RIP Frank Bonner

Discussion in 'Visual Arts' started by Nightfly68, Jun 17, 2021.

Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.
  1. twicks

    twicks Forum Resident

    Location:
    Detroit
    The scene with his son in the doorway at the end of Real Families is perfection.
     
  2. g.z.

    g.z. Senior Member

  3. MikaelaArsenault

    MikaelaArsenault Forum Resident

    Location:
    New Hampshire
    Desiree Boers-Kort, Bonner’s daughter, posted in a “WKRP In Cincinnati” Facebook group, saying that the actor “loved his fans and was still signing autograph requests up until the last few weeks of his illness. Thank you to all who followed his career. He will be forever missed.“
     
  4. Obtuse1

    Obtuse1 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Florida
    "Hard worker, loyal husband, and all-around fine person".
     
  5. Brian_Svoboda

    Brian_Svoboda Senior Member

    Location:
    Virginia
    The best Herb episode may have been “To Err Is Human” in season 4, where he uses the wrong photo for a supermarket display ad featuring Venus. (I don’t know if they could make that episode today, but it may have had the funniest cold open in the history of television.) Like “Real Families,” “To Err Is Human” was a daring episode for Frank Bonner. It took Herb out of the loving womb of comedic plots and a wacky ensemble, and thrusted him before the unforgiving lens of stark realism: he embezzles station money, reacts with cockiness when he’s caught, and is utterly clueless as he comes a hair’s breadth away from being fired. It was characteristic of WKRP’s last season, which took a markedly more serious tone, and Frank Bonner was up to the task. He gave me much joy, and I will pray for him and his family.
     
  6. Instant Dharma

    Instant Dharma Dude/man

    Location:
    CoCoCo, Ca
    RIP Frank. Herb was an incredible character. He was well played.
     
  7. swandown

    swandown Under Assistant West Coast Forum Resident

    Location:
    Portland, OR
    Herb Tarlek was one of the all-time great TV characters.
     
    BluesOvertookMe likes this.
  8. MikaelaArsenault

    MikaelaArsenault Forum Resident

    Location:
    New Hampshire
  9. MikaelaArsenault

    MikaelaArsenault Forum Resident

    Location:
    New Hampshire
    A recent picture of Frank and his wife:

    [​IMG]
     
  10. Philip Airtime

    Philip Airtime A Shiver in the Dark When You Call My Name

    Location:
    United States
    Mr. Bonner also appeared in Dennis Muren and Jack Woods' 1970 horror classic Equinox.
     
  11. Raylinds

    Raylinds Resident Lake Surfer

    RIP to a truly talented actor. Thanks for the laughs.
     
    polchik likes this.
  12. BluesOvertookMe

    BluesOvertookMe Forum Resident

    Location:
    Houston, TX, USA
    RIP Frank Bonner. He was a great part of my favorite TV show of all time.
     
  13. SmallDarkCloud

    SmallDarkCloud Forum Resident

    Location:
    NYC
    I love that movie. It's a rough to watch at times - it started as a short film before being expanded to a feature - but it's a precursor of 80s horror films, in a way. The Evil Dead has basically the same plot (a coincidence, by some accounts). Three great special effects artists - Dennis Muren, Dave Allen and Jim Danforth - worked on Equinox.
     
    Bluesman Mark likes this.
  14. mmars982

    mmars982 Forum Resident

    Location:
    Pittsburgh, PA
    Very sad. My favorite show when I was young, and he was a big part of why. He showed some range too when the story dealt with Herb's alcoholism. RIP
     
  15. Al Kuenster

    Al Kuenster Senior Member

    Location:
    Las Vegas, NV - US
    R.I.P. always enjoyed WKRP
     
  16. pdenny

    pdenny 22-Year SHTV Participation Trophy Recipient

    Location:
    Hawthorne CA
    Pure magic onscreen with him and Bert Parks as dad. Just a riot.
     
    polchik likes this.
  17. Dr. Funk

    Dr. Funk Vintage Dust

    Location:
    Fort Worth TX
    Thanks Frank...Herb was a true fashionista.

     
  18. Kevin In Choconut Center

    Kevin In Choconut Center Offensive Coordinator

    "WKRP In Cincinnati" was a true classic of television. The cast gelled from day one and no cast member ever became more important to the show than any other member. Frank Bonner took what easily could have been a very cliched character and made him very human, very real. I am saddened to learn of his passing,
     
  19. Great show. Just great. And Frank Bonner knocked it out of the park as Herb Tarlek. At work, I have mentioned, "He's got a Herb Tarlek suit" and most got it immediately. he was just a great chacracter and so well playerd. RIP.
     
  20. Geez, what's with all of the funny guys buying it? First John Paragon, now Frank.

    I'd like to file a complaint!

    The next thing you know, this will be a world with no laughter. No fun. :mad:
     
  21. Nightfly68

    Nightfly68 Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Location:
    NC
    I just ordered the complete series of WKRP on dvd and it contains 90% of the original music. I'm afraid that's as good as we'll get.
     
    BluesOvertookMe and twicks like this.
  22. GeetarFreek

    GeetarFreek Forum Resident

    Location:
    Montana
    It’s real talent that he could take such a smarmy, shallow character and make him so likeable.

    Seriously why do we like Herb Tarlek ?

    not sure, but when he and Les Nessman are on the screen together it was comedy gold

    RIP thx for all the laughs
     
    ffracer, Nightfly68 and twicks like this.
  23. pocofan

    pocofan Senior Member

    Location:
    Alabama
    My favorite Frank episode is the class reunion and he doesn’t remember the attractive woman who is coming in to him. Great cast of characters. Les Was comedy gold with ever present bandage
     
    twicks and BluesOvertookMe like this.
  24. twicks

    twicks Forum Resident

    Location:
    Detroit
    I am enjoying all the episode recommendations; been watching a different one on YouTube each day.
     
    BluesOvertookMe and polchik like this.
  25. jason88cubs

    jason88cubs Forum Resident

    Location:
    Us
    Herb was awesome

    R.I.P. Frank
     
    twicks likes this.
Thread Status:
Not open for further replies.

Share This Page

molar-endocrine