Frank Collison Biography: Wife, Age, Net Worth, Height, Children, Movies & TV Shows

Frank Collison is an American actor celebrated for his memorable supporting roles in television and film, most notably as the bumbling telegrapher Horace Bing in the CBS Western Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman from 1993 to 1998, and as the quirky Wash Hogwallop in the Coen Brothers’ O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000).

With a career that began on stage in the 1980s and evolved into over 150 screen credits, he has brought his lanky frame and dry humor to projects like Twin Peaks and Silicon Valley, earning acclaim for blending eccentricity with quiet depth.

A founding member of the Pacific Resident Theatre, Collison’s work spans comedy, drama, and voice acting, marking him as a versatile staple in Hollywood ensembles.

Profile

• Full Name: Frank Collison
• Stage Name: Frank Collison
• Born: 14 February 1950
• Age: 75 years old
• Birthplace: Evanston, Illinois, U.S.
• Nationality: American
• Occupation: Actor, Voice Actor
• Height: 1.91m
• Parents: John Collison and Peg Collison
• Siblings: Unknown
• Spouse: Laura Gardner
• Children: Gabe Collison
• Relationship: Married
• Net Worth: $5 million

Early Life and Education

Frank Collison was born on February 14, 1950, in Evanston, Illinois, to John Collison, an actor, writer, and speech therapist, and Peg Collison, a director, English teacher, and publicist.

Details about siblings are not publicly known.

He trained at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, earning a BA in theatre from San Francisco State University, and later an MFA in acting from the University of California, San Diego.

His ethnicity is Caucasian, and his religious beliefs are not publicly known.

Career

Frank Collison launched his professional career in the early 1980s after earning his MFA, starting with odd jobs like forest firefighter, diaper service dispatcher, and substitute teacher while building stage experience in over 150 productions across Boston, Denver, and California.

He founded a summer theatre company in the Sierra Nevada and became a founding member of the Pacific Resident Theatre in Venice, California, which has garnered over 25 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Awards.

His screen debut came in 1988 with a small role in The Blob remake, followed by guest spots on shows like Star Trek: The Next Generation and Matlock, where his tall, awkward physicality began to shine in character parts that mixed humor with pathos.

Collison’s breakthrough arrived in 1993 as Horace Bing, the hapless telegrapher, on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman, a role that spanned six seasons and showcased his knack for endearing everyman characters amid Western drama.

He followed with the folksy Wash Hogwallop in O Brother, Where Art Thou?, stealing scenes alongside George Clooney in the Coen Brothers’ Depression-era odyssey, and recurred as the enigmatic St. Francis on HBO’s Carnivàle from 2003 to 2005.

Voice work emerged with Grandpa Goodman in the animated Mr. Pickles (2013–2019) and its spin-off Momma Named Me Sheriff, while films like The Whole Ten Yards (2004) and The Happening (2008) highlighted his range in ensemble comedies and thrillers.

Collison sustains his momentum with recurring turns like Ron the bartender on Silicon Valley (2014–2019) and Ishmael Polk in American Horror Story: Roanoke (2016), alongside recent features in L.A. Slasher (2016) and voice roles in projects like The Midnight Gospel.

His theatrical roots endure through Pacific Resident Theatre commitments, where roles from Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream to Miss Havisham in Great Expectations reflect his chameleon-like versatility.

Through these layers, he has enriched supporting casts with subtle authenticity, influencing character actors to embrace the power of quiet eccentricity.

Social Media

• Instagram Handle: Unknown
• Facebook Handle: Frank Collison
• Twitter Handle: @frankcollison

Personal Life

Frank Collison married actress and casting director Laura Gardner, born March 17, 1955, in Flushing, Queens, New York, and the couple has three children, including son Gabe Collison.

They reside in Los Angeles, where they balance family life with collaborative projects, such as co-starring in the short film First Night (2007).

Filmography

• The Blob (1988)
• O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)
• The Whole Ten Yards (2004)
• The Happening (2008)
• L.A. Slasher (2016)

Net Worth

Frank Collison has an estimated net worth of $5 million.

His fortune largely derives from decades of television roles, including his long stint on Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman and recurring arcs on Silicon Valley and Carnivàle, yielding salaries and syndication residuals.