Frank Coghlan Jr.

Frank Coghlan Jr.

Known for

Acting

Born

March 15, 1916

Birthplace

New Haven, Connecticut, USA

Died

September 7, 2009 (aged 93)

Biography

Frank Coghlan, Jr. (1916–2009) was an American actor who later became a career officer in the United States Navy and a Naval Aviator.

He appeared in approximately 129 films and television programs between 1920 and 1974. During the 1920s and 1930s, he became a popular child and juvenile actor appearing in early Our Gang comedies, but he is best known for the role of Billy Batson in Adventures of Captain Marvel.

Coghlan later served 23 years as an aviator and officer in the US Navy from 1942 to 1965. After retiring from the Navy, he returned to acting and appeared in television, films, and commercials.

Best known work

Gone with the Wind
Gone with the Wind
1939
The Public Enemy
The Public Enemy
1931
A Woman of Paris: A Drama of Fate
A Woman of Paris: A Drama of Fate
1923
Valley of the Dolls
Valley of the Dolls
1967
The Beverly Hillbillies
The Beverly Hillbillies
1962
It's a Wonderful World
It's a Wonderful World
1939
The Shakiest Gun in the West
The Shakiest Gun in the West
1968
The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle
The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle
1939
Out of the Fog
Out of the Fog
1941
Adventures of Captain Marvel
Adventures of Captain Marvel
1941

Filmography

  1. 1993

    Shirley Temple: America's Little Darling

    as Self

  2. 1993

  3. 1991

  4. 1969

    The Love God?

    as Reporter (uncredited)

  5. 1968

    The Shakiest Gun in the West

    as Man at Bar (uncredited)

  6. 1967

    Valley of the Dolls

    as Reporter (uncredited)

  7. 1967

    The Love-Ins

    as Reporter in Park, as Reporter in Park (uncredited)

  8. 1962

    The Beverly HillbilliesTV

    as Helmsman (1 episode)

  9. 1943

  10. 1943

    Presenting Lily Mars

    as Elevator Boy

  11. 1942

    Lady in a Jam

    as Young Man (uncredited)

  12. 1941

    Military Training

    as Soldier Patient

  13. 1941

    Uncle Joe

    as Dick

  14. 1941

  15. 1941

  16. 1941

  17. 1941

    Adventures of Captain MarvelTV

    as William "Billy" Batson (12 episodes)

  18. 1940

  19. 1940

    Murder Over New York

    as Frankie O'Shaughnessy

  20. 1940

  21. 1940

    Knute Rockne All American

    as Messenger (uncredited)

  22. 1940

    Free, Blonde and 21

    as Sammy, Bellboy

  23. 1940

    Double Alibi

    as Newspaper Switchboard Operator

  24. 1940

    The Fighting 69th

    as Jimmy (uncredited)

  25. 1939

    Gone with the Wind

    as Collapsing Soldier (uncredited)

TMDBThis product uses the TMDB API but is not endorsed or certified by TMDB.Streaming availability data provided by JustWatch© 2026 FlickQueue · Privacy · Terms