Frank Terry, a multifaceted individual, embarked on a remarkable journey in the entertainment industry, donning the stage name "Nat Clifford" as he toured Europe and Asia. Upon his return to America, he transitioned to a career in comedy gag writing, crafting humorous scenes for silent film comedies.
However, an unfortunate incident marred his reputation on August 24th, 1919, at a movie studio in Downtown Los Angeles. In a moment of carelessness, Terry inadvertently handed a prop bomb to Harold Lloyd, which exploded in his hands, resulting in the loss of two fingers and a thumb from Lloyd's right hand.
Terry later found success as a comedy writer for Laurel and Hardy's films in the 1920s and 1930s. He not only penned witty scripts but also made appearances in some of their films, taking on roles such as a butler and radio voiceover in "Me And My Pal" and a safecracker in "Midnight Patrol".
Around 1935, Terry bid farewell to the film industry and devoted himself to a more noble pursuit, serving as a missionary chaplain to a leper colony in Hawaii. He later established a mission hall in Honolulu, dedicating his life to helping others.
In the early 1940s, Terry officially retired and returned to California, where he spent his remaining years with his wife, Lillian Mary Edwards, and their two daughters, Lillian and Madeline. Tragically, his wife passed away in 1942.
This mini-biography is credited to Glenn Mitchell, author of the 1995 book "The Laurel And Hardy Encyclopedia". Mitchell resides in Stratham, England, UK.
