Frank Sutton

Frank Spencer Sutton (October 23, 1923 – June 28, 1974) was an American actor best remembered for his role as Gunnery Sergeant Vince Carter on the CBS television series Gomer Pyle – USMC.

Early life Born in Clarksville, Tennessee, Sutton developed an interest in acting, playing his first role at age nine and also starring in the drama club at East Nashville High School, where he graduated in 1941. He later said, "The first time I walked out on a stage, I had a warm feeling. I knew then I wanted to be an actor."

After high school, Sutton returned to Clarksville to become a radio announcer. During World War II, he volunteered for service in the U.S. Marine Corps, but he was medically rejected due to his color blindness. He then enlisted in the U.S. Army and served in the South Pacific, taking part in 14 assault landings.

Combat and Non-Combat Operations

1944-1945 Leyte Campaign (1944-45)/Battle of Leyte 1944-1945 WWII - Asiatic-Pacific Theater/Luzon Campaign (1944-45) 1945-1945 Luzon Campaign (1944-45)/Battle for Recapture of Bataan 1945-1945 Luzon Campaign (1944-45)/Battle for Manila 1945-1946 US Occupation of South Korea

Military awards and decorations

1st Row Bronze Star Medal Purple Heart 2nd Row Army Good Conduct Medal American Campaign Medal Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal with two service stars 3rd Row World War II Victory Medal Army of Occupation Medal Philippine Liberation Medal Philippine Republic Presidential Unit Citation

Acting career Honorably discharged after the war as a sergeant, he began acting on stage. He attended the Columbia University School of General Studies, graduating cum laude with a bachelor's degree in drama in 1952.

Throughout the 1950s and early 1960s, Sutton played small roles in television shows such as Decoy, Route 66, Naked City, The Greatest Show on Earth, The Fugitive, The Goldbergs, 87th Precinct, Gunsmoke, Target: The Corruptors, Empire, The Twilight Zone, and The Untouchables. He had a continuing role as Cadet Eric Rattison, the great rival of the Polaris Unit manned by the series' heroes, in Tom Corbett, Space Cadet from 1950 to 1955. In 1955, he received his big break in the Academy Award-winning movie Marty, in which he played the title character's friend, Ralph. He also had a role in The Satan Bug, a 1965 spy thriller. He returned to the stage in The Andersonville Trial in the early 1960s.

Having primarily acted in dramas, Sutton's breakthrough role was on Gomer Pyle – USMC, a 1964 episode of The Andy Griffith Show, in which he played the cynical and easily exasperated Gunnery Sergeant Vince Carter opposite Jim Nabors' character Gomer Pyle. This episode was the pilot for a spin-off TV comedy, Gomer Pyle – USMC, where Sutton continued the role for five seasons, until the show ended its run in 1969. He also appeared in public service announcements in the role of Gunnery Sergeant Carter. After Gomer Pyle ceased production, Sutton appeared regularly on Nabors' variety show The Jim Nabors Hour with Gomer Pyle co-star Ronnie Schell. Sutton played the brother-in-law of Nabors' character in comedy sketches. Sutton performed in dinner theater, playing, among other roles, the father in Norman, Is That You? and made guest appearances on other television programs.

Personal life and death In 1946, Sutton married soap-opera writer Toby M. Igler, with whom he had two children, Joe Sutton and Amanda.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1950 The Goldbergs Dutch 1954 "The Glen Miller Story" Singing Group Member 1955 Marty Ralph Uncredited 1957 Four Boys and a Gun Ollie Denker 1961 Town Without Pity Sgt. Chuck Snyder 1965 The Satan Bug Donald 1974 Hurricane Bert Pearson Television movie released posthumously (final film role) Television Year Title Role Notes 1950-1955 Tom Corbett, Space Cadet Cadet Eric Raddison 1954 The Glenn Miller Story uncredited 1956 The Edge of Night Sgt. Fitzsimmons 1958-1961 Naked City Franklin Maquon 1960-1961 Deadline John McDowell Lead role in the episode "To Move a Mountain" (1960) 1960-1961 The Secret Storm Joe Sullivan #2 1961-1962 Gunsmoke Charlie (1961)Olie (1962)Billy Tooker/Marston (1962) 1962 Have Gun – Will Travel Davey Walsh One-time role – The Trap (1962) The Twilight Zone Frank, Jerry's manager One-time role in episode "The Dummy" 1962-1963 Combat! Corporal Cording – The Chateau (1963) 1962-1963 The Untouchables Benny Stryker (1962)Smiley Barris (1962)Angie Stazak (1963)Sgt. Davey McCain (1963) The Stryker Brothers (1962) ... Benny Stryker The Contract (1962) ... Smiley Barris The Speculator (1963) ... Angie Stazak The Butcher's Boy (1963) ... Sgt. Davey McCain 1963 The Fugitive (deputy) Jackson One-time role in episode 3 "The Other Side of the Mountain"1963 Death Valley Days Diamondfield Jack Episode: Diamond Field Jack aired October 1, 1963 1964 The Andy Griffith Show Gunnery Sergeant Vince Carter One-time role in episode "Gomer Pyle – USMC" 1964-1969 Gomer Pyle – USMC Gunnery Sergeant Vince Carter 1966 Password Himself Game show contestant / Celebrity guest star 1969-1971 The Jim Nabors Hour Himself 1970–1973 Love American Style Various Episodes: Love and the Bonded Separation (1973) Love and the Secret Life (1972) Love and the Guru (1972) Love and the Lady Barber (1971) ... Herb Redding Love and the Haunted House (1970) ... Walter