Frank Sherwood Gell (April 4, 1928 – January 13, 2020) was an American film and television actor. He was known for playing General J. E. B. Stuart in the American historical television series The Gray Ghost.
Early life He was born Frank Sherwood Gell in Detroit, Michigan, to Louis and Freida Gell, Jewish immigrants from Imperial Russia who had come to the US as young children.1930 US Federal Census, retrieved from Ancestry.com He had one sibling, an older sister. His parents had different first languages (Russian and Yiddish); he grew up speaking only English. His father owned a butcher shop. His parents divorced while Price was still a child. His mother remarried, and Price was raised by her and his step-father Herman Glassman, a clothing salesman.1940 US Federal Census, retrieved from Ancestry.com
Price attended Central High School in Detroit, taking the commercial curriculum rather than college prep.U.S., School Yearbooks, 1900-1999 for Frank S. Gell, Michigan > Detroit > Central High School > 1946, retrieved from Ancestry.com While still in high school he registered for the draft on April 4, 1946, his eighteenth birthday.U.S., World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947 for Frank Sherwood Gell, retrieved from Ancestry.com The registrar recorded him as being 5 feet 11 inches and weighing 132 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes. He worked as a dishwasher, theater usher, and gas station attendant to earn money for drama school.
Early stage career Price enrolled at the Schuster-Martin School of Drama in the Walnut Hills neighborhood of Cincinnati during August 1947. He spent one year studying then joined the school's Little Playhouse Company after graduation. He performed in five plays during 1948–1949, using "Sherwood Gell" for billing.
He then joined the Piper Players national touring company in their Oklahoma City debut, where he handled both acting and production chores. The Piper Players hit a cash crisis and found their only money maker was doing children's matinees of Little Red Riding Hood, which they played around the country. When the tour he was with reached the Warner Hollywood Theatre, Price decided to remain and left the company, moving in with his married older sister and her family.1950 US Federal Census for Sherwood Gell, Los Angeles, California, ED 66-178, retrieved from Ancestry.com
By 1952 he had adopted the stage name "Sherwood Price". He was managing a movie theater in Sherman Oaks when he performed in his first film, Scorching Fury.
His first known stage credit under his new billing came in May 1953, when he played the lead in the Showcase Theater production of Detective Story, earning high praise from the LA Times drama critic.
Tustin Playbox
During July 1953 Price took the role of the psychoanalyst in the play Lady in the Dark with the Tustin Playbox company. It was his first work with this community theatre, which he would be associated with for many years. Also in this play was professional Jacquelyn Sue Browne, then billed as "Cathy Browne", but who would later switch to Kathie Browne. Price and Cathy Browne took over as co-producers for the third summer season (1954) of the Tustin Playbox, while continuing to act in performances. Browne was very popular with the Tustin audiences, and so often played the female lead.
For the next four years Browne and Price successfully co-produced the Playbox, with each season bringing in larger audiences, including television stars and producers who hired them for screen roles based on their stage performances. The Los Angeles Times noted that the Playbox was actually making money, a rare event for community summer stock. The ailing Laguna Playhouse even recruited the couple to take over producing chores there as well for the 1957 season.
By the 1959 season Sherwood Price Productions assumed sole control of the Tustin Playbox, while Browne's performances there tapered off in favor of her growing screen career. However, for the 1960 season Price overextended himself financially by opening a second troupe in Fullerton, California, causing both to be attached in July by creditors.
Television and other projects Price's first television work came in the fall of 1955. Mark Stevens arranged for Price to have a role in an episode of the series in which he was starring, Big Town, after seeing him at Tustin. The next year, John Bromfield of Sheriff of Cochise did the same, after watching Price in The Tender Trap at the Playbox Price had parts in three other TV series in 1956, and small uncredited bits in two films, The Revolt of Mamie Stover and the misleadingly titled D-Day the Sixth of June.
Despite the press of activity managing the Tustin Playbox, Price plunged into a recurring role on the series The Gray Ghost. Filmed during late spring of 1957 in Northern California, Price played General J.E.B. Stuart for seven episodes.
Later screen career Price then played Pete Hallon in the 1959 film City of Fear, which starred Vince Edwards.
Price played Gus Romay in the 1961 film Blueprint for Robbery, which starred J. Pat O'Malley. He guest-starred in television programs including Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Rawhide, Highway Patrol, Perry Mason, The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp, Mannix, 77 Sunset Strip, Cheyenne, Death Valley Days, The Misadventures of Sheriff Lobo, Have Gun - Will Travel, and Wagon Train. Price had a recurring role as Owen Carter in the medical drama television series Ben Casey. He also played Lt. Edgar Hackett in the 1968 film Ice Station Zebra, which starred Rock Hudson, Ernest Borgnine, Patrick McGoohan and Jim Brown. In 1969, Price starred with Robert Vaughn in the play The Odd Couple at the Sir John Falstaff Theater in St. Louis, Missouri. He played Felix Unger.
Price died in January 2020, at the age of 91.
Personal life After a summer working together, Cathy Browne and Price announced their engagement in September 1953. They were wed November 22, 1953, at the Chapman Park Hotel in Los Angeles.Sherwood P Gell in the California, U.S., Marriage Index, 1949-1959, retrieved from Ancestry.com
In his 2008 memoir, A Fortunate Life, actor Robert Vaughn describes Price as his "lifelong best friend". They were also business partners, making documentaries through their Ferdporqui production company.
Stage performances + Performances only, see Tustin Playbox for plays as producer Year Play Role Venue Notes 1948The Hasty Heart Blossom Schuster-Martin Playhouse War drama from 1945 by John Patrick; Price was only non-veteran in castThe Front Page Schuster-Martin Playhouse As with all his credits prior to 1952, he was billed as "Sherwood Gell"Treasure Island Jim Hawkins Schuster-Martin Playhouse Price had the lead in this Little Playhouse Company adaptation1949You Can't Take It With You Schuster-Martin Playhouse The Time of Your Life Schuster-Martin Playhouse 1950Boy Meets Girl Vogue Theater (OKC) His first play with the Piper PlayersGeorge Washington Slept Here Vogue Theater (OKC) Wuthering Heights (Production) Vogue Theater (OKC) Price did only business and production for this small cast playCurse You, Villain! Vogue Theater (OKC) A melodrama revival played for laughs Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Vogue Theater (OKC) Dear Ruth Criterion Theater (OKC) Little Red Riding Hood Touring Company The Piper Players, low on cash, were reduced to playing this children's matinee 1953Detective Story Det. McLeod Showcase Theater (LA) His first known stage credit as "Sherwood Price"Lady in the Dark Dr. Brooks Tustin Playbox His first play at Tustin also starred Cathy BrowneMiranda Paul Marten Tustin Playbox Price and Cathy Browne played the leads in this Peter Blackmore comedy Caesar and Cleopatra Apollodorus Tustin Playbox Tony Carbone and Cathy Browne played the leads Brigadoon Tustin Playbox Price's supporting role was praised by the Los Angeles Times reviewer 1954Petticoat Fever Sir James Felton Tustin Playbox Price and Cathy Browne played the leads in this 1935 Mark Reed comedy The Country Girl Frank Elgin Tustin Playbox Bell, Book and Candle Nicholas Holroyd Tustin Playbox 1955Bertha the Beautiful Typewriter Girl Villain Tustin Playbox Early melodrama played for laughs The Milky Way Gabby Sloan Tustin Playbox Night Must Fall Dan Tustin Playbox Price plays the suspected killer opposite Cathy Brown's "Olivia Grayne" 1956Born Yesterday Paul Verrall Tustin Playbox Robert Vaughn directed, Cathy Browne played female lead The Tender Trap Charlie Reader Tustin Playbox Cathy Browne directed this play 1957Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? Michael Freeman Laguna Playhouse With Roxanne Arlen, Jack Grinnage, Robert Cornthwaite, Tommy Vize and Brad Trumbull Bus Stop Will Masters Tustin Playbox With Doreen Porter, Melora Conway, and Brad Trumbull 1958Boy Meets Girl Minor characters Tustin Playbox Price played a succession of outlandish minor characters Dial M for Murder Swann/Captain Lesgate Tustin Playbox Price plays the criminal killed by Browne's character Anniversary Waltz Chris Steelman Tustin Playbox Charley's Aunt Lord Fancourt Babberly Tustin Playbox 1959The Matchmaker Cornelius Hackl Tustin Playbox Tunnel of Love Dick Pepper Tustin Playbox 1969The Odd Couple Felix Unger (St. Louis) Robert Vaughn co-starred in this production
Filmography + Film (by year of first release) Year Title Role Notes 1952Scorching Fury Ward Canepa His first billing as "Sherwood Price". It is doubtful whether this film was ever distributed to theatres or exhibited. 1956The Revolt of Mamie Stover Sailor An uncredited roleD-Day the Sixth of June American Officer Another uncredited role19575 Steps to Danger Uncredited role as one of many killers after Sterling Hayden1959City of Fear Pete Hallon Price and Cathy Browne's only movie together was filmed in early spring 19581961Blueprint for Robbery Gus Romay Ensemble effort, filled with TV character actors and no stars1963The Man from Galveston George Taggart The pilot for the Temple Houston TV series, released to theaters instead1964The Patsy Bellboy A cameo appearance, in a film filled with them1968Ice Station Zebra Lt. Edgar Hackett 1995Last of the Dogmen Tracker Price's last known performing credit
+ Television (in original broadcast order) Year Series Episode Role Notes 1955 Big Town Juvenile Gangs Price's first known TV credit came from being spotted by Mark Stevens at the Tustin Playbox 1956I Led 3 Lives Dead Man Comrade Adams Navy Log Sacrifice Russ Carter This starred Phil Tead, with Carleton Young, William Tracy, and Leonard Nimoy Frontier Both Price and Browne were in this unknown episode from summer 1956 Sheriff of Cochise Star John Bromfield asked for Price after seeing him at Tustin Playbox 1957Wire Service Price and Browne had husband-wife roles in this unknown episode with Mercedes McCambridgeNavy Log Ito of Attu G.I. Dragnet The Big Yak The Gray Ghost An Eye for an Eye Gen. Jeb Stuart The only recurring role for Price, filmed in Northern California Horses for Stuart Gen. Jeb Stuart The Eve Arden Show Price made this unknown episode in between plays at Tustin and Laguna 1958The Gray Ghost Sealed Orders Gen. Jeb Stuart The Escape Gen. Jeb Stuart Turn of Fate The Days of November Korean War story with Jack Lemmon, Adam Williams, Nick Dennis, Don Kelly, and Jimmy Goodwin The Gray Ghost The Rivals Gen. Jeb Stuart Secret and Urgent Gen. Jeb Stuart The Gallant Foe Gen. Jeb Stuart Decision Man on a Raft Intern Another series where star Mark Stevens asked for Price1962Lawman The Doctor Will Evans
Notes
References
External links
Sherwood Price at Turner Classic Movies Rotten Tomatoes profile