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| | imdb= 0039149 | | | imdb= 0039149 |
| | sortkey=Ashmore, Frank | | | sortkey=Ashmore, Frank |
| |image2=TOS - MOTRS - Ortega.jpg}}
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| '''Frank Ashmore''' (born Frank Howard Stell II on June 17, 1945) is an American actor who portrayed [[Ortega]] in {{OS|Murder on the Rising Star|prose=Y}}. Born in El Paso, Texas,<ref group="external" name="imdb_ashmore_birthplace">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0039149/#:~:text=Frank%20Ashmore%20was%20born%20in%20El%20Paso%2C%20Texas%2C%20USA|title=Frank Ashmore|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=January 4, 2026}}</ref> Ashmore has built a career spanning five decades in film, television, voice acting, and theater.
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| == Career ==
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| === Early Television and Film Work ===
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| Ashmore began his professional acting career in the early 1970s, initially credited under the stage name Frank Stell.<ref group="external" name="imdb_ashmore_alternate_name">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0039149/#:~:text=Frank%20Stell|title=Frank Ashmore|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=January 4, 2026}}</ref> His television work in this period included guest appearances on series such as ''[[w:Happy Days|Happy Days]]'' and ''[[w:The Bob Newhart Show|The Bob Newhart Show]]''.<ref group="external" name="rotten_tomatoes_early_tv">{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/frank-ashmore#:~:text=Ashmore%20has%20appeared%20on%20a%20diverse%20array%20of%20over%20two%20dozen%20television%20shows%20since%201972|title=Frank Ashmore|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes|accessdate=January 4, 2026}}</ref>
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| Ashmore's breakthrough into mainstream comedy came in 1980 with a supporting role as flight engineer Victor Basta in the disaster parody film ''[[w:Airplane!|Airplane!]]'', directed by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker.<ref group="external" name="rotten_tomatoes_airplane">{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/frank-ashmore#:~:text=Character%20actor%20Frank%20Ashmore%20got%20his%20big%20break%20in%20the%20benchmark%201980s%20parody%20films%20%22Airplane!%22|title=Frank Ashmore|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes|accessdate=January 4, 2026}}</ref> He reprised a similar supporting role in ''[[w:Airplane II: The Sequel|Airplane II: The Sequel]]'' (1982) as Controller #3.<ref group="external" name="imdb_airplane_ii">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0039149/|title=Frank Ashmore|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=January 4, 2026}}</ref>
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| His film work during this period also included roles in ''[[w:Gable and Lombard|Gable and Lombard]]'' (1976), ''Invisible Strangler'' (1978), and ''[[w:Parts: The Clonus Horror|Parts: The Clonus Horror]]'' (1979).<ref group="external" name="imdb_1970s_films">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0039149/#:~:text=Gable%20and%20Lombard%20(1976)%2C%20Invisible%20Strangler%20(1978)%2C%20Parts%3A%20The%20Clonus%20Horror%20(1979)|title=Frank Ashmore|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=January 4, 2026}}</ref>
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| === ''V'' and Science Fiction Stardom ===
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| Ashmore's most significant role came in 1983 when he portrayed Martin, a sympathetic member of the alien Fifth Column resistance, in the NBC miniseries ''[[w:V (1983 miniseries)|V]]''.<ref group="external" name="rotten_tomatoes_martin">{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/frank-ashmore#:~:text=he%20soon%20garnered%20recognition%20as%20Martin%2C%20a%20peaceful%20extraterrestrial%20in%20NBC's%20made%2Dfor%2DTV%20science%20fiction%20epic%20%22V.%22|title=Frank Ashmore|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes|accessdate=January 4, 2026}}</ref> The mini-series was one of the most successful to air on American television.<ref group="commentary" name="whenmartindied_v_success">{{cite web|url=https://whenmartindied.com/about/#:~:text=The%20overall%20response%20to%20the%20mini%2Dseries%20was%20overwhelming.%20V%20was%20one%20of%20the%20most%20successful%20mini%2Dseries%20to%20air%20on%20American%20television|title=About|publisher=When Martin Died|accessdate=January 4, 2026}}</ref> Ashmore later reflected on the unexpected fan response to the character: "So I continued along in the six-hour series when all of a sudden I started getting this tremendous onslaught of mail from fans. I had no idea that my character was having that kind of effect on people."<ref group="commentary" name="vanhise_sf_movieland_1985">{{cite magazine|title=Everyone's favorite alien: Frank Ashmore|author=James Van Hise|magazine=SF Movieland|date=June 1985|page=30}}</ref>
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| He continued the role in ''[[w:V: The Final Battle|V: The Final Battle]]'' (1984).<ref group="external" name="rotten_tomatoes_final_battle">{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/frank-ashmore#:~:text=The%20popular%20film%20spawned%20a%20miniseries%20that%20went%20under%20the%20subtitle%20%22The%20Final%20Battle%2C%22%20on%20which%20Ashmore%20reprised%20his%20role|title=Frank Ashmore|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes|accessdate=January 4, 2026}}</ref> When ''V'' transitioned to a weekly series in 1984, the show's new producers faced challenges with the character. According to Ashmore, "A whole new group of people with new creative energy were brought in. They looked at what they had and saw Donovan, Ham Tyler, Diana, Julie and so on. And then they had this guy Martin who was an alien and an exposed traitor and they really didn't know how to write for him."<ref group="commentary" name="ashmore_writing_challenge">{{cite magazine|title=Everyone's favorite alien: Frank Ashmore|author=James Van Hise|magazine=SF Movieland|date=June 1985|page=30}}</ref>
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| Supervising producer Garner Simmons explained the decision to eliminate the character:
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| {{quote|Martin was obviously an on-going problem for us. If we, as humans, have access to someone who has a lot of information on the aliens, then we get into these murky areas of how much do we know, how much do they know, how much do they know we know, and where do we draw the line? Feeling that a believable war requires a certain number of secrets on both sides, the producers realized that Martin had to be eliminated, but in an explainable fashion.|Garner Simmons
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| | source = ''Starlog'' 1984 interview<ref group="production" name="simmons_starlog_1984">{{cite magazine|title=V: The Series|author=Bill Cotter|magazine=Starlog|date=December 1984|page=89}}</ref>
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| }} | | }} |
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| Martin was killed off in the pilot episode of ''[[w:V (1984 TV series)|V: The Series]]'',<ref group="external" name="rotten_tomatoes_martin_death">{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/frank-ashmore#:~:text=When%20%22V%22%20was%20serialized%20in%201984%2C%20Ashmore's%20character%20was%20killed%20off%20almost%20immediately|title=Frank Ashmore|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes|accessdate=January 4, 2026}}</ref> leading to significant fan backlash against NBC. The network subsequently brought Ashmore back to play Martin's twin brother Philip, a Supreme Commander who later became a Fifth Columnist.<ref group="external" name="imdb_philip_character">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0039149/#:~:text=as%20Martin's%20brother%20%22Philip%22%20(A%20Supreme%20Commander%20appointed%20to%20investigate%20the%20murder%20of%20Supreme%20Commander%20%22Charles%22|title=Frank Ashmore|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=January 4, 2026}}</ref> Philip appeared in seven episodes of the series.<ref group="external" name="rotten_tomatoes_philip_episodes">{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/frank-ashmore#:~:text=he%20appeared%20as%20an%20entirely%20new%20personage%2C%20Philip%2C%20in%20seven%20episodes|title=Frank Ashmore|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes|accessdate=January 4, 2026}}</ref>
| | '''Frank Ashmore''' (born June 17, 1945) is an American actor who portrayed [[Ortega]] in {{OS|Murder on the Rising Star|prose=Y}}. |
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| Actor Marc Singer, who worked extensively with Ashmore in the ''V'' franchise, later commented on their on-screen dynamic: "When we stood on the set and played out scenes together, each of us had a very clear understanding that what we were promoting were two massive movements in contradiction to each other."<ref group="commentary" name="singer_cfq_2004">{{cite magazine|title='Visiting Hours' TV's Most Famous Alien Invasion Saga Comes Home To DVD|author=Edward Gross|magazine=CFQ Spotlite|date=Fall 2004|page=1}}</ref>
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| === Continued Television and Film Work ===
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| Throughout his career, Ashmore has made guest appearances on over two dozen television series.<ref group="external" name="rotten_tomatoes_tv_diversity">{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/frank-ashmore#:~:text=Ashmore%20has%20appeared%20on%20a%20diverse%20array%20of%20over%20two%20dozen%20television%20shows%20since%201972|title=Frank Ashmore|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes|accessdate=January 4, 2026}}</ref> His television credits span multiple genres, including appearances on ''[[w:Touched by an Angel|Touched by an Angel]]'', ''[[w:The West Wing|The West Wing]]'', and ''[[w:Hawaii Five-0 (2010 TV series)|Hawaii Five-0]]''.<ref group="external" name="imdb_various_tv">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0039149/#:~:text=Touched%20by%20an%20Angel%2C%20The%20West%20Wing%20and%20the%20current%20version%20of%20Hawaii%20Five%2DO|title=Frank Ashmore|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=January 4, 2026}}</ref>
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| In 1981, he appeared on the daytime dramas ''[[w:Days of Our Lives|Days of Our Lives]]'' as a hitman hired to kill the character Julie Williams, and on ''[[w:General Hospital|General Hospital]]'' as Monica Quartermaine's private investigator.<ref group="external" name="imdb_soap_operas">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0039149/#:~:text=In%201981%2C%20he%20appeared%20on%20both%20Days%20of%20Our%20Lives%20as%20a%20hit%20man%20out%20to%20kill%20Julie%20Williams%20and%20General%20Hospital%20as%20Monica%20Quartermaine's%20private%20investigator|title=Frank Ashmore|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=January 4, 2026}}</ref>
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| His film work continued with roles in ''[[w:Monster in the Closet|Monster in the Closet]]'' (1986) and the independent thriller ''[[w:Extracted|Extracted]]'' (2012).<ref group="external" name="imdb_later_films">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0039149/#:~:text=Monster%20in%20the%20Closet%20(1986)|title=Frank Ashmore|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=January 4, 2026}}</ref> In 2015, he appeared as Garcia in the psychological science fiction film ''[[w:400 Days (film)|400 Days]]'', which centered on four astronauts in a simulated deep space mission.<ref group="external" name="400_days_cast">{{cite web|url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/400_Days_(film)#:~:text=Frank%20Ashmore%20as%20Garcia|title=400 Days (film)|publisher=Wikipedia|accessdate=January 4, 2026}}</ref>
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| In 2010, Ashmore took a recurring role as Ollie, the pirate-speaking manager of Cheesybeards restaurant, in six episodes of season 4 of the web comedy series ''[[w:The Guild|The Guild]]''.<ref group="external" name="imdb_guild_episodes">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1138475/fullcredits/#:~:text=Frank%20Ashmore,Ollie%20%2D%20Cheesybeard's%20Boss,6%20episodes,2010|title=The Guild - Full cast & crew|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=January 4, 2026}}</ref>
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| === Voice Acting ===
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| Beginning in 2010, Ashmore expanded into voice acting for video games.<ref group="external" name="rotten_tomatoes_voice_expansion">{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/frank-ashmore#:~:text=In%202010%2C%20Ashmore%20lent%20his%20talent%20to%20new%20corners%20of%20the%20entertainment%20industry|title=Frank Ashmore|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes|accessdate=January 4, 2026}}</ref> His most prominent voice role is Leone "Leo" Galante, a mobster in the Electronic Arts video game ''[[w:Mafia II|Mafia II]]'' (2010), which he reprised in ''[[w:Mafia III|Mafia III]]'' (2016).<ref group="external" name="rotten_tomatoes_mafia_voice">{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/frank-ashmore#:~:text=voiced%20mobster%20Leone%20Galante%20in%20the%20Electronic%20Arts%20video%20game%20%22Mafia%20II.%22|title=Frank Ashmore|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes|accessdate=January 4, 2026}}</ref>
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| Additional video game credits include voicing Jimmy the Grape in ''[[w:The Darkness II|The Darkness II]]'' (2012), Austin Buckell in ''[[w:Dead Space 3|Dead Space 3]]'' (2013), and Dr. Hara in ''[[w:The Bureau: XCOM Declassified|The Bureau: XCOM Declassified]]'' (2013).<ref group="external" name="imdb_video_game_roles">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0039149/|title=Frank Ashmore|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=January 4, 2026}}</ref>
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| == Theater Work ==
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| Ashmore has maintained an active theater career alongside his screen work. He won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Featured Performance in 2005.<ref group="external" name="imdb_ladcc_award">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0039149/#:~:text=Ashmore%20won%20the%20Los%20Angeles%20Drama%20Critics%20Circle%20Award%20for%20Featured%20Performance%20in%202005|title=Frank Ashmore|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=January 4, 2026}}</ref> In 2009, he received a Best Actor nomination from the 168 Hour Film Project, a Christian film festival, for his performance in the short film "Stealing Home".<ref group="external" name="imdb_168_nomination">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0039149/#:~:text=In%202009%2C%20he%20was%20nominated%20for%20Best%20Actor%20by%20the%20168%20Hour%20Film%20Project%2C%20a%20Christian%20film%20festival%2C%20for%20the%20short%20Stealing%20Home|title=Frank Ashmore|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=January 4, 2026}}</ref>
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| == Personal Life ==
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| Ashmore was married to Shannon Monahan from 1983 to 2009, with whom he had one child.<ref group="external" name="imdb_monahan_marriage">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0039149/bio/#:~:text=Shannon%20Monahan(1983%20%2D%202009)%20(divorced%2C%201%20child)|title=Frank Ashmore - Biography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=January 4, 2026}}</ref> He was previously married to Jamesie L. Allen from January 8, 1972 to August 10, 1983, with whom he also had one child.<ref group="external" name="imdb_allen_marriage">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0039149/bio/#:~:text=Jamesie%20L.%20Allen(January%208%2C%201972%20%2D%20August%2010%2C%201983)%20(divorced%2C%201%20child)|title=Frank Ashmore - Biography|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=January 4, 2026}}</ref>
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| == References ==
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| === External Sources ===
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| {{reflist|group=external}}
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| === Commentary and Interviews ===
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| {{reflist|group=commentary}}
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| === Production History ===
| | His most famous role is twin Humanoid [[w:Visitors_(V)|Visitor]] brothers [[w:Visitors_(V)#Martin|Martin]] and [[w:Visitors_(V)#Phillip|Philip]] in ''[[w:V_%281983_miniseries%29|V (1983 Mini Series)]]'', ''[[w:V_%28The_Final_Battle%29|V (Final Battle)]]'' and ''[[w:V_%281984_TV_series%29|V (TV Series)]]''. |
| {{reflist|group=production}}
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| [[de:Frank Ashmore]] | | [[de:Frank Ashmore]] |
