Skip to content
MovieCove
Frank Jenks

Frank Jenks

Actor · Died May 13, 1962, aged 59 · Des Moines, Iowa, USA

Wavy-haired American character actor and musician Frank Jenks was the son of advertising man Frank Jenks and pianist Lillian Sadler. After his family settled in Los Angeles, he attended the University of Southern California. He learned to play trumpet, trombone and clarinet, but eventually dropped out of college and embarked on leading a band on the West Coast vaudeville circuit. He then took the next step and became a song-and-dance man. From being a hoofer, he made his way to the legitimate stage and from there to movies, at first playing orchestra leaders. While this required little acting ability, he soon came into his own as a comic actor, his cinematic stock-in-trade being fast talking reporters (his caustic delivery was used to best effect in His Girl Friday (1940)), droll Runyonesque henchmen, cabbies, grifters, cops, bartenders and drunks. His improvisational acumen in adding his own routines to varied comedy scripts led to his receiving Hollywood's sobriquet as "off-the-cuff Jenks". Amid numerous supporting parts, often for Universal's B-team, Jenks finagled the odd star billing, notably in a series of forgotten potboilers made by Poverty Row outfit PRC during the 1940s. From the early 1950s, he was a regular guest performer on television, appearing in just about anything, from Adventures of Superman (1952) to Perry Mason (1957).

Read more

Biography from IMDb.

Born
November 4, 1902
Died
May 13, 1962 (aged 59)
From
Des Moines, Iowa, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
54 on MovieCove · 148 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 37 days to Oct 26Down 33% in 30 days

What are Frank Jenks' films like?

Across their 33 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Morality.

Genres

Comedy15 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 51st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime7 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 30th percentile
: browse their Crime movies
Adventure4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 21st percentile
: browse their Adventure movies
Drama4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 61st percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Action3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 18th percentile
: browse their Action movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
36%
Morality
29%
Society
11%
Self
8%
Power
8%
Survival
5%
Ideas
3%
Romantic love12 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception11 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeCommunity8 titles, browse their movies with this themeLoyalty4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this themePower2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 33 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 21 · Serious 6 · Dark 6

Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 20 · Stylized 12 · Heightened 1

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 19 · Charged 13 · Intense 1

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 22 · Shifting 10 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

A split, not a type: Straight-faced 12 · Some laughs 11 · Funny 10

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 7 · Even-paced 22 · Relentless 4

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 26 · Engaged 6 · Full focus 1

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 32 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

6 analyzed roles

Usually the Ally: 4 of 6 analyzed roles.

Ally
4 of 6
Shadow
1 of 6
Herald
1 of 6

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
15
Joyful
10
Warm
11
Absurd
8
Romantic
9
Other
27

How their films linger

Feel-good18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun17 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet7 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteRousing5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy24
  • Bittersweet4
  • Tragic4
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Frank Jenks' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 25 of their 54 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (16).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Frank Jenks' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

148 credits, 54 with a MovieCove page.

  • Pete and Gladys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Lock-Up (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Amazing Colossal Man(1957)

    as Truck Driver

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Perry Mason(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Cab Driver · as Walter Clemens the Bartender

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all shows

  • The Thin Man (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Wagon Train(1957)

    Show 1 episode · as Dutch Carl Anders

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all shows

  • Shake, Rattle & Rock!(1956)

    as Frank

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Friendly Persuasion(1956)

    as Shell Game Man (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Hey, Jeannie! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Sgt. Brubaker · as Umpire

  • The She-Creature(1956)

    as Plainclothes Sgt. with Lt James

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Slightly Scarlet(1956)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • The Houston Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Louie Phelan

  • Dig That Uranium (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as The Mechanic

  • Sudden Danger (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Kenny the Bartender

  • Tennessee's Partner(1955)

    as Bartender (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Cheyenne(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Gus Bolin (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Navy Log (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as 'Polly' Prelle

  • Outlaw Treasure(1955)

    as Sergeant

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Millionaire (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank Keegan · as Martin Fletcher

  • December Bride (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · as George Bigelow · as Man · as Milkman · as Telegram Singer

  • Highway Dragnet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    as Marine in Civvies

  • The Man Behind the Badge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Colonel Humphrey Flack (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 77 episodes · Actor

  • The Loretta Young Show(1953)

    Show 1 episode · as Blount

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • White Lightning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Benny Brown

  • General Electric Theater (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Mr. Walkie Talkie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Jackson

  • The Ford Television Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Adventures of Superman(1952)

    Show 1 episode · as Lazy

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all shows

  • Pecos River (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Sheriff Denning

  • Utah Wagon Train (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Hap - Telephone Company Lineman

  • Boston Blackie (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Let's Go Navy!(1951)

    as Shell game sailor

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • Racket Squad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • The Scarf(1951)

    as Tom, Drunk Cowboy

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Silver City Bonanza (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Theater Owner

  • Bowery Battalion(1951)

    as Recruiting Sergeant

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Woman on the Run(1950)

    as Detective Homer Shaw

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Joe Palooka in the Squared Circle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Looie - a Trainer

  • To Please a Lady(1950)

    as Press Agent

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Cisco Kid(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Marshal Sutton

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • Lucky Losers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Bartender

  • Motor Patrol (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Mac

  • Blondie's Hero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    as Tim Saunders

  • Family Honeymoon(1948)

    as Gas Station Attendant

    Midcredits score: 52nd percentile of all films

  • Shep Comes Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as The Iceman

  • You Gotta Stay Happy(1948)

    as Carnival Man

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • Joe Palooka in Winner Take All(1948)

    as Louie

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Blondie's Reward (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Ed Vance

  • Mr. Reckless(1948)

    as Cab Driver

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Mary Lou (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1948)

    as Mike Connors

  • High Wall (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Pinky (uncredited)

  • Blonde Savage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Hoppy Owens

  • Philo Vance's Secret Mission (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Ernie Clark

  • Kilroy Was Here (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Butch Miller

  • That's My Gal (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Louie Koblentz

  • Philo Vance's Gamble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1947)

    as Ernie Clark

  • That Brennan Girl(1946)

    as Joe, the Cabbie

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • White Tie and Tails (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as George

  • Blondie's Lucky Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Mailman

  • The Hoodlum Saint (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Dance Contest M.C. (uncredited)

  • One Way to Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1946)

    as Jensen

  • Christmas in Connecticut(1945)

    as Sinkewicz

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films

  • Steppin' in Society (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as George

  • Bedside Manner(1945)

    as Pvt. Harry Smith

    Midcredits score: 28th percentile of all films

  • The Missing Corpse(1945)

    as Mack Hogan

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • The Phantom of 42nd Street(1945)

    as Egbert Egelhofer, aka Romeo

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Zombies on Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Gus

  • G.I. Honeymoon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as Horace P. 'Blubber' Malloy

  • The Kid Sister (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1945)

    as The Burglar

  • The Falcon in Hollywood(1944)

    as Lieutenant Higgins

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • Rogues' Gallery (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Eddie Porter

  • Strange Affair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Sgt. Erwin

  • The Impatient Years (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Top Sergeant

  • Dixie Jamboree(1944)

    as Jack 'Curly' Berger

    Midcredits score: 3rd percentile of all films

  • Three Little Sisters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Pvt. 'Rosy' Rowman

  • Take It or Leave It (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Cab Driver

  • Two Girls and a Sailor(1944)

    as Dick Deyo

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Roger Touhy, Gangster (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Bernard "Troubles" O'Connor

  • This Is the Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Eddie

  • Follow the Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Chick Doyle (uncredited)

  • Shake Hands with Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Eddie Jones

  • Rosie the Riveter(1944)

    as Kelly Kennedy

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Ladies Courageous (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1944)

    as Snapper Anthony Walgreen

  • His Butler's Sister(1943)

    as Emmett

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Hi'ya, Sailor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Deadpan Weaver

  • Thousands Cheer(1943)

    as Sergeant Koslack

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • So's Your Uncle(1943)

    as Joe Elliott

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Gildersleeve's Bad Day(1943)

    as Al

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Shantytown (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1943)

    as Whitey

  • Corregidor(1943)

    as Sgt. Mahoney

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • The Human Comedy(1943)

    as Larry - Song Leader on Train (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • Seven Miles from Alcatraz(1942)

    as Jimbo

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • The Navy Comes Through (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Sampier

  • Maisie Gets Her Man(1942)

    as Art Giffman

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • Syncopation(1942)

    as Smiley Jackson

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Two Yanks in Trinidad (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1942)

    as Joe Scavenger

  • Scattergood Meets Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1941)

    as J. J. Bent

  • The Flame of New Orleans(1941)

    as 2nd Sailor

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Back Street(1941)

    as Harry Niles

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Tall, Dark and Handsome(1941)

    as Puffy

    Midcredits score: 60th percentile of all films

  • Dancing on a Dime (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Phil Miller

  • A Little Bit of Heaven (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Uncle Dan

  • Melody and Moonlight (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1940)

    as Butch Reilly

  • His Girl Friday(1940)

    as Wilson

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all films

  • First Love (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Mike the Cop

  • Golden Boy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Pepper White

  • The Under-Pup (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Uncle Dan

  • S.O.S. Tidal Wave(1939)

    as Peaches Jackson

    Midcredits score: 30th percentile of all films

  • Big Town Czar (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Sid Travers

  • Society Smugglers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1939)

    as Emery

  • You Can't Cheat an Honest Man(1939)

    as Jerry - Assistant (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • The Last Warning (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Doc Williams

  • Strange Faces (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Nick Denby

  • The Storm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Peter Carey

  • Youth Takes a Fling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Frank Munson

  • Letter of Introduction(1938)

    as Joe, theatre prompter

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • The Devil's Party(1938)

    as Sam

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • The Lady in the Morgue (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Doc Williams

  • Goodbye Broadway (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Harry Clark

  • Reckless Living (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1938)

    as Freddie

  • Love Is a Headache(1938)

    as Joe Cannon

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • You're a Sweetheart (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Harry Howe

  • Prescription for Romance (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Smitty

  • The Westland Case (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Doc Williams

  • Saturday's Heroes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Dubrowsky

  • One Hundred Men and a Girl(1937)

    as Taxi Driver

    Midcredits score: 69th percentile of all films

  • Angel's Holiday (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Butch Broder

  • There Goes My Girl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1937)

    as Frank Tate

  • When's Your Birthday?(1937)

    as Lefty

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • We Who Are About to Die(1936)

    as Clyde Beasley

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all films

  • That Girl from Paris (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Laughing Boy Frank

  • Smartest Girl in Town (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Photographer (uncredited)

  • The Big Broadcast of 1937 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Trombone Player

  • Don't Turn 'em Loose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Pete - Henchman

  • Walking on Air (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as First Gas Station Attendant (uncredited)

  • Swing Time(1936)

    as (uncredited)

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Women Are Trouble (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Reporter

  • The Last Outlaw (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Deputy Tom

  • The Witness Chair (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Roy Levino

  • The Farmer in the Dell (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1936)

    as Bill Crosby

  • College Rhythm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1934)

    as Orchestra Leader

  • Broadway to Hollywood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Call Boy

  • College Humor(1933)

    as Orchestra Leader

    Midcredits score: 27th percentile of all films

  • Hello, Everybody! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Orchestra Leader (uncredited)

  • Luxury Liner (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Ship's Bandleader (uncredited)

  • Asleep in the Feet (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1933)

    as Dance Hall Patron

Career shape

Star power in the 91st percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 148 titles from 1933 to 1960.

Biggest box office

His Girl Friday (1940)

$1.9K worldwide

Highest rated

His Girl Friday (1940)

Midcredits 96th

Film career

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting148 of 148: 148 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score56th

By decade

1930s42 · acting1940s61 · acting1950s44 · acting1960s1 · acting

Billing

usually 9th · top billed in 0% of 14 roles
3646

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Frank Jenks' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 54th percentile, the median of all 48; across their 33 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 50th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

50thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 33

Approval · how many liked their films

42ndpercentile
Typical film, the median of 33

Reach · how many have seen their films

25thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 33

Midcredits score across 54 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up10
  • 50th to 74th24
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th10

Shape of the crowd

28 of their 54 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved5
  • Universally Panned1
  • Loved with Detractors1
  • Crowd Pleaser28
  • Broadly Agreed8
  • Mixed11

Most divisive · actor

Outlaw Treasure (1955)

90th percentile spread · 18% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

His Girl Friday (1940)

Midcredits 96th · 84% liked

Reviewers score the acting 65/100 in their films, across 30 reviewed titles; fans 75, detractors 47. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Frank Jenks work with?

People who share at least 2 of Frank Jenks' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Adolphe Menjou shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles