Herb Ellis

Herb Ellis was an American actor.

Ellis began his career in Hollywood in the late 1940s as a radio actor and director. He collaborated with actor/producer/director Jack Webb on a pilot script called Joe Friday, Room Five, which was later used as the foundation for the iconic police drama, Dragnet. Ellis appeared as Officer Frank Smith in the first eight episodes of the television version of Dragnet, a role which was taken over by Ben Alexander until the series ended in 1959. Ellis also appeared in numerous episodes of the 1967-70 incarnation of Dragnet.

Ellis appeared in many other television series, including Perry Mason, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Andy Griffith Show, Make Room for Daddy, The Beverly Hillbillies, My Favorite Martian, The Fugitive, That Girl, Get Smart, Bewitched, My Three Sons, and Sanford and Son.

Ellis died December 26, 2018, in San Gabriel, California. He was 97.