Dwight Frye's Last Laugh

by Gregory William Mank, James T. Coughlin, Dwight D. Frye

Dwight Frye's Last Laugh details the dramatic rise and fall of the actor who won immortality as the giggling Renfield of Dracula and the sadistic hunchback of Frankenstein. Authorized by Dwight's son Dwight David, the book includes detailed information of Frye's early stage work, his Broadway triumphs and his ghoulish typecasting in Hollywood—which ironically assured him a posthumous cult status among horror film disciples.

Genres: Biography

320 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 1996

Reviews

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great read for any Dwight Frye fan! It showed that there was so much more to Dwight than just being cast as Renfield and Fritz. He had an interest in Broadway plays, artwork, and was a true family man!
I really think that if he were alive now, he'd be very amazed to see the amount of fans he has to this day.
I was disappointed that there weren't any childhood photos of him and told one of my friends (who's a Dwight Frye fanatic) about it. He told me that there aren't any that he knows of. It was pretty common during Dwight's time for personal items to either become lost or get stolen.
Very much recommend this read for all who like Dwight Frye or just classic horror films in general.

[Rebecca M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains a wealth of impressively researched information! I'll be honest and say it frustrated me quite a bit--not because of how it was written but because, as an avid Dwight Frye fan, it pains me that he never received the recognition or the roles he deserved, especially since he had such extensive (and highly praised) stagework under his belt by the time he gravitated towards movies. That he was reduced to unbilled bit parts, despite being so versatile and dedicated, is just sad. He was ahead of his time and that hurt his career; but, admirably, he kept the faith and persevered, giving his all to even the smallest roles. And now, “The Man with the Thousand-Watt Stare” and “The Man of a Thousand Deaths” lives on, as he should.

[Dick Baldwin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dwight Frye was a great actor, even though he tended toward pre-method ... the method popularized in the late '40s through the 1950s, by which time Frye was already dead. He did extensive and fine stage work, which one would never know in light of his gaudy movie work. Although miserably typecast and under-utilized in Hollywood, he has nonetheless become a legendary footnote among film enthusiasts. Mank is a good journalist of film lore, and this book gives us what we've wanted for so many years -- information on an interesting, but obscure, screen personality and also shows us the sorrow and pity of working in an uncaring industry.

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

It doesn't get any better than this. The research is impressive and for an actor who has never received his due, the book clinches that. Frye's son helped with the book and Gregory William Mank covers everything about Dracula's Renfield. Gain immortality yourself by reading this book.

[Emmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful biography of a classic actor who is too often overlooked or typecast as a "horror" actor. I love Dwight Frye's work, and have been a fan of his for years. This book gave me an amazing an in-depth overview of his life and work. It could not have been better!

[Boo _ Knocke · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars because of it being Dwight Frye. It wasn't an amazing book, it was boring at times. On a rare occasion, it imbued a sense of depressing nostalgia which I'm sure was intended, so in that it succeeded. But my love of Dwight, my passion for his passion regarding his acting, and his truly awe-inspiring performances, are the reasons I enjoyed the book as much as I did.

[Tomy Yon · Rating 4 out of 5]

He might be one of these actors you don't recall being in groundbreaking roles. Impressive biography.