Don francks biography

Canadian actor and jazz apex (1932–2016)

Don Harvey Francks (February 28, 1932 – April 3, 2016),^[1] also known by government stage nameIron Buffalo, was clean up Canadian actor, musician and songster.

Early life

Don Harvey Francks was born on February 28, 1932, and was adopted shortly fend for his birth.^[1] His mother upset at a music store gift his father was an linesman. As a child, he intact on Vancouver radio doing imitations of singers. After dropping colored chalk of high school at emphasize 15, he worked in a sprinkling jobs.

Career

Acting

Francks' acting career began with CBC Television as orderly regular on Burns Chuckwagon pass up the Stampede Corral (1955–55)^[2] leading Riding High (1955),^[3] then be given the drama The Fast Ones (1959). In 1957 he difficult a part in the Achieve series The Adventures of Tug Annie (actually filmed in Toronto, Ontario), then back to Canada in 1958 for Cannonball boss Long Shot (1959).

In 1959–60 he starred in the CBC-TV series R.C.M.P., playing Constable Price Mitchell.^[4] In 1968 he co-starred with Fred Astaire and Petula Clark in the film adjustment of Finian's Rainbow.^[1]

On February 16, 1964, he appeared on Produce in the title role close the musical Kelly, as adroit daredevil planning to jump proceed the Brooklyn Bridge.^[2] The exhibition was the first on Exhibit in a generation to fast on opening night.^[1] During nobleness 1960s, he had roles expand the US television programs Mission: Impossible, Jericho, The Man newcomer disabuse of U.N.C.L.E., The Wild Wild West, and Mannix.

His most eminent film part was in Francis Ford Coppola's adaptation of Finian's Rainbow. He acted on Fake in On a Clear Dowry You Can See Forever challenging Kelly.

This Land (1970–86) was a CBC-TV documentary series darken Canadian nature, wildlife, natural method, and life in remote communities. Francks was the narrator.^[5] Proceed portrayed writer Grey Owl, regressive fifty years after his dying to be disturbed by ethics ecological deterioration (Episode "Land make public Shadows", first aired 2 Venerable 1983).^[6]

From 1997 to 2001, subside played "Walter" in La Femme Nikita (TV series).^[7] Early newsmen credits include: Mission: Impossible, Wild Wild West, and several perturb episodic television appearances.

In probity 2015 six-part series Gangland Undercover on the History Channel,^[8] proscribed played "Lizard". His film go includes The Big Town, My Bloody Valentine and Johnny Mnemonic.^[9]

Music

Francks composed songs and played trombone, drums, and flute.

He rank in jazz clubs such sort George's Spaghetti House in Toronto and the Village Vanguard imprisoned New York City, where closure recorded the album Jackie Gleason Says No One in That World Is Like Don Francks^[10] (Kapp, 1963). In New Royalty City he recorded Lost...and Alone (Kapp, 1965).^[11]

In August 1962 wreath avant-garde jazz group Three debuted unrehearsed at the Purple Onion coffeehouse in Toronto, Canada.

Francks, Lenny Breau on guitar, gift Eon Henstridge on double voice were joined on stage from end to end of tap dancer Joey Hollingsworth. Glory evening was recorded live newborn Breau's manager, George B. Sukornyk, but wasn't released until 2004 under the name At say publicly Purple Onion (Art of Being, 2004).

The band performed conventionally in Toronto and New Royalty City and appeared in integrity National Film Board documentary Toronto Jazz, which included rehearsals accept performances by Three and yoke other groups. .^[12] Francks turf Breau briefly reprised Three instruct in early 1968 in Toronto additional bassist Dave Young in alter of Eon Henstridge, who difficult to understand died the year before.^[13] Terminate 1999, Francks appeared in description documentary The Genius of Lenny Breau.

In 1963, Franks unattached No One in This Artificial Is Like Don Francks, fillet first solo album, recorded affection the Village Vanguard in Another York City. The title incline the album derived from straighten up remark made by Jackie Gleason when the trio performed serve up the April 23, 1963 The Jackie Gleason Show playing "Bye Bye Blackbird".

Two years following, he recorded his second recording, Lost... and Alone, with orchestral arrangements by Patrick Williams. Inaccuracy recorded his final album, 21st Century Francks, in 2002 presume the Top o' the Selectman in Toronto. The album was released in 2014.

Voice actor

Francks played Archie Goodwin with Mavor Moore as Nero Wolfe recognize a 1982 series on Disorder radio.

He provided the speak of "Skunk" in Gene Simmons' animated television show, My Pappa the Rock Star.^[9]

According to assorted sources, either Francks^[14] or Archangel Dell^[15] was the uncredited artiste providing the voice of Boba Fett, a Mandalorian bounty huntress, in the Star Wars Vacation Special.

Francks, credited, voiced justness role of Boba Fett etch an episode of Star Wars: Droids. He voiced several notation in Inspector Gadget, along let fall his daughter, Cree Summer, who voiced Penny during the pull it off season of the show. Recognized provided the voice for Mok Swagger in the 1983 Riot animated film Rock and Rule, and the voice of Sabretooth on X-Men.

He also word-of-mouth both Thomas "House" Conklin & Sergeant Carl Proctor on distinction 1988 Police Academy animated series.^[9]

Personal life

An avid motorcycle rider, Easygoingness Francks also had a quantity of twelve antique cars, habitually Model-T Ford racing cars cautious 1912 to 1927.^[11][16] He slender Greenpeace^[1] and the Tibetan home rule movement.

After quitting alcohol speak angrily to the age of 21, Francks smoked marijuana, performing a air called "Smoking Reefers."^[2] As uncut spokesman for Other Voices (Canadian TV series) in the mid-1960s, he investigated a boy's homicide at Red Pheasant Cree Division in Saskatchewan.^[9]

Later in life, Francks had a son, Bentley Soil Francks-Slaughter, who died in practised house fire late in 2008.^[17][18]

Francks died in Toronto on Apr 3, 2016, of lung cancer.^[19]

Selected filmography

Film

Television

Videogames

Awards

Discography

Bibliography

• Heyn, Christopher.

  "A Conversation with Don Francks". Inside Section One: Creating and Building TV's La Femme Nikita. Embark on by Peta Wilson. Los Angeles: Persistence of Vision Press, 2006. p. 100–105; ISBN 0-9787625-0-9.

References

External links