Frank M. Thomas

Frank Marion Thomas, born July 13, 1889, in St. Joseph, Missouri, was an American character actor whose career spanned stage, screen, and television across several decades. The son of Jesse and Virginia Thomas, he lived to the age of 100, dying on November 25, 1989, and is interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood, California, beside his wife, actress Mona Bruns, who also died at 100.

Thomas made his Broadway debut in 1914 and remained active on the New York stage through 1959. His theatrical credits include Jeb, Christopher Blake, The Hallams, End as a Man, and The Legend of Lizzie, among other productions. Beyond his stage work, he served as president, holding the title of Shepherd, of The Lambs from 1962 to 1963.

His film career ran from the 1930s through the 1970s, during which he took on numerous supporting roles. The year 1937 was particularly prolific, with Thomas appearing in 21 films. Among his most recognized screen credits were We Who Are About To Die (1937), A Man to Remember (1938), A Shot in the Dark (1941), Desert Trail (1942), and No Place for a Lady (1943). His final film appearance came in The Killing of a Chinese Bookie in 1976.

Thomas also worked extensively in television from the 1950s through the 1970s. He and Mona Bruns were the parents of actor Frankie Thomas.