Frankie Faison

Biography

Frankie Faison is an American actor who studied drama at Illinois Wesleyan University and earned a Master of Fine Arts from New York University before starting his career in a 1974 New York Shakespeare Festival staging of King Lear. He went on to appear in the Broadway premiere of Fences, earning a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Play. After small film roles, he played Lt. Fisk in Manhunter and appeared in Maximum Overdrive, and he became the actor most often seen in adaptations of Thomas Harris's Hannibal books, playing the jailer Barney in The Silence of the Lambs (1991), Hannibal (2001) and Red Dragon (2002). He also appeared in Coming to America (1988), Do the Right Thing (1989) and The Thomas Crown Affair (1999). On television he starred in True Colors and as Commissioner Ervin Burrell on The Wire, and played Sugar Bates on Banshee and Pop Hunter on Luke Cage.

77years old

Turns 78 on June 10in 241 days

Born June 10, 1949Newport News
Star sign: GeminiThe sign runs May 21 to June 20
Also credited as Frankie Russel Faison and Frankie R. Faison

Movie Career

Films: 46
Career span: 42 years1980 to 2022

Genres

Drama57%, 26 films
Comedy39%, 18 films
Crime33%, 15 films
Thriller26%, 12 films
Romance22%, 10 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

A first
Faison has appeared in more adaptations of Thomas Harris' Hannibal books than any other actor. He played Lecter's jailer Barney in The Silence of the Lambs, Hannibal and Red Dragon, and was also in Manhunter.
First role
Faison's acting career got underway in 1974, when he appeared in the New York Shakespeare Festival staging of King Lear. James Earl Jones played the title role in that production.
A role that slipped away
During the 1990-1991 season, Faison starred on the Fox situation comedy True Colors. Cleavon Little took his place for the program's second season.

Frankie Faison movies on Netflix

Till2022IMDb rating 7.2as John Carthan
Fatherhood2021IMDb rating 6.6as Mike
I'm Your Woman2020IMDb rating 6.2as Art
The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain2020IMDb rating 7.1as Kenneth Chamberlain Sr.
The Grudge2019IMDb rating 4.4as William Matheson
An Actor Prepares2018IMDb rating 5.3as Deacon Frank Dodge
The Case for Christ2017IMDb rating 6.4as Joe Dubois
Assumption of Risk2014IMDb rating 6.6as Dr. Paulson
Tio Papi2013IMDb rating 6.1as Gilly
Cowgirls n' Angels2012IMDb rating 6.1as Augustus
Mayor Cupcake2011IMDb rating 5.8as Lenny Davis
Adam2009IMDb rating 7.1as Harlan
Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant2009IMDb rating 5.8as Rhamus Twobellies
Meet the Browns2008IMDb rating 4.6as L.B.
My Blueberry Nights2007IMDb rating 6.6as Travis
Highwaymen2004IMDb rating 5.7as Will Macklin
In Good Company2004IMDb rating 6.4as Corwin
The Cookout2004IMDb rating 3.9as Jojo Andersen
White Chicks2004IMDb rating 6.0as Chief Elliott Gordon
Red Dragon2002IMDb rating 7.2as Barney Matthews
Call Me Claus2001IMDb rating 5.4as Dwayne
Down to Earth2001IMDb rating 5.4as Whitney Daniels
Hannibal2001IMDb rating 6.8as Barney Matthews
Oxygen1999IMDb rating 6.0as Phil Kline
The Thomas Crown Affair1999IMDb rating 6.9as Detective Paretti
Julian Po1997IMDb rating 5.9as Sheriff Leon
Albino Alligator1996IMDb rating 6.1as Agent Marv Rose
Mother Night1996IMDb rating 7.1as Robert Sterling Wilson
The Rich Man's Wife1996IMDb rating 5.3as Detective Ron Lewis
The Stupids1996IMDb rating 4.4as The Lloyd
Money for Nothing1993IMDb rating 5.7as Madigan
Sommersby1993IMDb rating 6.3as Joseph
Freejack1992IMDb rating 5.4as Eagle Man
City of Hope1991IMDb rating 7.3as Levonne
The Silence of the Lambs1991IMDb rating 8.6as Barney
Betsy's Wedding1990IMDb rating 5.7as Zack Monroe(Frankie R. Faison)
Do the Right Thing1989IMDb rating 7.9as Coconut Sid
Coming to America1988IMDb rating 7.1as Landlord
Mississippi Burning1988IMDb rating 7.8as Eulogist
Manhunter1986IMDb rating 7.2as Lt. Fisk
Maximum Overdrive1986IMDb rating 5.4as Handy
C.H.U.D.1984IMDb rating 5.6as Sgt. Parker
Exterminator 21984IMDb rating 4.6as Be Gee
A Little Sex1982IMDb rating 4.9as Electrician
Cat People1982IMDb rating 6.2as Detective Brandt
Permanent Vacation1980IMDb rating 6.1as Man in Lobby

Best known for

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

Top

The Silence of the Lambs1991 Crime, Drama, Thrilleras Barney
IMDb rating 8.61.7M votes
White Chicks2004 Comedy, Crimeas Chief Elliott Gordon
IMDb rating 6.0200K votes
Hannibal2001as Barney Matthews
IMDb rating 6.8317K votes
The Thomas Crown Affair1999as Detective Paretti
IMDb rating 6.9111K votes
Coming to America1988as Landlord
IMDb rating 7.1242K votes
Red Dragon2002as Barney Matthews
IMDb rating 7.2314K votes
Adam2009as Harlan
IMDb rating 7.137K votes
My Blueberry Nights2007as Travis
IMDb rating 6.659K votes

Most often with

Paul Weitz directed four of these films, John Landis two. Anthony Hopkins 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.

Top

Anthony Hopkins

John Heard

Faye Dunaway

Samuel L. Jackson

Willem Dafoe

John Goodman

Paul WeitzDirector, 4 films

John LandisDirector, 2 films

Films together

Anthony Hopkins4 films together, 1991 to 2002
Anthony Hopkins's page
- Red Dragon2002IMDb rating 7.2Faison as Barney MatthewsHopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter
- Hannibal2001IMDb rating 6.8Faison as Barney MatthewsHopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter
- Freejack1992IMDb rating 5.4Faison as Eagle ManHopkins as McCandless
- The Silence of the Lambs1991IMDb rating 8.6Faison as BarneyHopkins as Dr. Hannibal Lecter
John Heard3 films together, 1982 to 2004
John Heard's page
- White Chicks2004IMDb rating 6.0Faison as Chief Elliott GordonHeard as Warren Vandergeld
- C.H.U.D.1984IMDb rating 5.6Faison as Sgt. ParkerHeard as George Cooper
- Cat People1982IMDb rating 6.2Faison as Detective BrandtHeard as Oliver Yates
Faye Dunaway3 films together, 1996 to 2017
Faye Dunaway's page
- The Case for Christ2017IMDb rating 6.4Faison as Joe DuboisDunaway as Dr. Roberta Waters
- The Thomas Crown Affair1999IMDb rating 6.9Faison as Detective ParettiDunaway as The Psychiatrist
- Albino Alligator1996IMDb rating 6.1Faison as Agent Marv RoseDunaway as Janet Boudreaux
Samuel L. Jackson2 films together, 1988 to 1989
Samuel L. Jackson's page
- Do the Right Thing1989IMDb rating 7.9Faison as Coconut SidJackson as Mister Señor Love Daddy
- Coming to America1988IMDb rating 7.1Faison as LandlordJackson as Hold-Up Man
Willem Dafoe2 films together, 1988 to 2009
Willem Dafoe's page
- Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant2009IMDb rating 5.8Faison as Rhamus TwobelliesDafoe as Gavner Purl
- Mississippi Burning1988IMDb rating 7.8Faison as EulogistDafoe as Agent Alan Ward
John Goodman2 films together, 1984 to 1996
John Goodman's page
- Mother Night1996IMDb rating 7.1Faison as Robert Sterling WilsonGoodman as Major Frank Wirtanen
- C.H.U.D.1984IMDb rating 5.6Faison as Sgt. ParkerGoodman as Cop in Diner
Paul WeitzDirector, 4 films, 2001 to 2021
All films by Paul Weitz
- Fatherhood2021IMDb rating 6.6Faison as Mike
- Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant2009IMDb rating 5.8Faison as Rhamus Twobellies
- In Good Company2004IMDb rating 6.4Faison as Corwin
- Down to Earth2001IMDb rating 5.4Faison as Whitney Daniels
John LandisDirector, 2 films, 1988 to 1996
All films by John Landis
- The Stupids1996IMDb rating 4.4Faison as The Lloyd
- Coming to America1988IMDb rating 7.1Faison as Landlord
Also two films together25 more actors
- Whoopi GoldbergTill (2022) and Call Me Claus (2001)
- David StrathairnMy Blueberry Nights (2007) and City of Hope (1991)
- Colleen CampCirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant (2009) and In Good Company (2004)
- James Earl JonesSommersby (1993) and Coming to America (1988)
- Giancarlo EspositoDo the Right Thing (1989) and Maximum Overdrive (1986)
- Angela BassettMeet the Browns (2008) and City of Hope (1991)
- Philip Seymour HoffmanRed Dragon (2002) and Money for Nothing (1993)
- Jodie FosterSommersby (1993) and The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
- R. Lee ErmeySommersby (1993) and Mississippi Burning (1988)
- John ChoThe Grudge (2019) and Down to Earth (2001)
- Jenifer LewisMeet the Browns (2008) and The Cookout (2004)
- J.C. QuinnMaximum Overdrive (1986) and C.H.U.D. (1984)
- Zeljko IvanekHannibal (2001) and Julian Po (1997)
- Roger Guenveur SmithTill (2022) and Do the Right Thing (1989)
- Emilio EstevezFreejack (1992) and Maximum Overdrive (1986)
- Rene RussoThe Thomas Crown Affair (1999) and Freejack (1992)
- Arye GrossMother Night (1996) and Exterminator 2 (1984)
- Ruby DeeDo the Right Thing (1989) and Cat People (1982)
- Allan RichThe Rich Man's Wife (1996) and Betsy's Wedding (1990)
- Anthony HealdRed Dragon (2002) and The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
- Bill RaymondCity of Hope (1991) and C.H.U.D. (1984)
- Kim GreistManhunter (1986) and C.H.U.D. (1984)
- Ellen McElduffJulian Po (1997) and Maximum Overdrive (1986)
- Benjamin KanesAssumption of Risk (2014) and My Blueberry Nights (2007)
- Ursula AbbottTio Papi (2013) and Adam (2009)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.