ABOUT

Frank Moran was born in Brooklyn, New York, and apparently came into this world with a need to entertain.

His acting career began at the tender age of eight, when he took on his first role: Santa Claus. Granted, his audience was small—his family—but every great actor has to start somewhere.

With limited resources and an abundance of imagination, Frank created his own costume from a red robe, cotton, double-sided tape, and a strategically placed pillow. Was he motivated by the joy of giving, or was he simply desperate for attention? Probably both.

A few years later, he returned to the stage—the living room, actually—as Groucho Marx. After watching countless Marx Brothers movies, Frank became obsessed with Groucho, perfecting his mannerisms and legendary duck walk. He fashioned a costume from his black raincoat, borrowed his father’s glasses and a cigar, and used the soot from a burned wine cork for Groucho’s unmistakable eyebrows and mustache.

He loved making his parents laugh. Besides, it was the only time he could insult them and get away with it.

About twenty years later, Frank found himself portraying Groucho professionally at The American Place Theatre, improvising with a packed house just as he had in his family’s living room as a kid. Only now, the audience was a whole lot bigger.

Somehow, the little boy from Brooklyn had come full circle.

Frank’s love of performing truly took hold in high school. He started out in a rock band before auditioning for the school musical and discovering that he had found his home. He began studying acting, singing, and dance and went on to begin his professional career in his twenties.

His work in film and television has ranged from playing “The Dad” opposite Kathy Najimy in the Disney feature Step Up 3D, directed by Jon M. Chu, to a dramatic role opposite Vincent D’Onofrio on Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Whether working in comedy or drama, Frank loves stepping into another person’s world and discovering what makes that character tick.

Entertainment, it turns out, is in his blood. His grandmother and her sisters were a singing act—all big belters. His father was a crooner in the Bing Crosby tradition, his mother a concert pianist, and his older brother became a musical-theatre actor. Frank never really stood much of a chance of pursuing a quiet career.

His own musical life continues as well. You might occasionally find him at a piano bar delivering a powerhouse rendition of “’O Sole Mio.” He also shares what he has learned by teaching acting, singing, and dance to young people. And yes, he still plays Santa Claus, bringing his very first character full circle for children and adults ready for a little Christmas magic.

A lifelong student of the craft, Frank studied acting for years with the late Wynn Handman, whose influence continually challenged him to look deeper, take risks, and discover more about himself through the work.

When he isn’t performing, Frank reads Tarot cards, and his friends are always asking him what the future holds. His answer is usually that the future isn’t simply something we wait for—it’s something we help create.

Frank is still dreaming big: more roles, more opportunities to create, and plenty more laughter along the way. After all, why stop dreaming when the next act could be your best one yet?

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