Frank Craven, the renowned actor, director, playwright, and producer, was born into a theatrical family on August 24, 1875, in Boston, Massachusetts. The son of Ella Mayer Craven and John T. Craven, he began his acting career as a child in Boston.
He made his Broadway debut in George Ade's comedy "Artie" at the Garrick Theatre on October 28, 1907. In 1914, he starred in and directed his first play, "Too Many Cooks," which opened on February 24 and closed in September, lasting 223 performances.
Craven's 1924 Broadway play "New Brooms" was adapted into a major motion picture by Paramount the following year. He also wrote or contributed to eight films, including an adaptation of his own 1932 play "That's Gratitude," which he also directed and starred in.
As a playwright and screenwriter, Craven typically focused on domestic comedies about everyday family life. As an actor, he was often typecast as a small-town man with a wry sense of humor. He made his film debut in an uncredited role in the 1928 drama "We Americans" for Universal.
Craven's film career began in earnest after Fox signed him to a contract in 1932. He appeared in "Handle with Care" before writing the screenplay and playing the Storekeeper in the classic "State Fair," which starred Will Rogers. He acted in almost two score films.
Craven returned to Broadway in 1935 to direct the play "A Touch of Brimstone," which opened in September and closed after 98 performances. He also directed and performed in the World War One drama "For Valor" on Broadway, which lasted only one week of eight performances.
Craven's next appearance on Broadway was more memorable. "Our Town," which opened at Henry Miller's Theatre on February 4, 1938, and ran for 336 performances, won the 1938 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. The play, set in the fictional Grover's Corners, New Hampshire, between 1901 and 1913, also marked the Broadway debut of his son John Craven, who played one of the main roles, George Gibbs.
The independently made film of "Our Town" was released in 1940, with Craven reprising his role as the Stage Manager, and William Holden replacing his son in the role of George Gibbs. The movie, directed by Sam Wood, earned seven Academy Award nominations and remains a part of the mystique of the American classic.
Craven appeared on Broadway in three more productions after "Our Town." His last appearance was in Zoe Akins' "Mrs. January and Mr. X" in 1944. He died on September 1, 1945, in Beverly Hills, California, shortly after completing his role in the movie "Colonel Effingham's Raid" (1946).
