Frank De Vol
Biography
Frank De Vol built a long career as an American composer, arranger, bandleader and actor. Born in Moundsville, West Virginia, and raised in Canton, Ohio, he began composing at 12, joined the Musicians' Union at 14, and played violin in his father's orchestra. In the 1930s he arranged for the Horace Heidt Orchestra. He wrote arrangements for singers including Nat King Cole, and his accompaniment to Cole's Nature Boy was a US number one in 1948. In Hollywood he scored many films and earned five Academy Award nominations, four for Best Score, among them Pillow Talk, Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte, Cat Ballou and Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. As an actor he specialized in deadpan comic roles, including Chief Eaglewood in The Parent Trap (1961) and the narrator in The Big Mouth (1967), and he played Happy Kyne on Fernwood 2 Night and America 2-Night. He composed themes for Family Affair and The Brady Bunch. He died in 1999.
88years old at death
- Born Moundsville
- Died Lafayette
- Star sign: VirgoThe sign runs August 23 to September 22
- Also credited as Frank Denny De Vol and De Vol
Movie Career
- Films
- 3
- Career span
- 6 years1961 to 1967
Every film, newest first
- 1967The Big MouthIMDb rating 5.5
- 1962Boys' Night OutIMDb rating 6.5
- 1961The Parent TrapIMDb rating 7.2
Genres
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A first
De Vol's best known arrangement is likely the string and piano accompaniment to Cole's "Nature Boy," a United States Number One in 1948. That same year he arranged and sang lead vocals on a version of "The Teddy Bears' Picnic."
A first
De Vol wrote the theme for My Three Sons, a hit single in 1961, with a marimba playing a triplet obligato of the tune "Chopsticks" over the melody in time.
Behind the camera
De Vol wrote the jingle for the Screen Gems "Dancing Sticks" logo, used from 1963 to 1965. It showed up on every series made by Columbia Pictures' television division.
Behind the camera
De Vol arranged the soundtrack for The Happening, a 1967 Columbia Pictures comedy, and co-produced The Supremes' recording of the film's theme, which became a number one American pop hit later that year.
About the name
For his musical work, De Vol chose the credit "De Vol," while his acting appearances were billed under the name "Frank De Vol."
Beyond film
In the 1950s, De Vol's orchestra was a frequent performer at the Hollywood Palladium, where it appeared under the concert name "Music of the Century."
Frank De Vol movies on Netflix
Worked with
Frank De Vol shares two films with Ruth McDevitt, and one with each of the others. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Ruth McDevitt's page
James Garner's page
Jerry Lewis's page
Brian Keith's page
George Takei's page
Jim Backus's page
All films by David Swift
All films by Michael Gordon
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.