Editing Frank Bonner

{{short description|American actor and director (1942–2021)}}
{{distinguish|Frank Bonner (baseball)|Frank Bonner (rugby league)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name        = Frank Bonner
| image       = Publicity_Photo_of_Frank_Bonner.jpg
| caption     = Publicity photo of Bonner
| birthname   = Frank Woodrow Boers Jr.
| birth_date  = {{Birth date|1942|02|28|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Little Rock, Arkansas]], U.S.
| death_date  = {{Death date and age|2021|06|16|1942|02|28|mf=y}}
| death_place = [[Laguna Niguel, California]], U.S.
| known_for   = {{hlist|[[WKRP in Cincinnati]]}}
| yearsactive = 1970–2014
| occupation  = Actor, director
| spouse      = {{ubl
  | {{marriage|Sharon Gray|1966|1971|end=divorced}}
  | {{marriage|Mary A. Rings|1972|1975|end=divorced}}
  | {{marriage|[[Lillian Garrett-Groag]]|1977|1980|end=divorced}}
  | {{marriage|Catherin M. Sherwood|1981|end=divorced}}
  | {{marriage|Gayle Hardage|2006}}
  }}
}}

'''Frank Bonner''' (born '''Frank Woodrow Boers Jr.'''; February 28, 1942 – June 16, 2021) was an American actor and television director widely known for his role as sales manager [[Herb Tarlek]] on the television [[sitcom]] ''[[WKRP in Cincinnati]]''.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}

==Early life==
Bonner was born in [[Little Rock, Arkansas]], to Grace Marie "Mamie" (née Dobbins) Boers Delahoussay,<ref name="nyt"/> a singer, and Frank Woodrow Boers, a saxophonist.<ref name="a" /> He grew up in [[Malvern, Arkansas]].<ref name="nyt"/>

==Career==
Bonner began acting in the experimental 1967 independent film ''The Equinox ... A Journey into the Unknown'', which was reshot and re-edited as the 1970 cult classic ''[[Equinox (1970 film)|Equinox]]'' (in which he is credited as Frank Boers Jr.).<ref name="a" />

He later had several small roles in movies and on television, including ''[[Mannix]]'', ''[[Emergency!]]'', and ''[[Love, American Style]]''. In 1978 he joined the cast of ''[[WKRP in Cincinnati]]'', finding his signature role as [[Herb Tarlek]], the crass and ineffectual station advertising sales agent, noted for his garish plaid suits and white shoes.<ref name="herb">{{cite web |title=Frank Bonner (1942–2021), "WKRP in Cincinnati" star |website=Legacy.com |first=Linnea |last=Crowther |date=June 17, 2021 |url       =https://www.legacy.com/news/celebrity-deaths/frank-bonner-1942-2021-wkrp-in-cincinnati-star/ |accessdate=June 17, 2021}}</ref> 

Bonner appeared as a guest star in two episodes of the sitcom ''[[Night Court]]'' in the 1980s. From 1988 to 1990, Bonner played the role of Father Hargis, headmaster of the fictional St. Augustine's Academy, on the TV show ''[[Just the Ten of Us]]'', which was a spin-off of ''[[Growing Pains]]''. He also appeared in one of the early episodes of the television show ''[[Newhart]]''. He reprised the role of Herb Tarlek in the 1991 spinoff ''[[The New WKRP in Cincinnati]]'' and in a 2004 rock video for [[Canada|Canadian]] [[indie rock]] band [[Rheostatics]] (for the song "The Tarleks", from their album ''[[2067 (album)|2067]]'').{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}

After directing six episodes of ''WKRP in Cincinnati,'' he directed for other television shows in the 1980s and 1990s,<ref name="nyt"/> including ''[[Who's the Boss?]]'', ''[[Head of the Class]]'' (starring his WKRP alumni [[Howard Hesseman]]), ''[[Evening Shade]]'', ''[[Newhart]]'', and every episode of the [[NBC]] Saturday morning sitcom ''[[City Guys]]''. Bonner also appeared in five episodes of ''[[Saved by the Bell: The New Class]]'', and directed four episodes.{{Citation needed|date=June 2021}}

==Personal life==
Bonner was married to Sharon Gray from 1966–1971; actress Mary Alice Rings from 1972–1975; playwright [[Lillian Garrett-Groag]] from 1977–1980; Catherine M. Sherwood from 1981 until their divorce (date indeterminate); and Gayle Hardage, his former high school sweetheart in [[Malvern, Arkansas]], from 2006 until his death.<ref name="ref5">{{cite news |title=Who were Frank Bonner's wives? Inside actor's 5 marriages as he dies at 79 |website=MEA World Wide |first=Sayantani |last=Nath |date=June 18, 2021 |url=https://meaww.com/frank-bonner-wives-four-divorces-fifth-wife-found-love-actor-dies-age-dementia-539902
 |accessdate   = June 20, 2021}}</ref> 

Frank Bonner had five children (four biological), seven grandchildren, and one great-grandchild at his death. He had a daughter, Desiree Boers-Kort, with his first wife, Sharon Gray. He had three sons (Michael, Matthew, and Justin);  Michael predeceased his father. Bonner also had a step-daughter, DeAndra Freed.<ref name=nyt></ref><ref name="TheFocus">{{cite news |title=Who are Frank Bonner's children? Meet the late WKRP actor's family and ex-wives |journal=The Focus |first=Olivia |last=Olphin  |date=June 18, 2021 |url=https://www.thefocus.news/culture/frank-bonner-children/ |accessdate=June 20, 2021}}</ref>

In 1979, Bonner was injured in a [[parasailing]] accident at the [[El Mirage Lake#El Mirage Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area (OHV)|El Mirage Lake Off-Highway Vehicle Recreation Area]], northeast of Los Angeles. He was approximately {{Convert|20|ft|m}} in the air, suspended under an ascendancy parachute pulled by a tow vehicle &mdash; when a sudden, unexpected gust of wind collapsed the chute, causing him to fall to the lake bed and suffer internal injuries and injuries to his back.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ZLEwAAAAIBAJ&sjid=B_sDAAAAIBAJ&dq=frank%20bonner&pg=6791%2C15914 |title=Parachute Accident Hospitalizes Frank Bonner of 'WKRP' |newspaper=[[The Ledger|Lakeland Ledger]] |date=October 16, 1979 |agency=[[Associated Press]] |access-date=June 19, 2021}}</ref>  Subsequently, he appeared on crutches in episodes of ''[[WKRP in Cincinnati]]'' (the season 2 episode "A Family Affair") and an All-Star Special episode of ''[[Family Feud]]''.<ref name="Feud">{{cite news  |title=Frank Bonner Dies, WKRP in Cincinnati and Saved by the Bell Star Was 79 |website=Movieweb |first=Anthony |last=Lund |date=June 17, 2021 |url=https://movieweb.com/frank-bonner-dead/ |accessdate=June 20, 2021}}</ref>

==Death==
Bonner died on June 16, 2021, aged 79, in [[Laguna Niguel, California]], of complications from [[Lewy body dementia]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thewrap.com/frank-bonner-wkrp-in-cincinnati-star-dies-at-79/ |title=Frank Bonner, 'WKRP in Cincinnati' Star, Dies at 79 |first1=Tony |last1=Reid |first2=Maglio |last2=Nakamura |work=[[TheWrap]] |date=June 17, 2021 |access-date=June 17, 2021}}</ref><ref name="a">{{cite news |url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/frank-bonner-dead-wkrp-in-cincinnati-1234999322/ |title=Frank Bonner, 'WKRP in Cincinnati' and 'Saved by the Bell' Actor, Dies at 79 |first=Antonio |last=Ferme |work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=June 17, 2021 |access-date=June 17, 2021}}</ref><ref name="nyt">{{cite news |title=Frank Bonner, Brash Salesman on 'WKRP in Cincinnati,' Dies at 79 |newspaper=[[The New York Times]] |first=Sayantani |last=Nath |date=June 17, 2021 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/18/arts/television/frank-bonner-dead.html |access-date=June 20, 2021 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

==Filmography==
{{Unreferenced section|date=June 2021}}
===As actor===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Role !! Notes
|-
| 1970 ||''[[Equinox (1970 film)|Equinox]]'' || Jim Hudson || Feature film
|-
| 1970 || ''[[The Young Lawyers]]'' || Walt || Episode: "Where's Aaron"
|-
| 1970 || ''[[Nancy (TV series)|Nancy]]'' || Hank || Episode: "Boys' Night Out"
|-
| 1971 || ''[[Mannix]]'' || Hypnotized Man || Episode: "Catspaw"
|-
| 1972 || ''[[Nichols (TV series)|Nichols]]'' || Gruber || Episode: "About Jesse James"
|-
| 1972 || ''[[The Hoax (1972 film)|The Hoax]]'' || Clete Dempsey || Feature film
|-
| 1973 || ''[[Little Cigars (film)|Little Cigars]]'' || Gene (Hotel Bellman) || Feature film
|-
| 1973 || ''[[The F.B.I. (TV series)|The F.B.I.]]'' || Johnson || Episode: "The Confession"
|-
| 1973 || ''[[Hawkins (TV series)|Hawkins]]'' || 1st Yankee || Episode: "Blood Feud"
|-
| 1973 || ''[[Emergency!]]'' || Walt || Episode: "Body Language"
|-
| 1974 || ''[[Love, American Style]]'' || Jerry || Segment: "Love and the Extra Job"
|-
| 1974 || ''[[Cannon (TV series)|Cannon]]'' || Allecino || Episode: "Kelly' Song"
|-
| 1974 || ''Fer-de-Lance'' || Compton || TV movie
|-
| 1975 || ''[[Las Vegas Lady]]'' || Claude || Feature film
|-
| 1975 || ''[[Cannon (TV series)|Cannon]]'' || Bill || Episode: "The Victim"
|-
| 1976 || ''[[Police Woman (TV series)|Police Woman]]'' || Donny's Father || Episode: "The Pawn Shop"
|-
| 1977 || ''[[Man from Atlantis]]'' || Bartender || Episode: "C.W. Hyde"
|-
| 1978–1982 || ''[[WKRP in Cincinnati]]'' || [[Herb Tarlek]] || Main cast (88 episodes)
|-
| 1979 || ''Sex and the Single Parent'' || Peter || TV movie
|-
| 1981 || ''[[The Love Boat]]'' || Dr. Jonathan Hunt || Episode: "Country Blues/Daddy's Little Girl/Jackpot"
|-
| 1981 || ''[[Fantasy Island]]'' || Jack Simon || Episode: "Romance Times Three/Night of the Tormented Soul"
|-
| 1982 || ''[[The Facts of Life Goes to Paris]]'' || Garth Kiley || TV movie
|-
| 1982 || ''[[Gimme a Break!]]'' || Officer Baxter || Episode: "The Chief's Gay Evening"
|-
| 1983 || ''[[The Love Boat]]'' || Ben Phillips || Episode: "The Captain's Replacement/Sly as a Fox/Here Comes the Bride-Maybe"
|-
| 1984 || ''[[Newhart]]'' || Mr. Pack || Episode: "Kirk Pops the Question"
|-
| 1984 || ''[[Legmen]]'' || Leo Gibson || Episode: "I Shall Be Re-Released"
|-
| 1984 || ''[[The Duck Factory]]'' || Mel Kemper || Episode: "The Annies"
|-
| 1984 || ''[[No Man's Land (1984 film)|No Man's Land]]'' || Deputy Thad Prouty || TV movie
|-
| 1984 || ''[[Simon & Simon]]'' || Brad Daniels || Episode: "Deep Cover"
|-
| 1985 || ''[[Matt Houston]]'' || Fred || Episode: "Death Watch"
|-
| 1985 || ''[[Gimme a Break!]]'' || Warren || Episode: "Police Mamas"
|-
| 1985 || ''[[George Burns Comedy Week]]'' || Stu || Episode: "Home for Dinner"
|-
| 1985 || ''[[Scarecrow and Mrs. King]]'' || Henry 'Buck' McConnell || Episodes: "Tail of the Dancing Weasel" and "Utopia Now"
|-
| 1985 || ''[[Crazy Like a Fox (TV series)|Crazy Like a Fox]]'' || Chick || Episode: "Requiem for a Fox"
|-
| 1985-6 || ''[[Night Court]]'' || Howie / Preston Cowdrey || Episodes: "Mac and Quon Le: No Reservations" and "Prince of a Guy"
|-
| 1986 || ''[[The Longshot]]'' || Realtor || Feature film
|-
| 1986 || ''[[Punky Brewster]]'' || Cheapo Chester || Episode: "Cherie Lifesaver"
|-
| 1986 || ''[[Blacke's Magic]]'' || Hal Renquist || Episode: "Death Goes to the Movies"
|-
| 1986 || ''[[Murder, She Wrote]]'' || Earl Fargo || Episode: "Murder in the Electric Cathedral"
|-
| 1986 || ''[[Sidekicks (TV series)|Sidekicks]]'' || Detective R.T. Mooney || Recurring role (5 episodes)
|-
| 1986 || ''[[Night Court]]'' || Preston Cowdrey || Episode: "Prince of a Guy"
|-
| 1988 || ''[[You Can't Hurry Love (film)|You Can't Hurry Love]]'' || Chuck Hayes || Feature film
|-
| 1988–1990 || ''[[Just the Ten of Us]]'' || Father Robert Hargis || Main cast (22 episodes)
|-
| 1991 || ''[[Going Under (1991 film)|Going Under]]'' || Soviet General || Feature film
|-
| 1991–1993 || ''[[The New WKRP in Cincinnati]]'' || [[Herb Tarlek]] || Main cast (45 episodes)
|-
| 1993 || ''[[Evening Shade]]'' || Walt Thompson || Episode: "She What?!"
|-
| 1994–1997 || ''[[Saved by the Bell: The New Class]]'' || Mr. Harrington || Recurring role (5 episodes)
|-
| 1995 || ''[[The Mommies (TV series)|The Mommies]]'' || Director || Episode: "Selling Out"
|-
| 1995 || ''[[The Colony (1995 film)|The Colony]]'' || Frank Williamson || TV movie
|-
| 1997 || ''[[USA High]]'' || Mr. Giggles (Dentist) || Episode: "The Odd Couple"
|-
| 1998 || ''Motel'' || Gressil || Feature film
|-
| 2000 || ''[[City Guys]]'' || Jake || Episode: "Meet Mr. History"
|-
| 2003 || ''[[A Light in the Forest]]'' || Kimmel || Feature film
|-
| 2004 || ''[[Shut Up and Kiss Me (film)|Shut Up and Kiss Me]]'' || Harvey Ballister || Feature film
|-
| 2004 || ''A Norwegian Lunch'' || Teacher || Short film
|-
| 2008 || ''[[Remembering Phil]]'' || Motel Clerk || Feature film
|-
| 2014 || ''Under the Hollywood Sign'' || Larry || Feature film
|}

===As director===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year !! Title !! Notes
|-
| 1980–1982 ||''[[WKRP in Cincinnati]]'' || TV series (6 episodes)
|-
| 1982 || ''[[Family Ties]]'' || TV series (1 episode)
|-
| 1986–1990 || ''[[Head of the Class]]'' || TV series (2 episodes)
|-
| 1988 || ''[[Frank's Place]]'' || TV series (1 episode)
|-
| 1988 || ''[[The Van Dyke Show]]'' || TV series (1 episode)
|-
| 1988–1990 || ''[[Just the Ten of Us]]'' || TV series (8 episodes)
|-
| 1989 || ''[[Who's the Boss?]]'' || TV series (1 episode)
|-
| 1989–1990 || ''[[The Famous Teddy Z]]'' || TV series (2 episodes)
|-
| 1990 || ''[[Evening Shade]]'' || TV series (1 episode)
|-
| 1990 || ''[[You Take the Kids]]'' || TV series (1 episode)
|-
| 1991–1993 || ''[[Harry and the Hendersons (TV series)|Harry and the Hendersons]]'' || TV series (11 episodes)
|-
| 1991–1993 || ''[[The New WKRP in Cincinnati]]'' || TV series (7 episodes)
|-
| 1995 || ''[[Fudge (TV series)|Fudge]]'' || TV series (1 episode)
|-
| 1995 || ''[[The Mommies (TV series)|The Mommies]]'' || TV series (4 episodes)
|-
| 1995 || ''[[Campus Cops]]'' || TV series (1 episode)
|-
| 1997 || ''[[Saved by the Bell: The New Class]]'' || TV series (4 episodes)
|-
| 1997–1998 || ''[[USA High]]'' || TV series (6 episodes)
|-
| 1997–2001 || ''[[City Guys]]'' || TV series (105 episodes)
|-
| 2003 || ''Living Straight'' || TV movie
|-
| 2010 || ''Desire and Deceit'' || TV series (1 episode)
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|id=0094894|name=Frank Bonner}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bonner, Frank}}
[[Category:1942 births]]
[[Category:2021 deaths]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American television directors]]
[[Category:Male actors from Little Rock, Arkansas]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]
[[Category:Deaths from dementia in California]]
[[Category:Deaths from Lewy body dementia]]