Frank DeVol, 1911-1999

Band leader, composer and comic actor Frank DeVol (88) passed away on Wednesday, October 24th, 1999. To residents of TV Land, the phrase "music by DeVol" refers to some of the most popular television theme songs of all time, including "The Brady Bunch," "My Three Sons" and "Family Affair." His face was also familiar, as he appeared on a variety of classic sit-coms like "The Jack Benny Show," Petticoat Junction, "The Brady Bunch" and "Camp Runnamuck." His signature role was that of Happy Kyne, the hangdog-faced leader of the Mirth Makers on "Fernwood 2-Night." DeVol began his career in music at age 14, playing violin in his father's Canton, Ohio orchestra. He soon graduated to arranging and directing music for radio shows, eventually making a leap to the big screen and creating film scores.
Over the years, DeVol garnered four Oscar nominations for his music, including "Pillow Talk" in 1959, "Hush...Hush, Sweet Charlotte" in 1964, "Cat Ballou" in 1965 and "Guess Who's Coming To Dinner" in 1967. He also composed the music to the Supremes hit "The Happening" (from the film of the same name) and the score to "The Dirty Dozen." DeVol also served as A&R director at Columbia Records in the late '50s, and provided backing music for a variety of pop singers. Doris Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Rosemary Clooney and Vic Damone all have albums with music by DeVol. A prolific recording artist, DeVol also has several solo instrumental albums to his credit. DeVol spent his golden years making occasional concert appearances as well as lectures, always pleased to hear of his lasting impact on pop culture.
Obituary © TV Land

Combined filmography:
Very Brady Sequel, A (1996)[Composer]
Wild Women of Chastity Gulch, The (1982) (TV)[Composer]
Tales of the Apple Dumpling Gang (1982) (TV)[Composer]
...All the Marbles (1981)[Composer]
Ghosts of Buxley Hall, The (1980) (TV)[Composer]
Herbie Goes Bananas (1980)[Composer]
Frisco Kid, The (1979)[Actor .... Piano Player (Old Timer)] [Composer], ... aka No Knife (1979)
"Highcliffe Manor" (1979) TV Series[Composer]
Millionaire, The (1978) (TV)[Composer]
"America 2-Night" (1978) TV Series[Actor .... Happy Kyne]
"Love Boat, The" (1977) TV Series[Composer]
Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo (1977)[Composer]
"Fernwood 2-Night" (1977) TV Series[Actor .... Happy Kyne]
Panache (1976) (TV)[Composer]
Hustle (1975)[Composer]
Doc Savage: The Man of Bronze (1975)[Composer]
Longest Yard, The (1974)[Composer]
... aka Mean Machine, The (1974) (UK)
Key West (1973) (TV)[Composer]
Emperor of the North (1973)[Composer]
... aka Emperor of the North Pole (1973)
Murdock's Gang (1973) (TV)[Composer]
Ulzana's Raid (1972)[Composer]
"Delphi Bureau, The" (1972) TV Series[Composer]
Female Artillery (1972) (TV)[Composer]
Reluctant Heroes, The (1971) (TV)[Composer]
... aka Egghead on Hill 656, The (1971) (TV)
"To Rome with Love" (1969) TV Series[Composer]
"Brady Bunch, The" (1969) TV Series[Composer] [Miscellaneous crew]
Krakatoa, East of Java (1969)[Composer] ... aka Volcano (1969)
"Petticoat Junction" (1963) TV Series [Actor .... Reverend Barton (1969)]
Legend of Lylah Clare, The (1968)[Composer]
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)[Composer]
Big Mouth, The (1967)[Actor .... Bogart]
Happening, The (1967)[Composer]
Dirty Dozen, The (1967)[Composer]
Caprice (1967)[Composer] ... aka Operation Caprice (1967)
Ballad of Josie, The (1967)[Composer]
Texas Across the River (1966)[Composer]
"Family Affair" (1966) TV Series[Composer]
Glass Bottom Boat, The (1966)[Composer] ... aka Spy in Lace Panties, The (1966)
Flight of the Phoenix, The (1965)[Composer]
Very Special Favor, A (1965)[Actor .... Desk Clerk]
Cat Ballou (1965)[Composer]
Hush... Hush, Sweet Charlotte (1964)[Composer]
... aka Cross of Iron (1964)
... aka What Ever Happened to Cousin Charlotte? (1964)
Send Me No Flowers (1964)[Composer]
Good Neighbor Sam (1964)[Composer]
Wheeler Dealers, The (1963)[Composer] ... aka Separate Beds (1963)
Under the Yum Yum Tree (1963)[Composer]
Thrill of It All, The (1963)[Composer]
McLintock! (1963)[Composer]
For Love or Money (1963)[Composer] ... aka Three on a Match (1963) ... aka Three-Way Match, The (1963)
What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? (1962)[Composer]
"I'm Dickens, He's Fenster" (1962) TV Series[Actor .... Myron Bannister]
Boys' Night Out (1962)[Composer]
Lover Come Back (1961)[Composer]
Parent Trap, The (1961)[Actor .... Mr. Eaglewood]
"My Three Sons" (1960) TV Series[Composer]
Pillow Talk (1959)[Composer]
"Betty White Show, The" (1958) TV Series[Actor .... Orchestra Leader/Regular Performer]
Ride Back, The (1957)[Composer]
Attack (1956)[Composer] [Miscellaneous crew]
Pardners (1956)[Miscellaneous crew]
Big Knife, The (1955)[Composer] [Miscellaneous crew]
Kiss Me Deadly (1955)[Composer] [Miscellaneous crew]
Fresh From Paris (1955)[Miscellaneous crew] ... aka Paris Follies of 1956 (1955)
World for Ransom (1954)[Composer]
"Betty White Show, The" (1954) TV Series[Actor .... Orchestra Leader]
Notable TV guest appearances:
"Charles in Charge" (1984) playing "Leonard Griffin" in episode: "Buddy Flips His Disk" 1990
"Brady Bunch, The" (1969) playing "Fathe" in episode: "Show Must Go On??, The" (episode # 4.10) 11/3/1972
I Dream of Jeannie (1965) playing "Hamid" in episode: "Guess Who's Going to Be a Bride?" (episode # 5.3) 9/30/1969
"Petticoat Junction" (1963) playing "Reverend Barton" in episode: "Organ Fund, The" (episode # 6.23) 3/8/1969
"Petticoat Junction" (1963) playing "Reverend Barton" in episode: "Christening, The" (episode # 6.15) 1/11/1969
"Bonanza" (1959) playing "brother Stoner" in episode: "Child" (episode # 10.2) 1968
"Petticoat Junction" (1963) playing "Dr. Isaac Newton" in episode: "That Was The Night That Was" (episode # 4.28) 4/11/1967
"I Dream of Jeannie" (1965) playing "Hennessy" in episode: "My Master the Great Caruso" (episode # 2.13) 12/5/1966
Return to Recent Losses