Frank Maxwell

A regular presence in TV and film for generations, Frank Maxwell was never considered a star. But the countless perfomers for whom he advocated probably felt differently. The veteran character actor was national president of the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) from 1984 to 1989 and served as president of the union's Los Angeles chapter from 1982 to 1985. At AFTRA in the 1950s, Maxwell helped develop the first health and retirement benefits for actors, news broadcasters, and recording artists. He was also a leading negotiator for decades in its contracts with networks and television and radio producers. As Actors' Equity vice president, he helped establish a pension fund for stage actors. Maxwell's acting aspirations began at the University of Michigan, where he originally intended to study law. But that plan was permanently tabled after he joined the Ann Arbor Dramatic Festival, where he appeared in a production of "Macbeth." He made his Broadway debut shortly after graduation. After serving with the Air Force in World War II, he appeared in other plays, including "Death of a Salesman." Though he was blacklisted during the McCarthy era, Maxwell earned a living by doing summer stock before his acting career picked up steam again in the late 1950s. He's perhaps best known for playing Dan Rooney on "General Hospital" from 1978 to 1990.