Dwight David Frye

Dwight David Frye, the son of Laura Bullivant and Dwight Iliff Frye, was born in his mother's hometown of Spokane, Washington, on December 26, 1930. As a youth, Dwight D. was affectionately known as "Buddy" by family and friends. When very young, Buddy traveled extensively with his parents while they were still doing stock and regional theater together (e.g., "The Pursuit of Happiness," 1934). After his mother gave up the stage, Buddy grew up in Hollywood, where his father struggled to find minor screen work. Buddy himself appeared in at least two films for RKO in 1937, including "The Man Who Found Himself" (as a young boy injured in a train wreck), which also featured his father as a hysterical patient on a plane. Buddy was with his father on that tragic day of November 7, 1943, when Dwight I. collapsed on a bus on the way home from the movies. His father was pronounced dead shortly after. Dwight D. graduated from Hollywood High School in 1947. He and his mother, who had remarried (to actor Alexis B. Luce) moved to Bucksport, Maine soon thereafter. Dwight enrolled in the University of Maine in Orono, from which he received both Bachelors and Masters degrees in Chemical Engineering. He performed in college and summer theatricals in Maine. After obtaining his Masters, Dwight joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in Europe. Following his discharge, Dwight was tempted to follow in his father's footsteps as a professional actor. From 1958-through-1960, Dwight appeared with the Actors Workshop in San Francisco, California. Eventually, Dwight moved to New York, attempting to make his mark in the theater there. Dwight was part of a significant theatrical opening on November 22, 1965, with the debut of "Man of La Mancha." He played a member of the Inquisition, but also helped with backstage production concerns. With time, Dwight began to focus his energies almost exclusively on the production end. He traveled to Europe with Albert Marre and his "Man of La Mancha" company, where they performed in London, Brussels, and Paris. Back in New York, Dwight worked as the business manager of the Repertory Theatre of Lincoln Center for two years, served as a production associate for Broadway producer Frederick Brisson, and worked for many years for Albert Marre. In addition to being involved with various revivals of "Man of La Mancha," Dwight worked on the following stage productions: "Dance a Little Closer," "So Long 174th Street," "Knickerbocker Holiday," "The Sorrows of Frederick," and "Home Sweet Homer" ("Odyssey"), the latter starring Yul Brynner. Dwight also became involved on the production end of original cast and concert recordings. He worked on the live concert of Cole Porter's "Nymph Errant" and studio recordings of "Rags," "The Secret Garden" and "Do Patent Leather Shoes Really Reflect Up?". Author James Coughlin first had the pleasure of meeting Dwight in early 1973 while researching an article on his father (that would eventually appear in the April 1974 Film Fan Monthly). Dwight was a wonderful interview, although he stressed that people often pressed him for information on his father for solely their own purposes, not research. He was pleased with the article (after its publication) and sent a copy to his mother in Maine. In 1993, Dwight took part in two significant events. These proved to him that his father's memory was still quite alive, and that Dwight D. was also in demand as a speaker. The first was the Famous Monsters Convention held over Memorial Day weekend, 1993. Dwight was stunned by the attention and questions from fans. On November 7, 1993, the 50th anniversary of his father's death, Dwight was guest of honor at the Montclair (NJ) Film Society. The late Randye Cohen hosted the event, which included a presentation by Coughlin of clips from Dwight I. Frye's films, Greg Mank introducing a print of The Vampire Bat, and a question and answer panel session with Dwight and authors Mank, Coughlin and Michael Brunas. Dwight appeared to thrive during the latter portion of the event and seemed quite moved this special day. The Montclair event directly gave impetus to "Dwight Frye's Last Laugh," a biography of his father published by Midnight Marquee Press in February 1997. Greg Mank and Jim Coughlin spent hours interviewing Dwight, reviewing his father's scrapbooks, and developing the manuscript. Dwight was very cordial as they tackled both the research and the task of presenting Dwight I. Frye, the man. The book was followed by a trading card set produced under Dwight's auspices. Dwight finally was seeing some recognition for his father and utilized these items to bring with him to conventions. A number of fans of Dwight and his late father helped establish the Official Dwight Frye Website in the spring of 1999. This was a gift to Dwight D. that he appeared to cherish, expanding his contacts with his father's fans, researchers and well-wishers. On January 15, 2000, Dwight David ventured to New Hope, Pennsylvania, where Dwight finally got to meet the "original Dwight Frye fan," Donald Maurer, with whom he had corresponded 55 years earlier. The ride, meeting with Donald, having lunch at the historic Logan Inn, etc., all made for a moving, nostalgic day. Dwight had serious health issues (including emphysema) for a number of years, with his ailments progressively limiting his activities in the two years prior to his death. Dwight David "Buddy" Frye passed away at the Bronx V.A. Hospital in New York on Thursday, March 27, 2003. Although a very private person, Dwight was generous, caring, and passionate for the things he loved. The now defunct website and Dwight D.'s appearances at various conventions and events, often with Sara Karloff, brought him into contact with many of his father's admirers. Quite a few of these individuals became friends with Dwight D. as a result. He truly is missed by many.