Comic actor under contract to Hal Roach. First appeared in the 'Spat Family' series. During the 1920's, acted in several 'Our Gang' shorts and also starred in his own series of 'Frank Butler Comedies'. Diversified as a scenario writer and worked his way up to heading Roach's scenario department by the mid-1930's. After leaving Roach, he free-lanced as a gag writer for MGM and Paramount, eventually writing screenplays for some of the early Bob Hope/Bing Crosby 'Road' movies. Authored the original play "Hangman's Whip" for Broadway in 1933.