In loving memory of
Frank P. Salisbury
March 2, 1930 – March 20, 2026
Virtual Celebration of Life
September 24, 2026
4:00 PM Pacific / 5:00 PM Mountain
6:00 PM Central / 7:00 PM Eastern
Frank P. Salisbury Obituary
If all the world’s a stage, the life and times of Frank Pressley Salisbury deserve a thunderous curtain call. A longtime playwright, poet and award-winning television writer, Frank died peacefully in Vancouver on March 20, 2026 at the age of 96. But he was more than the sum of his many talents. Frank—also known as Skippy, Franco, Pooch, Pops, Dude, and Benjamin Button—may well have been everyone’s most unique friend, family member, colleague, mentor, and muse.
To loosely quote one of Frank’s plays, he was “the best thing to come out of Fort Worth since the I-20”. He and his parents, Frank Albert (a theatre manager) and Burmah Elizabeth (an elocution teacher) moved to Los Angeles when Frank was just two. His mother envisioned him as the next Shirley Temple. She enrolled him in violin lessons and read poems to guests as part of his preparation for stardom.
He was the only child of a second marriage and orphaned by age seventeen. It was at this time that Frank began living independently, although he never stopped living like a teenager whose parents were gone for the weekend.
It was in a shorthand class at Hollywood High that Frank met Lee Ray, who became Frank’s lifelong friend of seventy-four years. This shorthand skill led to Frank’s assignment as an army court stenographer during the Korean War. He served in Las Vegas, where he witnessed nuclear testing in the desert sands, followed by cocktails at the Sands on the Strip.
Frank was literary from childhood, read constantly, and wrote relentlessly. He began his career at a literary agency. Frank changed careers, working his way up to Vice President of a sprinkler company before quitting. There was no “Plan B” other than leaning heavily into his writing.
Frank’s break came while unemployed and shopping on Rodeo Drive. This wouldn’t surprise anyone who knew him. He was asked to submit a sample script, which he parlayed into a career that would eventually earn him more than 700 writing credits—Search for Tomorrow, As the World Turns, General Hospital, The Guiding Light, Dynasty, Capitol, Santa Barbara, The Edge of Night, and Somerset, to name a few. Although he was a two-time Daytime Emmy winner and three-time nominee, it was his two Writers Guild of America Awards and his catalogue of plays that Frank spoke most proudly of.
During the height of his career, Frank was well known for his extravagant parties. It’s quite possible that the phrase “champagne wishes and caviar dreams” was inspired by these Dixie Canyon Place soirées. Everyone knew Frank as a martini lover, straight up with a twist.
He was known for extravagance. For Frank, shopping was a competitive sport. He felt equally at home on the tennis court or in Saks Fifth Avenue. One of his most common phrases was, “you should get that!” and he belongs to the rare club of people fired by their wealth manager for refusing to calm down.
He was a dedicated cook who favored classic haute cuisine and collected cookbooks by Vincent Price, Salvador Dali, and Julia Child. He could be just as happy eating franks and beans like his father prepared for him as a child.
Frank’s intelligence was balanced with mischief. If snickering broke out in a room of silence, he was the likely instigator. If someone claimed, “I can’t believe they said that”, there’s a good chance it was Frank who said it. He was blessed with a radio voice that carried. But it was often the things said in quiet tones that showcased his repartee.
Friends have called him the funniest man on the planet, and they could be right. He had the flamboyant wit of Noel Coward, the sharp tongue of Truman Capote, and the playful pithiness of Paul Lynde. Beneath it all, he was a sensitive man with deep affection for the people and things he loved.
Frank’s life was enriched by a remarkable circle of friends, family, and chosen family who loved him deeply and remained close to him throughout his life. He is survived by his longtime partner, Peter, who shared his life and cared for him in his final years; his son, Scott, with whom he shared a relationship of love and family in every meaningful sense; Scott’s partner, Mary; and his grandson, Mason. He will also be remembered by the many friends and loved ones who brought laughter, companionship, and joy to his life.
Frank’s story had many acts and surprising plot twists. He was a survivor who met challenges with resilience and poise. Now he belongs to the universe, which is more uproarious because of him.
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He was as generous with his laughter as he was with his wit.
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I want to thank you all for being here and sharing your thoughts and memories of my dad. I miss him every day. His wit his humor his laughter and his smile. I am truly and forever blessed to be able to call him my DAD.
Scott
I want everyone to know Frank was my Frankie and when I called him Frankie he smiled and always gave me a hug..
Mary
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From the moment I met Frank, I could tell he was someone special.
Chuck told me all the stories about their early days in L.A.—playing tennis, followed by champagne around the pool with the marvelous Lee Ray. Somehow, that seemed exactly the sort of life Frank was meant to lead.
A conversation with Frank was always a little like being let in on an inside joke. He could whip out the quips faster than you could process them. He loved to name-drop, especially when telling an old Hollywood story, and his dry humor was wonderfully sharp but never vicious.
I shall miss the old boy terribly, especially the way he followed every perfectly delivered joke with that deep, hearty chuckle of his—as if he were just as delighted by the joke as the rest of us.
I’m sure he’s currently holding court at that grand old bar in the clouds, dropping names, telling stories, and entertaining the crowd exactly as he always did.
Cheers, Frank. You will be missed.
link to Franks 74th Birthday Party
https://youtu.be/ZUy4sYvxmoM?si=86e6pdPRncbVmTjT
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Frank was my favorite tennis and racquetball opponent and not merely because he always let me win but because we had so many laughs. He had the best laugh ever. In addition to the best wry cynicism and wit, sense of wonder and joie de vivre. There’s something about having been friends for more than half a century that makes it seem as if Frank’s still here; I can still hear his voice, his enthusiasm for all things delicious and aesthetic, scandalous and intriguing, and I consider myself blessedly fortunate to have had Frank as part of my life. “Godspeed, hope I don’t see you soon.” (it’s a line from my new one-man show ARCHIE PARISH’S PARTING WORDS; Frank would’ve loved it and I know that at some upcoming performance, I’ll have to hold for the laugh and it’ll be Frank’s).
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Frank was really kind and nice to everyone whom he met. Everyone of us will always love and remember him from the heart.
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Je garde un souvenir inoubliable des quelques trop rares rencontres ou j’ai eu l’occasion de faire plus ample connaissance et de decouvrir un homme brillant et sensible, à l’écoute de tout et malgré la distance et les années toujours présent et qui le restera.
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Frank & Lee se sont si gentiment occupés de moi pendant mon séjour à LA. en 1980. Les parties de tennis du dimanche, les déjeuners à Marina del Rey, les réceptions de Frank à Sherman Oaks avec ses amis acteurs, producteurs, .. La cérémonie des Academy Awards à la télévision où chacun faisait ses paris pour les vainqueurs. Beaucoup d’humour et de rires lors de nos rencontres, Frank avait cet humour britannique, drôle et piquant à la fois. Je me souviens de Scott jeune et beau comme un Dieu. Les ballades avec la superbe Mercedes blanche décapotable de Frank. Les déjeuners chez Moustache Café. Il m’avait emmené voir le concert de Bruce Springsteen, je n’avais jamais vu pareil concert… Hammlet au théatre et bien d’autres souvenirs. Le shopping sur Rodéo Drive., il n’aimait que les belles choses, tout ce qui était raffiné. Une anecdote lors d’un diner chez moi à Marina del Rey, Frank et Lee étaient venus diner et je leur avais servi une dorade entière grillée au four, je ne savais pas qu’on ne présentait pas la tête aux USA, nous avions beaucoup ri.
Et puis sa visite à Paris avec Peter et Lee, quel bonheur de leur présenter ma famille, mes enfants !
Puis Montréal quelques années après avec Peter quand j’y habitais. La visite de la ville, le brunch au Ritz Carlton. Frank a toujours adoré la bonne cuisine, c’était un fin gourmet. Je regrette de ne pas l’avoir vu plus souvent mais nous étions bien loin géographiquement.
Frank et Lee ont été mes parents adoptifs pendant que je vivais à LA, toujours là pour moi.
L’amitié n’a pas de frontières et l’espace temps n’a pas d’importance, on se retrouvait comme si nous nous étions quittés la veille. Ils me manquent tous les deux et merci à Peter de faire revivre cette merveilleuse personne qu’était Frank Salisbury.
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We loved Frank (aka many names including “Chief”)!
Frank’s exquisit sense of humor had to be experienced to be believed.
The only thing drier was his ability to make the perfect martini on a wet sailboat!!
Frank was America’s answer to England’s Noël Coward –
and in many ways Frank was more amusing.
“Now…should we dress for dinner?”
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No one was ever wittier or better read or a better cook. New Year’s Eve made sense when you spent it at Frank’s. A man who was equally at home at Tiffany’s or Gucci’s. My dear brilliant friend. He can never be equalled.