Frank Thornton
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is about the televison actor. For the comic opera actor, see Frank Thornton (Savoyard).
| Frank Thornton | |
| Birth name | Frank Thornton Ball |
| Born | 15 January 1921 Dulwich, London, England |
| Notable roles | Captain Peacock in Are You Being Served? Herbet "Truly" Truelove in Last of the Summer Wine |
Frank Thornton (born Frank Thornton Ball on 15 January 1921) is an English actor who is best known for playing Captain Peacock in Are You Being Served? and Truly in Last of the Summer Wine.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
Frank Thornton Ball was born in Dulwich, London in 1921. 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 [1]. 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 Thonrton was invited to become a day student at the acting school and persuaded his father to finance his studies [1]. During the Second World War Thornton was evacuated along with the drama school and his first job was touring with four plays in Ireland [1]. On 5 June 1945, he married actress Beryl Evans in West Wickham, London and they had one child. He did his National Service in the Royal Air Force and was demobbed in 1947 [1]. Almost immediately after, Thornton joined a rep company. His first credited role was in the 1954 film Radio Cab Murder.
[edit] Career
Thornton is best known as Captain Peacock on the long-running BBC series Are You Being Served? from 1972 to 1985, and later reprised his role for Grace and Favour from 1992-1993. In 1998 he took the role of Herbert 'Truly' Truelove in Last of the Summer Wine. He can also be seen in Gosford Park (2001) as Mr. Burkett.
He was a guest star in two of the episodes of the British television comedy series The Goodies, and his other roles include that of Prince Albert in the drama series Fall of Eagles.
Apart from his comedy role in Grace & Favour he's most notable for small guest parts, such as in The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes and Love Thy Neighbour.
