Frank Gerstle

Francis M. Gerstle (September 27, 1915 – February 23, 1970) was an American actor, well known for his performances in a series of science-fiction films.

Gerstle was born in New York City. He appeared in 60 films between 1950 and 1970, 110 television series and programs between 1951 and 1970. His notable appearances included Outside the Wall. In television, he appeared in The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show in the episode Surprise Birthday Party, he portrayed Dick Gird in 6 episodes of The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp. He portrayed a father whose son is suspected of dealing in stolen auto parts on Highway Patrol, in an episode known as Father Thief. His final appearance was in the episode San Francisco International in San Francisco International Airport which aired on September 29, 1970.

Death

Gerstle died of cancer in Santa Monica on February 23, 1970, at age 54.

Filmography

Film

• D.O.A. (1949) - Dr. MacDonald
• Outside the Wall (1950) - Stick-Up Man (uncredited)
• My Friend Irma Goes West (1950) - Doctor (uncredited)
• The Next Voice You Hear... (1950) - Plant Worker in Locker Room (uncredited)
• A Life of Her Own (1950) - Birthday Party Guest (uncredited)
• Three Guys Named Mike (1951) - Joe Allison - Radio Dispatcher (uncredited)
• I Was a Communist for the FBI (1951) - Tom Cvetic (uncredited)
• Strictly Dishonorable (1951) - Charlie - Dempsey's Photographer (uncredited)
• Little Egypt (1951) - Globe Reporter (uncredited)
• You Can Never Tell (1951) - Detective
• The Blue Veil (1951) - Doctor (uncredited)
• The Unknown Man (1951) - News Photographer in Bucknor's Office (uncredited)
• Young Man with Ideas (1952) - Bill Collector (uncredited)
• Blackhawk: Fearless Champion of Freedom (1952, Serial) - Dawson - New Fuel Demonstrator [Chs. 7-8] (uncredited)
• The Bad and the Beautiful (1952) - Gabby Agent at Party (uncredited)
• Above and Beyond (1952) - SSgt. Wilson (uncredited)
• The Magnetic Monster (1953) - Col. Willis
• Call Me Madam (1953) - Newspaper Reporter (uncredited)
• The Lady Wants Mink (1953) - Frank - Office Worker (uncredited)
• The Glory Brigade (1953) - Maj. Sauer (uncredited)
• The Neanderthal Man (1953) - Mr. Wheeler - Hunter
• Vicki (1953) - Detective (uncredited)
• Killers from Space (1954) - Dr. Curt Kruger
• The Long, Long Trailer (1954) - Gas Station Attendant (uncredited)
• Drum Beat (1954) - Grant's Officer (uncredited)
• Tight Spot (1955) - Jim Hornsby (uncredited)
• I Cover the Underworld (1955) - Dum-Dum Wilson
• 5 Against the House (1955) - Robbery Suspect (uncredited)
• It's Always Fair Weather (1955) - Mug (uncredited)
• The McConnell Story (1955) - American Soldier in Korea (uncredited)
• Slightly Scarlet (1956) - Detective Lt. Dave Dietz (uncredited)
• The Killer Is Loose (1956) - Holdup Man (uncredited)
• The Steel Jungle (1956) - Kadinski
• The Proud Ones (1956) - Tim (uncredited)
• Autumn Leaves (1956) - Ramsey
• Magnificent Roughnecks (1956) - Chuck Evans
• Between Heaven and Hell (1956) - Col. Miles (uncredited)
• Top Secret Affair (1957) - Sgt. Kruger
• The River's Edge (1957) - Harry Castleton
• Under Fire (1957) - Col. Dundee
• No Down Payment (1957) - Verdun (uncredited)
• Ambush at Cimarron Pass (1958) - Capt. Sam Prescott
• Onionhead (1958) - Officer at Inquiry (uncredited)
• Submarine Seahawk (1958) - Capt. Boardman
• I Mobster (1959) - District Attorney
• Inside the Mafia (1959) - Julie - the killer
• The Wasp Woman (1959) - Les Hellman
• The Four Skulls of Jonathan Drake (1959) - Lee Coulter
• Beloved Infidel (1959) - Frank - Reporter (uncredited)
• Vice Raid (1959) - Capt. William Brennan
• Hell to Eternity (1960) - Drunken Officer (uncredited)
• A Thunder of Drums (1961) - Trooper Drortmander (uncredited)
• The Nun and the Sergeant (1962) - Sergeant in Charge of the Brig
• 13 West Street (1962) - Mr. Johnson
• Kid Galahad (1962) - Romero's Manager (uncredited)
• Shock Corridor (1963) - Lt. Kane
• Monstrosity (1963) - Dr. Frank
• The Quick Gun (1964) - George Keely
• Young Dillinger (1965) - Watchman
• Marriage on the Rocks (1965) - Assistant (uncredited)
• The Silencers (1966) - Frazer
• The Wild Angels (1966) - Hospital Policeman
• Murderers' Row (1966) - Furnas (uncredited)
• Hell on Wheels (1967) - Ben
• If He Hollers, Let Him Go! (1968) - Sergeant
• Bullitt (1968) - (voice, uncredited)
• The Bamboo Saucer (1968) - Technician at Radio (uncredited)
• The Christine Jorgensen Story (1970) - Newspaper Reporter at Airport

Television

• The George Burns and Gracie Allen Show (1951-1955, 3 episodes) - Charlie Hawthorne / Sgt. McDuff
• Dick Tracy (1952, 1 episode) - Influence
• Dangerous Assignment (1952, 1 episode)
• Racket Squad (1952, 1 episode)
• Dragnet (1952-1958, 8 episodes) - Jake / Harry Talmadge
• Big Town (1953, 2 episode) - Duke Barker
• I Married Joan (1953, 2 episodes) - Dr. Griswald / Tom
• Four Star Playhouse (1953-1954, 2 episodes) - Mr. Braun / Tender
• I Love Lucy (1953-1956, 2 episodes) - Helicopter Pilot / Short Indian
• Our Miss Brooks (1954, 1 episode) - Jailor
• The Pepsi-Cola Playhouse (1954, 1 episode) - George Harper
• The Whistler (1954, 1 episode) - Max Fenner
• The Adventures of Kit Carson (1954, 2 episodes)
• Schlitz Playhouse of Stars' (1954-1956, 3 episodes) - Joe Garson / Corp. Williams / Frank Pierce
• General Electric Theater (1954–1962, 2 episodes) - Dan Farrol / Hugo
• Treasury Men in Action (1955, 1 episode) - Det. Sgt. Draper
• The Man Behind the Badge (1955, 1 episode) - Bernie
• Star Stage (1955, 1 episode)
• Highway Patrol (1955, 1 episode) - Sgt. Betts
• Science Fiction Theatre (1954-1956, 2 episodes) - Joe Garson / Corp. Williams / Frank Pierce
• Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955-1958, 3 episodes) - Police Chief Walt Haney / Police Sgt. Thompson / Police Sgt. Mack
• Disneyland (1955-1958, 2 episodes) - George McShane / Rocket Ship Crew
• Adventures of Falcon (1956, 1 episode) - Mike Poggin
• Crusader (1956, 1 episode) - Ben Kelder
• Cavalcade of America (1956, 1 episode) - Brig. Gen. N. D. Cota
• Crossroads (1956, 2 episodes) - Tito Krackow
• The Adventures of Dr. Fu Manchu (1956, 1 episode) - Ivan Thor
• Studio 57 (1956-1957, 1 episode) - Marshal
• On Trial (1955-1957, 2 episodes) - Vinnie / Williams
• The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp (1956-1960, 8 episodes) - Dick Gurd / Ganly / Whitey Rupp
• Jeff's Collie aka Lassie (1956-1967, 2 episodes) - Ken Hubbard
• The New Adventures of Charlie Chan (1957, 1 episode) - Lieutenant Stutz
• Whirlybirds (1957, 1 episode) - Capt. Brown
• Jane Wyman Presents the Fireside Theatre (1956-1957, 3 episodes)
• Telephone Time (1957, 1 episode) - Pierre
• The Silent Service (1957, 1 episode) - First Squailfish Captain
• Code 3 (1957, 1 episode) - Lt. Carl Harrison
• The Californians (1957) - 1 episode
• The Millionaire (1957-1959, 3 episodes) - Ross Marshall / Sergeant / Capt. Wylie
• Navy Log (1958, 1 episode) - Commander Thompson
• Man Without a Gun (1958, 1 episode)
• Alcoa Theatre (1958, 1 episode) - Colonel
• Jefferson Drum (1958, 1 episode) - Hardy
• Steve Canyon (1958, 1 episode) - Gen. Hall
• Death Valley Days (1958, 2 episodes) - Sam Walton / Charlie Parkhurst
• Sugarfoot (1958, 1 episode) - Bartender
• Rescue 8 (1958,1 episode) - Building Inspector
• Tales of Wells Fargo (1958-1962, 2 episodes) - Tim / John Curtis
• Wagon Train (1958-1962) - 3 episodes
• Mike Hammer (1959) - 1 episode
• The Fat Man: The Thirty Two Friends of Gina Lardelli (1959) - TV movie
• Cimarron City (1959) - 1 episode
• Behind Closed Doors (1959) - 1 episode
• The Third Man (1959, 1 episode) - Capt. Gallifa
• Richard Diamond, Private Detective (1959, 1 episode) - Lieutenant
• Tombstone Territory (1959, 1 episode) - Deputy Marshal Bledsoe
• Have Gun - Will Travel (1959, 1 episode) - Bartender
• Leave It to Beaver (1959, 1 episode) - Police Sergeant
• The Man and the Challenge (1959, 1 episode) - Ed Burke
• U.S. Marshal (1959, 1 episode) - Max
• The Untouchables (1959-1960, 2 episodes) - Police Captain / Schultz Man
• Peter Gunn (1959-1961, 2 episodes) - Frank Clanton / Jake Lynch
• Bat Masterson (1960, 1 episode) - Sheriff
• Goodyear Theatre (1960, 1 episode) - Pat Harris
• Tightrope (1960, 1 episode) - Charlie
• Colt .45 (1960, 1 episode) - Ed Garrick
• Hawaiian Eye (1960, 1 episode) - Major Dunham
• Bourbon Street Beat (1960, 1 episode) - Sgt. Steve Travis
• The Andy Griffith Show (1960, 1 episode) - Derekson
• Lock-Up (1960, 1 episode) - Johnny Gibson
• The June Allyson Show (1960, 1 episode) - Judge
• Dan Raven (1960, 1 episode) - Harrow
• 77 Sunset Strip (1960-1961, 3 episodes) - Capt. Devon / John Carter / Bennie Cannon
• The Jack Benny Program (1960-1963, 4 episodes) - Sound Man / Deli clerk / Larry Hawkins / Lockup Policeman
• Wanted: Dead or Alive (1961) - 1 episode
• Checkmate (1961) - 1 episode
• The Case of the Dangerous Robin (1961) - 1 episode
• Lawman (1961) - 1 episode
• The Americans (1961) - 1 episode
• The Best of the Post (1961, 1 episode) - Steve
• Angel (1961, 1 episode: The Wedding) - Mr. Butler
• The McGonigle (1961, TV Movie) - Capt. Amboy
• Cheyenne (1961, 1 episode) - Hammond
• The Everglades (1961, 1 episode) - Rafe
• Shotgun Slade (1961, 1 episode)
• Laramie (1961, 1963, 2 episodes) - Judge Wheeler / Sheriff Aikens
• Perry Mason (1961-1964, 3 episodes) - Sgt. Steve Toland / Det. Steve Toland / Allen
• 87th Precinct (1962, 1 episode) - Ed Bennett
• Bonanza (1962-1967, 2 episodes) - Strand / Jake Weber
• G.E. True (1963, 1 episode) - William J. Burns
• Glynis (1963, 1 episode) - Manny
• McHale's Navy (1963-1965, 2 episodes) - Capt. Cummings / Capt. Dawson
• Channing (1964, 1 episode) - Policeman
• Vacation Playhouse (1964, 1 episode)
• The Donna Reed Show (1965, 1 episode)
• Mr. Novak (1965, 1 episode) - Adams
• The Virginian (1965-1966, 2 episodes) - Milt Shiffman / Clint Koski
• Branded (1966, 1 episode) - Maj. Meade
• Laredo (1966, 1 episode) - Farmer
• The Loner (1966, 1 episode) - Miner
• The Patty Duke Show (1966, 1 episode) - Man
• Honey West (1966, 1 episode) - Director
• The Green Hornet (1966, 1 episode) - Mel Hurk
• Hogan's Heroes (1967, 1 episode) - Gen. Aloysius Barton
• Dragnet (1967, 1 episode) - Albert Marks
• Ironside (1967–1968, 2 episodes) - Buck Dennison / Eddie Burns
• Fantastic Four (1967–1968) - Blastaar (voice)
• Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. (1967, 1969, 2 episodes) - Plainclothes Man / Driver
• Arabian Knights (1968) - (voice)
• The Banana Splits Adventure Hour (1968-1969, 8 episodes) - Raseem
• Lancer (1969, 1 episode) - Lem Cable
• Mannix (1970, 1 episode) - Harry C. Armitage
• San Francisco International Airport (1970, 1 episode: San Francisco International) - Congressman (final appearance)

Radio

• Escape

External links

• Frank Gerstle at IMDb