Frank Buck (animal collector)

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This article is about Frank Buck the animal collector. For other people with the same name, see Frank Buck.

Frank Buck

Frank Buck (March 7, 1884-1950) was a hunter and animal collector, as well as a movie actor, director, writer and producer. He is probably most famous for his 1930s and 40s jungle adventure movies including: Wild Cargo, Jungle Cavalcade, Jacare, and Killer of the Amazon, many of which included staged "fights to the death" between formidable animals.

He was a native of Gainesville, Texas. He was an honorary ringmaster of the Gainesville Community Circus, and The Frank Buck Zoo in Gainesville (initially populated with retired circus animals) is named in his honor.

He and Edward Anthony collaborated on the book Bring 'em Back Alive. The title became his nickname.

He did some work with Henry Trefflich.

He also appeared in the 1949 movie Africa Screams (also known as "Abbott and Costello in Africa"), although most of his adventures collecting exotic animals took place in Asia.

There was a series of "Bring 'em Back Alive" bubblegum cards.

Although his life was an adventurous one, and he reported many brushes with dangerous animals, Buck's death at age 66 was due to lung cancer after a lifetime of cigarette smoking.

He was played by Bruce Boxleitner in the 1982/83 adventure series, Bring 'Em Back Alive.

[edit] Filmography

Africa Screams (1949) as Himself
Tiger Fangs (1943) as Himself
Jacaré (1942) as Himself
Jungle Cavalcade (1941) as Narrator
Jungle Menace (1937) as Frank Hardy
Fang and Claw (1935) as Himself (also director and author of the original book)
Wild Cargo (1934) as Himself/Narrator (also producer and author of the original book)
Bring 'Em Back Alive (1932) as Himself/Narrator (also author of the original book)