24 Facts About Frank Carson

Hugh Francis Carson KSG was a Northern Irish comedian and actor from Belfast.

Frank Carson was best known for being a regular face on television for many years from the 1970s onwards, appearing in series such as The Comedians and Tiswas.

Frank Carson was a member of the entertainment charity the Grand Order of Water Rats.

Frank Carson was one of six children born to a working-class Catholic family from the inner-city Belfast locality known as the Half Bap.

Frank Carson worked as an electrician and later a plasterer in the building trade.

Frank Carson's family were of Italian descent, with his grandmother hailing from Sicily.

Frank Carson spent three years in the British Army's Parachute Regiment, mainly in the Middle East in the late 1940s.

Frank Carson himself was shot in the leg and on another occasion narrowly escaped death when a bomb went off outside a cinema.

Frank Carson assisted with the clear up after the King David Hotel bombing in Jerusalem and made 40 parachute descents.

Frank Carson became a popular performer on Irish television, before moving to England to work as a stand-up club comedian.

Frank Carson had success on the long-running television music-hall revival show, The Good Old Days.

Frank Carson then went on to win the peak-viewing national favourite talent show Opportunity Knocks, presented by Hughie Green, three times.

Frank Carson was one of the more prominent acts on The Comedians alongside the likes of Charlie Williams, Bernard Manning, Mike Reid and Jim Bowen.

Frank Carson was a regular on television for a number of years after The Comedians, whilst working as a stage entertainer and appearing before the Royal Family in shows.

In 1975, Frank Carson took the part of Paddy O'Brien, described as "an Irish Republican landlord and coalman", in The Melting Pot, a sitcom written by Spike Milligan and Neil Shand, which was cancelled by the BBC after just one episode had been broadcast.

Frank Carson was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1985 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at Heathrow Airport after the two had flown over together from Dublin.

Frank Carson began making acting appearances on television as well as in two cinema films in the 1990s.

Frank Carson was still working, making live appearances, in cabaret, pantomime and the summer season throughout the UK.

On 2 September 2009, aged 82, Frank Carson returned to the stage appearing at the North Pier Theatre midweek season run of The Comedians in Blackpool, where he lived.

Frank Carson died at his home in Blackpool on 22 February 2012, at the age of 85.

Frank Carson was survived by his wife, Ruth, whom he married on 21 January 1950, as well as his daughter, Majella, and his sons, Tony and Aidan, in addition to numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Frank Carson's funeral was held on 3 March 2012 at St Patrick's Church, Donegall Street, Belfast, where he had married his wife Ruth over 60 years earlier.

Frank Carson lived in Layton, Blackpool, where he attended Blackpool FC matches at Bloomfield Road.

Frank Carson was a director of Staffordshire football club Chasetown FC and in the 1970s and 1980s he was appointed a Director and Vice-President of Newport County football club in South Wales to raise the profile of the club.