Frank Michael Anthony Whaley (born July 20, 1963) is an American film and television actor known as much for his roles in independent films as his boyish looks and general demeanor.

Frank Whaley was born in Syracuse, New York to a family of 1 child, his older brother, Robert Whaley. His father, Robert Whaley, Sr. died in the 1990's of health problems related to alcoholism.

Frank and his brother, Robert, founded the successful NY based band, The Niagaras. The Niagaras still perform to packed houses in the New York City area. It has been rumored that Frank might rejoin the Niagaras for a much anticipated year long tour in the upstate New York area.

Whaley began acting as a teenager. He made his film debut in 1987's Ironweed, and performed mostly in made-for-TV movies until 1989, when he appeared in Field of Dreams alongside Burt Lancaster and Kevin Costner, and Born on the Fourth of July alongside Tom Cruise. This latter film began a long collaboration with director Oliver Stone, including 1991's The Doors (in which he played Robbie Krieger) and, in the same year, JFK (in which he played a conspirator in the JFK assassination.)

Over the next two years, he played supporting roles in movies such as Hoffa and Swing Kids. He appeared in his first leading film role in 1994's Swimming with Sharks, in which he starred opposite Kevin Spacey. In the same year, he played a supporting role as a college student named Brett, who was gunned down by Samuel L. Jackson and John Travolta in Pulp Fiction.

In 1998, he started a regular role on the CBS series Buddy Faro. He has also appeared in episodes of The Dead Zone, Law & Order, and its spinoff Criminal Intent.

He made his directorial debut, Joe the King, in 1999, featuring his Doors costar Val Kilmer and longtime friend and colleague Ethan Hawke in starring roles.

Most recently, Whaley was a guest star on the hit HBO comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm, starring Seinfeld creator Larry David.

External links

• Frank Whaley biography and filmography
• Official Site of Robert Whaley's wildly successful band, The Niagaras

1963 births | American actors | American film actors | Law & Order actors | Law & Order: Criminal Intent actors | Living people | People from New York | American television actors | The Outer Limits actors