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Frank DeKova

Frank DeKova

Actor

Born March 17, 1910 in New York City, New York, USA

Died October 15, 1981

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Frank DeKova parlayed a sinister scowl, piercing eyes and an all-around menacing attitude into a long career of playing cold-blooded trigger-men, rampaging Indian chiefs, brutal Mexican army officers and the like. So it would probably come as a shock to those who know his work to discover that, before he became an actor, he was--of all things--a schoolteacher.

Born in New York in 1910, DeKova gave up teaching for the stage, and played in many Shakespearean productions before getting work on Broadway. One of his first starring roles was in the classic detective play "Detective Story", which got him noticed and brought to Hollywood. He debuted in Viva Zapata! (1952) as the devious Mexican colonel who sets up Zapata's assassination. For the next several years he played an assortment of gangsters, killers, gunfighters and Indians--with time out to play a prehistoric patriarch in Roger Corman's campy Teenage Cave Man (1958)--and did much television work, including a standout job as a Mafia hit-man assigned to kill Elliot Ness in Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse: The Untouchables: Part 1 (1959). The role for which he will be most remembered, however, is probably the one that was his most atypical: the scheming, somewhat untrustworthy but very funny Hekawi Chief Wild Eagle, the partner to Forrest Tucker's Sgt. O'Rourke in O'Rourke's various schemes to make money, in the western comedy series F Troop (1965). He showed a previously unknown talent for comedy and managed to steal most of the scenes he was in from such veterans as Tucker and Larry Storch. He died in his sleep in 1981.

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BABY NEEDS A NEW PAIR OF SHOES (1974) Trailer aka JIVE TURKEY

Larry Karaszewski on HEAVY TRAFFIC

Heavy Traffic (1973 Theatrical Trailer)

Filmography

Actor

159

Type

Year

Fall in with F Troop Documentary2007

TV's Western Heroes Poster

TV's Western Heroes Documentary1993Chief Wild Eagle

Bloopermania Poster

Bloopermania Documentary1987

Hey Good Lookin' Poster

Hey Good Lookin' Feature Film1982Old Vinnie

American Pop Poster

American Pop Feature Film1981Crisco

Mafia on the Bounty Poster

Mafia on the Bounty Feature Film1980Rupolo

Cat in the Cage Poster

Cat in the Cage Feature Film1978Rachid Khan

The Incredible Hulk Poster

The Incredible Hulk TV Series1977Sam Monte

Baretta TV Series1975Dominick

Crossfire Poster

Crossfire TV Movie1975Albert Ambrose

Johnny Firecloud Poster

Johnny Firecloud Feature Film1975White Eagle

Swiss Family Robinson Poster

Swiss Family Robinson TV Series1975Shaman

Apple's Way Poster

Apple's Way TV Series1974Connie DeMarco

Baby Needs a New Pair of Shoes Poster

Baby Needs a New Pair of Shoes Feature Film1974Big Tony

Coonskin Poster

Coonskin Feature Film1974Mannigan

Little House on the Prairie Poster

Little House on the Prairie TV Series1974Brower

Police Woman Poster

Police Woman TV Series1974Vito Angelo

Run, Joe, Run Poster

Run, Joe, Run TV Series1974Chief Great Hawk

The Rockford Files Poster

The Rockford Files TV Series1974Nova

Frasier, the Sensuous Lion Poster

Frasier, the Sensuous Lion Feature Film1973The Man

Heavy Traffic Poster

Heavy Traffic Feature Film1973Angelo "Angie" Corleone

Police Story Poster

Police Story TV Series1973Pérez

The Don Is Dead Poster

The Don Is Dead Feature Film1973Giunta

The Slams Poster

The Slams Feature Film1973Capiello

Toma TV Series1973Alex Cordeen

The Mechanic Poster

The Mechanic Feature Film1972The Man

Cannon TV Series1971Lucius Delgado

The Wild Country Poster

The Wild Country Feature Film1970Two Dog

Love, American Style Poster

Love, American Style TV Series1969

Hawaii Five-O Poster

Hawaii Five-O TV Series1968Phil Kalama

It Takes a Thief Poster

It Takes a Thief TV Series1968Gen. Tashkov

The High Chaparral Poster

The High Chaparral TV Series1967Aguirre

The Legend of the Boy and the Eagle Poster

The Legend of the Boy and the Eagle Feature Film1967Narrator

F Troop TV Series1965Chief Wild Eagle

The F.B.I. Poster

The F.B.I. TV Series1965Dracus

The Greatest Story Ever Told Poster

The Greatest Story Ever Told Feature Film1965Tormentor

The Sword of Ali Baba Poster

The Sword of Ali Baba Feature Film1965Old Baba

Those Calloways Poster

Those Calloways Feature Film1965Nigosh

Daniel Boone Poster

Daniel Boone TV Series1964Saugus

Valentine's Day Poster

Valentine's Day TV Series1964Chief Bald Eagle

Kraft Suspense Theatre Poster

Kraft Suspense Theatre TV Series1963Edward

The Greatest Show on Earth Poster

The Greatest Show on Earth TV Series1963Joseph

The Raiders Poster

The Raiders Feature Film1963Pawnee Chief

The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters Poster

The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters TV Series1963Chief

Follow That Dream Poster

Follow That Dream Feature Film1962Jack

Stoney Burke Poster

Stoney Burke TV Series1962Mr. Tecas

The Dakotas Poster

The Dakotas TV Series1962Matt Kellog

The Gallant Men Poster

The Gallant Men TV Series1962Legrini

Alcoa Premiere Poster

Alcoa Premiere TV Series1961Gavril's Father

Atlantis: The Lost Continent Poster

Atlantis: The Lost Continent Feature Film1961Sonoy the Astrologer

Ben Casey Poster

Ben Casey TV Series1961John Whistler

Frontier Circus Poster

Frontier Circus TV Series1961Karl Maynard

Gunslinger Poster

Gunslinger TV Series1961Don Ignacio Alesandro

Portrait of a Mobster Poster

Portrait of a Mobster Feature Film1961Anthony Parazzo

Hong Kong Poster

Hong Kong TV Series1960Cesaro

Outlaws TV Series1960Chief White Tongue

Overland Trail Poster

Overland Trail TV Series1960Chief

Route 66 Poster

Route 66 TV Series1960Davey Briggs

Surfside 6 Poster

Surfside 6 TV Series1960Stinger

The Gun of Zangara TV Movie1960Louis 'Little New York' Campagna

The Islanders Poster

The Islanders TV Series1960Carlos Roca

The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond Poster

The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond Feature Film1960Syndicate Chairman

The Roaring 20's Poster

The Roaring 20's TV Series1960Ben Dorschel

The Tall Man Poster

The Tall Man TV Series1960Mike Gray Eagle

Thriller Poster

Thriller TV Series1960Lieutenant Vincoli

Adventures in Paradise Poster

Adventures in Paradise TV Series1959Captain Bultian

Black Saddle Poster

Black Saddle TV Series1959Calderon

Day of the Outlaw Poster

Day of the Outlaw Feature Film1959Denver

Five Fingers Poster

Five Fingers TV Series1959Landau

Hawaiian Eye Poster

Hawaiian Eye TV Series1959Okello

Hotel de Paree Poster

Hotel de Paree TV Series1959Indian

Johnny Staccato Poster

Johnny Staccato TV Series1959Eddie Wayneright

Laramie TV Series1959Chief Red Wolf

Rawhide TV Series1959Chief Tawyawp

Shotgun Slade Poster

Shotgun Slade TV Series1959Red Hawk

The Alaskans Poster

The Alaskans TV Series1959Fantan

The Deputy Poster

The Deputy TV Series1959Cowan

The Detectives Poster

The Detectives TV Series1959Nordoff

The Jayhawkers! Poster

The Jayhawkers! Feature Film1959Evans

The Lawless Years Poster

The Lawless Years TV Series1959Harry the Horse

The Rebel Poster

The Rebel TV Series1959Richard Aloysius Sturgis

The Scarface Mob Poster

The Scarface Mob TV Movie1959Jimmy Napoli

The Third Man Poster

The Third Man TV Series1959Arlatti

The Untouchables Poster

The Untouchables TV Series1959Anthony 'Tough Tony' Lamberto

77 Sunset Strip Poster

77 Sunset Strip TV Series1958Dino Malatesta

Apache Territory Poster

Apache Territory Feature Film1958Lugo

Buckskin Poster

Buckskin TV Series1958Potato Man

Cowboy Feature Film1958Alcaide

Lawman TV Series1958Jed Barker

Machine-Gun Kelly Poster

Machine-Gun Kelly Feature Film1958Harry

Man with a Camera Poster

Man with a Camera TV Series1958The Man

Mike Hammer Poster

Mike Hammer TV Series1958Al Adams

Peter Gunn Poster

Peter Gunn TV Series1958Joe Taber

Teenage Cave Man Poster

Teenage Cave Man Feature Film1958The Black-Bearded One

The Brothers Karamazov Poster

The Brothers Karamazov Feature Film1958Capt. Vrublevski

The Rifleman Poster

The Rifleman TV Series1958Carl Miller

The Texan Poster

The Texan TV Series1958Mandan

U.S. Marshal Poster

U.S. Marshal TV Series1958Red Slade

Union Pacific Poster

Union Pacific TV Series1958Indian Chief

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse Poster

Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse TV Series1958Jimmy Napoli

Appointment with a Shadow Poster

Appointment with a Shadow Feature Film1957Dutch Hayden

Hawkeye and the Last of the Mohicans Poster

Hawkeye and the Last of the Mohicans TV Series1957Ottawa Chief

Maverick Poster

Maverick TV Series1957Blackjack Hardy

Not One Shall Die Poster

Not One Shall Die Feature Film1957Egyptian Official

Ride Out for Revenge Poster

Ride Out for Revenge Feature Film1957Chief Yellow Wolf

Run of the Arrow Poster

Run of the Arrow Feature Film1957Red Cloud

Tales of Wells Fargo Poster

Tales of Wells Fargo TV Series1957Iron Hand

The Californians Poster

The Californians TV Series1957Jacko

The Restless Gun Poster

The Restless Gun TV Series1957Lupo Lazaro

The Silent Service Poster

The Silent Service TV Series1957Arturo

The Walter Winchell File Poster

The Walter Winchell File TV Series1957Stefan

Wagon Train Poster

Wagon Train TV Series1957Running Bear

Johnny Moccasin Poster

Johnny Moccasin TV Movie1956Brave Scout

Pillars of the Sky Poster

Pillars of the Sky Feature Film1956Zachariah

Reprisal! Poster

Reprisal! Feature Film1956Charlie Washackle

Santiago Poster

Santiago Feature Film1956Jingo

Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers Poster

Tales of the 77th Bengal Lancers TV Series19561 episode, 1956

The Lone Ranger Poster

The Lone Ranger Feature Film1956Chief Red Hawk

The Ten Commandments Poster

The Ten Commandments Feature Film1956Abiram

The White Squaw Poster

The White Squaw Feature Film1956Yellow Elk

Alfred Hitchcock Presents Poster

Alfred Hitchcock Presents TV Series1955Pedro

Cheyenne Poster

Cheyenne TV Series1955Benito Juárez

Crossroads Poster

Crossroads TV Series1955Black Hawk

Crusader Poster

Crusader TV Series1955Juan Pérez

Gunsmoke Poster

Gunsmoke TV Series1955Tobeel

Hold Back Tomorrow Poster

Hold Back Tomorrow Feature Film1955Priest

Shack Out on 101 Poster

Shack Out on 101 Feature Film1955Prof. Claude Dillon

Strange Lady in Town Poster

Strange Lady in Town Feature Film1955Anse Hatlo

The Man from Laramie Poster

The Man from Laramie Feature Film1955Padre

The Phil Silvers Show Poster

The Phil Silvers Show TV Series1955Judge's Assistant

Drum Beat Poster

Drum Beat Feature Film1954Modoc Jim

Passion Feature Film1954Martinez

The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin Poster

The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin TV Series1954Culebra

The Magical World of Disney Poster

The Magical World of Disney TV Series1954Narrator

They Rode West Poster

They Rode West Feature Film1954Isatai

Valley of the Kings Poster

Valley of the Kings Feature Film1954Akmed Salah

All the Brothers Were Valiant Poster

All the Brothers Were Valiant Feature Film1953Stevenson

Arrowhead Poster

Arrowhead Feature Film1953Chief Chattez

Fighter Attack Poster

Fighter Attack Feature Film1953Benedetto

King of the Khyber Rifles Poster

King of the Khyber Rifles Feature Film1953Ali Nur

Raiders of the Seven Seas Poster

Raiders of the Seven Seas Feature Film1953Captain Romero

Split Second Poster

Split Second Feature Film1953Dummy

The Desert Song Poster

The Desert Song Feature Film1953Mindar

The Robe Poster

The Robe Feature Film1953Slave Dealer

Your Favorite Story Poster

Your Favorite Story TV Series1953Chieftain

Chevron Theatre Poster

Chevron Theatre TV Series19521 episode, 1953

Death Valley Days Poster

Death Valley Days TV Series1952Chief Colorow

Holiday for Sinners Poster

Holiday for Sinners Feature Film1952The Wiry Man

Pony Soldier Poster

Pony Soldier Feature Film1952Custin

The Big Sky Poster

The Big Sky Feature Film1952Moleface

The Ford Television Theatre Poster

The Ford Television Theatre TV Series1952Delwin Slater

Viva Zapata! Poster

Viva Zapata! Feature Film1952Colonel Guajardo

The Mob Feature Film1951Culio

Up Front Poster

Up Front Feature Film1951Italian Man

Big Town Poster

Big Town TV Series19501 episode, 1956

Dick Tracy Poster

Dick Tracy TV Series19501 episode

Martin Kane Poster

Martin Kane TV Series1949Thomas Randall

The Ford Theatre Hour Poster

The Ford Theatre Hour TV Series19481 episode, 1951

Kiss of Death Poster

Kiss of Death Feature Film1947Con Library

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