Actor. He is best remembered for his portrayal of the staunch Uncle John in "The Grapes of Wrath" (1940). Born Frank Guderian, after attaining his degree in theatrical arts from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, New York, he began his career on the stage appearing as a leading man in the original production of "The Rector's Garden" (1908). After being discovered by film director D.W. Griffith during a performance of "Romeo and Juliet," he was so impressed by his manly physique, dark good looks, and distinctive voice, that he arranged for him to relocate from New York to California and begin a career in the film industry beginning with him appearing in the feature film "Ethel's Romance" (1915). From there, he would go on to enjoy a successful career in the film industry as a notable supporting character actor appearing in 225 features; often typecast as husbands, fathers, doctors, blue-collared guys, soldiers, coroners, doctors, household servants, doormen, justices of the peace, jurors, clergymen, cowboys, policemen, sheriffs, guards, curmudgeons, retail clerks, mailmen, detectives, reporters, photographers, pharmacists, pawnbrokers, managers, bankers, wealthy bachelors, aristocrats, eccentrics, farmers, bookkeepers, landlords, neighbors, sailors, military men, and patriarchs. He appeared in such feature films as "Old Ironsides" (1926), "Cimarron" (1931), "Are You Listening?" (1932), "The Story of Temple Drake" (1933), "Journal of a Crime" (1934), "Behind the Evidence" (1935), "Captain January" (1936), "Trapped by G-Men" (1937), "Jezebel" (1938), "Dark Victory" (1939), "Lillian Russell" (1940), "Blossoms in the Dust" (1941), "Syncopation" (1942), "Hello, Frisco, Hello" (1943), "Rationing" (1944), "The Clock" (1945), "My Reputation" (1946), "The Sea of Grass" (1947), "Mr. Blandings Builds His Dreamhouse" (1948), "Dear Wife" (1949), "The Flying Saucer" (1950), and "The Whip Hand" (1951). During the advent of television, he became an even more familar face appearing in such syndicated sitcoms as "Front Page Detective," "Armstrong Circle Theatre," and "Armstrong Circle Theatre." During his career, he was an honorary member of Actors Equity, was a member of the Screen Actors Guild, was supportive of the Motion Picture and Television Fund, had been an active member of the Hollywood Democratic Committee, was a regular parishioner of the Episcopal church, was a theatrical instructor for the Pasadena Playhouse, served as a chairman on his local charters of the American Red Cross and the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, was the adoptive father of KLOK Radio personality Frank Darien, Jr., and he served in the United States Army during World War I. In 1951, Darien, who never married, retired from acting and spent the final years of his life journaling, painting in oils, was a generous benefactor for several schools and hospitals, and was often seen partaking in various recreational activities at the prestigious Los Angeles Country Club, until his death from the complications of undisclosed causes.