Warren Frost (June 5, 1925 – February 17, 2017) was an American actor. His work was mainly in theater, but he worked in films and television sporadically from 1958. He is known for television roles on Matlock and Seinfeld, and particularly as Doctor Hayward on Twin Peaks, a series co-created by his son Mark Frost. He has also appeared in TV movies, such as Psycho IV: The Beginning (1990) and The Stand (1994).

Warren Frost
Frost in an episode of Twin Peaks
Born(1925-06-05)June 5, 1925
DiedFebruary 17, 2017(2017-02-17) (aged 91)
Occupation(s)Stage, television, film actor
Spouse
Virginia Calhoun
(m. 1949)
ChildrenMark, Lindsay, Scott
RelativesLucas Giolito (grandson)

Early life

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Frost was born in 1925 in Newburyport, Massachusetts, and was raised in the Bronx and Essex Junction, Vermont.

At the age of 17, he enlisted in the United States Navy during World War II, and served aboard the destroyer escort USS Borum (DE-790) in Europe during the Normandy landings.[1] At the age of 21, he enrolled as an English major at Middlebury College in Vermont under the G.I. Bill.[2]

Career

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Frost spent much of his career in the Twin Cities, teaching at the University of Minnesota and serving as artistic director of the Chimera Theater in St. Paul.[3] He had a small yet memorable role in the film adaptation of Slaughterhouse Five (1972), which was shot in the Minneapolis area.

Frost's Hollywood work in shows such as Twin Peaks and Matlock was essentially his second career, following his retirement from teaching and stage direction. He was aged 63 when his son Mark, co-creator of Twin Peaks with David Lynch, cast him in the role of Dr. Will Hayward. Frost appeared in thirty episodes of the series, and reprised the role in the feature film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me although his scenes were cut. His appearance in Twin Peaks led to a recurring role in the legal drama Matlock.[4]

In the Seinfeld TV series he played Henry Ross, father of Susan Ross, George Costanza's fiancée.[4] His onscreen wife in Seinfeld was played by his Twin Peaks co-star Grace Zabriskie.

Frost returned to play Doc Hayward in the revived series of Twin Peaks, which began airing in May 2017.[5]

Personal life

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Frost married Mary Virginia Calhoun in 1949[6] and was the father of novelist, television screenwriter, and producer Mark Frost, actress Lindsay Frost, and writer Scott Frost. He was the grandfather of baseball player Lucas Giolito and actor Casey Giolito.[7] He also has a grandson from his oldest son Mark.

Frost died at his home in Middlebury, Vermont, on February 17, 2017, following a long illness at the age of 91.[8]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1958 War of the Colossal Beast Operator (Switchboard)
1959 The Mating Game Secretary Uncredited
1959 It Started with a Kiss Lt. McCann
1972 Slaughterhouse-Five Driver
1992 Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me Dr. Will Hayward
1993 Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit Archdiocese Person #1
2014 Twin Peaks: The Missing Pieces Dr. Will Hayward

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1957 Goodyear Television Playhouse Gene Marley Episode: "The Princess Back Home"
1957 Death Valley Days John Chapman Episode: "The Calico Dog"
1957 The Gray Ghost Capt. Leonard Wood Episode: "The Missing Colonel"
1958 Navy Log Shugart Episode: "The Butchers of Kapsan"
1958 The Silent Service Capt. Edward H. Mikes Episode: "The Story of the U.S.S. Aspro"
1958 Studio One The Desk Clerk Episode: "The Desperate Age"
1958 The Gale Storm Show Jerry Episode: "You Gotta Have Charm"
1958 The Danny Thomas Show Man In Dream Episode: "The Reunion"
1958–1959 Playhouse 90 Various roles 3 episodes
1960 Perry Mason Infrared Camera Technician Episode: "The Case of the Nimble Nephew"
1988 Tattingers Albert Philcox Episode: "Death and Taxis"
1988–1989 As the World Turns Jarred Carpenter 5 episodes
1989 Quantum Leap US Senator Episode: "Honeymoon Express"
1989 Beauty and the Beast Paul Malloy Episode: "Though Lovers Be Lost..."
1989–1991 Twin Peaks Dr. Will Hayward 30 episodes
1990 So Proudly We Hail Horace Gabler Television film
1990 Psycho IV: The Beginning Dr. Leo Richmond
1990 L.A. Law George Melten Episode: "New Kidney on the Block"
1991 False Arrest Television film
1991 Get a Life Senator Episode: "Health Inspector 2000"
1991 Civil Wars Judge Adelman Episode: "Have Gun, Will Unravel"
1991–1995 Matlock Billy Lewis 18 episodes
1992 Intruders Dr. Holman 2 episodes
1992 Murphy Brown Dave Episode: "A Year to Remember"
1992 Life Goes On Judge Harper Episode: "Love Letters"
1992–1998 Seinfeld Henry Ross 5 episodes
1994 The Byrds of Paradise Rex Palmer
1994 The Stand George Richardson 2 episodes
1994 The Larry Sanders Show Jerry Sanders Episode: "Would You Do Me a Favor?"
1995 Grace Under Fire Man at House Episode: "No Money Down"
1995 Murder One Judge Neil Platner Episode: "Chapter Six"
1996 The John Larroquette Show Professor Nolfi Episode: "The Master Class"
2017 Twin Peaks Doc Will Hayward Episode: "Part 7"

References

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  1. ^ "Warren Frost, 'Twin Peaks' Actor, Dies at 91". The Wrap. February 17, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
  2. ^ "Warren Frost, Who Played Doc Hayward on 'Twin Peaks,' Dies at 91". The Hollywood Reporter. February 17, 2017. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
  3. ^ Sparber, Max (May 6, 2011). "Twin Peaks and the Twin Cities: The forgotten local connection to the classic TV show". MinnPost. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
  4. ^ a b Hallenbeck, Brent (July 26, 2014). "Middlebury actor recalls stint on 'Seinfeld'". Burlington Free Press. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  5. ^ "'Twin Peaks': Ashley Judd Joins Reboot". Deadline. February 12, 2016. Retrieved February 21, 2017.
  6. ^ Lentz, Harris III (April 2017). "Warren Frost, 91". Classic Images (502): 51.
  7. ^ Amanda Comak, "Lucas Giolito’s talent too tantalizing for Nationals to pass on", The Washington Post, June 5, 2012.
  8. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (February 18, 2017). "Warren Frost, Character Actor Known for 'Twin Peaks' and 'Seinfeld,' Dies at 91". Variety. Retrieved February 18, 2017.
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