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Frank Marion Thomas, Jr. (April 9, 1921 – May 11, 2006) was an American actor, author and bridge-strategy expert who played both lead and supporting roles on Broadway, in films, in post-World War II radio, and in early television. He was best known for his starring role in ''Tom Corbett, Space Cadet''.〔Obituary ''Los Angeles Times'', May 17, 2010.〕〔Obituary ''New York Times'', May 18, 2010.〕 Both his parents lived to 100 years old, however he died aged 85. ==Early years== Thomas was born in New York City to actors Frank M. Thomas and Mona Bruns. His uncle, Calvin Thomas, was also an actor. He was only 11 when he accompanied his mother to a casting office, where he stood in the background while his mother asked about possible openings in new Broadway shows. The agent replied, "I have nothing that suits you, Mona, but I can use the boy." Thomas wound up in a small part in ''Carry Nation'' (1932), where Jimmy Stewart was cast as a constable. Thomas appeared in six other Broadway plays between 1932 and 1936, including ''Little Ol' Boy'' with Burgess Meredith, ''Thunder on the Left'', ''Wednesday's Child'', ''The First Legion'', ''Remember the Day'', in which he appeared with his father, and ''Seen But Not Heard''. In ''Wednesday's Child'' he played the role of Bobby Phillips, the longest stage part ever written for a child performer. Thomas also developed a lifelong fascination with the character of Sherlock Holmes during this period, when he saw William Gillette perform the part during his farewell tour. When ''Wednesday's Child'' was filmed in 1934, Thomas and his family traveled to Hollywood. His parents found character parts in films, while Thomas played the role of Bobby Phillips for the cameras. The following year he played Nello Daas in the film adaptation of the novel, ''A Dog of Flanders'', by Ouida. In 1937 he appeared in the serial ''Tim Tyler's Luck'', based on the comic strip by Lyman Young. Thomas often said that the serial was his equivalent of attending college, since he met so many notable silent-film stars who were in the cast. When not busy in Hollywood, Thomas would return to Broadway; however, after the serial, he was not seen on Broadway for nearly five years, and that brief return to the stage was his swan song there. Thomas's last "A" film was ''Boys' Town'' (1938) with Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney. Thomas was Freddy Fuller, Boys' Town's mayor, and was not asked to appear in the sequel, ''Men of Boys' Town'' (1941). Thomas thereafter appeared in "B" films such as ''Little Tough Guys in Society'' and ''Nancy Drew, Detective'' (both 1938), ''Nancy Drew... Reporter'', ''Code of the Streets'', ''Nancy Drew, Troubleshooter'', ''The Angels Wash Their Faces'', ''Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase'', ''On Dress Parade'' and ''Invisible Stripes'' (all 1939). In 1941 he had small parts in ''Flying Cadets'' and ''One Foot in Heaven''. His last film roles were small roles in ''Always in My Heart'' and ''The Major and the Minor'' (1942), where he played a military school cadet who flirted with the character played by Ginger Rogers. His last appearance on Broadway was in ''Your Loving Son'', which closed after just two performances in April 1941. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Frankie Thomas」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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