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Biography

Thin, intense, antsy, and often unnerving character actor Frank Doubleday usually portrayed creepy villains in both movies and TV shows alike from the mid-1970's up until the early 1990's. Frank was born on January 28, 1945 in Norwich, Connecticut and came with his family to Los Angeles, California at age six. Doubleday made his film debut as an aggressive switchblade-wielding punk thug in the hilariously raunchy comedy The First Nudie Musical (1976). Doubleday's lean, hollow-eyed, sunken-cheeked face, closely cropped light blonde hair, skinny limbs, and slim build gave him a striking and potent screen presence that was put to especially effective use in two pictures for director John Carpenter: He's genuinely scary as the vicious street gang leader who kills little girl Kim Richards in cold blood in the terrific urban action classic Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) and was likewise memorably freaky as Isaac Hayes' ghoulish flunky "Romero" in the excellent futuristic science fiction cult favorite Escape from New York (1981). Doubleday's other noteworthy parts are a mob kingpin's conceited jerk son in Avenging Angel (1985), a fidgety prison inmate in the nifty science fiction item Space Rage (1985), a ferocious member of a roving murderous band of supernatural Eskimo spirits in the spooky Nomads (1986), a mercenary in Broadcast News (1987), and a sweaty, twitchy hoodlum who holds a bunch of fat ladies hostage in a laundromat in the funky urban science fiction hoot Dollman (1991). Among the TV shows Doubleday did guest appearances on are Amazing Stories (1985), Sledge Hammer! (1986), Stingray (1985), T.J. Hooker (1982), Hill Street Blues (1981), CHiPs (1977), The Incredible Hulk (1978), Charlie's Angels (1976), Wonder Woman (1975) and Starsky and Hutch (1975). Outside of acting, Frank also directed stage plays and taught acting at the Hollywood Court Theater. Doubleday died at age 73 from esophageal cancer on March 3, 2018 in Los Angeles, California.

L.A. Bounty ( 1989) | IMDb: 4.7

Drama , Thriller

Mayor candidate Mike Rhodes is kidnapped in his own home outside of Los Angeles by unknown, masked terrorists. His wife Kelly barely survives the attempted murder on her, and is able to identify one of the kidnappers. She's placed on the police's protection list while the investigation is ongoing. Ruger, a tough and merciless bounty hunter is out on the streets avenging her partner's death. With Kelly as her bait, Ruger starts a dangerous game to bring Cavanough, a crazed crime kingpin behind the kidnapping, out of hiding.

Starring:

Sybil Danning , Wings Hauser , Blackie Dammett , Henry Darrow , Frank Doubleday , Robert Hanley

Directed by:

Worth Keeter

Produced by:

S.C. Dacy , Sybil Danning , Pat Orseth

Broadcast News ( 1987) | IMDb: 7.2

Comedy , Romance

Basket-case network news producer Jane Craig falls for new reporter Tom Grunnick, a pretty boy who represents the trend towards entertainment news she despises. Aaron Altman, a talented but plain correspondent, carries an unrequited torch for Jane. Sparks fly between the three as the network prepares for big changes, and both the news and Jane must decide between style and substance.

Starring:

William Hurt , Albert Brooks , Holly Hunter , Robert Prosky , Lois Chiles , Joan Cusack

Directed by:

David Sardi , James L. Brooks , Yudi Bennett

Produced by:

Susan Zirinsky , Penney Finkelman Cox , David V. Lester

Nomads ( 1986) | IMDb: 5.3

Drama , Fantasy , Thriller

One night, in a Los Angeles hospital, Dr. Flax attends to a seriously injured man who, apparently crazed, whispers mysterious and disconcerting words in French into her ear.

Starring:

Lesley-Anne Down , Pierce Brosnan , Anna Maria Monticelli , Frances Bay , Jeannie Elias , Alan Autry

Directed by:

Tom Schneider , John McTiernan , Warren Lewis

Produced by:

Sue Baden-Powell , Mary McLaglen , George Pappas

Escape from New York ( 1981) | IMDb: 7.1

Action , Science fiction

In a world ravaged by crime, the entire island of Manhattan has been converted into a walled prison where brutal prisoners roam free. After the US president crash-lands inside, war hero Snake Plissken has 24 hours to bring him back.

Starring:

Kurt Russell , Lee Van Cleef , Ernest Borgnine , Donald Pleasence , Isaac Hayes , Season Hubley

Directed by:

Jeffrey Chernov , Larry J. Franco , John Carpenter

Produced by:

Alan Levine , Jake Eberts , Larry J. Franco

The Big Fix ( 1978) | IMDb: 6.4

Comedy , Mystery , Thriller

Private detective Moses Wine is hired by his former college girlfriend to investigate a political smear campaign and he sets out to find out who is responsible, with deadly results.

Starring:

Richard Dreyfuss , Susan Anspach , Bonnie Bedelia , John Lithgow , F. Murray Abraham , Ron Rifkin

Directed by:

Cynnie Troup , Jeremy Kagan

Produced by:

Carl Borack , Rick Fields , Richard Dreyfuss

Alex & the Gypsy ( 1976) | IMDb: 5.1

Comedy , Drama

A bail bondsman falls in love with one of his "customers" — a gypsy girl, who's been accused of attempted murder.

Starring:

Jack Lemmon , Geneviève Bujold , James Woods , Gino Ardito , Robert Emhardt , Titos Vandis

Directed by:

John Korty

Produced by:

Richard Shepherd , Peter V. Herald

Frank Doubleday Movies: Top 6 Performances by a Successful Actor

Biography