Frank Shannon

Tall, imposing American actor Frank Shannon made his screen debut in 1913's The Prisoner of Zenda. Shannon then returned to the stage until beckoned back to Hollywood in the early '30s. Though mostly confined to bit roles until his retirement in 1943, Shannon managed to play a few substantial supporting parts, including Captain McTavish in Warner Bros.' Torchy Blaine series. Frank Shannon is most fondly remembered as the brilliant, bearded Dr. Zarkov in the three Flash Gordon serials produced by Universal between 1936 and 1940.

By Hal Erickson All Movie Guide

Birth name Frank Connolly Shannon Date of birth  27 July 1874, Ireland Date of death  1 February 1959, Hollywood, California, USA

Zarkov's Inventions

Filmography from imdb.com

1. Deadly Ray from Mars (1966) (TV) .... Dr. Zarkov
2. Peril from the Planet Mongo (1966) (TV) .... Dr. Zarkov
3. Purple Death from Outer Space (1966) (TV) .... Dr. Zarkov
   ... aka Purple Death from Outer Space 1940 (1966) (TV) (promotional title)
4. Spaceship to the Unknown (1966) (TV) .... Dr. Hans Zarkov
5. Dangerous Profession, A (1949) (uncredited) .... Barman
6. Crack-Up (1946) (uncredited) .... Gateman
7. Batman, The (1943) (uncredited) .... Dr. Hayden (zombie)
   ... aka Batman (1943)
   ... aka Evening with Batman and Robin (1966/I) (USA: reissue title)
8. Iron Major, The (1943) (uncredited) .... Pa Cavanaugh
9. Phantom, The (1943) .... Prof. Davidson
10. Ten Gentlemen from West Point (1942)
11. Reap the Wild Wind (1942) (uncredited) .... Captain in cafe
12. Unfinished Business (1941) (uncredited) .... Groom's Father
13. Rawhide Rangers (1941) .... Captain
14. Federal Fugitives (1941) .... Colonel Hammond
15. Rage in Heaven (1941) (uncredited) .... Workers' Delegate
16. Dispatch from Reuters, A (1940) (uncredited) .... Captain with pipe
    ... aka This Man Reuter (1940) (UK)
17. Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe (1940) .... Dr. Zarkov
    ... aka Perils from the Planet Mongo (1940) (USA: recut version)
    ... aka Purple Death from Outer Space (1940) (USA: recut version)
    ... aka Space Soldiers Conquer the Universe (1955) (USA: TV title)
18. Wildcat Bus (1940) .... Sweeney
19. Emergency Squad (1940) .... Construction Supervisor at Elevator
20. Return of Frank James, The (1940) .... Sheriff Daniels
21. Night of Nights, The (1939) .... Frank, the Bartender
22. Torchy Plays with Dynamite (1939) .... Inspector McTavish
    ... aka Torchy Blane... Playing with Dynamite (1939) (USA: informal alternative title)
23. Torchy Runs for Mayor (1939) .... Captain McTavish
24. Union Pacific (1939) (uncredited) .... Old man
25. Torchy Blane in Chinatown (1939) .... Capt. McTavish
26. Holiday (1938) (uncredited) .... Farmer
    ... aka Free to Live (1938) (UK)
    ... aka Unconventional Linda (1938) (UK: reissue title)
27. Outlaws of the Prairie (1938) (uncredited)
28. Torchy Gets Her Man (1938) .... Captain McTavish
29. Mars Attacks the World (1938) .... Dr. Alexis Zarkov
30. You Can't Take It with You (1938) (uncredited) .... Mac
31. Blondes at Work (1938) .... Capt. McTavish
32. Torchy Blane in Panama (1938) .... Captain McTavish
    ... aka Trouble in Panama (1938) (UK)
33. Accidents Will Happen (1938) (uncredited) .... Man on Crutches
34. Flash Gordon's Trip to Mars (1938) .... Dr. Zarkov
    ... aka Deadly Ray From Mars (1938) (USA: recut version)
    ... aka Flash Gordon: Mars Attacks the World (1938) (USA: video title)
    ... aka Space Soldiers' Trip to Mars (1938)
35. Mannequin (1938) (uncredited) .... Sergeant
36. Adventurous Blonde, The (1937) .... Captain McTavish
    ... aka Torchy Blane the Adventurous Blonde (1937)
37. Roll Along, Cowboy (1937) .... Frederick Morgan
38. Ever Since Eve (1937) (uncredited) .... Desk Sergeant
39. Affairs of Cappy Ricks, The (1937) .... Captain Braddock
40. Black Gold (1936) .... Dan O'Reilly
41. Flash Gordon (1936/I) .... Dr. Alexis Zarkov
    ... aka Flash Gordon: Rocketship (1936) (USA: recut version)
    ... aka Flash Gordon: Space Soldiers (1936) (USA: video title)
    ... aka Space Soldiers (1936) (USA: TV title)
    ... aka Spaceship to the Unknown (1936) (USA: recut version)
42. Flash Gordon (1936/II) .... Dr. Hans Zarkov
    ... aka Atomic Rocketship (1936)
    ... aka Rocketship (1936)
43. Murder of Dr. Harrigan, The (1936) (uncredited) .... Police Sergeant
44. Pace That Kills, The (1936) .... Mr. Farley
    ... aka Cocaine Fiends (????) (USA: reissue title)
45. End of the Trail (1936) .... Sheriff Anderson
46. Texas Rangers, The (1936) .... Captain Stafford
47. Road Gang (1936) (uncredited) .... Chaplain
    ... aka Injustice (1936) (UK)
48. Prisoner of Shark Island, The (1936) .... Judge Advocate General Joseph Holt
49. Men Without Names (1935) .... Leahy
50. Eagle's Brood, The (1935) .... Mike
51. 'G' Men (1935) (uncredited) .... Police Chief at Lodge
52. Woman in the Dark (1934) .... Undetermined Role
    ... aka Woman in the Shadows (1934)
53. Rasputin and the Empress (1932) (uncredited) .... Professor Propotkin
    ... aka Rasputin the Mad Monk (1932) (UK)
54. Monsieur Beaucaire (1924) .... Badger
55. Icebound (1924) .... Judge Bradford
56. Bride's Play (1922) .... Sir John Mansfield
57. Boomerang Bill (1922) .... Terrence O'Malley
58. Perjury (1921) .... Phil Rourke
59. Prisoner of Zenda, The (1913) .... Undetermined Role
    

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