Frank Nelson

Frank Nelson in 1954, on The Jack Benny Program

Jack Benny: Oh Mister? Mister?
Whoever Frank Nelson was playing that week: EEE-Yeeeeeeeeesssss?

—The Jack Benny Program, almost Once Per Episode

Frank Nelson (May 6, 1911 - September 12, 1986) was a comic actor, famous for his work on many 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s sitcoms on both radio and television. You probably know of him, even if only from Looney Tunes parodies; he had a moustache, a receding hairline, and a biting sense of humor, and always stretched out his "EEE-Yeeeeeeeeesssss?" response when addressed.

His stock character was the put-upon foil (although he still got his own in during conversations with Jack Benny). He made a career out of You Look Familiar.

He was also a voice actor, lending his voice to characters from The Flintstones, Mister Magoo, and The Jetsons, amongst others; Garfield in Paradise was the last show where he recorded his Catch Phrase.

He died from cancer in Hollywood on September 12, 1986, at the age of 75.

Not to be confused with the German-born Argentinian actor of the same name. Neither should his character be confused with Harold Peary's character "The Great Gildersleeve" from Fibber McGee and Molly (and later his own series and film), who admittedly was very similar.

Frank Nelson provides examples of the following tropes:

• Big Yes: While "EEE-Yeeeeeeeeesssss?" was one of his Catch Phrases, he only used it the "Large Ham" version of that trope - making this an Unbuilt Trope.
• Catch Phrase:
  • "EEE-Yeeeeeeeeesssss?"
  • "Oo-oo-oo-ooh, DO they!"
• Foil: Never just the straight man, never the star, always the performer who made the other person in the scene look good - although being able to play off of Jack Benny or Lucille Ball so effortlessly was a talent in itself.
• Hey, It's That Guy!: According to The Other Wiki, "He also appeared on several other radio programs. Nelson's sudden appearances usually led to spontaneous laughter or applause on the part of the audience."
• You Look Familiar: He played multiple roles on The Jack Benny Program, I Love Lucy, and Sanford and Son. Lampshaded in an episode of The Jack Benny Program where Jack visits a psychiatrist, convinced that he's losing his mind because he keeps seeing Nelson everywhere he goes! (Of course, Frank plays the psychiatrist.)

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