Frank Thornton

**Frank Thornton Ball** (15 January 1921 – 16 March 2013), known as **Frank Thornton**, was an English actor. He was best known for playing Captain Peacock in *Are You Being Served?* and as Truly 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. His father was an organist at St Stephen's Church, Sydenham Hill, 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.

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. 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. On 1 June 1945 his commission was confirmed and he was promoted to flying officer (war substantive). He was demobilised in 1947.

## Career

Almost immediately after demobilisation, Thornton joined a repertory company. 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*. He was a regular on *It's a Square World*, and appeared in classic British sitcoms such as *Hancock* ("The Blood Donor", 1961), *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 appeared with Dick Emery, Benny Hill, Frankie Howerd, Harry Worth, Reg Varney and Spike Milligan in their comedy shows. He appeared in five episodes of *Steptoe and 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, the most recurring actor in the series aside from Wilfrid Brambell and Harry H. Corbett.

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 *Laurie 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*.

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. In 1980 he joined John Cleese in the BBC Television Shakespeare production of *The Taming of the Shrew*.

At some point 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.

## Personal life

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

## Death

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

## Filmography

*Alternate article: Frank Thornton Pictorial Filmography*

* *Radio Cab Murder* (1954) – Inspector Finch
* *Stock Car* (1955) - Doctor
* *Portrait of Alison* (1955) – Police Photographer
* *Johnny, You're Wanted* (1956)
* *Cloak Without Dagger* (1956) – Mr. Markley
* *Battle of the V-1* (1958) – British Scientist (uncredited)
* *The Tell-Tale Heart* (1960) – Barman (uncredited)
* *The Impersonator* (1961) – Police Sergeant (uncredited)
* *Victim* (1961) – George – Henry's Assistant (uncredited)
* *Tarnished Heroes* (1961) – Trench Officer
* *Trial and Error* (1962) – TV Director
* *The Dock Brief* (1962) – Photographer at Fowle Wedding
* *The Wild Affair* (1964) – Manager
* *The Comedy Man* (1964) – Producer (uncredited)
* *The Tomb of Ligeia* (1964) – Peperel
* *The Big Job* (1965) – Bank Official
* *The Early Bird* (1965) – Drunken Doctor
* *The Murder Game* (1965) – Radio Announcer
* *Gonks Go Beat* (1965) – Mr. A&R
* *Carry On Screaming!* (1966) – Mr. Jones
* *A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum* (1966) – Roman Sentry
* *Lucy in London* (1966)
* *30 Is a Dangerous Age, Cynthia* (1968) – Registrar
* *The Bliss of Mrs. Blossom* (1968) – Factory manager
* *A Flea in Her Ear* (1968) – Charles the Butler
* *Till Death Us Do Part* (1969) – Valuation Officer
* *The Assassination Bureau* (1969) – Elevator victim Count von Kissen (uncredited)
* *Crooks and Coronets* (1969) – Cyril
* *The Bed Sitting Room* (1969) – The BBC
* *The Magic Christian* (1969) – Police Inspector (uncredited)
* *Some Will, Some Won't* (1970) – Purvis
* *The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes* (1970) – Porter
* *The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer* (1970) – Tom Stoddart
* *All the Way Up* (1970) – Mr. Driver
* *Up the Chastity Belt* (1971) – Master of Ceremonies
* *Bless This House* (1972) – Mr Jones
* *That's Your Funeral* (1972) – Town Clerk
* *Our Miss Fred* (1972) – British Colonel
* *Steptoe and Son Ride Again* (1973) – Mr. Russell
* *No Sex Please, We're British* (1973) – Glass Shop Manager
* *Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World* (1973) – Estate Agent
* *The Three Musketeers* (1973) – Man in Small Carriage (uncredited)
* *Keep It Up, Jack* (1973) – Mr. Clarke
* *Vampira* (1974) – Mr. King
* *Side by Side* (1975) – Inspector Crumb
* *Spanish Fly* (1975) – Dr. Johnson
* *The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones* (1976) – Whitlow
* *Are You Being Served?* (1977) – Captain Peacock
* *The BFG* (1989) – Mr. Tibbs (voice)
* *Gosford Park* (2001) – Mr. Burkett
* *Back in Business* (2007) – Gardener
* *Run for Your Wife* (2013) – Man getting off bus