Frank Joseph Whaley (born July 20, 1963) is an American actor, film director and screenwriter. His roles include Brett in Pulp Fiction, Robby Krieger in The Doors, Jim Dodge in Career Opportunities, young Archie "Moonlight" Graham in Field of Dreams, and Guy in Swimming with Sharks. He has also appeared in films and TV series such as Born on the Fourth of July, The Freshman, A Midnight Clear, Swing Kids, Broken Arrow, Luke Cage, Red Dragon and World Trade Center.
Early life Whaley was born and raised in Syracuse, New York,Frank Whaley biography, DVD extras, Career Opportunities. the son of Robert W. Whaley Sr. and Josephine (née Timilione). Whaley graduated from Anthony A. Henninger High School in 1981 and left home at 18. He graduated from the University at Albany.
Career Whaley made his film debut in 1987's Ironweed. In 1989, he appeared in Field of Dreams and Born on the Fourth of July. The latter film began a long collaboration with director Oliver Stone, including 1991's The Doors, in which he played Robby Krieger, JFK, which was released the same year, in which he played a conspirator in the JFK assassination and 2006's World Trade Center, where he played Chuck Sereika, a former drug addict who helped in the rescue efforts. In 1990, Whaley appeared with Marlon Brando and Matthew Broderick in The Freshman. In 1991, he starred in the John Hughes feature film Career Opportunities.
Over the next two years, he played supporting roles in movies such as Hoffa and Swing Kids. He appeared in his second leading film role in 1994's Swimming with Sharks. During the same year, he played a supporting role as the doomed Brett, who was memorably killed by Samuel L. Jackson's and John Travolta's characters in Pulp Fiction.
In 1998, he started a regular role on the short-lived CBS series Buddy Faro. He also appeared in episodes of The Dead Zone, Law & Order, and its spinoff Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
Whaley made his writing-directorial debut in his independent film Joe the King in 1999, featuring his Doors co-star Val Kilmer and longtime friend and colleague Ethan Hawke in starring roles. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival and earned Whaley the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award. His second film as writer and director, The Jimmy Show, stars Whaley and Carla Gugino. This film also premiered at the Sundance Film Festival.
Whaley's third film as writer and director, New York City Serenade, starring Chris Klein and Freddie Prinze Jr., premiered at the 2007 Toronto International Film Festival. He stars as the villain in the 2007 horror film Vacancy. In 2014 he wrote and directed the film Like Sunday, Like Rain, starring Debra Messing, Leighton Meester and Billie Joe Armstrong. The film won six awards at the 2014 Williamsburg Independent Film Festival including Best Film, Best Director and acting nods for Armstrong, Meester, Messing and Julian Shatkin. It opened in March 2015.
In 2014, Whaley appeared as Van Miller in Season One of the Showtime series Ray Donovan. In 2016, Whaley had a role in Paramount Animation's first mostly live-action film, Monster Trucks, and in 2017, he appeared in the teen film The Outskirts.
Whaley's other film credits include Red Dragon, Rob the Mob, School of Rock, Broken Arrow, Little Monsters, A Midnight Clear, Janie Jones and I.Q. among others.
His television credits include Gotham, The Blacklist, CSI, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Psych, Burn Notice, Ugly Betty, Mrs. Harris, When Trumpets Fade, Boston Legal, Blue Bloods, Bull, House, MacGyver, Divorce, Elementary, Under the Dome, the TV mini-series Madoff, Alcatraz and many others.
Whaley has maintained his roots in the theater, working frequently with The New Group in New York City. In 2011, he appeared in The New Group's revival of Wallace Shawn's Marie And Bruce opposite Marisa Tomei.
Personal life In 2001, Whaley married Heather Bucha Whaley, an actress and writer, and the author of Eat Your Feelings: Recipes for Self-Loathing.
Filmography As director YearTitle1999Joe the King2001The Jimmy Show2007New York City Serenade2014Like Sunday, Like Rain
Film roles YearTitleRoleNotes1987IronweedYoung Francis Phelan1989Field of DreamsArchie "Moonlight" GrahamLittle MonstersBoyBorn on the Fourth of JulyTimmy Burns1990The FreshmanSteve BushakCold Dog SoupMichael Latchmer1991The DoorsRobby KriegerCareer OpportunitiesJim DodgeJFKOswald ImposterCredited in director's cut1992Back in the U.S.S.R.Archer SloanA Midnight ClearPaul MundyHoffaYoung Trucker / Hitman 1993Swing KidsArvid1994Pulp FictionBrettSwimming with SharksGuyThe Desperate TrailWalter CooperDirect-to-videoI.Q.Frank1995HomageKarchieCafe SocietyMickey Jelke1996Broken ArrowGiles PrenticeThe WinnerJoey1997RetroactiveBrianGlamFranky SydeBombshellMalcolm GarveyDirect-to-video1998Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God... Be Back by FiveSkee-Ball WeaselIt All Came TrueBrett Conway1999Joe the KingAngry Man Bob OwesUncredited2000Two Family HouseThe NarratorUncredited2001Pursuit of HappinessAlanThe Jimmy ShowJimmy O'BrienChelsea WallsLynny Barnum2002Red DragonRalph MandyUncredited2003A Good Night to DieChadSchool of RockBattle of Bands DirectorUncredited2006World Trade CenterChuck SereikaThe Hottest StateHarrisCrazy EightsBrent SykesThe System WithinPrison Guard2007Cherry CrushWade ChandlingVacancyMasonNew York City SerenadeLes2008Drillbit TaylorInterviewed Bodyguards2009The Cell 2DuncanDirect-to-video2010As Good as DeadAaronJanie JonesChuck2013AftermathEric Filmed in 20052014Rob the MobFBI Agent Frank Hurd2016Cold MoonSheriff Ted HaleMonster TrucksWade Coley2017The OutcastsHerbAgainst the NightDetective Ramsey2018Warning ShotDavid2019HustlersReeseWish ManOfficer Tom WellsThe ShedBane2023Death on the BorderDetective John Watson2024Saint ClareMailman Bob
TV roles +YearTitleRoleNotes1987Spenser: For HireTommyEpisode: "The Road Back"CBS Schoolbreak SpecialScott McNicholEpisode: "Soldier Boys"ABC Afterschool SpecialJeff DillonEpisode: "Seasonal Differences"1988The EqualizerPress Episode: "The Child Broker"Life on the FlipsideSonny DayTV pilot1989UnconqueredArnie WoodsTV movieFlying BlindJoeyTV movie1993Fatal Deception: Mrs. Lee Harvey OswaldLee Harvey OswaldTV movieTo Dance with the White DogJamesTV movie1995The Outer LimitsHenry MarshallEpisode: "The Conversion"1997Dead Man's GunCole BallardEpisode: "My Brother's KeeperOddville, MTVUnknown 1 episode1998The WallBishopTV movieWhen Trumpets FadeMedic ChamberlainTV movie1998–2000Buddy FaroBob JonesMain cast1999Shake, Rattle and Roll: An American Love StoryAllen KoganTV movie2000The Outer LimitsZig Fowler / Cliff UngerEpisode: "Zig Zag"2001Strange FrequencyUnknown Episode: "Time Is on My Side"Bad News Mr. SwansonUnknown TV pilot2002Law & OrderJohn McDowellEpisode: "Access Nation"The Twilight ZoneMartin DonnorEpisode: "Future Trade"Sun GodsUnknown TV pilot2003–2004The Dead ZoneChristopher Wey / Future GuyRecurring2004Law & Order: Criminal IntentMitch GodelEpisode: "Eosphoros"NCISJeffrey WhiteEpisode: "Chained"2005DetectiveBrewmasterTV movieMrs. HarrisGeorge BolenTV movieCurb Your EnthusiasmPeter HagenEpisode: "Lewis Needs a Kidney"2006Where There's a WillRichie GreeneTV moviePsychRobert DunnEpisode: "Who Ya Gonna Call?"2007Boston LegalFrankie CoxEpisode: "Brotherly Love"RuffianBill NackTV movieHouseRobert ElliotEpisode: "Mirror Mirror"2008Law & Order: Special Victims UnitNavy Commander Grant MarcusEpisode: "PTSD"2009CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationMilesEpisode: "Disarmed and Dangerous"2010Ugly BettyMr. SparksEpisode: "Blackout!"Burn NoticeJosh WagnerEpisode: "Breach of Faith"2012AlcatrazOfficer DonovanEpisode: "The Ames Brothers"NYC 22Larry GilesEpisode: "Firebomb"2012–2013Blue BloodsGary Heller2 episodes2013Ray DonovanFBI Agent Van MillerRecurring2014The BlacklistKarl HoffmanEpisode: "The Good Samaritan"GothamDougEpisode: "Selina Kyle"2015Under the DomeDr. Marston3 episodes2016UnforgettableJim GarrettEpisode: "We Can Be Heroes"MadoffHarry MarkopolosMain castChicago MedChuck GleasonEpisode: "Withdrawal"ElementaryWinston UtzEpisode: "To Catch a Predator Predator"DivorceCarson HodgesEpisode: "Gustav"EmpireEdison CruzEpisode: "A Furnace for Your Foe"2016–2018Marvel's Luke CageDetective Rafael ScarfeRecurring (season 1)Guest (season 2)2017MacGyverDouglas BishopEpisode: "Fish Scaler"BullMax HylandEpisode: "Free Fall"2018GoneTedEpisode: "Secuestrado"Sneaky PeteDuane HardingEpisode: "Inside Out"DeceptionCharles QuaidEpisode: "The Unseen Hand"2019Jack RyanCarl EstesEpisode: "Cargo"2020BullRay PetermanEpisode: "Off the Rails"
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