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.
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,St. Stephen Parish Magazine, Dulwich, London 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.
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 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.
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!, 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."The A to Z of Dad's Army" Webber,R (Ed): London, Orion, 2000; p. 174
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.
Thornton also appeared in one of the BBC’s successful Saturday night shows Noel’s House Party as the long suffering neighbour or Noel Edmond’s. Appearing in 10 episodes between 1992-1994. His visits to Noel’s house in Crinkley bottom adding to the richness of this family entertainment hit.
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.
Death Thornton died from natural causes peacefully in his sleep at his home in Barnes, London, on 16 March 2013, aged 92.
Selected filmography +YearTitleRoleNotes1954Radio Cab MurderInspector Finch1955Stock Car DoctorPortrait of Alison Police Photographer1956Johnny, You're WantedCloak Without Dagger Mr. Markley1958Battle of the V-1British ScientistUncredited1960The Tell-Tale Heart Barman1961 The ImpersonatorPolice SergeantVictim GeorgeTarnished Heroes Trench Officer1961-1973Comedy PlayhouseVarious7 episodesArmchair Theatre4 episodes1962The Dock Brief Photographer at Fowle WeddingDoomsday at Eleven BBC Announcer1964The Wild Affair ManagerThe Comedy ManProducerUncreditedThe Tomb of Ligeia Peperel1965The Big Job Bank OfficialThe Early Bird Drunken DoctorThe Murder Game Radio AnnouncerGonks Go Beat Mr. A and R1966 Carry On Screaming! Mr. JonesA Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the ForumRoman Sentry #1196830 Is a Dangerous Age, Cynthia RegistrarThe Bliss of Mrs. BlossomFactory ManagerA Flea in Her Ear Charles Till Death Us Do Part Valuation Officer1969The Assassination Bureau Count Von KissenUncreditedCrooks and Coronets CyrilThe Bed Sitting Room The BBCThe Magic Christian Police InspectorUncredited1970Some Will, Some Won't PurvisThe Private Life of Sherlock Holmes PorterThe Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer Tom StoddartAll the Way Up Mr. Driver1971 Up the Chastity Belt Master of Ceremonies1972Bless This House Mr. JonesThat's Your Funeral Town ClerkOur Miss Fred British Colonel1973Steptoe and Son Ride Again Mr. RussellNo Sex Please, We're British Glass Shop ManagerDigby, the Biggest Dog in the World Estate AgentThe Three Musketeers Man in Small CarriageUncredited1974Keep It Up, Jack Mr. Clarke VampiraMr. King1975Side by SideInspector CrumbSpanish Fly Dr. Johnson1976The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones Whitlow1977Are You Being Served? Captain Peacock2001Gosford ParkMr. Burkett2012Run for Your WifeMan Getting Off Bus
Television +YearTitleRoleNotes1950Sunday Night TheatreSailorEpisode: "The Secret Sharer"1957Dixon of Dock GreenPC CoxEpisode: "The New Skipper"1958-1959The Adventures of William TellVarious3 episodes1959-1960The Four Just Men Various12 episodes1960-1963It's a Square WorldVarious1961Danger ManPepe/Police Captain2 episodesThe AvengersSir William BonnerEpisode: "Death on the Slipway"The Rag TradeMr. DavisEpisode: "Early Start"Citizen JamesMinistry Agent2 episodes1962-1964ITV Play of the WeekVarious4 episodes1962-1973Steptoe and SonVarious5 episodes1965Emergency Ward 10John Ross1966Coronation StreetDanny Roach1 episodeLucy in LondonPassport OfficialTV special1968The ChampionsClerkEpisode: "The Night People"1970The Morecambe & Wise Show Richards1 episodeThe Troubleshooters TV InterviewerEpisode: "Camelot on a Clear Day"Here Come the Double Deckers!Mr. ParsonsEpisode: "Robbie the Robot"1971-1977The GoodiesWaiter/Master of Ceremonies2 episodes1972Love Thy NeighbourBarmanEpisode: "Refused a Drink"SykesDr. TaplowEpisode: "Dream"1972-1985Are You Being Served?Captain Peacock1974Crown CourtProfessor McIverEpisode: "A Case of Murder Part 2"Fall of EaglesPrince AlbertEpisode: "The English Princess"1975Whodunnit?Gerald HarveyEpisode: "Nothing to Declare"1976The New AvengersRolandEpisode: "House of Cards"1978BBC Television ShakespeareGremioEpisode: The Taming of the Shrew1984-1987The Sooty ShowVarious3 episodes1989Great ExpectationsMr. Trabb2 episodesThe BFG Mr. TibbsTV film1992-1993Grace & FavourCaptain Peacock1997-2010Last of the Summer WineTrulySeasons 19-312001CasualtyEdward GutheridgeEpisode: "Heroes and Villains"2003Doctors Gerard MearsEpisode: "A Soldier's Lot"2004Holby CityDouglas ArcherEpisode: "We'll Meet Again"
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