Frankie Russel Faison , often credited as Frankie R. Faison, is an American actor. Faison was born in Newport News, Virginia, the son of Carmena and Edgar Faison. He studied drama at Illinois Wesleyan University in Bloomington, Illinois, where he joined Theta Chi Fraternity. He also attended NYU's Graduate Acting Program, graduating in 1974. He married Jane Mandel on December 26, 1988, and together, they have three children: Blake, Amanda and Rachel. Faison received an honorary doctorate from his alma mater, Illinois Wesleyan University, in 2002 and was the keynote speaker at the... commencement ceremony. Faison started his acting career in 1974 in the New York Shakespeare Festival production of King Lear, with James Earl Jones in the title role. Faison's next role came in TV, in the short lived series Hot Hero Sandwich in 1979. Faison did make it to the big screen in 1980, when he appeared in Permanent Vacation as "Man in Lobby". A string of small roles followed until 1986 when he played the part of Lt. Fisk in Manhunter. He also appeared in the 1986 comedy The Money Pit as a unruly construction worker.
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