History Creator / DwightFrye

In any event, over the years he's gained a small cult following for his horror roles, and even inspired an Music/AliceCooper [[SanitySlippageSong song]]: "The Ballad of Dwight Fry [sic]".

In any event, over the years he's gained a small cult following for his horror roles, and even inspired an Music/AliceCooper [[SanitySlippageSong song]]: "The Ballad of Dwight Fry [sic]."

Frye enjoyed an extensive and varied stage career (including a part in the first American production of ''Theatre/SixCharactersInSearchOfAnAuthor'') and gained some positive attention for his performances on Broadway, but his hot eyes and earnest delivery, in combination with his short stature, could be a bit overpowering on film. [[TypeCasting Hollywood cast him mostly as pathetic nutcases]], but he kept trying to pursue a successful film career, and would accept any role he could to [[MoneyDearBoy pay his bills]]. Frye's other roles were usually limited to very small, but memorable parts in B-list gangster movies (including the original 1931 version of ''Film/{{The Maltese Falcon|1931}}''), usually playing the villain's henchman. He appeared in short film ''Film/DontTalk'' as a saboteur at a war munitions plant.

A devout Christian Scientist, he refused to seek medical attention for his secret coronary condition, and his untimely death by heart attack came just days before he was supposed to begin filming a prominent "straight" role, as UsefulNotes/WoodrowWilson's Secretary of War in ''{{Film/Wilson}}''. Whether or not that film could have [[WhatCouldHaveBeen finally launched him into stardom]] is up for debate.

In any event, Frye has gained a small cult following for his horror roles, and even inspired an Music/AliceCooper [[SanitySlippageSong song]]: "The Ballad of Dwight Fry [sic]."

[[quoteright:315:[[Film/Dracula1931 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Dwight-Frye_6557.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:315:Look at his eyes! Why, the man's gone crazy!]]

Frye had an extensive and varied stage career (including a part in the first American production of ''Theatre/SixCharactersInSearchOfAnAuthor'') and gained some positive attention for his performances on Broadway, but his hot eyes and earnest delivery, in combination with his short stature, could be a bit overpowering on film. [[TypeCasting Hollywood cast him mostly as pathetic nutcases]], but he kept trying to pursue a successful film career, and would accept any role he could to [[MoneyDearBoy pay his bills]]. Frye's other roles were usually limited to very small, but memorable parts in B-list gangster movies (including the original 1931 version of ''Film/{{The Maltese Falcon|1931}}''), usually playing the villain's henchman. He appeared in short film ''Film/DontTalk'' as a saboteur at a war munitions plant.

A devout Christian Scientist, Frye refused to seek medical attention for his secret coronary condition, and his untimely death by heart attack came just days before he was supposed to begin filming a prominent "straight" role, as UsefulNotes/WoodrowWilson's Secretary of War in ''{{Film/Wilson}}''. Whether or not that film could have [[WhatCouldHaveBeen finally launched him into stardom]] is up for debate.

He has gained a small cult following for his horror roles, and inspired an Music/AliceCooper [[SanitySlippageSong song]]: "The Ballad of Dwight Fry [sic]."

[[quoteright:300:[[Film/Dracula1931 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Dwight-Frye_6557.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:300:Look at his eyes! Why, the man's gone crazy!]]

Frye had an extensive and varied stage career (including a part in the first American production of ''Theatre/SixCharactersInSearchOfAnAuthor''), gaining some positive attention for his roles on Broadway, but his hot eyes and earnest delivery were a bit overpowering on film in addition to his short stature. [[TypeCasting Hollywood cast him mostly as pathetic nutcases]], but he kept trying to pursue a successful film career, and accepted any role he could to [[MoneyDearBoy pay his bills]]. Frye's other roles were usually limited to very small, but memorable parts on B-list gangster movies (including the original 1931 version of ''Film/{{The Maltese Falcon|1931}}''), usually as the villain's henchman. He appeared in short film ''Film/DontTalk'' as a saboteur at a war munitions plant.

Frye had an extensive and varied stage career (including a part in the first American production of ''Theatre/SixCharactersInSearchOfAnAuthor''), gaining some positive attention for his roles on Broadway, but his hot eyes and earnest delivery were a bit overpowering on film in addition to his short stature. [[TypeCasting Hollywood cast him mostly as pathetic nutcases]], but he kept trying to pursue a successful film career, and accepted any role he could to [[MoneyDearBoy pay his bills]]. Frye's other roles were usually limited to very small, but memorable parts on B-list gangster movies (including the original 1931 version of ''Film/{{The Maltese Falcon|1931}}''), usually as the villain's henchman.

[[quoteright:317:[[Film/Dracula1931 https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Dwight-Frye_6557.jpg]]]]
[[caption-width-right:317:Look at his eyes! Why, the man's gone crazy!]]

Dwight Iliff Frye (1899–1943) was an American actor remembered mostly for his appearances in the classic Franchise/UniversalHorror films ''[[Film/{{Dracula 1931}} Dracula]]'' (1931), ''[[Film/{{Frankenstein 1931}} Frankenstein]]'' (1931), and ''Film/BrideOfFrankenstein'' (1935), in which he [[TropeCodifier codified]] both TheIgor and TheRenfield.

Frye had an extensive and varied stage career (including a part in the first American production of ''Theatre/SixCharactersInSearchOfAnAuthor''), gaining some positive attention for his roles on Broadway, but his hot eyes and earnest delivery were a bit overpowering on film in addition to his short stature. [[TypeCasting Hollywood cast him mostly as pathetic nutcases]], but he kept trying to pursue a successful film career, and accepted any role he could to [[MoneyDearBoy pay his bills]]. Frye's other roles were usually limited to very small, but memorable parts on B-list gangster movies (including the original 1931 version of ''TheMalteseFalcon''), usually as the villain's henchman.

Dwight Iliff Frye (1899–1943) was an American actor remembered mostly for his appearances in the classic UniversalHorror films ''[[Film/{{Dracula 1931}} Dracula]]'' (1931), ''[[Film/{{Frankenstein 1931}} Frankenstein]]'' (1931), and ''Film/BrideOfFrankenstein'' (1935), in which he [[TropeCodifier codified]] both TheIgor and TheRenfield.

Frye had an extensive and varied stage career (including a part in the first American production of ''Theatre/SixCharactersInSearchOfAnAuthor''), gaining some positive attention for his roles on Broadway, but his hot eyes and earnest delivery were a bit overpowering on film in addition to his short stature. [[TypeCasting Hollywood cast him mostly as pathetic nutcases]], but he kept trying to pursue a successful film career, and accepted any role he could to [[MoneyDearBoy pay his bills]]. Frye's other roles were usually limited to very small, but memorable parts on B-list gangster movies (including the original 1931 version of ''TheMalteseFalcon''), usually as the villain's henchman. A devout Christian Scientist, he refused to seek medical attention for his secret coronary condition, and his untimely death by heart attack came just days before he was supposed to begin filming a prominent "straight" role, as UsefulNotes/WoodrowWilson's Secretary of War in ''{{Film/Wilson}}''. Whether or not that film could have [[WhatCouldHaveBeen finally launched him into stardom]] is up for debate.

-->-- '''Dwight Frye'''

Dwight Frye (1899–1943) was an American actor remembered mostly for his appearances in the classic UniversalHorror films ''[[Film/{{Dracula 1931}} Dracula]]'' (1931), ''[[Film/{{Frankenstein 1931}} Frankenstein]]'' (1931), and ''Film/BrideOfFrankenstein'' (1935), in which he [[TropeCodifier codified]] both TheIgor and TheRenfield.

[[quoteright:317:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Dwight-Frye_6557.jpg]]

[[caption-width-right:317:Look at his eyes! Why, the man's gone crazy]]

He has gained a small cult following for his roles in the UniversalHorror films, and inspired an Music/AliceCooper [[SanitySlippageSong song]]: "The Ballad of Dwight Fry [sic]."

Frye had an extensive and varied stage career (including a part in the first American production of ''Theatre/SixCharactersInSearchOfAnAuthor''), gaining some positive attention for his roles on Broadway, but his hot eyes and earnest delivery were a bit overpowering on film in addition to his short stature. [[TypeCasting Hollywood cast him mostly as pathetic nutcases]], but he kept trying to pursue a successful film career, and accepted any role he could to [[MoneyDearBoy pay his bills]]. Frye's other roles were usually limited to very small, but memorable parts on B-list gangster movies (including the original 1931 version of ''TheMalteseFalcon''), usually as the villain's henchman. A devout Christian Scientist, he refused to seek medical attention for his secret coronary condition, and his untimely death by heart attack came just days before he was supposed to begin filming a prominent "straight" role, as UsefulNotes/WoodrowWilson's Secretary of War in ''{{Film/Wilson}}''. [[WhatCouldHaveBeen It's debatable if the film would have finally launched him into stardom.]]

Dwight Frye (1899-1943) was an American actor remembered mostly for his appearances in the classic UniversalHorror films ''[[Film/{{Dracula 1931}} Dracula]]'' (1931), ''[[Film/{{Frankenstein 1931}} Frankenstein]]'' (1931), and ''Film/BrideOfFrankenstein'' (1935), in which he [[TropeCodifier codified]] both TheIgor and TheRenfield.

Frye had an extensive and varied stage career (including a part in the first American production of ''Theatre/SixCharactersInSearchOfAnAuthor''), gaining some positive attention for his roles on Broadway, but his hot eyes and earnest delivery were a bit overpowering on film in addition to his short stature. [[TypeCasting Hollywood cast him mostly as pathetic nutcases]], but he kept trying to pursue a successful film career, and accepted any role he could to [[MoneyDearBoy pay his bills]]. Frye's other roles were usually limited to very small, but memorable parts on B-list gangster movies (including [[TheMalteseFalcon the original Maltese Falcon]]), usually as the villain's henchman. A devout Christian Scientist, he refused to seek medical attention for his secret coronary condition, and his untimely death by heart attack came just days before he was supposed to begin filming a prominent "straight" role, as UsefulNotes/WoodrowWilson's Secretary of War in ''{{Film/Wilson}}''. [[WhatCouldHaveBeen It's debatable if the film would have finally launched him into stardom.]]

Dwight Frye (1899-1943) was an American actor remembered mostly for his appearances in the classic UniversalHorror films ''Film/{{Dracula 1931}}'', ''Film/{{Frankenstein 1931}}'', and ''Film/BrideOfFrankenstein'' -- in which he [[TropeCodifier codified]] both TheIgor and TheRenfield.

He has gained a small cult following for his roles in the UniversalHorror films, and inspired an Music/AliceCooper [[SanitySlippageSong song]]: "The Ballad of Dwight Fry [sic]."

->''If God is good, I will be able to play comedy, in which I was featured on Broadway for eight seasons and in which no producer of motion pictures will give me a chance! And please God, may it be before I go screwy playing idiots, half-wits and lunatics on the talking screen!''

Frye had an extensive and varied stage career (including a part in the first American production of ''Theatre/SixCharactersInSearchOfAnAuthor''), gaining some positive attention for his roles on Broadway, but his hot eyes and earnest delivery were a bit overpowering on film in addition to his short stature. [[TypeCasting Hollywood cast him mostly as pathetic nutcases]], but he kept trying to pursue a successful film career, and accepted any role he could to [[MoneyDearBoy pay his bills]]. Frye's other roles were usually limited to very small, but memorable parts on B-list gangster movies (including [[TheMalteseFalcon the original Maltese Falcon]]), usually as the villain's henchman. A devout Christian Scientist, he refused to seek medical attention for his secret coronary condition, and his untimely death by heart attack came just days before he was supposed to begin filming a prominent "straight" role, as UsefulNotes/WoodrowWilson's Secretary of War in ''{{Film/Wilson}}''. [[WhatCouldHaveBeen It's debatable on if the film would have finally launched him into staredom.]]

Frye had an extensive and varied stage career (including a part in the first American production of ''Theatre/SixCharactersInSearchOfAnAuthor''), gaining some positive attention for his roles on Broadway, but his hot eyes and earnest delivery were a bit overpowering on film in addition to his short stature. [[TypeCasting Hollywood cast him mostly as pathetic nutcases]], but he kept trying to pursue a successful film career, and accepted any role he could to [[MoneyDearBoy pay his bills]]. Frye's other roles were usually limited to very small, but memorable parts on B-list gangster movies (including [[TheMalteseFalcon the original Maltese Falcon]]), usually as the villain's henchman. A devout Christian Scientist, he refused to seek medical attention for his secret coronary condition, and his untimely death by heart attack came just days before he was supposed to begin filming a prominent "straight" role, as UsefulNotes/WoodrowWilson's Secretary of State in a biopic about the former President. [[WhatCouldHaveBeen It's debatable on if the film would have finally launched him into staredom.]]

Frye had an extensive and varied stage career (including a part in the first American production of ''Theatre/SixCharactersInSearchOfAnAuthor''), gaining some positive attention for his roles on Broadway, but his hot eyes and earnest delivery were a bit overpowering on film in addition to his short stature. [[TypeCasting Hollywood cast him mostly as pathetic nutcases]], but he kept trying to pursue a successful film career, and accepted any role he could to [[MoneyDearBoy pay his bills]]. Frye's other roles were usually limited to very small, but memorable parts on B-list gangster movies (including [[TheMalteseFalcon the original Maltese Falcon]]), usually as the villain's henchman. A devout Christian Scientist, he refused to seek medical attention for his secret coronary condition, and his untimely death by heart attack came just days before he was supposed to begin filming a prominent "straight" role, as WoodrowWilson's Secretary of State in a biopic about the former President. [[WhatCouldHaveBeen It's debatable on if the film would have finally launched him into staredom.]]

-->''If God is good, I will be able to play comedy, in which I was featured on Broadway for eight seasons and in which no producer of motion pictures will give me a chance! And please God, may it be before I go screwy playing idiots, half-wits and lunatics on the talking screen!''
--->'''Dwight Frye'''

Dwight Frye (1899-1943) was an American actor remembered mostly for his appearances in the classic UniversalHorror films ''{{Film/Dracula}}'', ''Film/{{Frankenstein 1931}}'', and ''Film/BrideOfFrankenstein'' -- in which he [[TropeCodifier codified]] both TheIgor and TheRenfield.

Frye had an extensive and varied stage career (including a part in the first American production of ''Theatre/SixCharactersInSearchOfAnAuthor''), gaining some positive attention for his roles on Broadway, but his hot eyes and earnest delivery were a bit overpowering on film in addition to his short stature. [[TypeCasting Hollywood cast him mostly as pathetic nutcases]], but he kept trying to pursue a successful film career, and accepted any role he could to [[MoneyDearBoy pay his bills]]. Frye's other roles were usually limited to very small, but memorable parts on B-list gangster movies (including [[TheMalteseFalcon the original Maltese Falcon]]), usually as the villain's henchman, while unsuccessfully trying to revive his theatre career and living a very private family like. A devout Christian Scientist, he refused to seek medical attention for his secret coronary condition, and his untimely death by heart attack came just days before he was supposed to begin filming a prominent "straight" role, as WoodrowWilson's Secretary of State in a biopic about the former President. [[WhatCouldHaveBeen It's debatable on if the film would have finally launched him into staredom.]]

Frye had an extensive and varied stage career (including a part in the first American production of ''Theatre/SixCharactersInSearchOfAnAuthor''), gaining some positive attention for his roles on Broadway, but his hot eyes and earnest delivery were a bit overpowering on film; [[TypeCasting Hollywood cast him mostly as pathetic nutcases]], but he kept trying to pursue a successful film career, and accepted any role he could to [[MoneyDearBoy pay his bills]]. Frye's other roles were usually limited to very small, but memorable parts on B-list gangster movies (including [[TheMalteseFalcon the original Maltese Falcon]]), usually as the villain's henchman. A devout Christian Scientist, he refused to seek medical attention for his secret heart condition, and his untimely death by heart attack came just days before he was supposed to begin filming a prominent "straight" role, as WoodrowWilson's Secretary of State in a biopic about the former President. [[WhatCouldHaveBeen It's debatable on if the film would have finally launched him into staredom.]]

Frye had an extensive and varied stage career (including a part in the first American production of ''Theatre/SixCharactersInSearchOfAnAuthor''), gaining some positive attention for his roles on Broadway, but his hot eyes and earnest delivery were a bit overpowering on film; [[TypeCasting Hollywood cast him mostly as pathetic nutcases]], but he kept trying to pursue a successful film career, and accepted any role he could to [[MoneyDearBoy pay his bills]]. Frye's other roles were limited to very small, but memorable parts on B-list gangster movies (including [[TheMalteseFalcon the original Maltese Falcon]]). A devout Christian Scientist, he refused to seek medical attention for his secret heart condition, and his untimely death by heart attack came just days before he was supposed to begin filming a prominent "straight" role, as WoodrowWilson's Secretary of State in a biopic about the former President. [[WhatCouldHaveBeen It's debatable on if the film would have finally launched him into staredom.]]

He has gained a small cult following for his roles in the [[UniversalMonsters Universal monster]] films, and inspired an Music/AliceCooper [[SanitySlippageSong song]]: "The Ballad of Dwight Fry [sic]."

Frye had an extensive and varied stage career (including a part in the first American production of ''Theatre/SixCharactersInSearchOfAnAuthor''), but his hot eyes and earnest delivery were a bit overpowering on film; [[TypeCasting Hollywood cast him mostly as pathetic nutcases]]. His untimely death by heart attack came just after he had signed on for a prominent "straight" role, as WoodrowWilson's Secretary of State in a biopic about the former President.

Inspired an Music/AliceCooper [[SanitySlippageSong song]]: "The Ballad of Dwight Fry [sic]."