Frank DeKova

Biography

Frank de Kova was an American character actor who worked in films, on stage, and in television. Born in 1910, he taught English and earned a master's degree in English from Columbia University before joining a Shakespeare repertory company. His Broadway debut came in Detective Story, and Elia Kazan discovered him. In Hollywood he played a Mexican colonel in Viva Zapata! and appeared in The Big Sky opposite Kirk Douglas, and he took the part of Abiram in The Ten Commandments. Later films included Cowboy (1958) with Glenn Ford and Jack Lemmon and The Mechanic (1972) with Charles Bronson, along with Ralph Bakshi's American Pop (1981). His television work ranged from a hitman on The Untouchables to occasional appearances on Gunsmoke as Tobeel, a Kiowa friend of Marshal Matt Dillon, and his best-known role was Chief Wild Eagle on the western comedy F Troop from 1965 to 1967. He died in 1981.

71years old at death

Born March 17, 1910New York City
Died October 15, 1981North Hills
Star sign: PiscesThe sign runs February 19 to March 20

Movie Career

Films: 26
Career span: 30 years1952 to 1982

Genres

Western42%, 11 films
Drama31%, 8 films
Crime27%, 7 films
Action23%, 6 films
Adventure15%, 4 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

A change of course
De Kova taught English before he became an actor, and he earned a Master of Arts in English from Columbia University. He then joined a Shakespeare repertory group.

Frank DeKova movies on Netflix

Hey Good Lookin'1982IMDb rating 6.1as Old Vinnie (voice)
American Pop1981IMDb rating 7.2as Crisco
Coonskin1975IMDb rating 6.4as Managan / Ruby (voice)
Baby Needs a New Pair of Shoes1974IMDb rating 4.7as Big Tony(Frank deKova)
The Don Is Dead1973IMDb rating 6.2as Giunta(Frank de Kova)
The Mechanic1972IMDb rating 6.8as The Man
Those Calloways1964IMDb rating 6.5as Nigosh
Follow That Dream1962IMDb rating 6.6as Jack
Atlantis: The Lost Continent1961IMDb rating 5.5as Sonoy the Astrologer
The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond1960IMDb rating 6.7as Syndicate Chairman
Day of the Outlaw1959IMDb rating 7.3as Denver, Bruhn's Gang
Apache Territory1958IMDb rating 5.8as Lugo(Frank deKova)
Cowboy1958IMDb rating 6.7as Alcaide
Machine-Gun Kelly1958IMDb rating 6.1as Harry
Teenage Cave Man1958IMDb rating 3.6as The Black-Bearded One
The Brothers Karamazov1958IMDb rating 6.7as Capt. Vrublevski
Ride Out for Revenge1957IMDb rating 5.8as Chief Yellow Wolf(Frank de Kova)
Run of the Arrow1957IMDb rating 6.6as Red Cloud
The Lone Ranger1956IMDb rating 6.5as Chief Red Hawk
Shack Out on 1011955IMDb rating 6.3as Prof. Claude Dillon
Strange Lady in Town1955IMDb rating 6.1as Anse Hatlo
The Man From Laramie1955IMDb rating 7.3as Padre
Drum Beat1954IMDb rating 6.3as Modoc Jim
Arrowhead1953IMDb rating 5.9as Chief Chattez
Split Second1953IMDb rating 6.8as Dummy
The Big Sky1952IMDb rating 6.9as Moleface

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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The Mechanic1972 Action, Crime, Thrilleras The Man
IMDb rating 6.818K votes
American Pop1981 Animation, Drama, Musicas Crisco
IMDb rating 7.26.2K votes
Teenage Cave Man1958as The Black-Bearded One
IMDb rating 3.61.9K votes
Atlantis: The Lost Continent1961as Sonoy the Astrologer
IMDb rating 5.52.4K votes
Machine-Gun Kelly1958as Harry
IMDb rating 6.12.3K votes
Day of the Outlaw1959as Denver, Bruhn's Gang
IMDb rating 7.35.1K votes
The Man From Laramie1955as Padre
IMDb rating 7.313K votes
Baby Needs a New Pair of Shoes1974as Big Tony(Frank deKova)
IMDb rating 4.7420 votes

Most often with

Ralph Bakshi directed three of these films, Delmer Daves two and Roger Corman two. Charles Bronson appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Charles Bronson

Brian Keith

Robert J. Wilke

Simon OaklandBeulah Archuletta

Keenan Wynn

Ralph BakshiDirector, 3 films Delmer DavesDirector, 2 films

Roger CormanDirector, 2 films

Films together

Charles Bronson4 films together, 1954 to 1972
Charles Bronson's page
- The Mechanic1972IMDb rating 6.8DeKova as The ManBronson as Arthur Bishop
- Machine-Gun Kelly1958IMDb rating 6.1DeKova as HarryBronson as George R. 'Machine Gun' Kelly
- Run of the Arrow1957IMDb rating 6.6DeKova as Red CloudBronson as Blue Buffolo
- Drum Beat1954IMDb rating 6.3DeKova as Modoc JimBronson as Kintpuash
Brian Keith3 films together, 1953 to 1964
Brian Keith's page
- Those Calloways1964IMDb rating 6.5DeKova as NigoshKeith as Cam Calloway
- Run of the Arrow1957IMDb rating 6.6DeKova as Red CloudKeith as Captain Clark
- Arrowhead1953IMDb rating 5.9DeKova as Chief ChattezKeith as Capt. Bill North
Robert J. Wilke3 films together, 1953 to 1956
Robert J. Wilke's page
- The Lone Ranger1956IMDb rating 6.5DeKova as Chief Red HawkWilke as Cassidy
- Strange Lady in Town1955IMDb rating 6.1DeKova as Anse HatloWilke as Karg
- Arrowhead1953IMDb rating 5.9DeKova as Chief ChattezWilke as Sgt. Stone
Simon Oakland3 films together, 1958 to 1962
Simon Oakland's page
- Follow That Dream1962IMDb rating 6.6DeKova as JackOakland as Nick
- The Rise and Fall of Legs Diamond1960IMDb rating 6.7DeKova as Syndicate ChairmanOakland as Lt. Moody
- The Brothers Karamazov1958IMDb rating 6.7DeKova as Capt. VrublevskiOakland as Mavrayek
Beulah Archuletta3 films together, 1952 to 1957
Beulah Archuletta's page
- Ride Out for Revenge1957IMDb rating 5.8DeKova as Chief Yellow Wolf(Frank de Kova)Archuletta as Squaw
- The Man From Laramie1955IMDb rating 7.3DeKova as PadreArchuletta as Woman at Indian Wedding
- The Big Sky1952IMDb rating 6.9DeKova as MolefaceArchuletta as Blackfoot Dancer
Keenan Wynn2 films together, 1955 to 1972
Keenan Wynn's page
- The Mechanic1972IMDb rating 6.8DeKova as The ManWynn as Harry McKenna
- Shack Out on 1011955IMDb rating 6.3DeKova as Prof. Claude DillonWynn as George
Ralph BakshiDirector, 3 films, 1975 to 1982
All films by Ralph Bakshi
- Hey Good Lookin'1982IMDb rating 6.1DeKova as Old Vinnievoice
- American Pop1981IMDb rating 7.2DeKova as Crisco
- Coonskin1975IMDb rating 6.4DeKova as Managan / Rubyvoice
Delmer DavesDirector, 2 films, 1954 to 1958
All films by Delmer Daves
- Cowboy1958IMDb rating 6.7DeKova as Alcaide
- Drum Beat1954IMDb rating 6.3DeKova as Modoc Jim
Roger CormanDirector, 2 films, 1958
All films by Roger Corman
- Machine-Gun Kelly1958IMDb rating 6.1DeKova as Harry
- Teenage Cave Man1958IMDb rating 3.6DeKova as The Black-Bearded One
Also two films together14 more actors
- Elisha Cook Jr.Day of the Outlaw (1959) and Drum Beat (1954)
- Jack LambertDay of the Outlaw (1959) and Machine-Gun Kelly (1958)
- Rory CalhounApache Territory (1958) and Ride Out for Revenge (1957)
- Jay NovelloAtlantis: The Lost Continent (1961) and The Big Sky (1952)
- Arthur HunnicuttSplit Second (1953) and The Big Sky (1952)
- Perry LopezThe Lone Ranger (1956) and Drum Beat (1954)
- Richard ShannonRide Out for Revenge (1957) and Arrowhead (1953)
- Edgar StehliAtlantis: The Lost Continent (1961) and The Brothers Karamazov (1958)
- Robert CarricartThe Don Is Dead (1973) and Follow That Dream (1962)
- Barboura MorrisMachine-Gun Kelly (1958) and Teenage Cave Man (1958)
- John PickardThe Lone Ranger (1956) and Arrowhead (1953)
- Philip Michael ThomasHey Good Lookin' (1982) and Coonskin (1975)
- Jesse WellesHey Good Lookin' (1982) and Coonskin (1975)
- John DukeThe Don Is Dead (1973) and Follow That Dream (1962)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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