Richard Frank (actor)
Encyclopedia
Richard Frank was an American
actor.
Frank was perhaps best known as Father Vogler in the 1984 movie Amadeus
. He had numerous guest appearances in popular TV shows, with a regular role in the 1989 Jamie Lee Curtis
sitcom
Anything But Love
. He was a graduate of Juilliard's acting school. In addition, Frank appeared in numerous theater productions, including Hang on to Me at the Guthrie Theater
, which was directed by Peter Sellars
, as well as many productions in Los Angeles, mostly at the Taper. He created the Struggling Actor's Coloring Book and dozens of paintings, which are now in private collections. He was noted by colleagues for his intelligence and endless wit.
By 1993, Frank had already gone public with his affliction with AIDS
. He continued working heavily in television as long as his health allowed. In the wake of his public disclosure, Frank was asked to guest star in a very special and true-to-life role in the fourth season Life Goes On
episode "Bedfellows". Frank played Richard, the hospital roommate of Jesse McKenna (Chad Lowe
), while both were admitted for illnesses related to their AIDS statuses. Richard has a more advanced stage of AIDS, and is not expected to live much longer; Jesse has to convince Richard at one point not to take his life by jumping off the hospital roof. Richard does lose his battle with AIDS before episode's end, but not before passing on wisdom to Jesse for his own dealings with his illness.
Following his landmark appearence on Life Goes On, Frank's health began a gradual decline, but throughout 1994, he kept up his steady guest turns on series ranging from The Larry Sanders Show
to Matlock
. By the beginning of 1995, in order to preseve his frail health, Frank made the more permanent decision to become a television director. That year, an episode of Mad About You
he directed was slated to be the first of many such jobs for the actor, but ultimately it became his final work in show business.
On August 27, 1995, Frank died in Los Angeles, California of complications from AIDS.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor.
Frank was perhaps best known as Father Vogler in the 1984 movie Amadeus
Amadeus (film)
Amadeus is a 1984 period drama film directed by Miloš Forman and written by Peter Shaffer. Adapted from Shaffer's stage play Amadeus, the story is based loosely on the lives of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Antonio Salieri, two composers who lived in Vienna, Austria, during the latter half of the...
. He had numerous guest appearances in popular TV shows, with a regular role in the 1989 Jamie Lee Curtis
Jamie Lee Curtis
Jamie Lee Curtis is an American actress and author. Although she was initially known as a "scream queen" because of her starring roles in several horror films early in her career, such as Halloween, The Fog, Prom Night and Terror Train, Curtis has since compiled a body of work that spans many...
sitcom
Situation comedy
A situation comedy, often shortened to sitcom, is a genre of comedy that features characters sharing the same common environment, such as a home or workplace, accompanied with jokes as part of the dialogue...
Anything But Love
Anything but Love
Anything But Love was an American television sitcom, which aired on ABC from March 7, 1989 to June 3, 1992, spanning four seasons and 56 episodes. The show starred Richard Lewis as Marty Gold and Jamie Lee Curtis as Hannah Miller, coworkers at a Chicago magazine with a mutual romantic attraction to...
. He was a graduate of Juilliard's acting school. In addition, Frank appeared in numerous theater productions, including Hang on to Me at the Guthrie Theater
Guthrie Theater
The Guthrie Theater is a center for theater performance, production, education, and professional training in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the result of the desire of Sir Tyrone Guthrie, Oliver Rea, and Peter Zeisler to create a resident acting company that would produce and perform the classics in...
, which was directed by Peter Sellars
Peter Sellars
Peter Sellars is an American theatre director, noted for his unique contemporary stagings of classical and contemporary operas and plays...
, as well as many productions in Los Angeles, mostly at the Taper. He created the Struggling Actor's Coloring Book and dozens of paintings, which are now in private collections. He was noted by colleagues for his intelligence and endless wit.
By 1993, Frank had already gone public with his affliction with AIDS
AIDS
Acquired immune deficiency syndrome or acquired immunodeficiency syndrome is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus...
. He continued working heavily in television as long as his health allowed. In the wake of his public disclosure, Frank was asked to guest star in a very special and true-to-life role in the fourth season Life Goes On
Life Goes On (TV series)
Life Goes On is a television series that aired on ABC from September 12, 1989 to May 23, 1993. The show centers on the Thacher family living in suburban Chicago: Drew, his wife Elizabeth, and their children Paige, Rebecca, and Charles, who is known as Corky...
episode "Bedfellows". Frank played Richard, the hospital roommate of Jesse McKenna (Chad Lowe
Chad Lowe
Charles Conrad "Chad" Lowe is an American actor. He is the younger brother of fellow actor Rob Lowe. He won an Emmy Award for his supporting role in Life Goes On as a man suffering with HIV. He has also had recurring roles on ER, Melrose Place, and Now and Again...
), while both were admitted for illnesses related to their AIDS statuses. Richard has a more advanced stage of AIDS, and is not expected to live much longer; Jesse has to convince Richard at one point not to take his life by jumping off the hospital roof. Richard does lose his battle with AIDS before episode's end, but not before passing on wisdom to Jesse for his own dealings with his illness.
Following his landmark appearence on Life Goes On, Frank's health began a gradual decline, but throughout 1994, he kept up his steady guest turns on series ranging from The Larry Sanders Show
The Larry Sanders Show
The Larry Sanders Show is a satirical television sitcom that aired from August 1992 to May 1998 on the HBO cable television network in the United States. It starred stand-up comedian Garry Shandling as vain, neurotic talk show host Larry Sanders, and centered on the running of his TV show, and the...
to Matlock
Matlock
Matlock is the county town of Derbyshire, England. It is situated at the south eastern edge of the Peak District, and forms part of the Sheffield City Region. The town is twinned with the French town Eaubonne. The former spa resort Matlock Bath lies immediately south of the town on the A6. Matlock,...
. By the beginning of 1995, in order to preseve his frail health, Frank made the more permanent decision to become a television director. That year, an episode of Mad About You
Mad About You
Mad About You is an American sitcom that aired on NBC from September 23, 1992 to May 24, 1999. The show starred Paul Reiser and Helen Hunt as a newly married couple in New York City. Reiser played Paul Buchman, a documentary film maker. Hunt played Jamie Stemple Buchman, a public relations specialist...
he directed was slated to be the first of many such jobs for the actor, but ultimately it became his final work in show business.
On August 27, 1995, Frank died in Los Angeles, California of complications from AIDS.