Frank Bonner

Updated: 12/11/2025, 9:50:16 AM Wikipedia source

Frank Woodrow Boers Jr. (February 28, 1942 – June 16, 2021) was an American actor and television director. He is best known for his role as sales manager Herb Tarlek on the television sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati.

Infobox

Born

Frank Woodrow Boers Jr.(1942-02-28)February 28, 1942Little Rock, Arkansas, US

Died

June 16, 2021(2021-06-16) (aged 79)Laguna Niguel, California, US

Occupation(s)

Actor, director

Years active

1970–2014

Known for

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Spouses

mw- Sharon Gray (m. 1966; div. 1971) Mary A. Rings (m. 1972; div. 1975) Lillian Garrett-Groag (m. 1977; div. 1980) Catherin M. Sherwood (m. 1981, divorced) Gayle Hardage (m. 2006)

Occupations

Actor, director

Tables

· Filmography › As actor

1970

Equinox

Role(s)

Jim Hudson

Notes

Feature film

The Young Lawyers

Role(s)

Walt

Notes

Episode: "Where's Aaron"

Nancy

Role(s)

Hank

Notes

Episode: "Boys' Night Out"

1971

Mannix

Role(s)

Hypnotized Man

Notes

Episode: "Catspaw"

1972

Nichols

Role(s)

Gruber

Notes

Episode: "About Jesse James"

The Hoax

Role(s)

Clete Dempsey

Notes

Feature film

1973

Little Cigars

Role(s)

Gene (Hotel Bellman)

Notes

Feature film

The F.B.I.

Role(s)

Johnson

Notes

Episode: "The Confession"

Hawkins

Role(s)

1st Yankee

Notes

Episode: "Blood Feud"

Emergency!

Role(s)

Walt

Notes

Episode: "Body Language"

1974

Love, American Style

Role(s)

Jerry

Notes

Segment: "Love and the Extra Job"

Cannon

Role(s)

Allecino

Notes

Episode: "Kelly' Song"

Fer-de-Lance

Role(s)

Compton

Notes

TV movie

1975

Las Vegas Lady

Role(s)

Claude

Notes

Feature film

Cannon

Role(s)

Bill

Notes

Episode: "The Victim"

1976

Police Woman

Role(s)

Donny's Father

Notes

Episode: "The Pawn Shop"

1977

Man from Atlantis

Role(s)

Bartender

Notes

Episode: "C.W. Hyde"

1978–1982

Role(s)

WKRP in Cincinnati

Notes

Herb Tarlek

1979

Sex and the Single Parent

Role(s)

Peter

Notes

TV movie

1981

The Love Boat

Role(s)

Dr. Jonathan Hunt

Notes

Episode: "Country Blues/Daddy's Little Girl/Jackpot"

Fantasy Island

Role(s)

Jack Simon

Notes

Episode: "Romance Times Three/Night of the Tormented Soul"

1982

The Facts of Life Goes to Paris

Role(s)

Garth Kiley

Notes

TV movie

Gimme a Break!

Role(s)

Officer Baxter

Notes

Episode: "The Chief's Gay Evening"

1983

The Love Boat

Role(s)

Ben Phillips

Notes

Episode: "The Captain's Replacement/Sly as a Fox/Here Comes the Bride-Maybe"

1984

Newhart

Role(s)

Mr. Pack

Notes

Episode: "Kirk Pops the Question"

Legmen

Role(s)

Leo Gibson

Notes

Episode: "I Shall Be Re-Released"

The Duck Factory

Role(s)

Mel Kemper

Notes

Episode: "The Annies"

No Man's Land

Role(s)

Deputy Thad Prouty

Notes

TV movie

Simon & Simon

Role(s)

Brad Daniels

Notes

Episode: "Deep Cover"

1985

Matt Houston

Role(s)

Fred

Notes

Episode: "Death Watch"

Gimme a Break!

Role(s)

Warren

Notes

Episode: "Police Mamas"

George Burns Comedy Week

Role(s)

Stu

Notes

Episode: "Home for Dinner"

Scarecrow and Mrs. King

Role(s)

Henry 'Buck' McConnell

Notes

Episodes: "Tail of the Dancing Weasel" and "Utopia Now"

Crazy Like a Fox

Role(s)

Chick

Notes

Episode: "Requiem for a Fox"

1985-6

Role(s)

Night Court

Notes

Howie / Preston Cowdrey

1986

The Longshot

Role(s)

Realtor

Notes

Feature film

Punky Brewster

Role(s)

Cheapo Chester

Notes

Episode: "Cherie Lifesaver"

Blacke's Magic

Role(s)

Hal Renquist

Notes

Episode: "Death Goes to the Movies"

Murder, She Wrote

Role(s)

Earl Fargo

Notes

Episode: "Murder in the Electric Cathedral"

Sidekicks

Role(s)

Detective R.T. Mooney

Notes

Recurring role (5 episodes)

Night Court

Role(s)

Preston Cowdrey

Notes

Episode: "Prince of a Guy"

1988

You Can't Hurry Love

Role(s)

Chuck Hayes

Notes

Feature film

1988–1990

Role(s)

Just the Ten of Us

Notes

Father Robert Hargis

1991

Going Under

Role(s)

Soviet General

Notes

Feature film

1991–1993

Role(s)

The New WKRP in Cincinnati

Notes

Herb Tarlek

1993

Evening Shade

Role(s)

Walt Thompson

Notes

Episode: "She What?!"

1994–1997

Role(s)

Saved by the Bell: The New Class

Notes

Mr. Harrington

1995

The Mommies

Role(s)

Director

Notes

Episode: "Selling Out"

The Colony

Role(s)

Frank Williamson

Notes

TV movie

1997

USA High

Role(s)

Mr. Giggles (Dentist)

Notes

Episode: "The Odd Couple"

1998

Motel

Role(s)

Gressil

Notes

Feature film

2000

City Guys

Role(s)

Jake

Notes

Episode: "Meet Mr. History"

2003

A Light in the Forest

Role(s)

Kimmel

Notes

Feature film

2004

Shut Up and Kiss Me

Role(s)

Harvey Ballister

Notes

Feature film

A Norwegian Lunch

Role(s)

Teacher

Notes

Short film

2008

Remembering Phil

Role(s)

Motel Clerk

Notes

Feature film

2014

Under the Hollywood Sign

Role(s)

Larry

Notes

Feature film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1970	Equinox	Jim Hudson	Feature film
1970	The Young Lawyers	Walt	Episode: "Where's Aaron"
1970	Nancy	Hank	Episode: "Boys' Night Out"
1971	Mannix	Hypnotized Man	Episode: "Catspaw"
1972	Nichols	Gruber	Episode: "About Jesse James"
1972	The Hoax	Clete Dempsey	Feature film
1973	Little Cigars	Gene (Hotel Bellman)	Feature film
1973	The F.B.I.	Johnson	Episode: "The Confession"
1973	Hawkins	1st Yankee	Episode: "Blood Feud"
1973	Emergency!	Walt	Episode: "Body Language"
1974	Love, American Style	Jerry	Segment: "Love and the Extra Job"
1974	Cannon	Allecino	Episode: "Kelly' Song"
1974	Fer-de-Lance	Compton	TV movie
1975	Las Vegas Lady	Claude	Feature film
1975	Cannon	Bill	Episode: "The Victim"
1976	Police Woman	Donny's Father	Episode: "The Pawn Shop"
1977	Man from Atlantis	Bartender	Episode: "C.W. Hyde"
1978–1982	WKRP in Cincinnati	Herb Tarlek	Main cast (88 episodes)
1979	Sex and the Single Parent	Peter	TV movie
1981	The Love Boat	Dr. Jonathan Hunt	Episode: "Country Blues/Daddy's Little Girl/Jackpot"
1981	Fantasy Island	Jack Simon	Episode: "Romance Times Three/Night of the Tormented Soul"
1982	The Facts of Life Goes to Paris	Garth Kiley	TV movie
1982	Gimme a Break!	Officer Baxter	Episode: "The Chief's Gay Evening"
1983	The Love Boat	Ben Phillips	Episode: "The Captain's Replacement/Sly as a Fox/Here Comes the Bride-Maybe"
1984	Newhart	Mr. Pack	Episode: "Kirk Pops the Question"
1984	Legmen	Leo Gibson	Episode: "I Shall Be Re-Released"
1984	The Duck Factory	Mel Kemper	Episode: "The Annies"
1984	No Man's Land	Deputy Thad Prouty	TV movie
1984	Simon & Simon	Brad Daniels	Episode: "Deep Cover"
1985	Matt Houston	Fred	Episode: "Death Watch"
1985	Gimme a Break!	Warren	Episode: "Police Mamas"
1985	George Burns Comedy Week	Stu	Episode: "Home for Dinner"
1985	Scarecrow and Mrs. King	Henry 'Buck' McConnell	Episodes: "Tail of the Dancing Weasel" and "Utopia Now"
1985	Crazy Like a Fox	Chick	Episode: "Requiem for a Fox"
1985-6	Night Court	Howie / Preston Cowdrey	Episodes: "Mac and Quon Le: No Reservations" and "Prince of a Guy"
1986	The Longshot	Realtor	Feature film
1986	Punky Brewster	Cheapo Chester	Episode: "Cherie Lifesaver"
1986	Blacke's Magic	Hal Renquist	Episode: "Death Goes to the Movies"
1986	Murder, She Wrote	Earl Fargo	Episode: "Murder in the Electric Cathedral"
1986	Sidekicks	Detective R.T. Mooney	Recurring role (5 episodes)
1986	Night Court	Preston Cowdrey	Episode: "Prince of a Guy"
1988	You Can't Hurry Love	Chuck Hayes	Feature film
1988–1990	Just the Ten of Us	Father Robert Hargis	Main cast (22 episodes)
1991	Going Under	Soviet General	Feature film
1991–1993	The New WKRP in Cincinnati	Herb Tarlek	Main cast (45 episodes)
1993	Evening Shade	Walt Thompson	Episode: "She What?!"
1994–1997	Saved by the Bell: The New Class	Mr. Harrington	Recurring role (5 episodes)
1995	The Mommies	Director	Episode: "Selling Out"
1995	The Colony	Frank Williamson	TV movie

· Filmography › As director

1982

Family Ties

Role(s)

TV series (1 episode)

1986–1990

Role(s)

Head of the Class

Notes

TV series (2 episodes)

1988

Frank's Place

Role(s)

TV series (1 episode)

The Van Dyke Show

Role(s)

TV series (1 episode)

1988–1990

Role(s)

Just the Ten of Us

Notes

TV series (8 episodes)

1989

Who's the Boss?

Role(s)

TV series (1 episode)

1989–1990

Role(s)

The Famous Teddy Z

Notes

TV series (2 episodes)

1990

Evening Shade

Role(s)

TV series (1 episode)

You Take the Kids

Role(s)

TV series (1 episode)

1991–1993

Role(s)

Harry and the Hendersons

Notes

TV series (11 episodes)

1991–1993

Role(s)

The New WKRP in Cincinnati

Notes

TV series (7 episodes)

1995

Fudge

Role(s)

TV series (1 episode)

The Mommies

Role(s)

TV series (4 episodes)

Campus Cops

Role(s)

TV series (1 episode)

1997

Saved by the Bell: The New Class

Role(s)

TV series (4 episodes)

1997–1998

Role(s)

USA High

Notes

TV series (6 episodes)

1997–2001

Role(s)

City Guys

Notes

TV series (105 episodes)

2003

Living Straight

Role(s)

TV movie

2010

Desire and Deceit

Role(s)

TV series (1 episode)

Year	Title	Notes
1980–1982	WKRP in Cincinnati	TV series (6 episodes)
1982	Family Ties	TV series (1 episode)
1986–1990	Head of the Class	TV series (2 episodes)
1988	Frank's Place	TV series (1 episode)
1988	The Van Dyke Show	TV series (1 episode)
1988–1990	Just the Ten of Us	TV series (8 episodes)
1989	Who's the Boss?	TV series (1 episode)
1989–1990	The Famous Teddy Z	TV series (2 episodes)
1990	Evening Shade	TV series (1 episode)
1990	You Take the Kids	TV series (1 episode)
1991–1993	Harry and the Hendersons	TV series (11 episodes)
1991–1993	The New WKRP in Cincinnati	TV series (7 episodes)
1995	Fudge	TV series (1 episode)
1995	The Mommies	TV series (4 episodes)
1995	Campus Cops	TV series (1 episode)
1997	Saved by the Bell: The New Class	TV series (4 episodes)
1997–1998	USA High	TV series (6 episodes)
1997–2001	City Guys	TV series (105 episodes)
2003	Living Straight	TV movie
2010	Desire and Deceit	TV series (1 episode)

Frank Bonner

Infobox

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References