of his family who became pioneers or major stars of the film and television industry some including Cecil B. DeMille, Buster Keaton, John Wayne, Lucille Ball, Jimmy Stewart, Andy Griffith, James Dean, Katharine Hepburn and Bing Crosby. Franks began his movie career in 1988 with a singing role in the movie Desperate for Love. Like many actors his early appearances were in bit roles such as a sports reporter in "Blind Side" in 1988 and a small part in Hulk Hogan's "No Holds Barred" before landing his breakthrough role on network television on "In the Heat of the Night." Best known as: Officer Randy Goode (1988-1993) in the television series In the Heat of the Night The cast during his tenure was recognized by winning the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Drama Series (formally Outstanding Drama Series, Mini-Series or Television Movie), two years in a row, 1992 and 1993. Other roles: The Crickets Dance as Dr. J.A. Anderson in 2020 winning eleven film festival awards including the Best Ensemble Cast and Best Feature Film Broken as Marv Headly in 2015 starring with Soren Fulton The Solomon Bunch as Edgar Albert in 2013 Lukewarm as Pastor John Keebley in 2012 starring with John Schneider, Nicole Gale Anderson, Bill Cobbs, Jeremy Jones and Jenna Von Oy. The show debuted on GMC-TV in April 2013. He served as an Appalachian musician consultant and appeared with his Cornhuskers String Band for the 2012 feature Lawless (film). Principal Nate Foster in the 2011 film Decision starring with Natalie Grant and Billy Dean Attorney Alvin Potter as series regular in the 2009 Robert Townsend (actor) TV series The Musical Theater of Hope Hallmark Hall of Fame's The Flamingo Rising as Officer Randy Kraft starring with William Hurt, Elizabeth McGovern and Brian Benben Starring role as Todd with Stella Parton in the sci-fi thriller Phoenix Falling Starring role as Captain Morgan Fairhope in Firebase 9 He appeared in Dolly Parton's Blue Valley Songbird Franks hosted and directed the PBS documentary Still Ramblin, about Ramblin' "Doc" Tommy Scott. He worked on the sets of Grace Under Fire and Foxworthy in Studio City, California. Franks shares memories, musical performances, visits to movie sets and premieres from his career on his YouTube channel - Randall Franks TV. He appeared on numerous shows as a musical artist, some among them are the Country Kids TV Series, Tonight at Ferlinghetti's (PBS 1985-87),