Actor

Frank Whaley: Movies & Box Office

films: 44
as director: 1
on screen: 1989–2025
box office: $258M
average score: 54

Born: July 20, 1963 (age 63)
Birthplace: Syracuse, New York, U.S.
Full name: Frank Joseph Whaley
Citizenship: American
Occupations: Actor, Film Director, Screenwriter, Comedian
Years active: 1987-present
Spouses: Heather Bucha
Children: 2

Known for

The Best Frank Whaley Movies

The highest-rated films Frank Whaley is credited on, by the Movie Echo Score that blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact. Death on the Border (2023) scores highest, at 83. The full ranking adds the biggest box office hits and the most awarded films.

Full ranking

Career at a glance

Frank Whaley's Career in Numbers

Frank Whaley's films in numbers — as an actor, not counting appearances as themselves: when they were made, the genres Frank Whaley works in most and the milestones along the way. The filmography runs from Little Monsters (1989) to Saint Clare (2025), and the 1990s were the busiest decade.

Frank Whaley Movies by Decade

1980s 1
1990s 16
2000s 9
2010s 10
2020s 5

The 1990s were Frank Whaley's busiest decade, with 16 films.

Frank Whaley Movies by Genre

Drama 17
Comedy 5
Thriller 4
Crime 3
Horror 2
Romance 2
War 2
Biography 1
Mystery 1
Action 1

Drama is the genre Frank Whaley has worked in most, with 17 films, ahead of comedy (5).

Frank Whaley Career Milestones

First film: Little Monsters 1989
Biggest box office hit: Hustlers $158M worldwide
Best-rated film: Death on the Border Movie Echo Score 83
Newest film: Saint Clare 2025

44 credits

Frank Whaley Filmography: Every Movie

Every film Frank Whaley is credited on, newest first, with the role, the box office and the Movie Echo Score. 1 as director and 40 as actor. Rated films average a score of 54. Re-order the list to see the best-rated films or the biggest hits first.

Movies Directed by Frank Whaley

2007 New York City Serenade Drama Worldwide box office: $2.51K

Frank Whaley Movies as an Actor

Frank Whaley in Documentaries & Specials

Biography

Who Is Frank Whaley?

Frank Whaley was born in Syracuse, New York, U.S. in 1963 and is 63 years old. Credited on films since 1989, as an actor. The background, training and the roles that shaped the career.

Frank Joseph Whaley (born July 20, 1963) is a multi-talented American artist known for his work as an actor, film director, screenwriter, and comedian. He made his film debut in 1987 and gained recognition for various roles in notable films and TV series. His breakthrough 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. Other notable appearances include Born on the Fourth of July, The Freshman, A Midnight Clear, Swing Kids, Broken Arrow, Luke Cage, Red Dragon and World Trade Center.

Besides acting, Whaley has a substantial presence behind the camera. He made his writing-directorial debut with Joe the King in 1999, which earned him the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the Sundance Film Festival. His other directorial works are The Jimmy Show and New York City Serenade. Whaley wrote and directed Like Sunday, Like Rain in 2014 that won six awards at the Williamsburg Independent Film Festival. His TV credits include Gotham, The Blacklist, CSI, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Psych, Burn Notice, Ugly Betty, Mrs. Harris, When Trumpets Fade, Boston Legal, Medium, Blue Bloods, Bull, House, MacGyver, Divorce, Elementary, Under the Dome, the TV mini-series Madoff, Alcatraz, and others. Despite a successful career in films and TV, Whaley maintains his roots in theater, working frequently with The New Group in New York City.

Works with

Who Frank Whaley Makes Movies With

The actors and directors Frank Whaley shares the most films with. Jon Cryer comes first, with 3 films together, followed by Seymour Cassel (3).

FAQ

Frank Whaley: Questions & Answers

How many movies Frank Whaley has made, the biggest hit, the best-rated film, the award record and more, answered from the filmography above.

How many movies has Frank Whaley been in?

Frank Whaley is credited on 44 films, from 1989 to 2025. 40 of them as an actor and 1 as a director. The filmography on this page lists every one of them, newest first, with the role and the Movie Echo Score.

What is Frank Whaley's highest-grossing movie?

Hustlers (2019) is Frank Whaley's biggest box office hit, with $158M worldwide, ahead of Monster Trucks (2017) ($64.5M). Across every film with box office figures, Frank Whaley's movies have made $258M.

Frank Whaley's biggest hits

What is the best Frank Whaley movie?

By the Movie Echo Score, which blends critic reviews, audience ratings and lasting impact, Frank Whaley's best-rated film is Death on the Border (2023) with a score of 83, followed by Hustlers (2019) (76).

Best Frank Whaley movies, ranked

How old is Frank Whaley?

Frank Whaley is 63 years old, born on July 20, 1963 in Syracuse, New York, U.S..

What is Frank Whaley's newest movie?

The most recent film on Frank Whaley's filmography is Saint Clare (2025), in the role of Mailman Bob.

Who does Frank Whaley work with most often?

Frank Whaley shares the most films with Jon Cryer (3 films), Seymour Cassel (3 films) and Raymond De Felitta (3 films).

The Best Frank Whaley Movies, Ranked

Top rated, most awarded and biggest box office hits from 44 credits.

See the ranking

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