Frank Thornton
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Frank Thornton | |
|---|---|
| Born | Frank Thornton Ball 15 January 1921 Dulwich, London, England |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1950-present |
| Spouse(s) | Beryl Thornton (1 daughter) |
Frank Thornton (born 15 January 1921) is an English actor who is best known for playing Captain Peacock in Are You Being Served? and its sequel Grace & Favour and as Truly in Last of the Summer Wine.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
Frank Thornton Ball was born in Dulwich, London, the son of Rosina Mary (née Thornton) and William Ernest Ball.[1] He wanted to act from an early age, but his father, who worked in a bank, wanted him to get a 'proper' job and so he got a job working in insurance after leaving[2] Alleyn's School. He soon enrolled at a small acting school, the London School of Dramatic Art, and did evening classes. After two years working at the insurance company, Frank Thornton was invited to become a day student at the acting school and persuaded his father to finance his studies.[2]
During the Second World War Thornton was evacuated along with the drama school and his first job was touring with four plays in Ireland.[2] On 5 June 1945, he married actress Beryl Evans in West Wickham, London and they had one child. He did his war service as an officer in the Royal Air Force and was demobilised in 1947.[2] Almost immediately after, Thornton joined a rep company. His first credited role was in the 1954 film Radio Cab Murder.
[edit] Career
After working on stage and in films during the 1950s, Thornton became a familiar face on British television, specialising in comedy. He was a regular on It's a Square World, and appeared in classic British sitcoms such as Hancock, Sykes, The Goodies and Love Thy Neighbour. He also appeared in Danger Man episode The Assassin as Pepe (1961).
He also appeared alongside Benny Hill, Frankie Howerd, Harry Worth, Reg Varney and Spike Milligan in their comedy shows. He appeared in four episodes of Steptoe & Son during its original run from 1962 to 1965, and in 1973 appeared in the film Steptoe and Son Ride Again and that year's television Christmas special. In 1974 he made a rare appearance in television drama, as Prince Albert in the second episode of Fall of Eagles.
From 1966 to 1968, Thornton starred in the BBC radio comedy The Embassy Lark, a spin-off of The Navy Lark.
He continued to appear in films, mostly comedies, during the 1960s and 1970s, including Carry On Screaming!, The Early Bird, The Bed Sitting Room, Up the Chastity Belt and No Sex Please, We're British, as well as TV sitcom spin-off films.
Thornton is best known for playing Captain Peacock in the long-running BBC comedy series Are You Being Served? from 1972 to 1985, and he later reprised his role for Grace and Favour from 1992 to 1993.
In 1984 he starred as Sir John Treymane in the hit London musical Me and My Girl earning rave reviews and an Olivier Award nomination.
In 1980, he joined John Cleese in a BBC production of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew.
In 1997 he took the role of Herbert 'Truly' Truelove in Last of the Summer Wine, replacing Brian Wilde who had suggested him for the role. He can also be seen in the film Gosford Park (2001) as Mr. Burkett.
[edit] Selected filmography
- Tarnished Heroes (1961)
- Victim (1961)
- Trial and Error (1962)
- The Wild Affair (1963)
- The Comedy Man (1964)
- The Big Job (1965)
- The Early Bird (1965)
- The Murder Game (1965)
- A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1966)
- Carry On Screaming! (1966)
- Danny the Dragon (1967)
- The Assassination Bureau (1969)
- Crooks and Coronets (1969)
- The Bed Sitting Room (1969)
- The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer (1970)
- The Three Musketeers (1973)
- Spanish Fly (1975)
- Gosford Park (2001)
