Dwight Frye (1899-1943) was an American actor remembered mostly for his appearances in the classic
Universal Horror films
Dracula,
Frankenstein, and
Bride of Frankenstein — in which he
codified both
The Igor and
The Renfield.
Frye had an extensive and varied stage career (including a part in the first American production of
Six Characters In Search Of An Author), but his hot eyes and earnest delivery were a bit overpowering on film;
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
Woodrow Wilson's Secretary of State in a biopic about the former President.
Inspired an
Alice Cooper song: "The Ballad of Dwight Fry [sic]."
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