'Hanlon. A charter member of AFRA (American Federation of Radio Artists) in 1937 (before it became AFTRA (AmericanFederation of Radio and Television Artists), Frank served as AFTRA's president from 1954 to 1957 and was a guiding force in securing decent pension plans for actors. Frank tackled many sitcoms in his time, which culminated in his fifteen-year stay as a regular on The Jack Benny Program (1950) and as a returning guest artist year after year on I Love Lucy (1951). He also amusingly appeared as several different characters on several episodes of Our Miss Brooks (1952), The Danny Thomas Show (1953) and Sanford and Son (1972). Moreover, for the first few years of I Love Lucy (1951), he appeared in various beleaguered roles, but towards the end of the series' run, Frank and another prominent voice from radio's "Golden Age," Mary Jane Croft, were hired for recurring roles as the Ricardo's Connecticut neighbors, Frank and Betty Ramsey. He also guested on such popular comedy shows as "Blondie," "Private Secretary," "The Real McCoys," "Pete and Gladys," "The Lucy Show," "The Addams Family," "Petticoat Junction" and "Alice." As for vocal animation, Frank offered various voices for such 60's cartoons as "Mr. Magoo," but was best utilized by the Hannah-Barbera team, notably The Flintstones (1960) and The Jetsons (1962). He also provided the voice of "Uncle Dudley" in the 70's Dinky Dog (1978) animated series, while adding brief vocal flavor to such cartoons as "Calvin and the Colonel," "Bozo the Clown," "The Smurfs" and "Garfield and Friends." Towards the end of his life, Frank's voice appeared frequently on the 80's animated series Snorks (1984) The veteran voice's well-known catchphrase was utilized in McDonald's commercials during the 1980s. Frank married twice -- to character actresses, Mary Lansing (whom he met on radio and bore him two children), and then Veola Vonn, who also appeared on Lucy's sitcom. Diagnosed with cancer during the late summer of 1985, Frank died a year later in Los Angeles on September 12, 1986, at age 75. He was interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery.