Frank Nelson

Infobox Actor
name = Frank Nelson


caption =
birthname = Frank Brandon Nelson
birthdate = May 6, 1911
birthplace = Colorado, USA
deathdate = death date and age|1986|9|12|1911|5|6
deathplace = Hollywood, California, USA
othername =
occupation = Actor
yearsactive =
spouse =
domesticpartner = Mary Lansing (1933-?)
Veola Vonn (1970-1986)
website =

Frank Brandon Nelson (May 6, 1911 – September 12, 1986) was an American comedic actor best known for playing put-upon foils on radio and television.

Biography

Nelson first found fame as the put-upon foil to Jack Benny on Benny's radio show during the 1940s and 1950s. Nelson's typically portrayed a sales clerk or customer service worker. For example, needing airline tickets, Benny would call the ticket agent, "Oh Mister? Mister?" Nelson's appearance began with his catchphrase, a bellowed "Ye-e-e-e-s?". The two men would banter, with Nelson gleefully delivering one-liners such as "Is that a hairpiece or did someone plant moss on your head?" and sarcastic responses like "Do I work at this airport? No, I'm a DC-4 with a mustache."

Nelson continued to appear on Benny's television show in 1950, doing the same "rude clerk" schtick. His other catchphrase, that would be worked into every routine, would have Benny asking something mundane, such as, "Do these shirts come in a medium?" and Frank would bellow, "Oo-oo-oo-ooh, do they!" He also appeared on several other radio programs. Nelson's sudden appearances usually led to spontaneous laughter or applause on the part of the audience.

After "Jack Benny", Nelson continued to work in sitcoms in similar roles, most notably in "The Hank McCune Show" and "I Love Lucy" during the 1950s and "Sanford and Son" during the 1970s. In 1981, Nelson did a string of commercials for McDonalds doing his trademark "Y-e-e-e-s?" catchphrase. "Garfield in Paradise" in 1986 was the last recorded time he used his signature phrase.

In addition to his onscreen work, Nelson was an in-demand voiceover artist for animated cartoons, appearing on "The Jetsons" and as Governor Wetworth on "The Snorks" among other programs. He also served as the head of AFTRA (a performers union) between 1954 and 1957. Nelson's work in radio included dramatic roles in CBS Radio's "Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar" in 1956.

Nelson was not as prolific in motion pictures, but he did appear occasionally in variations of his oily clerk characterization. One of his larger roles is in "Down Memory Lane" (1949), in which he plays the apoplectic manager of a TV station. He also appears memorably in "So You Want to Know Your Relatives", a Joe McDoakes spoof of "This Is Your Life"; Nelson plays the master of ceremonies, happily ushering unsavory guests onstage.

His distinctive appearance and manner of saying "Y-e-e-e-s?" has been parodied frequently in film and television, most notably with the character on "The Simpsons" called the "Frank Nelson Type" (aka "Yes Guy"). [Groening, Matt and McCann, Jesse L.: "The Simpsons—One Step Beyond Forever", page 54.]

Tributes

Jack Benny co-star and cartoon voice artist Mel Blanc would sometimes pay homage to Nelson by working a "Y-e-e-e-s" into one of his voice portrayals. Other performers have done the same. For example, in an episode of the sitcom "Three's Company" ("Doctor In The House", Season 6), Ralph Furley (Don Knotts) consults with a doctor who is actually Jack Tripper (John Ritter) disguised in a surgeon's mask. When Furley calls out to the doctor in his office, Jack responds with Nelson's famous "Y-e-e-e-s?" catchphrase.

Fred Flintstone was also burdened by a rude, fresh-mouthed Frank Nelson whenever he had to deal with a clerk.

References

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External links

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* [http://www.dannythestreet.com/franknelson/ Frank Nelson page, with sound clips]
* [http://povonline.com/cols/COL053.htm POV Online column: a fond description and remembrance of Frank Nelson]