1. Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
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Frank Thornton Biography (1921-)

Born Frank Ball, January 15, 1921, in London, England; son of William Ernestand Rosina Mary (Thornton) Ball; married Beryl Jane Margaret Evans. Addresses: MANAGER--David Daly Personal Management, 68 Old Brompton Road, London SW7 3LQ, England.

Nationality

English

Gender

Male

Birth Details

January 15, 1921

London, England

Famous Works

• Credits; STAGE APPEARANCES
• STAGE DEBUT--Brian Curtis, French Without Tears, Confraternity Hall, Thurles, Ireland, 1940.
• Fenton and Bardolph, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Donald Wolfit's Company,Strand Theatre, London, 1941.
• Lysander, A Midsummer Night's Dream and Laertes, Hamlet, both Strand Theatre, 1941-42.
• Mosca, Volpone, Donald Wolfit's Company, St. James's Theatre, London, 1942.
• Angus and Scottish lord, Macbeth, Piccadilly Theatre, London, 1942.
• Corporal Jones, Flare Path, Apollo Theatre, London, 1942.
• Gregory Throstle (understudy), One Wild Oat, Garrick Theatre, London, 1949.
• Mouche, The Empty Chair, Playhouse Theatre, Oxford, U.K., 1956.
• Dom Joao de Castro, The Hidden King, Edinburgh Festival, Edinburgh, Scotland, 1957.
• Bishop Zog, The Golden Touch, Piccadilly Theatre, 1960.
• ensemble, Don't Shoot, We're English (revue), Cambridge Theatre, London,1960.
• Caliph, Hassan, Dublin Festival, Dublin, Ireland, 1960.
• Ludovico Nota, Naked, Playhouse Theatre, 1960.
• Edward, Meals on Wheels, Royal Court Theatre, London, 1965.
• Empton QC, Alibi for a Judge, Savoy Theatre, London, 1966.
• Minnit and Procurio, The Young Visitors, Piccadilly Theatre, 1968.
• Charlie Dyer, Staircase, Richmond Theatre, London, 1969. Councillor Parker, When We Are Married, Strand Theatre, 1970.
• Eeyore, Winnie the Pooh, Phoenix Theatre, London, 1971, then 1972.
• Commander Rogers, French Without Tears, Lyceum Theatre, Edinburgh, 1974.
• Sir Andrew Aguecheek, Twelfth Night and Duncan, Macbeth, both Royal Shakespeare Company, Stratford-on-Avon, U.K., 1974, then Aldwych Theatre, London,1975.
• Sir Patrick Cullen, The Doctor's Dilemma, Mermaid Theatre, London, 1975.
• actor #1, Play By Play, King's Head Theatre, London, 1975.
• Captain Peacock, Are You Being Served?, Winter Gardens Theatre, Blackpool, U.K., 1976.
• Sir Justin Holbrook, Shut Your Eyes and Think of England, Apollo Theatre,1977.
• Ernest, Bedroom Farce, Theatre Royal, Windsor, U.K., 1979.
• George, Jumpers, Thorndike Theatre, Leatherhead, U.K., 1979.
• Dr. Sloper, The Heiress, Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford, U.K., 1981.
• Malvolio, Twelfth Night, Watermill Theatre, Newbury, U.K., 1981.
• Sir Joseph Porter, H.M.S. Pinafore, Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, 1982.
• Sir John Tremayne, Me and My Girl, Haymarket Theatre, Leicester, U.K., 1984, then Adelphi Theatre, London, 1985-86.
• John of Gaunt, Richard II, Ludlow Festival, Ludlow, U.K., 1987.
• Major General Stanley, The Pirates of Penzance, Theatre Royal, Plymouth,U.K., 1987.
• title role, The Cabinet Minister, Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, U.K., 1987.
• the Privy Counsellor, The Tutor, Old Vic Theatre, London, 1988.
• General Charles De Gaulle and various roles, Winnie, Opera House, Manchester, then Victoria Palace Theatre, London, both 1988.
• Captain Hook, Peter Pan, Connaught Theatre, Worthing, U.K., 1988.
• Count Shabyelsky, Ivanov and Leonato, Much Ado About Nothing, both StrandTheatre, 1989.
• Also appeared in Five Players in Four Plays, Aldeburgh Festival, Aldeburgh, U.K., 1962; Dr. Wicksteed, Habeas Corpus, Perth, Australia, 1983; Barney Cashman, Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Mill-at- Sonning, 1983.
• Credits; MAJOR TOURS
• Dewhurst, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Donald Wolfit's Company, U.K.
• cities, 1941.
• Franzel, The Dancing Years, U.K. cities, 1947-48.
• Gregory Throstle, One Wild Oat, U.K. cities, 1950.
• Philip, The Little Hut, U.K. cities, 1965.
• Roger, Roger's Last Stand, U.K. cities, 1977.
• Sir Justin Holbrook, Shut Your Eyes and Think of England, U.K.
• cities, 1977.
• Dr. Wicksteed, Habeas Corpus, Australian cities, 1980-81.
• Detective Inspector Hubbard, Dial "M" for Murder, U.K. cities, 1982.
• Credits; FILM APPEARANCES
• Manservant, Gambling Lady, Warner Brothers, 1934.
• guard, The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo, Twentieth Century- Fox,1935.
• television director, Ring-a-Ding Rhythm (also known as It's Trad, Dad!),Columbia, 1962.
• barman, The Tell-Tale Heart (also known as The Hidden Room of 1,000 Murders), Brigadier-Union, 1962.
• photographer, Trial and Error (also known as The Dock Brief), Metro- Goldwyn-Mayer, 1962.
• doctor, The Early Bird, Rank, 1965.
• Mr. A&R, Gonks Go Beat, Anglo-Amalgamated, 1965.
• Peperel, The Tomb of Ligeia (also known as Tomb of the Cat), American International, 1965.
• Mr. Jones, Carry On Screaming, Warner Brothers/Pathe, 1966.
• radio announcer, The Murder Game, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1966.
• manager, The Wild Affair, Goldstone, 1966.
• valuation officer, Alf 'n' Family (also known as Till Death Do Us Part),Sherpix, 1968.
• Charles, A Flea in Her Ear, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1968.
• registrar, 30 Is a Dangerous Age, Cynthia, Columbia, 1968.
• BBC man, The Bed Sitting Room, United Artists, 1969.
• Police inspector, The Magic Christian, Commonwealth, 1970.
• porter, The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes, United Artists, 1970.
• Stoddart, The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer, Warner Brothers, 1970.
• Mr. Driver, All the Way Up, Anglo-Amalgamated, 1970.
• Cyril, Sophie's Place (also known as Crooks and Coronets), Warner Brothers/Seven Arts, 1970.
• estate agent, Digby, the Biggest Dog in the World, Cinerama, 1974.
• King, Old Dracula (also known as Vampira and Old Drac), American International, 1975.
• Inspector Crumb, Side By Side, GTO, 1975.
• Dr. Johnson, Spanish Fly, EMI, 1975.
• Whitlow, The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones, Universal, 1976.
• Also appeared in Cracked Nuts, RKO, 1931; Secret of the Chateau, Universal, 1935; Radio Cab Murder, Eros, 1954; Stock Car, Butchers Film Service, 1955; Johnny, You're Wanted, Anglo-Amalgamated, 1956; Operation Conspiracy (alsoknown as Cloak Without Dagger), Republic, 1957; A Funny Thing Happened on theWay to the Forum, United Artists, 1966; The Assassination Bureau, Paramount,1969.
• Credits; TELEVISION APPEARANCES; SERIES
• Captain Peacock, Are You Being Served?, BBC, 1972-84, then PBS.
• MINI-SERIES Mr. Trabb, Great Expectations, HTV, then Disney Channel, 1989.
• Also appeared in The Taming of the Shrew and It's a Square World.