Frank Shannon
Encyclopedia
Francis Connolly Shannon (July 27, 1874 - February 1, 1959), better known as Frank Shannon, was an Irish
-born actor
and writer
.
A stage
actor and silent film
pioneer, Shannon made his screen debut in 1913's The Artist's Joke. He later appeared in dozens of films through the mid-1920s, including The Prisoner of Zenda
(1913) and Monsieur Beaucaire (1924). Shannon then returned to the stage until beckoned back to Hollywood in 1931 and played a few substantial supporting parts, including Captain McTavish in Warner Bros.
' Torchy Blaine
series from 1937 to 1939, but he is most fondly remembered as the brilliant scientist Dr. Alexis Zarkov
in the three Flash Gordon serials starring Buster Crabbe
between 1936 and 1940. He worked afterwards as a writer for the TV-series Tales of the Texas Rangers
between 1955 and 1958.
Shannon died in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
at the age of 84.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
-born actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
.
A stage
Stage (theatre)
In theatre or performance arts, the stage is a designated space for the performance productions. The stage serves as a space for actors or performers and a focal point for the members of the audience...
actor and silent film
Silent film
A silent film is a film with no synchronized recorded sound, especially with no spoken dialogue. In silent films for entertainment the dialogue is transmitted through muted gestures, pantomime and title cards...
pioneer, Shannon made his screen debut in 1913's The Artist's Joke. He later appeared in dozens of films through the mid-1920s, including The Prisoner of Zenda
The Prisoner of Zenda
The Prisoner of Zenda is an adventure novel by Anthony Hope, published in 1894. The king of the fictional country of Ruritania is drugged on the eve of his coronation and thus unable to attend his own coronation. Political forces are such that in order for the king to retain his crown his...
(1913) and Monsieur Beaucaire (1924). Shannon then returned to the stage until beckoned back to Hollywood in 1931 and played a few substantial supporting parts, including Captain McTavish in Warner Bros.
Warner Bros.
Warner Bros. Entertainment, Inc., also known as Warner Bros. Pictures or simply Warner Bros. , is an American producer of film and television entertainment.One of the major film studios, it is a subsidiary of Time Warner, with its headquarters in Burbank,...
' Torchy Blaine
Torchy Blaine
Torchy Blane is a fictional female reporter who appeared in a series of light "B" films during the late 1930s, which were mixtures of mystery, action, adventure and fun....
series from 1937 to 1939, but he is most fondly remembered as the brilliant scientist Dr. Alexis Zarkov
Hans Zarkov
Dr. Hans Zarkov is a fictional character appearing in the Flash Gordon comic strip. Zarkov is a brilliant scientist who creates a rocket and forces Flash and Dale Arden to come with him to the planet Mongo, and fight against Ming the Merciless...
in the three Flash Gordon serials starring Buster Crabbe
Buster Crabbe
Clarence Linden "Buster" Crabbe was an American athlete and actor, who starred in a number of popular serials in the 1930s and 1940s.-Birth:...
between 1936 and 1940. He worked afterwards as a writer for the TV-series Tales of the Texas Rangers
Tales of the Texas Rangers
Tales of the Texas Rangers, a western adventure old-time radio drama, premiered on July 8, 1950, on the US NBC radio network and remained on the air through September 14, 1952...
between 1955 and 1958.
Shannon died in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Hollywood, Los Angeles, California
Hollywood is a famous district in Los Angeles, California, United States situated west-northwest of downtown Los Angeles. Due to its fame and cultural identity as the historical center of movie studios and movie stars, the word Hollywood is often used as a metonym of American cinema...
at the age of 84.
Selected filmography
- The Prisoner of Zenda (1913)
- Perjury (1921)
- Monsieur Beaucaire, as Badger (1924)
- Rasputin and the EmpressRasputin and the EmpressRasputin and the Empress is a 1932 film about Imperial Russia starring the Barrymore siblings—John , Ethel , and Lionel Barrymore . It is the only film in which all three appeared together...
, as Professor Propotkin (1932) - G' Men, as Police Chief (1935)
- Flash GordonFlash Gordon (serial)Flash Gordon is a 1936 science fiction film serial. Told in 13 installments, it was the first screen adventure for the comic-strip character Flash Gordon, and tells the story of his first visit to the planet Mongo and his encounter with the evil Emperor Ming the Merciless. Buster Crabbe, Jean...
, as Dr. Zarkov (1936) - Road Gang, as Chaplain (1936)
- The Texas RangersThe Texas Rangers (1936 film)The Texas Rangers is a 1936 action and Western film directed by King Vidor that starred Fred MacMurray and Jack Oakie. It was nominated for Best Sound at the 1936 Oscars....
, as Captain Stafford (1936) - The Adventurous Blonde, as Cap. McTavish (1937)
- Blondes at Work, as Cap. McTavish (1938)
- Flash Gordon's Trip to MarsFlash Gordon's Trip to MarsFlash Gordon's Trip to Mars is a 1938 serial film of 15 episodes, based on the comic strip Flash Gordon. It is the second of three Flash Gordon serials made between 1936 and 1940....
, as Dr. Zarkov (1938) - Torchy Gets Her Man, as Cap. McTavish (1938)
- Torchy Blane in Chinatown, as Cap. McTavish (1939)
- Torchy Runs for Mayor, as Cap. McTavish (1939)
- Torchy Blane... Playing with Dynamite, as Cap. McTavish (1939)
- Union Pacific, as Old Man (1939)
- Flash Gordon Conquers the UniverseFlash Gordon Conquers the UniverseFlash Gordon Conquers the Universe is a 1940 twelve episode serial film about Flash Gordon. It was the last of three Flash Gordon serials made from 1936 to 1940. The serial was produced and copyrighted by Universal Pictures....
, as Dr. Zarkov (1940) - The PhantomThe Phantom (1943 movie serial)The Phantom is a 1943 classic Columbia Pictures cliffhanger serial starring Tom Tyler in the title role. The serial is based on Lee Falk's comic strip The Phantom...
, as Professor Davidson (1943) - The Desert Hawk (1944)