Frank McGrath

Acting

Frank McGrath

Born February 2, 1903 · Mound City, Missouri, USA

Died May 13, 1967 · aged 64

Benjamin Franklin McGrath (February 2, 1903 – May 13, 1967) was an American television and film actor and stunt performer who played the comical, optimistic cook with the white beard, Charlie B. Wooster, on the western series Wagon Train for five seasons on NBC and then three seasons on ABC. McGrath appeared in all 272 episodes in the eight seasons of the series, which had ended its run only two y…

Known For

The SearchersThe Searchers · 1956
The Searchers
★ 7.71956
MovieWestern
As a Civil War veteran spends years searching for a young niece captured by Indians, his motivation becomes increasingly questionable.
Fort ApacheFort Apache · 1948
Fort Apache
★ 7.01948
MovieWestern
Owen Thursday sees his new posting to the desolate Fort Apache as a chance to claim the military honour which he believes is rightfully his. Arrogant, obsessed with military form and ultimately self-destructive, he attempts to destroy the Apache chief Cochise after luring him across the border from Mexico, against the advice of his subordinates.
She Wore a Yellow RibbonShe Wore a Yellow Ribbon · 1949
She Wore a Yellow Ribbon
★ 6.91949
MovieDramaWestern
On the eve of retirement, Captain Nathan Brittles takes out a last patrol to stop an impending massive Indian attack. Encumbered by women who must be evacuated, Brittles finds his mission imperiled.
The Tin StarThe Tin Star · 1957
The Tin Star
★ 7.01957
MovieWestern
An experienced bounty hunter helps a young sheriff learn the meaning of his badge.
Western UnionWestern Union · 1941
Western Union
★ 6.01941
MovieWestern
When Edward Creighton leads the construction of the Western Union to unite East with West, he hires a Western reformed outlaw and a tenderfoot Eastern surveyor. Preserved by the Academy Film Archive in partnership with Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation in 2000.
HondoHondo · 1953
Hondo
★ 6.51953
MovieWestern
Army despatch rider Hondo Lane discovers a woman and her son living in the midst of warring Apaches, and he becomes their protector.
3 Godfathers3 Godfathers · 1948
3 Godfathers
★ 6.81948
MovieWestern
Three outlaws on the run discover a dying woman and her baby. They swear to bring the infant to safety across the desert, even at the risk of their own lives.
Broken ArrowBroken Arrow · 1950
Broken Arrow
★ 6.71950
MovieWesternDrama
Indian scout Tom Jeffords is sent out to stem the war between the American settlers and Apaches in the late 1870s Arizona. He learns that the Indians kill only to protect themselves, or out of retaliation for white atrocities.

Filmography

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Wagon TrainWagon Train · 1957
Wagon Train
★ 6.61957
SeriesWesternDrama
The series initially starred veteran movie supporting actor Ward Bond as the wagon master, later replaced upon his death by John McIntire, and Robert Horton as the scout, subsequently replaced by lookalike Robert Fuller a year after Horton had decided to leave the series. The series was inspired by the 1950 film Wagon Master directed by John Ford and starring Ben Johnson, Harry Carey Jr. and Ward Bond, and harkens back to the early widescreen wagon train epic The Big Trail starring John Wayne and featuring Bond in his first major screen appearance playing a supporting role. Horton's buckskin outfit as the scout in the first season of the television series resembles Wayne's, who also played the wagon train's scout in the earlier film.

Charlie Wooster