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Frank Thornton
Frank Thornton Ball (15 January 1921 – 16 March 2013), professionally known as Frank Thornton, was an English actor. He was best known for playing Captain Peacock in the television sitcom Are You Being Served? and its sequel Grace & Favour (also titled Are You Being Served? Again!) and as Herbert "Truly" Truelove in television sitcom Last of the Summer Wine.
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. 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.
On 5 June 1945, Thornton married actress Beryl Evans in West Wickham. The couple had a daughter, Jane.
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 also appeared frequently in early 1960s series such as The Four Just Men and Gideon's Way.
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 episodes "The Assassin" as Pepe and "Find and Return" as an airport official 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 Nathaniel 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.
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Frank Thornton
Frank Thornton Ball (15 January 1921 – 16 March 2013), professionally known as Frank Thornton, was an English actor. He was best known for playing Captain Peacock in the television sitcom Are You Being Served? and its sequel Grace & Favour (also titled Are You Being Served? Again!) and as Herbert "Truly" Truelove in television sitcom Last of the Summer Wine.
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. 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.
On 5 June 1945, Thornton married actress Beryl Evans in West Wickham. The couple had a daughter, Jane.
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 also appeared frequently in early 1960s series such as The Four Just Men and Gideon's Way.
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 episodes "The Assassin" as Pepe and "Find and Return" as an airport official 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 Nathaniel 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.