# Frankie Thomas

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American actor (1923–1965)

For the Australian racing cyclist, see [Frankie Thomas (cyclist)](/source/Frankie_Thomas_(cyclist)). For other people with similar names, see [Frank Thomas](/source/Frank_Thomas_(disambiguation)).

Frankie Thomas Thomas in On Dress Parade (1939) Born Frank Marion Thomas Jr. (1921-04-09)April 9, 1921 New York City, U.S. Died May 11, 2006(2006-05-11) (aged 85) Sherman Oaks, California, U.S. Other names Frankie Thomas Jr. Frank M. Thomas Jr. Occupations Actor author bridge-strategy expert Years active 1932–1955 Spouse Virginia Thomas ​ (died 1997)​

**Frank Marion Thomas Jr.** (April 9, 1921 – May 11, 2006), was an American actor, author and [bridge](/source/Contract_bridge)-strategy expert who played both lead and supporting roles on Broadway, in films, in post-[World War II](/source/World_War_II) [radio](/source/Radio), and in early television. He was best known for his starring role in *[Tom Corbett, Space Cadet](/source/Tom_Corbett%2C_Space_Cadet_(TV-series))*.[1][2]

## Early years

Thomas was born in New York City to actors [Frank M. Thomas](/source/Frank_M._Thomas) and [Mona Bruns](/source/Mona_Bruns). His uncle, [Calvin Thomas](/source/Calvin_Thomas_(actor)), was also an actor.[3]

Thomas portrayed a Kiowan youth in the Broadway play *[Carry Nation](/source/Carry_Nation_(play))* (1932). He appeared in six other Broadway plays between 1932 and 1936, including *Little Ol' Boy*, *Thunder on the Left*, *Wednesday's Child*, *The First Legion*, *Remember the Day*, and *Seen But Not Heard*.[4]

Thomas's last "A" film was *[Boys' Town](/source/Boys_Town_(film))* (1938) with [Spencer Tracy](/source/Spencer_Tracy) and [Mickey Rooney](/source/Mickey_Rooney). Thomas was Freddy Fuller, Boys' Town's mayor, and was not asked to appear in the sequel, *Men of Boys' Town* (1941). He then appeared in a string of "B" films such as *[Little Tough Guys in Society](/source/Little_Tough_Guys_in_Society)* and *[Nancy Drew... Detective](/source/Nancy_Drew..._Detective)* (both 1938), *[Nancy Drew... Reporter](/source/Nancy_Drew..._Reporter)*, *[Code of the Streets](/source/Code_of_the_Streets)*, *[Nancy Drew… Trouble Shooter](/source/Nancy_Drew%E2%80%A6_Trouble_Shooter)*, *[The Angels Wash Their Faces](/source/The_Angels_Wash_Their_Faces)*, *[Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase](/source/Nancy_Drew_and_the_Hidden_Staircase_(1939_film))*, *[On Dress Parade](/source/On_Dress_Parade)* and *[Invisible Stripes](/source/Invisible_Stripes)* (all 1939).

In the summer of 1940, Thomas acted with the Guy Palmerton Players.[5]

In 1941 he had small parts in *Flying Cadets* and *[One Foot in Heaven](/source/One_Foot_in_Heaven)*. His last film roles were small roles in *[Always in My Heart](/source/Always_in_My_Heart_(film))* and *[The Major and the Minor](/source/The_Major_and_the_Minor)* (1942), where he played a military school cadet who flirted with [Ginger Rogers](/source/Ginger_Rogers)' character.

## Death

Thomas died in 2006 at age 85 at a [Sherman Oaks](/source/Sherman_Oaks), [California](/source/California), hospital of respiratory failure, following a stroke. At his request, he was buried in his Space Cadet uniform. His wife, Virginia, had preceded him in death in 1997.[6]

## Partial filmography

### Film

Year Title Role Notes 1934 Wednesday's Child Bobby Phillips 1935 A Dog of Flanders Nello Daas 1937 Tim Tyler's Luck Tim Tyler Serial 1938 Boys' Town Freddie Fuller Little Tough Guys in Society Danny 1939 Nancy Drew... Detective Ted Nickerson Nancy Drew... Reporter Code of the Streets Bob Lewis Nancy Drew… Trouble Shooter Ted Nickerson The Angels Wash Their Faces Gabe Ryan Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase Ted Nickerson On Dress Parade Cadet Lt. Murphy Invisible Stripes Tommy 1941 One Foot in Heaven Hartzell Spence Flying Cadets Newton R. Adams / Ames 1942 Always in My Heart Martin Scott The Major and the Minor Cadet Osborne

## Bibliography

- Thomas, Frank (1973). *Sherlock Holmes, Bridge Detective*.

- Thomas, Frank (1975). *Sherlock Holmes, Bridge Detective Returns*.

- Thomas, Frank (1979). [*Sherlock Holmes and the Golden Bird*](https://archive.org/details/sherlockholmesg00thom). Pinnacle Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780523406169](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780523406169).

- Thomas, Frank (1980). [*Sherlock Holmes and the Sacred Sword*](https://archive.org/details/sherlockholmessa00fran). Pinnacle Books. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780523410135](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780523410135).

- Thomas, Frank (1984). *Secret Cases of Sherlock Holmes*.

- Thomas, Frank (1985). *Sherlock Holmes and the Treasure Train*.

- Thomas, Frank (1986). *Sherlock Holmes and the Masquerade Murders*.

- Thomas, Frank (1989). *Sherlock Holmes and the Bizarre Alibi*.

- Thomas, Frank (2000). *Sherlock Holmes and the Panamanian Girls*.

- Thomas, Frank (2002). *Sherlock Holmes Mystery Tales*.

- Thomas, Frank (2002). *Secret Files of Sherlock Holmes*.

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** Obituary *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*, May 17, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Obituary *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*, May 18, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Frankie Thomas"](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/frankie-thomas-478400.html). *The Independent*. London. May 16, 2006. Retrieved May 2, 2010.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** ["Frankie Thomas"](https://web.archive.org/web/20200608023114/https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/frankie-thomas-62158). *Internet Broadway Database*. The Broadway League. Archived from [the original](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/frankie-thomas-62158) on June 8, 2020. Retrieved June 8, 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** ["Frankie Thomas, Young, Engaging, Delights Big Whalom Audience; Portland Stars Are Welcomed Back"](https://www.newspapers.com/clip/53008486/fitchburg-sentinel/). *Fitchburg Sentinel*. Massachusetts, Fitchburg. August 13, 1940. p. 5. Retrieved June 8, 2020 – via [Newspapers.com](/source/Newspapers.com).

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** McLellan, Dennis. ["Frankie Thomas, 85; actor starred as a TV space cadet"](https://archive.boston.com/news/globe/obituaries/articles/2006/05/21/frankie_thomas_85_actor_starred_as_a_tv_space_cadet/). *Boston.com News*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20170922013158/http://archive.boston.com/news/globe/obituaries/articles/2006/05/21/frankie_thomas_85_actor_starred_as_a_tv_space_cadet/) from the original on September 22, 2017. Retrieved July 4, 2020.

- Anthony Hayward (May 16, 2006). ["Frankie Thomas Star of 'Tom Corbett, Space Cadet'"](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/frankie-thomas-478400.html). *The Independent*. London. Retrieved June 14, 2008.

- Goldrup, Tom and Jim (2002). *Growing Up on the Set: Interviews with 39 Former Child Actors of Film and Television*. McFarland & Co. pp. 277–285. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1476613702](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1476613702).

- Holmstrom, John (1996). *The Moving Picture Boy: An International Encyclopaedia from 1895 to 1995*. Norwich: Michael Russell, p. 103-104.

- Willson, Dixie (1935). *Little Hollywood Stars*. Akron, OH, e New York: Saalfield Pub. Co.

## External links

- [Biography portal](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Biography)

Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Frankie Thomas](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Frankie_Thomas).

- [Frankie Thomas interview](https://web.archive.org/web/20060330023611/http://www.slick-net.com/space/interviews/thomas.phtml)

- [Frankie Thomas](https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/14310694) at [Find a Grave](/source/Find_a_Grave)

- [Frankie Thomas](https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/62158) at the [Internet Broadway Database](/source/Internet_Broadway_Database)

- [Frankie Thomas](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0858833/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier))

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND FAST WorldCat National United States Latvia Other Open Library SNAC

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