Men Of Character Character Actors
Dwight Frye
Dracula/ Renfield
Frankenstein/ Fritz
Bride Of Frankenstein/ Karl
Drums Of Fu Man Chu/ Professor Anderson
Per Quinlan's Character Stars:
Small, dapper American actor whose dark haired fresh faced looks seemed to qualify him for lounge lizards. But there was a bit of anguish about the features that drew directors of horror films and bizarre thrillers to cast him in featured roles. The grotesques that resulted were genuinely frightening and his pathetic, chilling Renfield in the 1930 Dracula has never been bettered.
Dwight Frye was born at Salina, KS in 1899.
Prior to horror films Frye had a notable career in the theater during the 1920's moving from juvenile parts to leading roles before entering films.
A favorite of Broadway producer Brock Pemberton, Frye originated the part of the son in the 1922 production of Six Characters In Search Of An Author. Pemberton would use Frye in further Broadway productions through the end of the decade.
Frye made his film debut in 1928 and his big chance came with the 1931 Dracula with Bela Lugosi. He appeared at least two other times with Lugosi in films.
At this time Dwight Frye had moved from Broadway star to a very versatile character actor.
Some of the film roles of Dwight Frye were:
Exit Smiling (1926) as Balcony Heckler
Upstream (1927) as Theater Audience Spectator
The Night Bird (1928) as Party Guest
The Doorway To Hell (1930) as Gangster
Man To Man (1930) as Vint Glade
Dracula (1931) as Renfield
The Maltese Falcon (1931) as Wilmer Cook
The Black Camel (1931) as Jessop The Butler
Frankenstein (1931) as Fritz
Attorney For The Defense (1932) as James Wallace
By Whose Hand? (1932) as Chick
The Western Code (1932) as Dick Lewis
A Strange Adventure (1932) as Robert Wayne
The Vampire Bat (1933) as Herman Gleib
The Circus Queen Murder (1933) as Flaudrin
The Invisible Man (1933) as Reporter
Bride Of Frankenstein (1935) as Karl
Atlantic Adventure (1935) as Spike Jonas
The Crime Of Dr. Crespi (1935) as Dr. Thomas
The Great Impersonation (1935) as Roger Unthank
Tough Guy (1935) as Mack
Florida Special (1936) as Jenkins
Alibi For Murder (1936) as McBride
Beware Of Ladies (1936) as Swanson
Sea Devils (1937) as SS Paradise Radio Operator
The Man Who Found Himself (1937) as Hysterical Patient
Renfrew Of The Mounted Police (1937) as Desk Clerk
Something To Sing About (1937) as Mr. Easton
The Shadow (1937) as Vindecco
Who Killed Gail Preston? (1938) as Mr. Owen
Invisible Enemy (1938) as Alex
Sinners In Paradise (1938) as Marshall
Fast Company (1938) as Sidney Z. Wheeler
The Night Hawk (1938) as John Colley
Adventure In Sahara (1938) as The Jackal
The Man In The Iron Mask (1939) as Fouquet's Valet
Mickey The Kid (1939) as Bruno
Conspiracy (1939) as Lt. Keller
Drums Of Fu Man Chu (1940- Serial) as Professor Anderson
Gangs Of Chicago (1940) as Pinky
Phantom Raiders (1940) as Eddie Anders
Sky Bandits (1940) as Speavy
The Son Of Monte Cristo (1940) as Pavlov's Secretary
The People Vs. Dr. Kildare (1941) as Jury Foreman
Mystery Ship (1941) as Rader
Flying Blind (1941) as Leo Qualen
The Blonde From Singapore (1941) as Barber
The Devil Pays Off (1941) as Radio Operator
The Ghost Of Frankenstein (1942) as Villager
Danger In The Pacific (1942) as Desk Clerk
Dead Men Walk (1943) as Zolarr
Submarine Alert (1943) as A Fifth Columnist
Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man (1943) as Rudi
Hangmen Also Die! (1943) as Hostage
Dangerous Blondes (1943) as Hoodlum
Frye's trademark was that he many times portrayed deeply mentally disturbed individuals or ones with excessive oddities.
He was married to Laura Mae Bullivant from 1928 until his death.
During World War Two when he was not acting he worked in a defense plant.
Frye was a devout Christian Scientist and had a heart condition that he kept secret from his family and friends.
Dwight Frye passed away in 1943 from a heart attack.
I enjoyed this actor in the films Dracula, Frankenstein, The Vampire Bat, Bride Of Frankenstein, Dead Men Walk and Frankenstein Meets The Wolf Man.
Louie The Movie Buff