Frequency Inspired Dog Names

There aren’t too many aliens as cute as this one. Frank the Pug plays a Remoolian extraterrestrial species who is in disguise as a Pug dog. In the first “Men in Black” film, Frank is an FBI informant who tries to help Agent J and Agent K save the Arquillians and the Earth against the Bugs. In “Men in Black II,” Frank has a bigger role because the director, Barry Sonnenfeld, enjoyed his performance in the first film and he became so popular. 

In fact, in his second appearance on the hit film with Will Smith, Frank plays an employee in the mailroom at the Men in Black (MIB) headquarters. When Chief Zed asks Agent J to investigate a murder, he informs the Chief that he no longer has a partner, so Frank volunteers and he becomes Agent F. However, Agent J is not happy with Frank because he talks too much and insists on singing cheesy songs like “I Will Survive” by Gloria Gaynor and “Who Let the Dogs Out” by the Baha Men.

After trying to deal with Agent F making jokes about the dead man, scaring the witnesses, and attacking the other agents for laughing at him, Agent J talks Chief Zed into letting him bring Agent K back. Frank is then offered a job as Chief Zed’s personal assistant, and he takes the position because it has better dental insurance. Agents J and K go on to solve the crime and save the day. 

Frank also appears in the music video on the soundtrack for the movie, “Black Suits Comin' (Nod Ya Head)” by Will Smith where he actually pulls the plug on Will Smith’s performance. In “Men in Black III,” Frank does not play in the movie, but his photo is on a billboard in Coney Island advertised as “The Incredible Speaking Pug.” The little Pug also appears in a few episodes of the “Men in Black” series playing the same roles he did in both of the movies.

Frank the Pug was played by a Pug named Mushu and his voice is provided by Tim Blaney, who is a puppeteer and voice actor. Mushu lived with his trainer, Cristie Miele, and eight other pooches on a 20-acre ranch. Before playing Frank the Pug, Mushu played Otis in the 1986 movie “Milo and Otis.” Unfortunately, Mushu passed away before “Men in Black III” was filmed and that is why he was not in the movie.