Frank McRae (March 18, 1941 – April 29, 2021) was an American film and television actor and a professional football player.
Early life McRae was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He graduated from Tennessee State University with a double major in drama and history. He was a defensive tackle for the Chicago Bears in the 1967 NFL season appearing in 6 games.
Career Among his acting roles are bank robber Reed in Dillinger (1973), as Steamer Riley in Walking Tall Part 2 (1975), a shouting police captain named Haden in 48 Hrs. (1982), a role he later parodied in Last Action Hero (1993) and Loaded Weapon 1 (1993); the history teacher, Mr. Teasdale, in Red Dawn (1984); James Bond's friend Sharkey in Licence to Kill (1989); and former professional boxing champion Harry Noble in Batteries Not Included (1987). He also appeared opposite Sylvester Stallone in 4 films: F.I.S.T. (1978), Paradise Alley (1978), Rocky II (1979), and Lock Up (1989), as well as a protective trucker in The Wizard (1989).
He made an effective pairing with John Candy as two bumbling subordinates; first as two tank soldiers (under an equally bumbling Sgt. Frank Tree played by Dan Aykroyd) in the film 1941 (1979), and later as a "Walley World" security guard in National Lampoon's Vacation (1983). He further showed his comedic abilities as Jim the clumsy mechanic in the cult classic Used Cars (1980). His last role was Cookie in the Hallmark Channel original films Love's Long Journey and Love's Abiding Joy.
Death On April 29, 2021, McRae died from a heart attack in Santa Monica, California, at the age of 80.
Selected filmography Year Title Role Notes 1972 Cool Breeze Barry, Mercer's Servant uncredited1973 Shaft in Africa OsiatSnatched CheechABC Movie of the Week Dillinger Reed Youngblood 1974 Bank Shot Hermann X1975 Hard Times Hammerman Walking Tall Part 2 Steamer Riley1976 Pipe Dreams Moose Tracks Train Coachman1978 F.I.S.T. Lincoln Dombrowsky Big Wednesday Sergeant The End Male Nurse Paradise Alley Big Glory1979 Norma Rae James Brown Rocky II Meat Foreman 1941 Pvt. Ogden Johnson Jones1980 City in Fear Captain Madison Used Cars Jim the Mechanic1982 Cannery Row Hazel 48 Hrs. Captain Haden 1983 National Lampoon's Vacation Grover 1984 Red Dawn Mr. Teasdale 1987 Batteries Not Included Harry Noble1989 Farewell to the King Tenga Licence to Kill Sharkey Lock Up "Eclipse" The Wizard Spankey 1990 Another 48 Hrs. Captain Haden uncredited1993 Loaded Weapon 1 Captain Doyle Last Action Hero Lieutenant Dekker 1994 Lightning Jack Mr. Doyle 1997 The Killing Jar Det. Bernie Morris 1998 Mr. P's Dancing Sushi Bar Bruce McFee 1999 Hijack Roger Tate2000 One Hell of a Guy Moe G-Men from Hell Lester 2005 Love's Long Journey Cookie 2006 Love's Abiding Joy Cookie
References
External links
Frank McRae (Aveleyman)