Frank Dietz

Frank Dietz is a screenwriter, producer, director, actor and animator. He starred in a series of cult low-budget horror films like ZOMBIE NIGHTMARE and BLACK ROSES. Moving to Los Angeles, he wrote the scripts for many independent features, including NAKED SOULS, COLD HARVEST, I HATE KIDS and the MAGIC IN THE MIRROR series for Paramount. In 1996, Frank joined Walt Disney Studios as an animation artist to work on such films as HERCULES, MULAN, TARZAN and ATLANTIS - THE LOST EMPIRE. He produced and directed two award-winning documentaries, BEAST WISHES - The Fantastic World of Bob and Kathy Burns, and LONG LIVE THE KING, all about the legacy of King Kong. In 2020, Frank joined the writing team for the AMC/Shudder television series CREEPSHOW. In 2022 he was inducted into the Rondo Award Monster Kid Hall of Fame, for his lifelong contributions to horror and science fiction fandom.

Producer (1 Credit)
Underbelly2022
Animation, Short
Writer (1 Credit)
Underbelly2022
Animation, Short
Director (1 Credit)
Underbelly2022
Animation, Short

College

State University of New York at Oswego.

Theater/Art

Birth Date

October 23, 1959

Hometown

Port Washington, NY

The first movie he remembers seeing is ABBOTT AND COSTELLO MEET FRANKENSTEIN when he was six, and it changed his life. From that point forward he knew he was going to make movies.

The first movie set he was on was Martin Scorsese's THE KING OF COMEDY, which was being filmed at a friend's estate.

In 2022 Frank was inducted into the Rondo Award Monster Kid Hall of Fame, joining such luminaries as Ray Harryhausen, Ray Bradbury, Roger Corman, Joe Dante, George A, Romero, Greg Nicotero, Rick Baker, Bob and Kathy Burns and Gilbert Gottfried, among many others.

Frank's pastimes include alligator wrestling and swimming with whale sharks.

The three comedy influences are The Marx Brothers, Bugs Bunny and Fawlty Towers.

He and his two friends made the first "Home Movie" short aired on Saturday Night Live in 1975.

"You pay me to sit around and wait. The acting I do for free." - Michael Caine.

"I spent a lot of money on booze, birds and fast cars. The rest I just squandered." - George Best.

"I am an exceptional thief Mrs. McClane and since I'm moving up to kidnapping, you should be more polite." - Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman in DIE HARD).