On June 28th, 1974, while preparing to perform in the comedy LUV at a dinner playhouse in Shreveport, Louisiana, Sutton suffered a fatal heart attack. He was only 50.
''I can't hear you!!!''
Sutton won acclaim for playing Gomer Pyle's (Jim Nabors) easily exasperated Marine Sgt., Vince Carter, for 5 seasons in 1960's. Sutton was also an ensemble member on Jim's variety show, THE JIM NABORS HOUR, from 1969 to 1971.
Jim Nabors, Andy Griffith and Sutton
Sutton played key supporting roles in such films as MARTY (as Ralph, a pal of Ernie Borgnine's), TOWN WITHOUT PITY (as one of the American G.I.'s who rape Christine Kaufmann) and THE SATAN BUG (as one of madman Richard Basehart's henchman--Ed LOU GRANT Asner was the other).
Kirk Douglas defending Richard Jaeckel, Robert Blake, Sutton and Mal Sondock in
a German TOWN WITHOUT PITY
Sutton's other TV & film credits include: THE SECRET STORM, THE GOLDBERGS, a regular role on TOM CORBETT: SPACE CADET, FOUR BOYS AND A GUN, DECOY, BRENNER, NAKED CITY, THE DEFENDERS, THE TWILIGHT ZONE, GUNSMOKE, HAVE GUN-WILL TRAVEL, THE UNTOUCHABLES, THE FUGITIVE, THE ANDY GRIFFITH SHOW, LOVE AMERICAN STYLE, HURRICANE, and more.
Frank with hair!
With Vincent Price and Ruth Buzzi on LOVE, AMERICAN STYLE
Did you know...?
Sutton graduated cum laude from Columbia University.
He was a Black Belt in judo.
Ironically, Sutton couldn't pass the Marine Corps physical during WWII and instead served in the U.S. Army. He distinguished himself by taking part in 14 assault landings, including Leyte, Luzon, Bataan and Corregidor.
Frank and his son Joey
Sutton at work:
http://youtu.be/TR3LpriSmxM GOMER PYLE Bayonet training
http://youtu.be/gQVmfYBzlgk GOMER PYLE Carter loses his voice 1
http://youtu.be/ukm0prJ0Sdg GOMER PYLE Carter loses his voice 2
http://youtu.be/tUndm8CdK60 GOMER PYLE role reversal--a classic
q68jIMrlKZg Nabors & Sutton pitch ceral in character
http://youtu.be/XHuvWmk9tMc Frank and Nancy Miss Hathaway Kulp on PASSWORD
More on Sutton at:
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Frank Sutton - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Frank Sutton - IMDb
Frank Sutton Appreciation Society - WFMU's Beware of the Blog
Sutton and Jimmy Olsen aka Jack Larson
on GP USMC
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