In The News

Comedy actor Frank Thornton passes away

Comedy actor Frank Thornton passes away

TRIBUTES have been paid to the comedy actor Frank Thornton who has passed away. He was 92.

Mr. Thornton had been a familiar face on British television since the 1960s, but for many fans he will always be associated with two major series: Are You Being Served? and Last Of The Summer Wine.

In Are You Being Served? (see below), which ran from 1972 until 1985, he played the rather pompous Captain Peacock who tried to keep control of department store sales assistants. His co-stars included John Inman, Molly Sugden, Trevor Bannister and Wendy Richard. At it height the show attracted audiences of more than 20 million.

He joined the cast of the long-running Last Of The Summer Wine (see below) in 1997 as the character ‘Truly of The Yard’ Truelove — a retired Metropolitan Police Officer — and remained in the very popular show until it ended in 2010.

His early work in television comedy had included appearances in Steptoe and Son and Hancock’s Half Hour. 

Among his film credits were Steptoe and Son Ride Again (1973), The Bawdy Adventures of Tom Jones (1976) and Gosford Park (2001).

Mr. Thornton had also enjoyed success in the theatre. He was nominated for an Olivier Award for his role as Sir John Tremayne in the West End musical Me & My Girl in 1984.

He was the subject of an edition of TV’s This Is Your Life in 1998 (see below)

Tributes have been led by Jeremy Lloyd, the co-creator of Are You Being Served? He said: “Frank was a great friend and consummate performer who was the glue who really held the show together.”

Mr. Thornton is survived by his wife of 67 years, Beryl, and his daughter Jane.

To view an excerpt from Are You Being Served?, click here.

To see an excerpt from Last Of The Summer Wine, click here.

To see a short interview in which Mr. Thornton spoke about his appearance on This Is Your Life, click here.

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