"The Real Renfield"

in

Excellent read on the tragic story of one of the best actors of the 30’s and 40’s:

With the onset of World War II, Frye took an overnight job at Douglas Aircraft—to aid the war effort, and because he needed the money. Now without an agent, Frye would spend his days pounding the pavement, winning tiny roles in films for “Poverty Row” studios and bigger ones in exploitation films like Frankenstein Meets the Wolf Man. In 1941, he even appeared at an LA theater reprising his role of Renfield in a stage production of Dracula. 

Aged beyond his years, a beaten-down Frye was increasingly suffering from heart problems. But because of his Christian Scientist faith, he refused any treatment. This inaction led to his final, deadly heart attack.