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{{Short description|English actor}}
{{Short description|English actor}}
{{about|the television actor|the comic opera actor|Frank Thornton (Savoyard)|the cricketer|Frank Thornton (cricketer)}}
 
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2016}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2016}}
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| caption      = Thornton as [[Captain Peacock]] in ''[[Are You Being Served?]]''
| caption      = Thornton as [[Captain Peacock]] in ''[[Are You Being Served?]]''
| birth_date  = {{Birth date|1921|1|15|df=yes}}
| birth_date  = {{Birth date|1921|1|15|df=yes}}
| birth_place  = [[Dulwich]], [[London]], England
| birth_place  = [[w:Dulwich|Dulwich]], [[w:London]], England
| death_date  = {{death date and age|2013|3|16|1921|1|15|df=yes}}
| death_date  = {{death date and age|2013|3|16|1921|1|15|df=yes}}
| death_place  = [[Barnes, London|Barnes]], London, England
| death_place  = [[w:Barnes, London|Barnes]], London, England
| years_active = 1950–2013
| years_active = 1950–2013
| spouse      = {{marriage|Beryl Evans|1945}}   
| spouse      = {{marriage|Beryl Evans|1945}}   
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| branch        = {{air force|United Kingdom}}
| branch        = {{air force|United Kingdom}}
| serviceyears  =  
| serviceyears  =  
| rank          = [[Flying officer]]
| rank          = [[w:Flying officer|Flying officer]]
| battles      = [[World War II|Second World War]]  
| battles      = [[w:World War II|Second World War]]  
| awards        =
| awards        =
}}}}
}}}}
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==Early life==
==Early life==
Frank Thornton Ball was born in [[Dulwich]], [[London]], the son of Rosina Mary ([[married and maiden names|née]] Thornton) and William Ernest Ball.<ref name="filmref">{{cite web|title=Frank Thornton profile at FilmReference.com|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/41/Frank-Thornton.html|publisher=FilmReference.com|access-date=27 January 2012}}</ref> His father was an organist at St Stephen's Church, Sydenham Hill,<ref>St. Stephen Parish Magazine, Dulwich, London</ref> where Frank learned to play the organ for a short while. Music proved too difficult for him, however, and he wanted to act from an early age. His father, who worked in a bank, wanted him to get a "proper" job, so he began working in [[insurance]] after leaving [[Alleyn's School]].<ref name="I'm Free!">{{cite book|title=I'm Free! – The Complete Are You Being Served?| author=Richard Webber| publisher=Orion Books| year=1999| isbn=978-0-7528-1866-5}}</ref> He soon enrolled at a small acting school, the [[London School of Dramatic Art]], and took evening classes. After two years working at the insurance company, he was invited to become a day student at the acting school and persuaded his father to finance his studies.<ref name="I'm Free!"/>
Frank Thornton Ball was born in [[w:Dulwich|Dulwich]], [[w:London|London]], the son of Rosina Mary ([[w:married and maiden names|née]] Thornton) and William Ernest Ball.<ref name="filmref">{{cite web|title=Frank Thornton profile at FilmReference.com|url=http://www.filmreference.com/film/41/Frank-Thornton.html|publisher=FilmReference.com|access-date=27 January 2012}}</ref> His father was an organist at St Stephen's Church, Sydenham Hill,<ref>St. Stephen Parish Magazine, Dulwich, London</ref> where Frank learned to play the organ for a short while. Music proved too difficult for him, however, and he wanted to act from an early age. His father, who worked in a bank, wanted him to get a "proper" job, so he began working in [[w:insurance|insurance]] after leaving [[w:Alleyn's School|Alleyn's School]].<ref name="I'm Free!">{{cite book|title=I'm Free! – The Complete Are You Being Served?| author=Richard Webber| publisher=Orion Books| year=1999| isbn=978-0-7528-1866-5}}</ref> He soon enrolled at a small acting school, the [[w:London School of Dramatic Art|London School of Dramatic Art]], and took evening classes. After two years working at the insurance company, he was invited to become a day student at the acting school and persuaded his father to finance his studies.<ref name="I'm Free!"/>


During the [[Second World War]], Thornton was evacuated along with the drama school, and his first job was touring with four plays in [[Ireland]], beginning in [[County Tipperary]].<ref name="I'm Free!"/> After that he served as an [[airman]] in the [[Royal Air Force]] before ending the war as an officer. From the rank of [[leading aircraftman]] he was [[commissioned officer|commissioned]] as a [[pilot officer]] on probation (emergency) on 1 December 1944.<ref name="LG 16 February 1945">{{London Gazette|issue=36945|date=16 February 1945|pages=984–987 |supp=y }}</ref> On 1 June 1945 his commission was confirmed and he was promoted to [[flying officer]] ([[Military rank#Types|war substantive]]).<ref name="LG 3 July 1945">{{London Gazette|issue=37164|date=3 July 1945|pages=3506–3507 |supp=y }}</ref> He was demobilised in 1947.<ref name="I'm Free!"/>
During the [[w:Second World War|Second World War]], Thornton was evacuated along with the drama school, and his first job was touring with four plays in [[w:Ireland|Ireland]], beginning in [[w:County Tipperary|County Tipperary]].<ref name="I'm Free!"/> After that he served as an [[w:airman|airman]] in the [[w:Royal Air Force|Royal Air Force]] before ending the war as an officer. From the rank of [[w:leading aircraftman|leading aircraftman]] he was [[w:commissioned officer|commissioned]] as a [[w:pilot officer|pilot officer]] on probation (emergency) on 1 December 1944.<ref name="LG 16 February 1945">{{London Gazette|issue=36945|date=16 February 1945|pages=984–987 |supp=y }}</ref> On 1 June 1945 his commission was confirmed and he was promoted to [[w:flying officer|flying officer]] ([[w:Military rank#Types|war substantive]]).<ref name="LG 3 July 1945">{{London Gazette|issue=37164|date=3 July 1945|pages=3506–3507 |supp=y }}</ref> He was demobilised in 1947.<ref name="I'm Free!"/>


==Marriage==
==Marriage==
On 5 June 1945, Thornton married actress Beryl Evans in [[West Wickham]]. The couple had a daughter, Jane.
On 5 June 1945, Thornton married actress Beryl Evans in [[w:West Wickham|West Wickham]]. The couple had a daughter, Jane.


==Career==
==Career==
Almost immediately after demobilisation, Thornton joined a [[Repertory|repertory company]]. He appeared in the farce ''[[The Party Spirit]]'' in the [[West End theatre|West End]] alongside [[Robertson Hare]] and [[Ralph Lynn]]. His first credited screen role was in the film ''[[Radio Cab Murder]]'' (1954). After working on stage and in  a few films during the 1950s, he became a familiar face on British television, specialising in comedy but initially starred in the TV series ''[[The Adventures of William Tell|William Tell]]'' as Heinburgher in episode 23, "The Surgeon". He was a regular on ''[[It's a Square World]]'', and appeared in [[British sitcom]]s such as ''[[Hancock's Half Hour|Hancock]]'' ("[[The Blood Donor]]", 1961), ''[[Steptoe and Son]]'', ''[[Sykes (TV series)|Sykes]]'', ''[[The Goodies]]'' and ''[[Love Thy Neighbour (1972 TV series)|Love Thy Neighbour]]''. He appeared in the ''[[Danger Man]]'' episode "The Assassin" as Pepe in 1961, and as a tailor in ''[[The Sentimental Agent]]'' episode 'Scroll of Islam' (1963). He worked with [[Dick Emery]], [[Benny Hill]], [[Frankie Howerd]], [[Harry Worth]], [[Reg Varney]] and [[Spike Milligan]] in their comedy shows and appeared in five episodes of ''[[Steptoe and Son]]'' during its first run from 1962 to 1965, and appeared in the film ''[[Steptoe and Son Ride Again]]'' (1973) and the 1973 television Christmas special, 'The Party'.
Almost immediately after demobilisation, Thornton joined a [[w:Repertory|repertory company]]. He appeared in the farce ''[[w:The Party Spirit|The Party Spirit]]'' in the [[w:West End theatre|West End]] alongside [[Robertson Hare]] and [[Ralph Lynn]]. His first credited screen role was in the film ''[[w:Radio Cab Murder|Radio Cab Murder]]'' (1954). After working on stage and in  a few films during the 1950s, he became a familiar face on British television, specialising in comedy but initially starred in the TV series ''[[w:The Adventures of William Tell|William Tell]]'' as Heinburgher in episode 23, "The Surgeon". He was a regular on ''[[w:It's a Square World|It's a Square World]]'', and appeared in [[w:British sitcom|British sitcom]]s such as ''[[Hancock's Half Hour|Hancock]]'' ("[[The Blood Donor]]", 1961), ''[[Steptoe and Son]]'', ''[[Sykes (TV series)|Sykes]]'', ''[[The Goodies]]'' and ''[[Love Thy Neighbour (1972 TV series)|Love Thy Neighbour]]''. He appeared in the ''[[Danger Man]]'' episode "The Assassin" as Pepe in 1961, and as a tailor in ''[[The Sentimental Agent]]'' episode 'Scroll of Islam' (1963). He worked with [[Dick Emery]], [[Benny Hill]], [[Frankie Howerd]], [[Harry Worth]], [[Reg Varney]] and [[Spike Milligan]] in their comedy shows and appeared in five episodes of ''[[Steptoe and Son]]'' during its first run from 1962 to 1965, and appeared in the film ''[[Steptoe and Son Ride Again]]'' (1973) and the 1973 television Christmas special, 'The Party'.


From 1966 to 1968, he starred in the BBC radio comedy ''[[The Embassy Lark]]'', a spin-off of ''[[The Navy Lark]]''. He appeared in at least one episode of ''[[The Navy Lark]]'' as CPO Nathanial Pertwee, filling in for [[Jon Pertwee]] who was indisposed. He also appeared in at least one episode of ''[[The Navy Lark]]'' as his character from ''[[The Embassy Lark]]''. In 1969, he starred in ''[[The Big Business Lark]]'' which ran for one season of thirteen episodes. This was not strictly a spin-off from ''[[The Navy Lark]]'', other than being another "Lark" written by [[Lawrie Wyman]].  He continued to appear in films, mostly comedies, during the 1960s and 1970s, including ''[[Carry On Screaming!]]'', alongside ''Steptoe and Son'' star [[Harry H. Corbett]], ''[[The Early Bird]]'', ''[[The Big Job (film)|The Big Job]]'', ''[[The Bed Sitting Room (film)|The Bed Sitting Room]]'', ''[[Up the Chastity Belt]]'', ''[[Some Will, Some Won't]]'', ''[[A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum]]'' and ''[[No Sex Please, We're British]]'', as well as television sitcom spin-offs. He appeared in ''[[The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes]]'' (1970) as the one-armed doorman for the [[Diogenes Club]]. In 1974, he made a rare dramatic appearance as [[Albert, Prince Consort|Prince Albert]] in the second episode of ''[[Fall of Eagles]]''. {{Citation needed|date=August 2013}}
From 1966 to 1968, he starred in the BBC radio comedy ''[[The Embassy Lark]]'', a spin-off of ''[[The Navy Lark]]''. He appeared in at least one episode of ''[[The Navy Lark]]'' as CPO Nathanial Pertwee, filling in for [[Jon Pertwee]] who was indisposed. He also appeared in at least one episode of ''[[The Navy Lark]]'' as his character from ''[[The Embassy Lark]]''. In 1969, he starred in ''[[The Big Business Lark]]'' which ran for one season of thirteen episodes. This was not strictly a spin-off from ''[[The Navy Lark]]'', other than being another "Lark" written by [[Lawrie Wyman]].  He continued to appear in films, mostly comedies, during the 1960s and 1970s, including ''[[Carry On Screaming!]]'', alongside ''Steptoe and Son'' star [[Harry H. Corbett]], ''[[The Early Bird]]'', ''[[The Big Job (film)|The Big Job]]'', ''[[The Bed Sitting Room (film)|The Bed Sitting Room]]'', ''[[Up the Chastity Belt]]'', ''[[Some Will, Some Won't]]'', ''[[A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum]]'' and ''[[No Sex Please, We're British]]'', as well as television sitcom spin-offs. He appeared in ''[[The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes]]'' (1970) as the one-armed doorman for the [[Diogenes Club]]. In 1974, he made a rare dramatic appearance as [[Albert, Prince Consort|Prince Albert]] in the second episode of ''[[Fall of Eagles]]''. {{Citation needed|date=August 2013}}

Revision as of 20:54, 17 August 2022

Frank Thornton
Frank Thornton.jpg
Thornton as Captain Peacock in Are You Being Served?
Born
Frank Thornton Ball

(1921-01-15)15 January 1921
Dulwich, w:London, England
Died16 March 2013(2013-03-16) (aged 92)
Barnes, London, England
OccupationActor
Years active1950–2013
Spouse
Beryl Evans
​
(m. 1945)​
Children1
Military career
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch Royal Air Force
RankFlying officer
Battles/warsSecond World War

Frank Thornton Ball (15 January 1921 – 16 March 2013), professionally known as Frank Thornton, was an English actor. He was known for playing Captain Peacock in Are You Being Served? and its sequel Grace & Favour (Are You Being Served? Again!) and as Herbert "Truly" Truelove in Last of the Summer Wine.

Early life

Frank Thornton Ball was born in Dulwich, London, the son of Rosina Mary (née Thornton) and William Ernest Ball.[1] His father was an organist at St Stephen's Church, Sydenham Hill,[2] where Frank learned to play the organ for a short while. Music proved too difficult for him, however, and he wanted to act from an early age. His father, who worked in a bank, wanted him to get a "proper" job, so he began working in insurance after leaving Alleyn's School.[3] He soon enrolled at a small acting school, the London School of Dramatic Art, and took evening classes. After two years working at the insurance company, he was invited to become a day student at the acting school and persuaded his father to finance his studies.[3]

During the Second World War, Thornton was evacuated along with the drama school, and his first job was touring with four plays in Ireland, beginning in County Tipperary.[3] After that he served as an airman in the Royal Air Force before ending the war as an officer. From the rank of leading aircraftman he was commissioned as a pilot officer on probation (emergency) on 1 December 1944.[4] On 1 June 1945 his commission was confirmed and he was promoted to flying officer (war substantive).[5] He was demobilised in 1947.[3]

Marriage

On 5 June 1945, Thornton married actress Beryl Evans in West Wickham. The couple had a daughter, Jane.

Career

Almost immediately after demobilisation, Thornton joined a repertory company. He appeared in the farce The Party Spirit in the West End alongside Robertson Hare and Ralph Lynn. His first credited screen role was in the film Radio Cab Murder (1954). After working on stage and in a few films during the 1950s, he became a familiar face on British television, specialising in comedy but initially starred in the TV series William Tell as Heinburgher in episode 23, "The Surgeon". He was a regular on It's a Square World, and appeared in British sitcoms such as Hancock ("The Blood Donor", 1961), Steptoe and Son, Sykes, The Goodies and Love Thy Neighbour. He appeared in the Danger Man episode "The Assassin" as Pepe in 1961, and as a tailor in The Sentimental Agent episode 'Scroll of Islam' (1963). He worked with Dick Emery, Benny Hill, Frankie Howerd, Harry Worth, Reg Varney and Spike Milligan in their comedy shows and appeared in five episodes of Steptoe and Son during its first run from 1962 to 1965, and appeared in the film Steptoe and Son Ride Again (1973) and the 1973 television Christmas special, 'The Party'.

From 1966 to 1968, he starred in the BBC radio comedy The Embassy Lark, a spin-off of The Navy Lark. He appeared in at least one episode of The Navy Lark as CPO Nathanial Pertwee, filling in for Jon Pertwee who was indisposed. He also appeared in at least one episode of The Navy Lark as his character from The Embassy Lark. In 1969, he starred in The Big Business Lark which ran for one season of thirteen episodes. This was not strictly a spin-off from The Navy Lark, other than being another "Lark" written by Lawrie Wyman. He continued to appear in films, mostly comedies, during the 1960s and 1970s, including Carry On Screaming!, alongside Steptoe and Son star Harry H. Corbett, The Early Bird, The Big Job, The Bed Sitting Room, Up the Chastity Belt, Some Will, Some Won't, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and No Sex Please, We're British, as well as television sitcom spin-offs. He appeared in The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970) as the one-armed doorman for the Diogenes Club. In 1974, he made a rare dramatic appearance as Prince Albert in the second episode of Fall of Eagles.[citation needed]

Thornton was best known for playing Captain Peacock in the long-running BBC comedy series Are You Being Served? from 1972 to 1985. He reprised his role for Grace & 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. He also guest-starred in an episode of the BBC Radio series of Dad's Army entitled "Ten Seconds from Now" as the BBC producer Willoughby Maxwell-Troughton, who has to coordinate the chaotic platoon as it tries to broadcast to the nation in a morale-boosting Gang Show-style extravaganza.[6] In 1980 he joined John Cleese in the BBC Television Shakespeare production of The Taming of the Shrew.

In the 1990s, he appeared as The Major-General (Stanley) in a production of The Pirates Of Penzance at the London Palladium which starred Paul Nicholas as the Pirate King and Bonnie Langford.

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. Thornton was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1998, when he was surprised by Michael Aspel at Pinewood Studios.[7]

Death

Thornton died from natural causes peacefully in his sleep at his home in Barnes, London, on 16 March 2013, aged 92.[8]

Selected filmography

References

  1. ^ "Frank Thornton profile at FilmReference.com". FilmReference.com. Retrieved 27 January 2012.
  2. ^ St. Stephen Parish Magazine, Dulwich, London
  3. ^ a b c d Richard Webber (1999). I'm Free! – The Complete Are You Being Served?. Orion Books. ISBN 978-0-7528-1866-5.
  4. ^ "No. 36945". w:The London Gazette (Supplement). 16 February 1945. pp. 984–987.
  5. ^ "No. 37164". w:The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 July 1945. pp. 3506–3507.
  6. ^ "The A to Z of Dad's Army" Webber,R (Ed): London, Orion, 2000 ISBN 0-7528-1838-4 p174
  7. ^ "This Is Your Life" Frank Thornton (TV Episode 1998) - IMDb, retrieved 21 November 2021
  8. ^ "Are You Being Served? actor Frank Thornton dies aged 92". BBC News. 18 March 2013. Retrieved 18 March 2013.

External links

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