Benjamin Franklin “Frank” McGrath (February 2, 1903 – May 13, 1967) was an American television and film actor and stunt performer best known for his role as Charlie B. Wooster on the NBC western series Wagon Train for five seasons and then three seasons on ABC.
McGrath appeared in all 272 episodes of the series’ eight seasons, which ended only two years before his death. McGrath’s Wooster character thus provided both fictional trail masters, Ward Bond as Seth Adams and John McIntire as Christopher “Chris” Hale, with meals and companionship.
His first uncredited role was in The Rainbow Trail (1932), a study of Mormon polygamy based on Zane Grey’s 1915 novel of the same name. McGrath played the US Army Bugler in two of the greatest westerns ever made, Fort Apache and She Wore a Yellow Ribbon, in 1948 and 1949, respectively.
McGrath appeared in 51 scenes with both main characters John Wayne and Henry Fonda in Fort Apache. McGrath appeared in a total of 122 scenes in She Wore a Yellow Ribbon (112). Only John Wayne surpassed McGrath in this film’s scenes. McGrath collaborated closely with John Wayne and appeared in numerous screen shots in both of these John Ford films.
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Frank Mcgrath Cause Of Death
How did Frank Mcgrath die? He died of a heart attack in Beverly Hills on May 13, 1967, at the age of 64. He was laid to rest at Glendale’s Forest Lawn Memorial Park.
Frank Mcgrath wife: Is Frank Mcgrath married?
McGrath married Libby Quay Buschlen (1902-1978), an Arthur, Ontario, Canada native.