Don Francks

Don Francks
Born	Donald Harvey Francks February 28, 1932 (1932-02-28) (age 79) Vancouver, British Columbia
Occupation	Actor, vocalist, jazz musician
Years active	1954-present
Spouse	Lili Francks
Children	Cree Summer Rainbow Sun Francks

Donald Harvey Francks or Iron Buffalo (born February 28, 1932) is a Canadian actor, vocalist and jazz musician.

Life and work

Francks was born in Vancouver, British Columbia. He is a drummer, poet, native nations champion, motorcyclist, author and peace activist. He is interested in Tibet and supports Greenpeace.

He performed in vaudeville, worked as a foundryman and was involved in summer stock before moving to Toronto. During his time in Hollywood he lived in Encino, California. After a time, he moved with his family to the Red Pheasant Indian Reserve, near North Battleford, Saskatchewan. He is an honorary Cree, who is known as Iron Buffalo. Since 1974, he has been living in Toronto with his wife Lili (Red Eagle), a member of the Plains Cree First Nation who was a dancer. Their children are Cree Summer and Rainbow Sun.

He appeared many times at George's Spaghetti House, a Toronto jazz club that was the equivalent of New York's Birdland. He was also known to sit in on drums at the Colonial Tavern and other Toronto afterhours clubs and jazz venues.

Career

Francks co-starred with Fred Astaire in the 1968 musical film Finian's Rainbow, directed by Francis Ford Coppola.

He appeared as Walter in the La Femme Nikita television series from 1997-2001. His early television credits include: Mission: Impossible, Wild Wild West, The Man from U.N.C.L.E., Little Men, Traders and several episodic television appearances. His film work includes The Big Town with Tommy Lee Jones, the cult slasher film My Bloody Valentine and Johnny Mnemonic.

Francks appeared on Broadway in the title role of the musical Kelly, as a daredevil planning to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge. The show was the first on Broadway in a generation to close on its opening night.

He provides the voice of "Skunk" in Gene Simmons' animated television show My Dad the Rock Star.

As a voice-actor, Francks is the first person to portray Boba Fett, a Mandalorian bounty hunter. He played Fett in The Star Wars Holiday Special and reprised the role in an episodes of Star Wars: Droids. Francks voiced several characters in Inspector Gadget along with his daughter, Cree Summer, who voiced Penny during the first season of the show. Francks also provided the voice for Mok Swagger in the 1983 Canadian animated film Rock and Rule.

Filmography

• The Curse of the Piano (2008) ... as Deacon
• I'm Not There (2007) ... as Gentleman Hobo (Hobo Joe) on the train
• Sons of Butcher (2006) ... as Barney G.
• The Very Good Adventures of Yam Roll in Happy Kingdom (2006) (voice) ... as Futukayoi
• Lie with Me (2005) ... as Joshua
• Puppets Who Kill ("The Twilight Place") (2004) ... as The Evil Head ... ("Bill & the Berkowitz's") (2006) ... Blind Willy
• This Is Wonderland ("Episode 1.13") (2004) ... as Stan Puck
• Zixx Level One ("Four's a Crowd") (2004) ... as Mr. Bigalky
• Atomic Betty ("No-L9", "Like Father, Like Scum/Planet Stinxx") (2004) (voice) ... as Max Sr
• The Last Chapter II: The War Continues (2003) ... as President Stanz
• My Dad the Rock Star (2003) (voice) ... as Skunk
• Knights of the Zodiac (2003) ... Additional Voices
• Beyblade (2002) ... Additional Voices
• Cyberchase (2002) ... Additional Voices
• Street Time ("Reversal of Fortune") (2002) ... as Mr. Goldstein
• Tracker ("Native Son") (2002) ... as Wahota Keene
• A Killing Spring (2002) ... as Lou Massey
• My Name is Tanino (2002) ... as Chinawsky
• The Zack Files ("Groovin'") (2001)
• Screech Owls ("Horror on River Road") (2001) ... as Mr. Fontaine
• Medabots (2001) ... Guest Star
• Eckhart (2001) (voice) ... as Cat/Boss Mouse
• Earth: Final Conflict ("Trapped by Time") (2001) ... as Kyle Madrid
• The Famous Jett Jackson ("Backstage Pass") (2000) ... as Phil Phelps
• Psi Factor: Chronicles of the Paranormal ("Wendigo") (2000) ... as Samuel Thompson
• Relic Hunter ("Flag Day") (1999) ... as Jake Whitney
• Dinner at Fred's (1999) ... as Gus
• Avengers: United They Stand (1999) ... Additional Voices
• Rescue Heroes (1999) ... Additional Voices
• Seasons of Love (1999) ... as Reverend Doctor Garshwin
• Traders ("Little Monsters") (1998)
• The True Meaning of Crumbfest (1998) (voice) ... as Boss Mouse
• Summer of the Monkeys (1998) ... as Bayliss Hatcher
• Silver Surfer (1998) (voice) ... as Kalok
• Mythic Warriors: Guardians of the Legend ("Jason and the Argonauts", "Ulysses and Circe") (1998) (voice) ... as Blue-Eyed Wolf/2nd Sailor
• Eerie, Indiana: The Other Dimension ("Nightmare on Eerie Street") (1998) ... Sandman
• Birdz (1998) ... Additional Voices
• Bad Dog (1998) ... Additional Voices
• Donkey Kong Country (1998) ... Additional Voices
• Mr. Music (1998) ... as Zal Adamchyk
• Little Men ("Thanksgiving") (1998) ... as Levi Cole
• The Minion (1998) ... as Michael Baer
• Sam & Max: Freelance Police ("Christmas Bloody Christmas") (1998) (voice) ... Santa Claus
• Ned's Newt (1997) ... Additional Voices
• Pippi Longstocking (1997) ... Additional Voices
• Freaky Stories (1997) ... Additional Voices
• Mr. Men and Little Miss (1997) (voice) ... as Mr. Grumpy and Mr. Clumsy
• A Prayer in the Dark (1997) ... as Ken
• La Femme Nikita (1997–2001) ... as Walter
• Chester Cheetah (1997) ... Voice
• First Degree (1996) ... as Lou Matlin
• Bogus (1996) ... as Dr. Surprise
• Harriet the Spy (1996) ... as Harrison Withers
• Heck's Way Home (1996) ... as Red
• Captain Heart: The James Mink Story (1996) ... as Risser
• Hostile Advances: The Kerry Ellison Story (1996) ... as Marty
• The Deliverance of Elaine (1996) ... as Hector
• Flash Gordon (1996) ... Additional Voices
• Journey to the Center of the Earth (1996) ... Voice
• Stickin' Around (1996) ... Guest Star
• Blazing Dragons (1996) ... Guest Star
• Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1996) ... Additional Voices
• Goosebumps ("The Werewolf of Fever Swamp" Parts 1 and 2) (1996) ... as Swamp Hermit
• First Degree (1996) ... as Lou Matlin
• The Possession of Michael D. (1995) ... as Marcel
• The Neverending Story (1995) (voice) ... as Gmork
• Johnny Mnemonic (1995) ... as Hooky
• Road to Avonlea ("The Return of Gus Pike") (1995) ... as Abe Pike
• A Vow to Kill (1995) ... as Smithford
• Little Bear (1995) ... as Additional Voices
• Ultraforce (1995) ... Additional Voices
• Paint Cans (1994) ... as Maitland Burns
• Small Gifts (1994) ... as Peter
• Highlander: The Animated Series (1994) ... Guest Star
• Kung Fu: The Legend Continues ("Enter the Tiger") (1994) ... as Stranger
• WildC.A.T.S. (1994) ... Guest Star
• Free Willy (1994) ... Guest Star
• Side Effects ("The Great Chendini") (1994) ... as Mr. Harrison
• Madonna: Innocence Lost (1994) .... as Jerome Kirkland
• Blauvogel (1994) ... as Captain Savard
• Hello Kitty and Friends (1994) ... Additional Voices
• Tales from the Cryptkeeper (1993) ("Ghost Ship") (voice) ... as Red Beard
• Cadillacs and Dinosaurs (1993) (voice) ... as Girth/Hobbs
• The Busy World of Richard Scarry (1993) ... Additional Voices
• The Diviners (1993) ... as Royland
• E.N.G. ("The Sleep of Reason") (1992) ... as Pointer
• Quiet Killer (1992) ... as Dr. Martin
• The Trial of Red Riding Hood (1992) ... as Singer
• The Adventures of Tintin (1992) (voice) ... as Captain Francis Haddock
• Dog City (1992) (voice) ... as the Dog City Residents
• X-Men (1992) (voice) ("Cold Vengeance", "Deadly Reunions", "Enter Magneto" ... as Sabretooth/Victor Creed), ("Repo Man" ... as Puck/Eugene Milton Judd/Shaman/Dr. Michael Twoyoungmen), ("The Phalanx Covenant: Part 1" ... as Sabretooth/Victor Creed Phalanx)
• Married to It (1991) ... as Sol Chamberlain
• Rupert (1991) ... Additional Voices
• Swamp Thing (1991) (voice) ... as Anton Arcane
• Top Cops (1990) ... Announcer
• Labor of Love (1990)
• Piggsburg Pigs (1990) ... Additional Voices
• Beetlejuice (1989) (voice) ... as Count Mein/Mr. Big
• Babar (1989) ... Additional Voices
• The Legend of Zelda (1989) ... Additional Voices
• Police Academy (1988) (voice) ... as Proctor/Thomas "House" Conklin
• The Christmas Wife (1988) ... as Social Arranger
• Hot Paint (1988) ... as Don Spatulo
• Care Bears Nutcracker Suite (1988) (voice) ... as Vizier
• AlfTales (1988) ... Additional Voices
• ALF: The Animated Series (1987) ... Additional Voices
• My Pet Monster (1987) ... Additional Voices
• Madballs (1987) (voice) ... as Commander Wolf Breath
• Garbage Pail Kids (1987) ... Additional Voices
• Starcom: The U.S. Space Force (1987) (voice) ... Adm. Franklin Brinkley (Starcom Commander)
• Street Legal ("I'll Be Home for Christmas") (1987) ... as Mel
• Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future (1987) (voice) ... as Lacchi
• The Big Town (1987) ... as Carl Hooker
• Alfred Hitchcock Presents ("The Mole") (1987) ... as Sgt. Jim Willis
• The Care Bears (1986) ... Additional Voices
• Seeing Things ("I'm Looking Through You") (1984) ... as Sunshine, ("Blind Alley") (1985) ... as Gary
• Star Wars: Ewoks (1985–1986) (voice) ... as Umwak/Dulok Shaman
• Star Wars: Droids (1985) (voice) ... as Jann Tosh
• Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors (1985) (voice) ... as Noak
• The Littlest Hobo ("The Good Shepherd") (1984) ... as Reverend Dobson
• Countdown to Looking Glass (1984) ... as Don Geller
• Inspector Gadget (1983) .... Additional Voices
• Rock & Rule (1983) (voice) ... as Mok
• 984: Prisoner of the Future (1982) ... as The Warden
• Heavy Metal (1981) (voice) ... as Grimaldi/Co-Pilot/Barbarian
• My Bloody Valentine (1981) ... as Chief Jake Newby
• The Phoenix Team (1980) ... as David Brook
• Summer's Children (1979) ... as Albert
• Riel (1979) ... as Ouilette
• Overlanders (1979) ... as The Hand Me Down Kid
• The Great Detective ("The Black Curse") (1979) ... Guest Star
• Fast Company (1979) ... as Elder
• Fish Hawk (1979) ... as Deut Boggs
• Drying Up the Streets (1978) ... as Peter Brennan
• The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978) (voice) ... as Boba Fett
• Flashpoint (1977) ... Voice
• Drylanders Episode 1 (1974) ... Role
• McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971) ... as Buffalo
• Mannix ("Memory: Zero") (1969)
• Lancer ("Little Darling of the Sierras") (1969) ... as Noah Fletcher
• Mission: Impossible ("A Game of Chess") (1968) ... as Nicholas Groat, ("The Numbers Game") (1969) ... as Major Alex Denesch
• The Virginian ("The Land Dreamer") (1969) ... as Caleb and Jack Welles
• Mister Rogers' Neighborhood (1968–1970) ... as Mr. Anybody
• Finian's Rainbow (1968) ... as Woody Mahoney
• The Man from U.N.C.L.E. ("The Round Table Affair") (1966)... as Artie King
• The Wild Wild West ("The Night of the Grand Emir") (1966) ... as T. Wigget Jones
• Ben Casey ("You Wanna Know What Really Goes on in a Hospital?"), ("Why Did the Day Go Backwards?") (1965)
• The Forest Rangers ("The Game Reserve") (1963) ... as Sanders, Jack Brass' Friend
• This Land (1978–1982) ... as Host
• High Steel (1966) ... as Narrator
• The Merv Griffin Show (Episode dated 15 February 1968) ... as Himself
• R.C.M.P. (1959–1960) ... as Constable Bill Mitchell

Awards

• 1980 and 1981 - Don Francks won ACTRA Awards for Best Dramatic Performance for his roles in Drying Up The Streets and The Phoenix Team.

Selected discography

• At The Purple Onion, with Lenny Breau and Eon Henstridge, 2004, Art of Life Records. Recorded live at the coffeehouse Purple Onion in Toronto in August 1962.
• No One In This World Is Like Don Francks, LP, 1963, Kapp Records. Don Francks, Lenny Breau and Eon Henstridge formed the trio Three.
• Lost... and Alone, LP, 1964, Kapp Records.

"Josephine, the Short Necked Giraffe" Voice of "Jack Giraffe".(1968)

Bibliography

• Heyn, Christopher. "A Conversation with Don Francks." Inside Section One: Creating and Producing TV's La Femme Nikita. Introduction by Peta Wilson. Los Angeles: Persistence of Vision Press, 2006. 100-105. ISBN 0-9787625-0-9. In-depth conversation with Don Francks about his role as Walter on La Femme Nikita, along with numerous stories from his lengthy acting and musical career.

External links

• Don Francks at the Internet Movie Database
• Don Francks' official website
• Encyclopedia of Music in Canada, Don Francks
• fan site with intel, interviews, transcripts, music and more
• AM740 Gets Francks 'Round Midnight

Persondata
Name	Francks, Don
Alternative names	Iron Buffalo
Short description	Actor, vocalist, jazz musician
Date of birth	February 28, 1932
Place of birth	Vancouver, British Columbia
Date of death
Place of death