Frank Craven (24 August 1875 – 1 September 1945) was an American stage and film actor, playwright, and screenwriter, best known for originating the role of the Stage Manager in Thornton Wilder's Our Town.
Craven was a character actor who often portrayed wry, small-town figures. His first film role was in We Americans (1928), and he appeared in State Fair (1933), Penrod and Sam (1937), Jack London (1943), and Son of Dracula (1943), among many others. He wrote numerous screenplays, most notably for the Laurel and Hardy film Sons of the Desert (1933). His IMDB biography credits him with 16 writing credits and 2 directing credits.
In 1938, Craven played the Stage Manager in Our Town on Broadway, and reprised the role in the 1940 film version of the play. His son John Craven starred as George Gibbs in the stage version, a role played by William Holden in the 1940 film.
Craven died in 1945, shortly after finishing his work in Colonel Effingham's Raid.
Filmography
- We Americans (1928) (uncredited)
- The Very Idea (1929)
- Handle with Care (1932) (uncredited)
- State Fair (1933)
- City Limits (1934)
- He Was Her Man (1934)
- Let's Talk It Over (1934)
- That's Gratitude (1934)
- Car 99 (1935)
- Vagabond Lady (1935)
- Barbary Coast (1935)
- It's Up To You (1936)
- Small Town Girl (1936)
- The Harvester (1936)
- Blossoms on Broadway (1937)
- You're Only Young Once (1937)
- Penrod and Sam (1937)
- Penrod and His Twin Brother (1938)
- Miracles for Sale (1939)
- Our Neighbors – The Carters (1939)
- City for Conquest (1940)
- Dreaming Out Loud (1940)
- The Lady from Cheyenne (1941)
- The Richest Man In Town (1941)
- Thru Different Eyes (1942)
- In This Our Life (1942)
- Girl Trouble (1942)
- Keeper of the Flame (1942)
- Pittsburgh (1942)
- Harrigan's Kid (1943)
- Dangerous Blondes (1943)
- Son of Dracula (1943)
- Jack London (1943)
- Destiny (1944)
- My Best Gal (1944)
- Destiny (1944)
- Forever Yours (1945)
- Colonel Effingham's Raid (1946)
