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Sinatra: The actor

A versatile and natural talent

• A career that went higher and higher
• Role of a lifetime
• From gritty dramas to zany comedies
• Doing what comes naturally

(CNN) -- Frank Sinatra is no stranger to movie audiences.

His distinguished and versatile acting career includes appearances in at least 60 films, from breezy comedies to dark dramas.

"Frank was as open and as clear a talent as I have ever seen," actor Darren McGavin said.

A career that went higher and higher

Sinatra had his starring debut in the 1944 film, "Higher and Higher." The movie's light style accommodated the young Sinatra's easy, innocent manner.

Narrated by CNN's Dennis Michael
Sinatra: His screen start
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Edgy drama, light musical
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Playing himself
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Star turn
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A string of similar comedies followed, including "Step Lively" in 1944 with Anne Jeffreys, the woman who has the distinction of being Sinatra's first on-screen kiss.

"And all of the fans would say, 'Oh, how did it feel to kiss Sinatra?'" Jeffreys recalls. "'How did it feel?' And I said, 'I don't know, I'm an actress. That's part of the role.' I didn't take it seriously. Now I wish I had."

In films like "Anchors Aweigh" with Gene Kelly and "High Society" with Grace Kelly and Bing Crosby, Sinatra played what he was: a fabulously famous and talented singer.

Role of a lifetime

The entertainer donated his time to the 1945 short project "The House I Live In," a musical that stressed religious and racial tolerance. The film won a special Academy Award.

But it wasn't until the early 1950s -- with his singing career on a temporary downslide due to problems with his vocal cords -- that Sinatra took steps to become the critically-acclaimed actor his fans remember.

While visiting Africa with his second wife Ava Gardner -- who was filming "Mogambo" with Clark Gable and Grace Kelly -- Sinatra read the best-selling novel, "From Here to Eternity," which had a character named Angelo Maggio, an Italian-American GI.

The movie rights to the book were soon bought by Columbia Pictures.

"I became determined to land that role," Sinatra said.

Sinatra borrowed money from Gardner, flew to Los Angeles, took a screen test and won the supporting role for the 1953 film. For his work, Sinatra was paid only $8,000, compared to the $150,000 a picture he had previously received.

It paid off. Sinatra won an Academy Award as best supporting actor for his portrayal of Maggio. The success also opened the door to other roles for Sinatra.

From gritty dramas to zany comedies

In 1955, he starred in the film "The Man With The Golden Arm," the story of a junkie struggling to kick his heroin habit. Sinatra got another Oscar nomination, this time as best actor.

That same year, Sinatra sang with Marlon Brando and Jean Simmons in the award-winning musical, "Guys and Dolls."

"The Manchurian Candidate," which came out in 1962, is considered by many critics to be one of Sinatra's best.

The Cold War political thriller starred Sinatra as a Korean War veteran haunted by recurring nightmares and a sinister enemy plot.

Sinatra continued to perform in comedies, such as "Ocean's Eleven" (1960) and "Robin and the Seven Hoods" (1964) -- films he made with his legendary "Rat Pack" buddies, including the entertainers Sammy Davis Jr., Dean Martin, Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford.

Sinatra played an action hero in "Von Ryan's Express" (1965). As Col. Joseph L. Ryan, he leads a trainload of American prisoners out of Nazi Germany.

Sinatra starred in "The Detective" (1968), one of the first films to deal with subject of homosexuality.

His last dramatic role came in "First Deadly Sin" (1980), playing a New York cop on the hunt for a psychotic killer. The movie was not well-received by critics. It landed co-star Faye Dunaway a Razzie Award nomination for worst actress.

Sinatra made a self-mocking cameo appearance in the 1984 comedy, "Cannonball Run II," and was the voice of the Singing Sword in the cartoon movie, "Who Framed Roger Rabbit."

Doing what comes naturally

Sinatra dove into his acting roles with relish.

"I thought that acting is like playacting like we did when we were kids," Sinatra once told CNN's Larry King. "But suddenly you're grown up and it's for real.

"And then you become immersed in what you're playing, too. I made myself think that I was really that guy in any film I did."

Sinatra's peers thought Sinatra was a talent on screen.

Actress Shirley MacLaine criticized Sinatra's refusal to "work harder at what he's doing." But she still praised his talent.

"There are in this world, just talented people, and Frank was one of them," actress Barbara Rush said. "He was a wonderful actor. A really good actor. He had passion."

Sinatra: A filmography

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