Frank Lapidus

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"Frank" redirects here. For other uses of "Frank", see: Frank (disambiguation)

Frank Lapidus

Portrayed by Jeff Fahey

Portrayed by [[{{{Actor1}}}]] and [[{{{Actor2}}}]]

First seen

"Confirmed Dead"

Last seen

{{{Last}}}

Appeared in

{{{Appearances}}}

Mentioned in

{{{Mentioned}}}

Centric episode(s)

"Confirmed Dead"

Name

Frank Lapidus

Also Known As

{{{AKA}}}

Status

Alive

Age

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Date of birth

{{{Birth}}}

Date of death

{{{Death}}}

({{{DeathEp}}})

Origin

The Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Profession

Pilot

In Australia...

{{{ReasonAus}}}

On the plane...

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On the island...

Hired to locate Ben

Family members

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Connection

{{{Link}}}

Season(s)

S1 - S2 - S3 - MP - S4

[[:Category:|Images]]

Frank Lapidus is an aircraft pilot who was originally scheduled to pilot Oceanic Airlines Flight 815. Frank is one of the few people in the world who believe that the wreckage of Oceanic Flight 815 found at the bottom of the Sunda Trench was staged. Matthew Abaddon described him as a "pretty good pilot", but Frank is also known to have been an alcoholic. Frank was hired to be the chopper pilot on the freighter Kahana to ferry the science team to the Island, but after the death of Naomi, he was forced to transport the mercenary team as well against his protest. When Frank learned that Oceanic Flight 815 passengers were alive on the Island, he agreed to help them in their efforts to escape. His whereabouts after leaving the Island are unknown.

1 Before the Island
- 1.1 Before the freighter
- 1.2 On the freighter
2 On the Island
- 2.1 Season 4 (Days 91-108)
3 After the Island
- 3.1 2004
- 3.2 2005
4 Trivia
- 4.1 Name
5 Unanswered questions

Before the Island

Before the freighter

Frank reveals that he was the originally intended pilot of Oceanic 815. ("Confirmed Dead")

Frank Lapidus grew up in the Bronx in New York. He was the original intended pilot of Oceanic 815 but was replaced by Seth Norris under as yet unknown circumstances. He came to work for Caribbean Dreams Island Travel and Tours in Eleuthera, the Bahamas. When Flight 815 was reported to be found in the Sunda Trench, Frank contacted the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board's 'Oceanic hotline' to say that he did not believe the body identified as Seth Norris actually was Norris. ("Confirmed Dead")

At some point after contacting the NTSB, Frank was recruited as a pilot by the organization to which Matthew Abaddon belongs. In a meeting between Matthew and Naomi, Frank was described as "a drunk". ("Confirmed Dead")

On the freighter

Before arriving at the Island, he tells Naomi that he should be the first to go to the Island, but she denies his claim and tells him that she wants in first. He walks over to Michael and starts talking to him about why he's on the boat. After Michael tells him that he's looking for adventure, Frank replies that the biggest adventure is that the Oceanic wreck found at the bottom of the ocean is a fake. He tells him that Mr. Widmore believes him on this and that if they ever found a survivor of Oceanic Flight 815 it would be cataclysmic. ("Meet Kevin Johnson")

On the Island

Season 4 (Days 91-108)

Frank launches the flare. ("Confirmed Dead")

Frank piloted a helicopter from the freighter to the Island. On approach, the electronics failed and the rest of the members of Frank's team bailed out by parachute. Frank managed to bring the helicopter down without any significant damage. Although he landed safely, he received head injuries and the satellite phone he was carrying was destroyed. When he awoke, he climbed to the top of a hill and was approached by one of the cattle that lived at the Flame. When he tried to get up, he found out he was having trouble standing, so he loaded up his flare gun and fired it.

Franks awaits Sayid's return. ("The Economist") (promotional still)

Some time later he passed out, but was awoken when Jack and the team found him. As Juliet was tending to the wound on his forehead, Frank asked her what her name was. After hearing it, he realized that she wasn't on Flight 815. He had memorized the entire manifest and was able to identify her as a "native". ("Confirmed Dead")

Sayid then vowed to bring Charlotte back safely in return for a spot on the helicopter, which Frank agreed to. He then watched Daniel conduct his experiments, stating "he does it all the time." When Desmond arrived from the beach, he confronted Frank about the picture of himself and Penny that he found in the boat. Frank stated he knew nothing, and wasn't very high up in the freighter's rankings. Sayid returned with Charlotte, and Frank agreed to give Sayid, Desmond, and Naomi's body a ride in the helicopter. They lifted up, and headed back toward the freighter. ("The Economist")

More than a day later, those on the Island discovered that Frank, Sayid, and Desmond had not made it to the freighter. ("Eggtown")

Whilst on course towards the freighter, the chopper headed into a thunderhead. The group experience turbulence, which becomes worse and Frank is unable to follow the bearing, Daniel instructed him to stay on. Eventually Frank is able to land the helicopter. Once on deck, Keamy and Omar approach Frank and ask who Sayid and Desmond are. Frank explains they are survivors of the crash. Later, after an argument with Keamy, Frank swaps the phone for Sayid's gun. After this, they head down to the sick bay and give Desmond the phone to talk to Daniel, who is on the island and gives Desmond the information he needs. However Ray pushes the alarm button, and Keamy takes the phone from Desmond. Omar also tells Frank the captain wants to speak with him. ("The Constant")

That night, Frank is seen carrying a bag as Keamy approaches him. He reminds Frank not to be late upstairs and Frank says he'll be there. He brings the bag to Sayid and Desmond and encounters Regina reading in front of the door. He mentions that her book is upside-down and she grunts, apparently angry at him. She lets him in and he dumps the bag containing cans of lima beans on the sick bay bed. When questioned by Sayid, he tells him that the kitchen is having problems.

Shortly thereafter, Frank ostensibly flew Keamy and his men to the island to capture Ben. It is not yet known where Lapidus was during the attack. ("Ji Yeon") ("The Shape of Things to Come")

Michael warns Frank of Keamy. ("Cabin Fever")

Running through the jungle the day after the monster attacked Keamy and his men, Frank stumbled upon Miles, Sawyer, Claire and Aaron. Sawyer aimed his gun at Frank not knowing who he was. Holding a sat phone which showed the locations of the mercenaries, he warned Miles, Claire and Sawyer that Keamy was heading in their direction. He urged them to hide, and they did so. When they arrived, Frank was concerned for one of the team's injury, however Keamy warned him just to do his job and get them back to the helicopter. However when Aaron made a cry, Keamy quickly noticed this but didn't know what it was. Frank immediately tried to defocus Keamy of the sound and changed the subject to getting back to the chopper. Eventually he agreed and they leave the area making Claire, Aaron, Sawyer and Miles safe. ("Something Nice Back Home")

The next day Frank flies back to the freighter with the mercenaries. Later he helps a locked up Michael off the floor. He asks why Michael never told him he was a survivor of Oceanic Flight 815, an that he was one of the only people who would've believed him. However, Michael tells Frank that it was because Widmore, Frank's boss, was the one who staged the wreckage but Franks thinks it's a conspiracy. Michael begs Frank not to take Keamy and his team back to the island, thinking he will kill everyone. Frank reassures him not to worry about it. They leave the room and notice Omar strapping a device to Keamy's arm. ("Cabin Fever")

That night the mercenaries are preparing to fly back to the island, when Frank refuses to fly them back. Emphasizing that his job was to fly scientists to and from the island. In response to this, Keamy slits Ray's throat and chucks his body off board. He then warns Frank that if he doesn't fly them back he will kill someone in the next thirty seconds. Captain Gault interupts their conversation by firing the gun Keamy gave him to fix. When Gault asks what is strapped to Keamy's arm, but he pulls a gun and shoots the captain. Shocked by this Frank agrees to fly Keamy back to the island. Just as they're taking off, Frank wraps a satellite phone up and when they reach the island, he throws it onto the beach below them. ("Cabin Fever")

Frank lands the helicopter five kilometers away from the Orchid Station, and then Keamy's men leave him handcuffed inside before moving out. Some time later, Jack and Sawyer find Frank and give him the toolbox so he can free himself, and he tells them where Keamy is headed. ("There's No Place Like Home, Part 1")

Frank says goodbye to Jack. ("There's No Place Like Home, Parts 2 & 3")

After escaping the island with Kate, Sawyer, Hurley, Jack and Sayid, Frank flies the helicopter towards the Kahana when he catches a fuel leak. After lightening the load, and after Sawyer jumps from the chopper to save the others, Frank lands the chopper on the Kahana, patches the hole and refuels the helicopter. The Oceanic Six, along with Desmond leave shortly before the Kahana explodes. ("There's No Place Like Home, Parts 2 & 3")

After the Island

2004

Much to Frank's amazement, the Island disappears as the chopper heads toward it. Because of lack of fuel, he has no choice but to crash the helicopter into the Ocean. Frank helps get Desmond to the lifeboat as he is unconscious. The Survivors drift in the lifeboat until they are rescued by the Searcher. ("There's No Place Like Home, Parts 2 & 3")

2005

One week later, as the Oceanic Six depart the Searcher, Jack jokes that he hopes he never sees Frank again. Frank returns the sentiment and remains on the Searcher as the remaining survivors of Oceanic Flight 815 sail away towards Sumba. ("There's No Place Like Home, Parts 2 & 3")

Trivia

Frank was the twenty-eighth character to ever have a flashback.
Marcus Lepidus was a Roman general and a member of the Second Triumvirate. He worked alongside Octavian and Mark Antony and had complete control of Roman Africa. Latin has been used frequently on Lost' (e.g., on the Blast Door Map.) "Lepidus" is also a character in William Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. Historically, Caesar was stabbed 23 times.
Frank is a New York Yankees fan, whereas Jack is a fan of the Boston Red Sox.
Frank's cosmetic injuries, minor dizziness, and situation mirror his counterpart pilot Seth Norris' initial condition of arrival on the Island.
- Both pilots made forced landings on the Island due to acts of nature (well-placed lightning strikes/electromagnetic properties of the Island that cause shipwreck or instrument failure).
Frank is the only crew member of the Kahana to escape the vessel's destruction and leave the Island.

Name

A "Rick Lapidus" is credited in the Exposé script. The name "Lapidus" was appreciated by Lost writer Edward Kitsis, who inserted the name onto the Exposé script and later insisted the character of the chopper pilot be given the name.
A physician named Lapidus developed a technique for treating a condition of the big toe (bunions) caused by excessive bone growth.
Lapis is a Latin word for stone, and "Lapidus" is sometimes used in the names of rocks, like "Lapidus Granite".
Laputa is a fictional flying island from the book Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift, that can be maneuvered by its inhabitants in any direction using magnetic levitation.

Unanswered questions

Unanswered questions
Do not answer the questions here. Keep the questions open-ended and neutral: do not suggest an answer. More details...

For fan theories about these unanswered questions, see: Frank Lapidus/Theories

Why was he replaced by Seth Norris as the pilot of Oceanic 815?
Why was he specifically recruited by Abaddon?
Why did he memorize Flight 815's 324-passenger manifest?
Does the Island want Frank back? Why or why not?
- Will he return, along with the Oceanic six?