Biography
Born Francis Anthony Donner on 17 November 1897 in San Francisco, California, Frank Fay died on 25 September 1961 in Santa Monica, California. Working across stage and screen as actor, comedian, singer, writer and producer, he began performing in theater while still young. Early Broadway credits included Girl O’ Mine (1918), Oh, What A Girl! (1919) and Jim Jam Jems (1920). During the 1920s he took part in several revues, among them his own Fables, for which he supplied both book and lyrics, Raymond Hitchcock’s Pinwheel (both 1922), Artists And Models (1923) and Harry Delmar’s Revels (1927). Although primarily occupied with motion pictures in the 1930s, he returned to Broadway for Tattle Tales (1933), serving as performer, sketch and lyric writer, and producer; the production closed after three weeks. His 1940s stage appearances comprised Laugh Time (1943) and Harvey (1944).
Fay’s screen debut came as Master of Ceremonies in The Show Of Shows (1929), a film that also listed him among the writers. Additional early roles, mostly small, appeared in Under A Texas Moon, The Matrimonial Bed and Bright Lights (all 1930), God’s Gift To Women and The Slippery Pearls (both 1931), the latter featuring him as himself, A Fool’s Advice and Stout Hearts And Willing Hands (both 1932), Stars Over Broadway (1935), where he shared the screen with Jane Froman and James Melton, Nothing Sacred (1937), I Want A Divorce (1940), They Knew What They Wanted (1940), a drama starring Charles Laughton and Carole Lombard, Spotlight Revue (1943) and Screen Snapshots: The Great Showman (1950), again appearing as himself in the final two titles, plus Love Nest (1951), which paired June Haver and William Lundigan and featured Marilyn Monroe in a supporting part. From 1928 to 1936 Fay was married to Barbara Stanwyck. Occasional television work included Screen Directors Playhouse (1955) and an installment of Toast Of The Town (1957).
Fay’s screen debut came as Master of Ceremonies in The Show Of Shows (1929), a film that also listed him among the writers. Additional early roles, mostly small, appeared in Under A Texas Moon, The Matrimonial Bed and Bright Lights (all 1930), God’s Gift To Women and The Slippery Pearls (both 1931), the latter featuring him as himself, A Fool’s Advice and Stout Hearts And Willing Hands (both 1932), Stars Over Broadway (1935), where he shared the screen with Jane Froman and James Melton, Nothing Sacred (1937), I Want A Divorce (1940), They Knew What They Wanted (1940), a drama starring Charles Laughton and Carole Lombard, Spotlight Revue (1943) and Screen Snapshots: The Great Showman (1950), again appearing as himself in the final two titles, plus Love Nest (1951), which paired June Haver and William Lundigan and featured Marilyn Monroe in a supporting part. From 1928 to 1936 Fay was married to Barbara Stanwyck. Occasional television work included Screen Directors Playhouse (1955) and an installment of Toast Of The Town (1957).