Elias Franklin Freeman Bio/Wiki, Net Worth, Married 2018
Frank Inn was a legendary animal trainer whose menagerie won a total of 40 Patsy Awards, the animal kingdom's equivalent of the Oscar. The Patsy Award is given out by the American Humane Association's Hollywood branch and stands for Picture Animal Top Star of the Year. It was first given out in 1951, to Francis the Talking Mule. Frank Inn's ...
Two daughters: Kathleen Hees and Lori Grajeda, one son: Ernest Freeman (deceased)
2
He kept the cremated remains of Benji, Arnold, the dog Tramp from My Three Sons and other animals in urns at his home and had requested that the remains be placed in his casket when he died, his daughter Kathleen said.
3
Born in Camby, Ind., the son of a Quaker preacher was in California in the 1930s when he was hit by a car. Pronounced dead, he was taken to a morgue, where a student learning embalming detected a heartbeat. He trained his first puppy while healing.
4
"Most of the trainers today either worked for him or were trained by people who did work for him," Mr. Inn's daughter said.
5
Mr. Inn helped launch the careers of many other trainers, including Karl Lewis Miller, who handled the pig and other animals in the hit movie Babe.
6
On all Benji films, TV series and specials, Mr. Inn, looking like a friendly sea captain, was a big, affable presence on the set. When Mr. Camp undertook the marketing of the original Benji himself, Mr. Inn and the pooch accompanied him on a cross-country tour, making friends and boosting the little film into a box-office winner.
7
During a career spanning six decades, Mr. Inn trained animals for dozens of movies and TV shows. His students included Cleo the basset hound from the 1950s Jackie Cooper show People's Choice and the nearly 500 animals that appeared in The Beverly Hillbillies.
8
Mr. Inn rescued the original Benji from the Burbank Animal Shelter in 1960. It grew up to star in the TV series Petticoat Junction and came out of retirement years later to make the first Benji film, which was shot in McKinney. The popular movie series was created by Dallas' Joe Camp.
Miscellaneous
Title
Year
Status
Character
Kansas City
1996
doberman supplier
Indecency
1992
TV Movie animal trainer
You Can't Hurry Love
1988
dog trainer
Fleshburn
1984
animal trainer
Class Reunion
1982
animal provider
Benji Takes a Dive at Marineland
1981
TV Short dog trainer
The Incredible Shrinking Woman
1981
animal handler - uncredited
Nightkill
1980
animal provider
Oh Heavenly Dog
1980
dog trainer
Cat in the Cage
1978
cat trainer
Benji's Very Own Christmas Story
1978
TV Short provider: Benji
The Daring Dobermans
1973
head trainer
Barnaby Jones
1973
TV Series animal trainer
My Three Sons
TV Series animal supplier - 196 episodes, 1965 - 1972 animal trainer - 15 episodes, 1968 - 1971
Mooch Goes to Hollywood
1971
TV Movie animal owner / animal trainer
Black Noon
1971
TV Movie cat handler - uncredited
Green Acres
TV Series animals trained by - 113 episodes, 1965 - 1971 animal trainer - 38 episodes, 1965 - 1970 animals furnished by - 7 episodes, 1965 animal furnisher - 4 episodes, 1965
The Beverly Hillbillies
1963-1971
TV Series animals furnished by - 228 episodes
Petticoat Junction
TV Series animal trainer - 136 episodes, 1965 - 1970 animals furnished by - 48 episodes, 1964 - 1965