Frank Mitchell (May 13, 1905 â€" January 21, 1991) was an American
film actor. He appeared in over 70 films between 1920 and 1980.Frank
Mitchell was a short, stocky, mischievous-looking comic and acrobat
who got his start in entertainment by entering contests imitating
Charles Chaplin. From there he broke into Vaudeville with a comedy
acrobatic troupe and later toured with the International Seven in
Europe. Aside from the stage, Mitchell also worked circuses performing
stunts on horses as a trick rider. It was in the Vaudeville circuit
that he met comic Jack Durant. The two formed the comedy duo "Mitchell
& Durant," which appeared in The Earl Carroll Vanities of 1931. Their
success also led them in to films, most notably providing comic relief
in several Alice Faye musicals such as She Learned About Sailors, 365
Nights in Hollywood and Music Is Magic.After Mitchell and Durant
split, Mitchell found minor comedy roles throughout the 1940s and
1950s films. Because of his experience as a trick-rider, Mitchell
found himself working in several westerns. One of his more famous
characters was in a series of Westerns for Columbia Pictures playing
the role of "Cannonball" (originally played by Dub Taylor). As
television became more previlant, Mitchell transitioned to smaller and
often uncredited parts on television shows such as The Lucy-Desi
Comedy Hour and The Red Skelton Hour. During this time in his career
he was usually playing gangsters and straight-man roles. His last
picture was a television movie titled Miracle of the Heart: A Boys
Town Story in which he played a police officer.At a few different
times in his career Mitchell was a member of the Three Stooges. His
first tenure with the team was in 1929, replacing Shemp Howard in the
Broadway revue George's White Sandals alongside Ted Healy and Stooges
main-stays Moe Howard and Larry Fine.[citation needed]
film actor. He appeared in over 70 films between 1920 and 1980.Frank
Mitchell was a short, stocky, mischievous-looking comic and acrobat
who got his start in entertainment by entering contests imitating
Charles Chaplin. From there he broke into Vaudeville with a comedy
acrobatic troupe and later toured with the International Seven in
Europe. Aside from the stage, Mitchell also worked circuses performing
stunts on horses as a trick rider. It was in the Vaudeville circuit
that he met comic Jack Durant. The two formed the comedy duo "Mitchell
& Durant," which appeared in The Earl Carroll Vanities of 1931. Their
success also led them in to films, most notably providing comic relief
in several Alice Faye musicals such as She Learned About Sailors, 365
Nights in Hollywood and Music Is Magic.After Mitchell and Durant
split, Mitchell found minor comedy roles throughout the 1940s and
1950s films. Because of his experience as a trick-rider, Mitchell
found himself working in several westerns. One of his more famous
characters was in a series of Westerns for Columbia Pictures playing
the role of "Cannonball" (originally played by Dub Taylor). As
television became more previlant, Mitchell transitioned to smaller and
often uncredited parts on television shows such as The Lucy-Desi
Comedy Hour and The Red Skelton Hour. During this time in his career
he was usually playing gangsters and straight-man roles. His last
picture was a television movie titled Miracle of the Heart: A Boys
Town Story in which he played a police officer.At a few different
times in his career Mitchell was a member of the Three Stooges. His
first tenure with the team was in 1929, replacing Shemp Howard in the
Broadway revue George's White Sandals alongside Ted Healy and Stooges
main-stays Moe Howard and Larry Fine.[citation needed]
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