Frank Thornton (born Frank Thornton Ball on 15 January 1921) is an English actor who is best known for playing Captain Peacock in Are You Being Served? and its sequel Grace & Favour and as Truly in Last of the Summer Wine.
Thornton was born in Dulwich, London, the son of Rosina Mary (née Thornton) and William Ernest Ball. He wanted to act from an early age, but his father, who worked in a bank, wanted him to get a 'proper' job and so he got a job working in insurance after leaving Alleyn's School. He soon enrolled at a small acting school, the London School of Dramatic Art, and did evening classes. After two years working at the insurance company, Frank Thornton 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. On 5 June 1945, he married actress Beryl Evans in West Wickham, London and they had one child. He did his National Service as an officer in the Royal Air Force and was demobilized in 1947. Almost immediately after, Thornton joined a rep company. His first credited role was in the 1954 film Radio Cab Murder.
After a few appearances in British films during the 1950s, Thornton became a familiar face on British television, specialising in comedy. He was a regular on It's a Square World, and appeared in classic British sitcoms such as Hancock, Sykes and Till Death Us Do Part. He also appeared alongside Benny Hill and Frankie Howerd in their regular shows. He appeared as various characters in several Steptoe & Son episodes throughout its eight series run, including the second feature length film and 1974 Christmas Special.
The best-known of all Thornton's comedy roles was as Captain Peacock on the long-running BBC series Are You Being Served? from 1972 to 1985, and he later reprised his role for Grace and Favour from 1992-1993. 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 Gosford Park (2001) as Mr. Burkett.
He was a guest star in two of the episodes of the British television comedy series The Goodies, and his straight roles include that of Prince Albert in the drama series Fall of Eagles.
Apart from his comedy role in Grace & Favour he is most notable for small guest parts, such as in The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes and Love Thy Neighbour.
