Frank Garvin

Frank Garvin is the quintessential Bostonian, which is probably why he was cast in actor Ben Affleck's second feature film in the first place. "The Town," a heist picture set in the city, delivers a sure-footed sense of authenticity and place, and character actor Garvin exudes that as well. But Garvin, who grew up in the predominantly Irish neighborhood of Charlestown, did not grow up wanting to be a thespian. He grew up wanting to be a police officer, which is what he was for the majority of his adult life, working cases as a homicide detective for many years and then later as a Chelsea police chief. His experience as a cop served him well in "The Town," although his screen time is small. Playing one of the cops arriving on the robbery scene at Fenway Park after the heist, he does nevertheless get some dialogue time. Although Garvin never intended to become an actor, he took his late-career boost seriously and even studied acting. The gruff Garvin can also be seen in the inspired indie musical "Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench" and in the comedic television movie "Roller Palace," both of which were filmed in Boston.