Biography
This page uses content from the Frank Whaley biography page on the English version of Wikipedia and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. This list of authors can be seen in the page history. Rotten Tomatoes disclaims any and all warranties as to the accuracy or reliability of the content.
Frank Michael Anthony Whaley (born July 20, 1963) is an American film and television actor known as much for his roles in independent films as his boyish looks and general demeanor.
Frank Whaley was born in Syracuse, New York. He has one sibling, an older brother named Robert Whaley. His father, Robert Whaley, Sr., died in the 1990s of health problems related to alcoholism.
Frank and his brother, Robert, founded the NY-based band, "The Niagaras". Though Whaley left the band to pursue his acting career, "The Niagaras" continued to perform in the New York City area. Rumors suggest that Frank might rejoin the Niagaras for a year-long tour in the upstate New York area.
Whaley began acting as a teenager. He made his film debut in 1987's Ironweed, and performed mostly in made-for-TV movies until 1989, when he appeared in Field of Dreams alongside Burt Lancaster and Kevin Costner, and Born on the Fourth of July alongside Tom Cruise. This latter film began a long collaboration with director Oliver Stone, including 1991's The Doors, in which he played Robbie Krieger, and, in the same year, JFK, in which he played a conspirator in the JFK assassination. In 1991, Whaley also starred in the John Hughes' film, "Career Opportunities" alongside "Jennifer Connelly".
Over the next two years, he played supporting roles in movies such as Hoffa and Swing Kids. He appeared in his first leading film role in 1994's Swimming with Sharks, in which he starred opposite Kevin Spacey. In the same year, he played a supporting role as a college student named Brett, who was gunned down by Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta in Pulp Fiction.
In 1998, he started a regular role on the CBS series Buddy Faro. He has also appeared in episodes of The Dead Zone, Law & Order, and its spinoff Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
He made his directorial debut, Joe the King, in 1999, featuring his Doors costar Val Kilmer and longtime friend and colleague Ethan Hawke in starring roles.
Most recently, Whaley was a guest star on the hit HBO comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm, starring Seinfeld creator Larry David.
He appeared on the August 18, 2006 episode of the USA Network's Psych as Robert Kane, a man being haunted by a female spirit. He also appeared on the big screen in 2006's " World Trade Center".
External links
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