From Wikipedia the free encyclopedia Frank Marion Thomas Jr April 9 1921 May 11 2006 credited as Frankie Thomas was an American actor author and bridgestrategy expert who played both lead and supporting roles on Broadway in films in postWorld War II radio and in early television He was best known for his starring role in Tom Corbett Space Cadet He was only 11 when he accompanied his mother to a casting office where he stood in the background while his mother asked about possible openings in new Broadway shows The agent replied I have nothing that suits you Mona but I can use the boy Thomas wound up in a small part in Carry Nation 1932 where Jimmy Stewart was cast as a constable Thomas appeared in six other Broadway plays between 1932 and 1936 including Little Ol Boy with Burgess Meredith Thunder on the Left Wednesdays Child The First Legion Remember the Day in which he appeared with his father and Seen But Not Heard In Wednesdays Child he played the role of Bobby Phillips the longest stage part ever written for a child performer Thomas also developed a lifelong fascination with the character of Sherlock Holmes during this period when he saw William Gillette perform the part during his farewell tour Thomass last A film was Boys Town 1938 with Spencer Tracy and Mickey Rooney Thomas was Freddy Fuller Boys Towns mayor and was not asked to appear in the sequel Men of Boys Town 1941 He then appeared in a string of B films such as Little Tough Guys in Society and Nancy Drew Detective both 1938 Nancy Drew Reporter Code of the Streets Nancy Drew Trouble Shooter The Angels Wash Their Faces Nancy Drew and the Hidden Staircase On Dress Parade and Invisible Stripes all 1939 In 1941 Thomas had small parts in Flying Cadets and One Foot in Heaven His last film roles were small roles in Always in My Heart and The Major and the Minor 1942 where he played a military school cadet who flirted with Ginger Rogers character After World War II Thomas moved into television In the fall of 1950 he became the idol of millions of children when he played the starring role in Tom Corbett Space Cadet beginning on CBS and transferring to ABC in January 1951 Thomas had beaten out Jack Lemmon for the part
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