FRANK GERSTLE

September 27, 1915

Francis M. Gerstle was born in New York City on September 27, 1915. 

He appeared in 60 films between 1950 and 1970 and 110 television programs between 1951 and 1970. He was usually seen in stern authoritarian roles as cops, doctors, or military types.

Gerstle (above left) uttered one of the most famous film noir lines as a doctor in D.O.A. (1949), telling a poisoned yet alive Edmond O’Brien, “You’ve been murdered."  This marked his screen debut.

He made his television debut with a 1952 episode of CBS’s crime drama “Racket Squad”. 

During the summer of 1953, “Racket Squad,” another Philip Morris-sponsored show, replaced “I Love Lucy” till fall. 

Gerstle first appeared with Lucille Ball in “The Indian Show” (ILL S2;E24) in 1953. He played Herman, the shorter Indian (he was 5′7.5″ tall) who appears at Lucy’s door with Richard Reeves. 

Thinking they are wild Indians (not the actors they truly are) like the ones in the book she is reading, Lucy goes on attack to save her child. 

Gerstle returned to the series to play the helicopter pilot who flies Lucy out to the S.S. Constitution in “Bon Voyage” (ILL S5;E13) in 1956, the most expensive episode of the series ever filmed. 

Above, Lucy rehearses the scene while a somewhat bored Gerstle looks on. This scene gave Lucy and Desi an idea for a series: “Whirlybirds” (1957-60).  It is no surprise that Gerstle appeared on the second episode of the helicopter drama in 1957. 

In between episodes, he played a gas station attendant in Lucy and Desi’s MGM film The Long, Long Trailer (1953).

Gerstle did one episode of “Make Room for Daddy” (1953) and one of “Our Miss Brooks”, both with connections to Desilu and Lucille Ball. 

In 1959 and 1960, Gerstle appeared on Desilu’s hit mobster series, “The Untouchables.” 

On the Desilu backlot, Gerstle was the subject of “The Manhunt” on “The Andy Griffith Show” in the show’s second episode in October 1960. 

Gerstle was reunited with Richard Reeve (Tall Indian in “The Indian Show”) for an episode of the short-lived Desilu sitcom “Glynis” in October 1963. 

A year later he was reunited with William Frawley (Fred Mertz) for an episode of “My Three Sons”. Gerstle played a policeman. The series was filmed at Desilu Studios. 

In 1967 and 1969, Gerstle was seen on “Gomer Pyle: USMC” a spin-off of “The Andy Griffith Show.” The 1967 episode was filmed at Desilu, but by 1969, the studio was owned by Paramount.  In 1966, Gomer Pyle (Jim Nabors) did a cameo on “The Lucy Show.” 

Gerstle’s final appearance with Lucille Ball was in “Jack Benny’s Birthday Special” in 1969. From 1960 to 1963 he did four episodes of “The Jack Benny Program.” 

Frank Gerstle died on February 23, 1970 at age 54.  Two weeks later, he posthumously appeared on “Mannix,” a crime drama that did a crossover with “Here’s Lucy” in 1971.