Frank Chase (February 22, 1923 - July 2, 2004) was an American character actor and screenwriter. As an actor, he is probably remembered for his role as Deputy Charlie in Attack of the 50 Foot Woman. As a writer, his most prolific work was in the television series Bonanza. Other television series for which he wrote scripts were The Virginian and The High Chaparral.

Background

Frank Chase was born in Potsdam, New York, in 1923. His father was screenwriter Borden Chase. He started out as an actor but moved to writing for television around the end of the 1950s.[1] His sister is actress/dancer Barrie Chase.[2]

He died on July 2, 2004.[3]

Acting career

1930s, 1940s

Chase appeared in at least two films in his youth: One in a Million, which was released around 1936/1937, and Thin Ice, released in 1937.[4]

1950s

His acting career as an adult began around the early 1950s with small parts in films such as Winchester '73, Bend of the River, Red Ball Express[5] and The World in His Arms.[6] Later he portrayed Borden in the 1952 western, Horizons West. He portrayed Keller in Saskatchewan (1954).[7] He played Stone in Walk the Proud Land, a 1956 western.[8] He also played Deputy Charlie in Attack of the 50 Foot Woman,[9][10] a sci-fi film about a giant woman released in 1958.[11] His part was as a corny deputy[12] who in one scene comes across a giant footprint in a garden.[13]

1960s

Chase's last acting work in the 1960s was an episode in Bonanza and a couple in The Virginian. He played the part of Jim in the Bonanza episode, The Artist.[14] In 1963, he played the part of a wrangler in The Evil That Men Do, an episode of The Virginian. In 1965, he appeared in The Virginian again, in the episode Shadows of the Past, playing the part of a husband. He also wrote the script for the episode.[15][16]

Writer

His earliest writing work was for the Johnny Tuvo episode of The Texan starring Rory Calhoun in the series' titular role and featuring Ron Hagerthy as Johnny Tuvo.

From 1961 to 1969, he scripted 14 episodes of Bonanza. An episode entitled The Ballerina, which aired in January 1965, is said to have been written by Chase with his ballerina sister Barrie Chase in mind.[17] He also scripted 10 episodes for The Virginian, with airing dates from 1963 to 1970.[18] He also wrote 4 episodes of The High Chaparral.[19]

He wrote the story for the 1967 film, Sullivan's Empire, his only film.[20]

References

  1. ^ A History of Television's The Virginian, 1962-1971, By Paul Green - Page 193 23: Writers, Frank Chase
  2. ^ Glamour Girls of the Silver Screen - Barrie Chase Profile, November 64
  3. ^ A History of Television's The Virginian, 1962-1971, By Paul Green - Page 193 23: Writers, Frank Chase
  4. ^ Turner Classic Movies - Frank Chase, COMPLETE FILMOGRAPHY
  5. ^ Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2004: Film, Television, Radio, Theatre, Dance, Music, Cartoons and Pop Culture, By Harris M. Lentz III - Page 72 Chase, Frank
  6. ^ Western Movies: A Guide to 5,105 Feature Films, 2d ed., By Michael R. Pitts - Page 405 5025, The World in His Arms
  7. ^ Turner Classic Movies - Saskatchewan(1954)
  8. ^ Rotten Tomatoes - Walk the Proud Land (1956), Cast
  9. ^ Fandango - Frank Chase Biography
  10. ^ Keep Watching the Skies!: American Science Fiction Movies of the Fifties, By Bill Warren, Bill Thomas - Page 74 Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1985)
  11. ^ South China Morning Post, Sunday, 25 August 2013 - Rewind film: 'Attack of the 50 Foot Woman' - Doretta Lau
  12. ^ Keep Watching the Skies!: American Science Fiction Movies of the Fifties, By Bill Warren, Bill Thomas - Page 74 Attack of the 50 Foot Woman (1985)
  13. ^ Science Fiction Film Directors, 1895-1998, By Dennis Fischer - Page 335 Nathan Juran
  14. ^ Getty Images - Bonanza - Season 4
  15. ^ TV Buzer - The Virginian, S3 E23 - "Shadows of the Past"
  16. ^ A History of Television's The Virginian, 1962-1971, By Paul Green - Page 242 SHADOWS OF THE PAST (3:23) # 24735
  17. ^ A Reference Guide to Television's Bonanza: Episodes, Personnel and Broadcast History, By Bruce R. Leiby, Linda F. Leiby - Page 94 E186. The Ballerina (January 24, 1965
  18. ^ A History of Television's The Virginian, 1962-1971, By Paul Green - Page 193 23: Writers, Frank Chase
  19. ^ The High Chaparral - Guide to Writers and Directors, Writers
  20. ^ World Filmography: 1967, By Peter Cowie, Derek Elley - Page 604 Sullivan's Empire
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