Wikipedia / Frank Whaley
Wikipedia / Frank Whaley
Frank Joseph Whaley (born July 20, 1963) is an American actor, film director and screenwriter. His roles include Brett in Pulp Fiction, Robby Krieger in The Doors, Jim Dodge in Career Opportunities, young Archie "Moonlight" Graham in Field of Dreams, and Guy in Swimming with Sharks. He has also appeared in films and TV series such as Born on the Fourth of July, The Freshman, A Midnight Clear, Swing Kids, Broken Arrow, Luke Cage, Red Dragon and World Trade Center.
Early life
Whaley was born and raised in Syracuse, New York, the son of Robert W. Whaley Sr. and Josephine (née Timilione). Whaley graduated from Anthony A. Henninger High School in 1981 and left home at 18. He graduated from the University at Albany.
Career
Whaley made his film debut in 1987's Ironweed. In 1989, he appeared in Field of Dreams and Born on the Fourth of July. The latter film began a long collaboration with director Oliver Stone, including 1991's The Doors, in which he played Robby Krieger, JFK, which was released the same year, in which he played a conspirator in the JFK assassination and 2006's World Trade Center, where he played Chuck Sereika, a former drug addict who helped in the rescue efforts. In 1990, Whaley appeared with Marlon Brando and Matthew Broderick in The Freshman. In 1991, he starred in the John Hughes feature film Career Opportunities.
Over the next two years, he played supporting roles in movies such as Hoffa and Swing Kids. He appeared in his second leading film role in 1994's Swimming with Sharks. During the same year, he played a supporting role as the doomed Brett, who was memorably killed by Samuel L. Jackson's and John Travolta's characters in Pulp Fiction.
In 1998, he started a regular role on the short-lived CBS series Buddy Faro. He also appeared in episodes of The Dead Zone, Law & Order, and its spinoff Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
Whaley made his writing-directorial debut in his independent film Joe the King in 1999, featuring his Doors co-star Val Kilmer and longtime friend and colleague Ethan Hawke in starring roles. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and earned Whaley the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award. His second film as writer and director, The Jimmy Show, stars Whaley and Carla Gugino. This film also premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
Whaley's third film as writer and director, New York City Serenade, starring Chris Klein and Freddie Prinze Jr., premiered at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival. He stars as the villain in the 2007 horror film Vacancy. In 2014 he wrote and directed the film Like Sunday, Like Rain, starring Debra Messing, Leighton Meester and Billie Joe Armstrong. The film won six awards at the 2014 Williamsburg Independent Film Festival including Best Film, Best Director and acting nods for Armstrong, Meester, Messing and Julian Shatkin. It opened in March 2015.
In 2014, Whaley appeared as Van Miller in Season One of the Showtime series Ray Donovan. In 2016, Whaley had a role in Paramount Animation's first mostly live-action film, Monster Trucks, and in 2017, he appeared in the teen film The Outskirts.
Whaley's other film credits include Red Dragon, Rob the Mob, School of Rock, Broken Arrow, Little Monsters, A Midnight Clear, Janie Jones and I.Q. among others.
His television credits include Gotham, The Blacklist, CSI, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Psych, Burn Notice, Ugly Betty, Mrs. Harris, When Trumpets Fade, Boston Legal, Blue Bloods, Bull, House, MacGyver, Divorce, Elementary, Under the Dome, the TV mini-series Madoff, Alcatraz and many others.
Whaley has maintained his roots in the theater, working frequently with The New Group in New York City. In 2011, he appeared in The New Group's revival of Wallace Shawn's Marie And Bruce opposite Marisa Tomei.
Personal life
In 2001, Whaley married Heather Bucha Whaley, an actress and writer, and the author of Eat Your Feelings: Recipes for Self-Loathing.
Filmography
As director
Year | Title |
1999 | |
2001 | |
2007 | |
2014 |
Film roles
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
1987 | Young Francis Phelan | ||
1989 | |||
Boy | |||
Timmy Burns | |||
1990 | Steve Bushak | ||
Michael Latchmer | |||
1991 | |||
Jim Dodge | |||
Oswald Imposter | Credited in director's cut | ||
1992 | Archer Sloan | ||
Paul Mundy | |||
Young Trucker / Hitman | |||
1993 | Arvid | ||
1994 | Brett | ||
Guy | |||
Walter Cooper | Direct-to-video | ||
Frank | |||
1995 | Karchie | ||
Mickey Jelke | |||
1996 | Giles Prentice | ||
Joey | |||
1997 | Brian | ||
Franky Syde | |||
Malcolm Garvey | Direct-to-video | ||
1998 | Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God... Be Back by Five | Skee-Ball Weasel | |
Brett Conway | |||
1999 | Angry Man Bob Owes | Uncredited | |
2000 | The Narrator | Uncredited | |
2001 | Alan | ||
Jimmy O'Brien | |||
Lynny Barnum | |||
2002 | Ralph Mandy | Uncredited | |
2003 | Chad | ||
Battle of Bands Director | Uncredited | ||
2006 | Chuck Sereika | ||
Harris | |||
Brent Sykes | |||
Prison Guard | |||
2007 | Wade Chandling | ||
Mason | |||
Les | |||
2008 | Interviewed Bodyguards | ||
2009 | Duncan | Direct-to-video | |
2010 | Aaron | ||
Chuck | |||
2013 | Eric | Filmed in 2005 | |
2014 | FBI Agent Frank Hurd | ||
2016 | Sheriff Ted Hale | ||
Wade Coley | |||
2017 | Herb | ||
Detective Ramsey | |||
2018 | David | ||
2019 | Reese | ||
Officer Tom Wells | |||
Bane | |||
2023 | Detective John Watson | ||
2024 | Mailman Bob |
TV roles
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
1987 | Tommy | Episode: "The Road Back" | |
Scott McNichol | Episode: "Soldier Boys" | ||
Jeff Dillon | Episode: "Seasonal Differences" | ||
1988 | Press | Episode: "The Child Broker" | |
Life on the Flipside | Sonny Day | TV pilot | |
1989 | Arnie Woods | TV movie | |
Flying Blind | Joey | TV movie | |
1993 | TV movie | ||
James | TV movie | ||
1995 | Henry Marshall | Episode: "The Conversion" | |
1997 | Cole Ballard | Episode: "My Brother's Keeper | |
Unknown | 1 episode | ||
1998 | Bishop | TV movie | |
Medic Chamberlain | TV movie | ||
1998–2000 | Bob Jones | Main cast | |
1999 | Allen Kogan | TV movie | |
2000 | The Outer Limits | Zig Fowler / Cliff Unger | Episode: "Zig Zag" |
2001 | Strange Frequency | Unknown | Episode: "Time Is on My Side" |
Bad News Mr. Swanson | Unknown | TV pilot | |
2002 | John McDowell | Episode: "Access Nation" | |
Martin Donnor | Episode: "Future Trade" | ||
Sun Gods | Unknown | TV pilot | |
2003–2004 | Christopher Wey / Future Guy | Recurring | |
2004 | Mitch Godel | Episode: "Eosphoros" | |
Jeffrey White | Episode: "Chained" | ||
2005 | Brewmaster | TV movie | |
George Bolen | TV movie | ||
Peter Hagen | Episode: "Lewis Needs a Kidney" | ||
2006 | Where There's a Will | Richie Greene | TV movie |
Robert Dunn | Episode: "Who Ya Gonna Call?" | ||
2007 | Frankie Cox | Episode: "Brotherly Love" | |
Bill Nack | TV movie | ||
Robert Elliot | Episode: "Mirror Mirror" | ||
2008 | Navy Commander Grant Marcus | Episode: "PTSD" | |
2009 | Miles | Episode: "Disarmed and Dangerous" | |
2010 | Mr. Sparks | Episode: "Blackout!" | |
Josh Wagner | Episode: "Breach of Faith" | ||
2012 | Officer Donovan | Episode: "The Ames Brothers" | |
Larry Giles | Episode: "Firebomb" | ||
2012–2013 | Gary Heller | 2 episodes | |
2013 | FBI Agent Van Miller | Recurring | |
2014 | Karl Hoffman | Episode: "The Good Samaritan" | |
Doug | Episode: "Selina Kyle" | ||
2015 | Dr. Marston | 3 episodes | |
2016 | Jim Garrett | Episode: "We Can Be Heroes" | |
Main cast | |||
Chuck Gleason | Episode: "Withdrawal" | ||
Winston Utz | Episode: "To Catch a Predator Predator" | ||
Carson Hodges | Episode: "Gustav" | ||
Edison Cruz | Episode: "A Furnace for Your Foe" | ||
2016–2018 | Detective Rafael Scarfe | ||
2017 | Douglas Bishop | Episode: "Fish Scaler" | |
Max Hyland | Episode: "Free Fall" | ||
2018 | Ted | Episode: "Secuestrado" | |
Duane Harding | Episode: "Inside Out" | ||
Charles Quaid | Episode: "The Unseen Hand" | ||
2019 | Carl Estes | Episode: "Cargo" | |
2020 | Bull | Ray Peterman | Episode: "Off the Rails" |
References
External links