Frank Carson - Revision history

Kurt at 03:28, 2 October 2024

2024-10-02T03:28:00Z

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	\| caption =		\| caption =
	\| birth_date = {{birth date\|1926\|11\|6\|df=y}}		\| birth_date = {{birth date\|1926\|11\|6\|df=y}}
	\| death_date = {{death date and age\|2012\|2\|22\|1926\|11\|6\|df=y}}		\| death_date = {{death date and age\|2012\|02\|22\|1926\|11\|6\|df=y}}
	\| death_place = [[Blackpool]], [[Lancashire]], England		\| death_place = [[Blackpool]], [[Lancashire]], England
	\| birth_place = [[Belfast]], [[Northern Ireland]]		\| birth_place = [[Belfast]], [[Northern Ireland]]

Kurt: /* External links */

2023-02-16T18:39:50Z

External links

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:39, 16 February 2023
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	* {{IMDb name\|id=0141233\|name=Frank Carson}}		* {{IMDb name\|id=0141233\|name=Frank Carson}}
	* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071011062856/http://comedycv.co.uk/frankcarson/index.htm Comedy CV – Frank Carson]		* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071011062856/http://comedycv.co.uk/frankcarson/index.htm Comedy CV – Frank Carson]

	~~{{Authority control}}~~

	{{DEFAULTSORT:Carson, Frank}}		{{DEFAULTSORT:Carson, Frank}}
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	[[Category:Irish male comedians]]		[[Category:Irish male comedians]]
	[[Category:Catholic Unionists]]		[[Category:Catholic Unionists]]
	~~[[Category:Deaths from stomach cancer]]~~
	~~[[Category:Deaths from cancer in England]]~~
	[[Category:Male comedians from Northern Ireland]]		[[Category:Male comedians from Northern Ireland]]
	[[Category:Male actors from Belfast]]		[[Category:Male actors from Belfast]]

Kurt: /* Later life and death */

2023-02-16T18:33:31Z

Later life and death

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:33, 16 February 2023
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	==Later life and death==		==Later life and death==
	Carson was still working, making live appearances, in cabaret, pantomime and the summer season throughout the UK. He spent much of his time helping the needy which included raising £130,000 for the Royal Victoria Hospital Children's Cancer Ward in 1986. ~~{{Citation needed\|date=November 2009}}~~		Carson was still working, making live appearances, in cabaret, pantomime and the summer season throughout the UK. He spent much of his time helping the needy which included raising £130,000 for the Royal Victoria Hospital Children's Cancer Ward in 1986.

	A theft from Carson's dressing room in Blackpool in 1995 [[Linda Nolan#Celebrity Big Brother\|caused ill feeling]] between entertainers [[Jim Davidson]] and [[Linda Nolan]] and this was revived in 2014 during an episode of [[Celebrity Big Brother 13\|''Celebrity Big Brother'']].<ref name="express">{{cite web\|last=McNally \|first=Kelby \|url=http://www.express.co.uk/news/showbiz/454437/Linda-Nolan-in-tears-after-row-with-Jim-Davidson-over-Frank-Carson-s-dressing-room \|title=Linda Nolan in tears after row with Jim Davidson over 'Frank Carson's dressing room' \| Showbiz \|work=Daily Express \|access-date=4 May 2014\|date=17 January 2014 }}</ref>		A theft from Carson's dressing room in Blackpool in 1995 [[Linda Nolan#Celebrity Big Brother\|caused ill feeling]] between entertainers [[Jim Davidson]] and [[Linda Nolan]] and this was revived in 2014 during an episode of [[Celebrity Big Brother 13\|''Celebrity Big Brother'']].<ref name="express">{{cite web\|last=McNally \|first=Kelby \|url=http://www.express.co.uk/news/showbiz/454437/Linda-Nolan-in-tears-after-row-with-Jim-Davidson-over-Frank-Carson-s-dressing-room \|title=Linda Nolan in tears after row with Jim Davidson over 'Frank Carson's dressing room' \| Showbiz \|work=Daily Express \|access-date=4 May 2014\|date=17 January 2014 }}</ref>
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	On 2 September 2009, aged 82, Carson returned to the stage appearing at the [[North Pier, Blackpool\|North Pier Theatre]] midweek season run of ''The Comedians'' in Blackpool, where he lived.<ref name="gazette5610055"/> On 30 October 2009, he appeared at the Velvet Hall in [[Paphos]], Cyprus.<ref name="paphos">{{cite news\|url=http://www.paphospeople.com/frank_carson.html\|title=Paphos People: The Big Night Out with Frank Carson\|publisher=paphospeople.com\|access-date=10 November 2009}}</ref>		On 2 September 2009, aged 82, Carson returned to the stage appearing at the [[North Pier, Blackpool\|North Pier Theatre]] midweek season run of ''The Comedians'' in Blackpool, where he lived.<ref name="gazette5610055"/> On 30 October 2009, he appeared at the Velvet Hall in [[Paphos]], Cyprus.<ref name="paphos">{{cite news\|url=http://www.paphospeople.com/frank_carson.html\|title=Paphos People: The Big Night Out with Frank Carson\|publisher=paphospeople.com\|access-date=10 November 2009}}</ref>

	A routine hernia operation left Carson, who had a heart pacemaker, seriously ill and he underwent a knee replacement operation in July 2009.<ref name="gazette5610055">{{cite news\|url=http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/entertainment-news/Frank-ready-to-make-39em.5610055.jp\|title=Frank ready to make 'em laugh\|date=2 September 2009\|newspaper=[[Blackpool Gazette]]\|access-date=1 November 2009}}</ref> Subsequent [[x-ray]]s, 14 days after being discharged from hospital, showed that he had a previously undetected cracked rib, which may have been the cause of the hernia. In August 2011, Carson had an operation to remove a [[stomach cancer\|malignant tumour]] from his [[stomach]].~~{{citation needed\|date=May 2020}}~~		A routine hernia operation left Carson, who had a heart pacemaker, seriously ill and he underwent a knee replacement operation in July 2009.<ref name="gazette5610055">{{cite news\|url=http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/entertainment-news/Frank-ready-to-make-39em.5610055.jp\|title=Frank ready to make 'em laugh\|date=2 September 2009\|newspaper=[[Blackpool Gazette]]\|access-date=1 November 2009}}</ref> Subsequent [[x-ray]]s, 14 days after being discharged from hospital, showed that he had a previously undetected cracked rib, which may have been the cause of the hernia. In August 2011, Carson had an operation to remove a [[stomach cancer\|malignant tumour]] from his [[stomach]].

	Carson died on 22 February 2012, aged 85, at his Blackpool home. He was survived by his wife, Ruth, whom he married on 21 January 1950 and who died in 2015, aged 87, his daughter Majella and his sons Tony and Aidan, in addition to numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17046201\|title=Comic Frank Carson dies aged 85\|date=22 February 2012\|access-date=22 February 2012\|work=BBC News}}</ref> His funeral was held on 3 March 2012 at St Patrick's Church, Donegall Street, Belfast, where he had married his wife Ruth over 60 years earlier. Mourners included [[Stan Boardman]], [[Dennis Taylor]], [[Eamonn Holmes]], [[Martin McGuinness]], [[Lenny Henry]], [[Dana Rosemary Scallon\|Dana]], [[Roy Walker (television personality)\|Roy Walker]] and a large crowd of fans.<ref>[http://news.sky.com/home/showbiz-news/article/16181297 Funeral Procession For Comedian Frank Carson] ''Sky News''</ref>		Carson died on 22 February 2012, aged 85, at his Blackpool home. He was survived by his wife, Ruth, whom he married on 21 January 1950 and who died in 2015, aged 87, his daughter Majella and his sons Tony and Aidan, in addition to numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17046201\|title=Comic Frank Carson dies aged 85\|date=22 February 2012\|access-date=22 February 2012\|work=BBC News}}</ref> His funeral was held on 3 March 2012 at St Patrick's Church, Donegall Street, Belfast, where he had married his wife Ruth over 60 years earlier. Mourners included [[Stan Boardman]], [[Dennis Taylor]], [[Eamonn Holmes]], [[Martin McGuinness]], [[Lenny Henry]], [[Dana Rosemary Scallon\|Dana]], [[Roy Walker (television personality)\|Roy Walker]] and a large crowd of fans.<ref>[http://news.sky.com/home/showbiz-news/article/16181297 Funeral Procession For Comedian Frank Carson] ''Sky News''</ref>

Kurt: /* Television career */

2023-02-16T18:32:59Z

Television career

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:32, 16 February 2023
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	He was the subject of ''[[This Is Your Life (UK TV series)\|This Is Your Life]]'' in 1985 when he was surprised by [[Eamonn Andrews]] at Heathrow Airport after the two had flown over together from Dublin.<ref name=Andrews>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjKpYr_EYgM\|title=Frank Carson \| This Is Your Life \| 1985 Intro\|via=www.youtube.com}}</ref>		He was the subject of ''[[This Is Your Life (UK TV series)\|This Is Your Life]]'' in 1985 when he was surprised by [[Eamonn Andrews]] at Heathrow Airport after the two had flown over together from Dublin.<ref name=Andrews>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjKpYr_EYgM\|title=Frank Carson \| This Is Your Life \| 1985 Intro\|via=www.youtube.com}}</ref>

	When he had [[cardiac surgery\|heart surgery]] in 1976 it was suggested this meant he would retire. However, he continued working and became a regular on the [[Associated TeleVision\|ATV]] children's series ''[[Tiswas]]''. He began making acting appearances on television as well as in two cinema films in the 1990s. In 1998, he was the opening act for [[Mary Black]]'s musical concert at the English Village in [[Dubai]].~~{{citation needed\|date=February 2020}}~~		When he had [[cardiac surgery\|heart surgery]] in 1976 it was suggested this meant he would retire. However, he continued working and became a regular on the [[Associated TeleVision\|ATV]] children's series ''[[Tiswas]]''. He began making acting appearances on television as well as in two cinema films in the 1990s. In 1998, he was the opening act for [[Mary Black]]'s musical concert at the English Village in [[Dubai]].

	==Later life and death==		==Later life and death==

Kurt: /* Early life */

2023-02-16T18:29:02Z

Early life

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:29, 16 February 2023
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	==Early life==		==Early life==
	Carson was one of six children born to a working-class Catholic family from the inner-city Belfast locality known as the Half Bap (now called Cathedral Quarter). He attended St Patrick's [[Elementary School#United Kingdom\|Elementary School]]. The family later moved to 94 Corporation St<ref name=LennonWylie>{{Cite web\|url=https://lennonwylie.co.uk/ccomplete1939_c.htm\|title=1939 BSD c complete 3\|website=lennonwylie.co.uk}}</ref> in the Little Italy area, close to [[Sailortown (Belfast)\|Sailortown]]. Carson worked as an electrician and later a [[plasterer]] in the building trade.<ref>{{cite news \|first=Dennis \|last=Barker \|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2012/feb/23/frank-carson-obituary \|title=Frank Carson obituary \|newspaper=The Guardian \|date=23 February 2012 \|location=London}}</ref> Carson's family were of Italian descent,<ref>{{cite news\| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/9120944/Comedian-Frank-Carson-laid-to-rest-in-Belfast.html \| location=London \| work=The Daily Telegraph \| first=Roya \| last=Nikkhah \| title=Comedian Frank Carson laid to rest in Belfast \| date=3 March 2012}}</ref> with his grandmother hailing from [[Sicily]]~~.{{Citation needed\|date=February 2012}}~~. In his early days Carson was a choirboy at St Patrick's Catholic church on Donegall Street.<ref name="BBC Legacies">{{cite web\|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/legacies/immig_emig/northern_ireland/ni_4/article_2.shtml\|publisher=BBC.co.uk\|title=Immigration and Emigration in Northern Ireland\|access-date=12 March 2008}}</ref>		Carson was one of six children born to a working-class Catholic family from the inner-city Belfast locality known as the Half Bap (now called Cathedral Quarter). He attended St Patrick's [[Elementary School#United Kingdom\|Elementary School]]. The family later moved to 94 Corporation St<ref name=LennonWylie>{{Cite web\|url=https://lennonwylie.co.uk/ccomplete1939_c.htm\|title=1939 BSD c complete 3\|website=lennonwylie.co.uk}}</ref> in the Little Italy area, close to [[Sailortown (Belfast)\|Sailortown]]. Carson worked as an electrician and later a [[plasterer]] in the building trade.<ref>{{cite news \|first=Dennis \|last=Barker \|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2012/feb/23/frank-carson-obituary \|title=Frank Carson obituary \|newspaper=The Guardian \|date=23 February 2012 \|location=London}}</ref> Carson's family were of Italian descent,<ref>{{cite news\| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/9120944/Comedian-Frank-Carson-laid-to-rest-in-Belfast.html \| location=London \| work=The Daily Telegraph \| first=Roya \| last=Nikkhah \| title=Comedian Frank Carson laid to rest in Belfast \| date=3 March 2012}}</ref> with his grandmother hailing from [[Sicily]]. In his early days Carson was a choirboy at St Patrick's Catholic church on Donegall Street.<ref name="BBC Legacies">{{cite web\|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/legacies/immig_emig/northern_ireland/ni_4/article_2.shtml\|publisher=BBC.co.uk\|title=Immigration and Emigration in Northern Ireland\|access-date=12 March 2008}}</ref>

	Carson spent three years in the British Army's [[Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom)\|Parachute Regiment]], mainly in the Middle East in the late 1940s. During his service he shot dead an armed Zionist terrorist.<ref name="theguardian.com">{{cite web\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2012/feb/23/frank-carson-obituary\|title=Frank Carson obituary\|first=Dennis\|last=Barker\|date=23 February 2012\|website=The Guardian\|access-date=9 August 2018}}</ref> He himself was shot in the leg and on another occasion narrowly escaped death when a bomb went off outside a cinema. The seven RAF men he was with were all killed.<ref name="theguardian.com"/> He also assisted with the clear up after the [[King David Hotel bombing]] in [[Jerusalem]] and made 40 parachute descents.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0141233/bio\|title=Frank Carson IMDb profile\|publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]]\|access-date=14 March 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|title=Frank Carson obituary\|newspaper=[[The Times]] \|page=60 \|date=24 February 2012}}</ref>		Carson spent three years in the British Army's [[Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom)\|Parachute Regiment]], mainly in the Middle East in the late 1940s. During his service he shot dead an armed Zionist terrorist.<ref name="theguardian.com">{{cite web\|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2012/feb/23/frank-carson-obituary\|title=Frank Carson obituary\|first=Dennis\|last=Barker\|date=23 February 2012\|website=The Guardian\|access-date=9 August 2018}}</ref> He himself was shot in the leg and on another occasion narrowly escaped death when a bomb went off outside a cinema. The seven RAF men he was with were all killed.<ref name="theguardian.com"/> He also assisted with the clear up after the [[King David Hotel bombing]] in [[Jerusalem]] and made 40 parachute descents.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0141233/bio\|title=Frank Carson IMDb profile\|publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]]\|access-date=14 March 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news\|title=Frank Carson obituary\|newspaper=[[The Times]] \|page=60 \|date=24 February 2012}}</ref>

Kurt at 18:26, 16 February 2023

2023-02-16T18:26:33Z

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	~~{{Short description\|Northern Irish comedian and actor (1936–2012)}}~~
	~~{{For\|the Canadian ice hockey player\|Frank Carson (ice hockey)}}~~
	~~{{Use Hiberno-English\|date=June 2022}}~~
	~~{{Use dmy dates\|date=May 2020}}~~

	{{Infobox comedian		{{Infobox comedian
	\| honorific_suffix = [[Order of St. Gregory the Great\|KSG]]		\| honorific_suffix = [[Order of St. Gregory the Great\|KSG]]
	\| name = Frank Carson		\| name = Frank Carson
	\| image = Frank Carson ~~copyright BarryCheung~~.jpg		\| image = Frank Carson.jpg
	\| caption = ~~Carson in 2007~~		\| caption =
	\| birth_date = {{birth date\|1926\|11\|6\|df=y}}		\| birth_date = {{birth date\|1926\|11\|6\|df=y}}
	\| death_date = {{death date and age\|2012\|2\|22\|1926\|11\|6\|df=y}}		\| death_date = {{death date and age\|2012\|2\|22\|1926\|11\|6\|df=y}}

Kurt: 1 revision imported

2023-02-16T18:21:41Z

1 revision imported

← Older revision	Revision as of 13:21, 16 February 2023
(No difference)

en>Billsmith60: Short description

2023-01-05T11:39:26Z

Short description

New page

{{Short description|Northern Irish comedian and actor (1936–2012)}}
{{For|the Canadian ice hockey player|Frank Carson (ice hockey)}}
{{Use Hiberno-English|date=June 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2020}}

{{Infobox comedian
| honorific_suffix = [[Order of St. Gregory the Great|KSG]]
| name = Frank Carson
| image = Frank Carson copyright BarryCheung.jpg
| caption = Carson in 2007
| birth_date = {{birth date|1926|11|6|df=y}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|2012|2|22|1926|11|6|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Blackpool]], [[Lancashire]], England
| birth_place = [[Belfast]], [[Northern Ireland]]
| birth_name = Hugh Francis Carson
| medium = Television
| genre = comedy
| notable_work = ''[[The Comedians (1971 TV series)|The Comedians]]''
}}

'''Hugh Francis Carson''' [[Order of St. Gregory the Great|KSG]] (6 November 1926<ref name=bbc/>  – 22 February 2012<ref name=bbc>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-17046201|title=Comic Frank Carson dies aged 85|date=23 February 2012|access-date=9 August 2018|publisher=BBC|work=BBC News}}</ref>) was a Northern Irish comedian and actor from Belfast. He was best known for being a regular face on television for many years from the 1970s onwards, appearing in series such as ''[[The Comedians (1971 TV series)|The Comedians]]'' and ''[[Tiswas]]''. His trademark line was "It's the way I tell them!" Carson was a member of the entertainment charity the [[Grand Order of Water Rats]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Frank Carson Obituary|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/9099677/Frank-Carson-obituary.html|website=The Telegraph|access-date=20 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414150835/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/9099677/Frank-Carson-obituary.html|archive-date=14 April 2012 |date=23 February 2012}}</ref>

==Early life==
Carson was one of six children born to a working-class Catholic family from the inner-city Belfast locality known as the Half Bap (now called Cathedral Quarter). He attended St Patrick's [[Elementary School#United Kingdom|Elementary School]]. The family later moved to 94 Corporation St<ref name=LennonWylie>{{Cite web|url=https://lennonwylie.co.uk/ccomplete1939_c.htm|title=1939 BSD c complete 3|website=lennonwylie.co.uk}}</ref> in the Little Italy area, close to [[Sailortown (Belfast)|Sailortown]]. Carson worked as an electrician and later a [[plasterer]] in the building trade.<ref>{{cite news |first=Dennis |last=Barker |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2012/feb/23/frank-carson-obituary |title=Frank Carson obituary |newspaper=The Guardian |date=23 February 2012 |location=London}}</ref> Carson's family were of Italian descent,<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/9120944/Comedian-Frank-Carson-laid-to-rest-in-Belfast.html | location=London | work=The Daily Telegraph | first=Roya | last=Nikkhah | title=Comedian Frank Carson laid to rest in Belfast | date=3 March 2012}}</ref> with his grandmother hailing from [[Sicily]].{{Citation needed|date=February 2012}}. In his early days Carson was a choirboy at St Patrick's Catholic church on Donegall Street.<ref name="BBC Legacies">{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/legacies/immig_emig/northern_ireland/ni_4/article_2.shtml|publisher=BBC.co.uk|title=Immigration and Emigration in Northern Ireland|access-date=12 March 2008}}</ref>

Carson spent three years in the British Army's [[Parachute Regiment (United Kingdom)|Parachute Regiment]], mainly in the Middle East in the late 1940s. During his service he shot dead an armed Zionist terrorist.<ref name="theguardian.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2012/feb/23/frank-carson-obituary|title=Frank Carson obituary|first=Dennis|last=Barker|date=23 February 2012|website=The Guardian|access-date=9 August 2018}}</ref> He himself was shot in the leg and on another occasion narrowly escaped death when a bomb went off outside a cinema. The seven RAF men he was with were all killed.<ref name="theguardian.com"/> He also assisted with the clear up after the [[King David Hotel bombing]] in [[Jerusalem]] and made 40 parachute descents.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0141233/bio|title=Frank Carson IMDb profile|publisher=[[Internet Movie Database]]|access-date=14 March 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Frank Carson obituary|newspaper=[[The Times]] |page=60 |date=24 February 2012}}</ref>

==Television career==
Carson became a popular performer on Irish television, before moving to England to work as a stand-up club comedian. He had success on the long-running television music-hall revival show, ''[[The Good Old Days (UK TV series)|The Good Old Days]]''. He then went on to win the peak-viewing national favourite talent show ''[[Opportunity Knocks (UK TV series)|Opportunity Knocks]]'', presented by [[Hughie Green]], three times. He was one of the more prominent acts on ''[[The Comedians (1971 TV series)|The Comedians]]'' alongside the likes of [[Charlie Williams (comedian)|Charlie Williams]], [[Bernard Manning]], [[Mike Reid (actor)|Mike Reid]] and [[Jim Bowen]]. The show consisted of 30 minutes of non-stop stand-up comedy from several comedians in each show, became a ratings hit in Britain and helped establish Carson's career.

[[Granada Television]]'s ''The Comedians'' led to similar shows, such as ''[[The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club]]'', which was an attempt to bring the northern English working man's club show to television. Carson was a regular on television for a number of years after ''The Comedians'', whilst also working as a stage entertainer and appearing before the [[British Royal Family|Royal Family]] in shows.

In 1975, Carson took the part of Paddy O'Brien, described as "an Irish Republican landlord and coalman", in [[The Melting Pot (television programme)|''The Melting Pot'']], a sitcom written by [[Spike Milligan]] and [[Neil Shand]], which was cancelled by the BBC after just one episode had been broadcast.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Milligan|first1=Spike|author-link1=Spike Milligan|last2=Shand|first2=Neil |author-link2=Neil Shand |title=The Melting Pot|year=1983|publisher=[[Robson Books]]|location=London|isbn=0-86051-195-2|at=introductory pages}}</ref>

He was the subject of ''[[This Is Your Life (UK TV series)|This Is Your Life]]'' in 1985 when he was surprised by [[Eamonn Andrews]] at Heathrow Airport after the two had flown over together from Dublin.<ref name=Andrews>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjKpYr_EYgM|title=Frank Carson | This Is Your Life | 1985 Intro|via=www.youtube.com}}</ref>

When he had [[cardiac surgery|heart surgery]] in 1976 it was suggested this meant he would retire. However, he continued working and became a regular on the [[Associated TeleVision|ATV]] children's series ''[[Tiswas]]''. He began making acting appearances on television as well as in two cinema films in the 1990s. In 1998, he was the opening act for [[Mary Black]]'s musical concert at the English Village in [[Dubai]].{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

==Later life and death==
Carson was still working, making live appearances, in cabaret, pantomime and the summer season throughout the UK. He spent much of his time helping the needy which included raising £130,000 for the Royal Victoria Hospital Children's Cancer Ward in 1986. {{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}

A theft from Carson's dressing room in Blackpool in 1995 [[Linda Nolan#Celebrity Big Brother|caused ill feeling]] between entertainers [[Jim Davidson]] and [[Linda Nolan]] and this was revived in 2014 during an episode of [[Celebrity Big Brother 13|''Celebrity Big Brother'']].<ref name="express">{{cite web|last=McNally |first=Kelby |url=http://www.express.co.uk/news/showbiz/454437/Linda-Nolan-in-tears-after-row-with-Jim-Davidson-over-Frank-Carson-s-dressing-room |title=Linda Nolan in tears after row with Jim Davidson over 'Frank Carson's dressing room' | Showbiz |work=Daily Express |access-date=4 May 2014|date=17 January 2014 }}</ref>

On 2 September 2009, aged 82, Carson returned to the stage appearing at the [[North Pier, Blackpool|North Pier Theatre]] midweek season run of ''The Comedians'' in Blackpool, where he lived.<ref name="gazette5610055"/> On 30 October 2009, he appeared at the Velvet Hall in [[Paphos]], Cyprus.<ref name="paphos">{{cite news|url=http://www.paphospeople.com/frank_carson.html|title=Paphos People: The Big Night Out with Frank Carson|publisher=paphospeople.com|access-date=10 November 2009}}</ref>

A routine hernia operation left Carson, who had a heart pacemaker, seriously ill and he underwent a knee replacement operation in July 2009.<ref name="gazette5610055">{{cite news|url=http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/entertainment-news/Frank-ready-to-make-39em.5610055.jp|title=Frank ready to make 'em laugh|date=2 September 2009|newspaper=[[Blackpool Gazette]]|access-date=1 November 2009}}</ref> Subsequent [[x-ray]]s, 14 days after being discharged from hospital, showed that he had a previously undetected cracked rib, which may have been the cause of the hernia. In August 2011, Carson had an operation to remove a [[stomach cancer|malignant tumour]] from his [[stomach]].{{citation needed|date=May 2020}}

Carson died on 22 February 2012, aged 85, at his Blackpool home. He was survived by his wife, Ruth, whom he married on 21 January 1950 and who died in 2015, aged 87, his daughter Majella and his sons Tony and Aidan, in addition to numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-17046201|title=Comic Frank Carson dies aged 85|date=22 February 2012|access-date=22 February 2012|work=BBC News}}</ref> His funeral was held on 3 March 2012 at St Patrick's Church, Donegall Street, Belfast, where he had married his wife Ruth over 60 years earlier. Mourners included [[Stan Boardman]], [[Dennis Taylor]], [[Eamonn Holmes]], [[Martin McGuinness]], [[Lenny Henry]], [[Dana Rosemary Scallon|Dana]], [[Roy Walker (television personality)|Roy Walker]] and a large crowd of fans.<ref>[http://news.sky.com/home/showbiz-news/article/16181297 Funeral Procession For Comedian Frank Carson] ''Sky News''</ref>

==Personal life==
Carson was a Roman Catholic.<ref name="theguardian.com"/> In 1987 his dedication to charity was recognised by the Catholic Church when he was awarded a [[papal knighthood]] of the [[Order of St. Gregory]] by [[Pope John Paul II]].<ref>{{cite web|author=Borislav Todorov for Eligo International |url=http://www.papalknights.org.uk/assoc-members.html |title=Association of Papal Orders in Great Britain |publisher=PapalKnights.org.uk |access-date=22 February 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120206024623/http://www.papalknights.org.uk/assoc-members.html |archive-date=6 February 2012}}</ref>

Although he stayed out of Northern Irish politics, he openly supported [[UKIP]] in later years.<ref name="Comedian Frank Carson backs UKIP">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8052721.stm|title=Comedian Frank Carson backs UKIP|date=15 May 2009|access-date=9 August 2018|work=BBC News}}</ref>

He lived in [[Layton, Blackpool]],<ref name="gazette5761266">{{cite news|url=http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/blackpoolnews/Stars-hail-Variety-lineup.5761266.jp|title=Stars hail Variety line-up|last=Robinson|first=Joe|date=23 October 2009|newspaper=[[Blackpool Gazette]]|access-date=1 November 2009}}</ref> where he attended [[Blackpool F.C.]] matches at [[Bloomfield Road]].<ref name="utp">{{cite journal|date=18 August 2009|title=It's A Cracker!|journal=Up the Pool|publisher=[[Blackpool F.C.]]|volume=2009–10 season|issue=Blackpool vs Derby County}}</ref> He was a director of Staffordshire [[association football|football]] club [[Chasetown F.C.]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Cheese|first=Caroline|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/7171474.stm|title=Live – FA Cup fifth round|publisher=bbc.co.uk|date=5 January 2008|access-date=14 March 2009}}</ref> and in the 1970s and 1980s he was appointed a Director and Vice-President of [[Newport County A.F.C.|Newport County]] football club in South Wales to raise the profile of the club.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-south-east-wales-17137248|title=Frank Carson laugh 'lifted club'|date=23 February 2012|access-date=9 August 2018|publisher=BBC|work=BBC News}}</ref>

In 2009 Carson took part in the TV show ''[[Cash in the Attic|Cash in the Celebrity Attic]]'' to raise money for a local hospice, raising over £900 in the process.

Carson lived for many years in [[Balbriggan]] in the north of [[County Dublin]], and served two terms as mayor of the town.<ref>[http://northcountyleader.ie/index.php/component/content/article/34-front-page/1904-balbriggan-will-miss-frank-carson.html Balbriggan Will Miss Frank Carson] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20120714185130/http://northcountyleader.ie/index.php/component/content/article/34-front-page/1904-balbriggan-will-miss-frank-carson.html |date=14 July 2012 }} Monday, 27 February 2012 15:20.</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|id=0141233|name=Frank Carson}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071011062856/http://comedycv.co.uk/frankcarson/index.htm Comedy CV – Frank Carson]

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Carson, Frank}}
[[Category:1926 births]]
[[Category:2012 deaths]]
[[Category:British Parachute Regiment soldiers]]
[[Category:Knights of St. Gregory the Great]]
[[Category:Irish male comedians]]
[[Category:Catholic Unionists]]
[[Category:Deaths from stomach cancer]]
[[Category:Deaths from cancer in England]]
[[Category:Male comedians from Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:Male actors from Belfast]]
[[Category:People from Northern Ireland of Italian descent]]
[[Category:Stand-up comedians from Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:UK Independence Party people]]
[[Category:20th-century comedians from Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:21st-century comedians from Northern Ireland]]
[[Category:Comedians from Belfast]]
[[Category:20th-century British Army personnel]]