| Frank Sutton | |
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| Born | Frank Spencer Sutton October 23, 1923 Clarksville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Died | June 28, 1974 (aged 50) Shreveport, Louisiana, U.S. |
Frank Spencer Sutton (October 23, 1923—June 28, 1974) was an American actor best remembered for his role of Gunnery Sergeant Vincent Carter on the CBS television series Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.
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Early life
Sutton was born in Clarksville, Tennessee, the only child of Frank Sims Sutton and his wife Thelma Spencer.[1] When he was eight years old, his father went to work as a linotype operator at the Nashville Tennessean in Nashville. Sutton developed an interest in acting, playing his first role at age nine. He later said, "The first time I walked out on a stage, I had a warm feeling. I knew then I wanted to be an actor."[2]
After graduating from East Nashville High School, Sutton returned to Clarksville to become a radio announcer. He enlisted in the United States Army during World War II, and served in the South Pacific, taking part in 14 assault landings.[3]
Acting career
Discharged as a sergeant, he began acting on stage.[4] In 1949, he married Toby Igler, with whom he had two children.[2] He attended Columbia University, where he graduated cum laude with a bachelor's degree in drama in 1952.
Throughout the 1950s, Sutton played small roles in television shows such as Route 66, Naked City, The Greatest Show on Earth, The Fugitive, Gunsmoke, Target: The Corruptors!, The Twilight Zone and The Untouchables. He had a continuing role as Cadet Eric Rattison, the great rival of the "Polaris Unit" manned by the series' heroes, in Tom Corbett, Space Cadet from 1950 to 1955. In 1955, he received his big break in the Academy Award-winning movie Marty, in which he played the title character's friend, Ralph. He also had a role in The Satan Bug, a 1965 spy thriller. He returned to the stage in The Andersonville Trial in the early 1960s.
Sutton's breakthrough role was on "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C", a 1964 episode of The Andy Griffith Show in which he played the cynical and easily exasperated Sergeant Carter opposite Jim Nabors' character Gomer Pyle.[5] This episode led to a spin-off television series of the same name, where Sutton continued the role for five seasons, until the show ended its run in 1969. He also appeared in public service announcements in the role of Sergeant Carter. After Gomer Pyle was canceled, Sutton appeared regularly on Nabors' variety show The Jim Nabors Hour with Gomer Pyle co-star Ronnie Schell; Sutton played the brother-in-law of Nabors' character in comedy sketches.[6][7] Sutton performed in dinner theater, playing, among other roles, the father in Norman, Is That You? and made guest appearances on other television programs.[8]
Death
While preparing for a performance of the comedy Luv at the Beverly Barn Dinner Playhouse in Shreveport, Louisiana, Frank Sutton died of a heart attack in 1974. He was buried in his hometown of Clarksville.[2]
Filmography
| Television | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role(s) | Notes |
| 1950 | Tom Corbett, Space Cadet | Cadet Eric Raddison | |
| 1956 | The Edge of Night | Sgt. Fitzsimmons | |
| 1958—1961 | Naked City | Franklin Maquon | |
| 1960—1961 | The Secret Storm | Joe Sullivan #2 | |
| 1961—1962 | Gunsmoke | Charlie (1961) Olie (1962) Billy Marston (1962) |
|
| 1962 | Have Gun – Will Travel | Davey Walsh | One time role |
| The Twilight Zone | Frank, Jerry's manager | One time role | |
| 1962—1963 | The Untouchables | Benny Stryker (1962) Smiley Barris (1962) Angie Stazak (1963) Sgt. Davey McCain (1963) |
|
| 1963 | The Fugitive | (deputy) Jackson | One time role |
| 1964 | The Andy Griffith Show | Gunnery Sergeant Vince Carter | One time role |
| 1964—1969 | Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. | GySgt Vince Carter | |
| 1969-1971 | The Jim Nabors Hour | Himself | |
| Films | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1955 | Marty | Ralph | Uncredited |
| 1957 | Four Boys and a Gun | Ollie Denker | |
| 1961 | Town Without Pity | Sgt. Chuck Snyder | |
| 1965 | The Satan Bug | Donald | |
| 1974 | Hurricane | Bert Pearson | Television movie released posthumously |
References
- ^ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=1317
- ^ a b c "Gomer's Sgt. Carter, Frank Sutton, Dead". St. Petersburg Times (Times Publishing Company): p. 14-A. June 29, 1974. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=6PcLAAAAIBAJ&sjid=KFgDAAAAIBAJ&pg=1815,3983602&dq=frank+sutton. Retrieved 2008-11-21.
- ^ Handsaker, Gene (August 21, 1966). "Visiting the Real War". St. Petersburg Times (Times Publishing Company): pp. 4. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=MsgNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=T3QDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4618,651704&dq=jim+nabors. Retrieved 2008-11-22.
- ^ Kleiner, Dick (March 29, 1997). "Reader asks what preceded 'Gomer Pyle'?". Calhoun Times: 3. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=v1wIAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mzoDAAAAIBAJ&pg=3614,9571600&dq=gomer+pyle. Retrieved 2008-12-06.
- ^ Stahl, John (November 11, 2008). "'Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.' final season another military comedy for Veterans' Day". San Francisco Examiner. Clarity Media. http://www.examiner.com/x-1124-TV-on-DVD-Examiner~y2008m11d11-Gomer-Pyle-USMC-final-season-another-military-comedy-for-Veterans-Day. Retrieved 2008-11-21.
- ^ "Nabors' Production Still Popular". Rome News-Tribune (News Publishing Company): pp. 9-A. October 16, 1970. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=dgoFAAAAIBAJ&sjid=qTEDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5100,6336249&dq=frank+sutton. Retrieved 2008-11-23.
- ^ "Complete Television Programs for Thursday". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Block Communications): pp. 48. September 17, 1970. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=1dcNAAAAIBAJ&sjid=3WwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=7248,2899197&dq=frank+sutton. Retrieved 2008-11-23.
- ^ Rearden, Mrs. T. J. (May 18, 1972). "Roaming Around Florida". The Deuniak Springs Herald: pp. 10. http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=37AMAAAAIBAJ&sjid=lmQDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6450,1868499&dq=frank+sutton. Retrieved 2008-11-23.
External links
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