1. Francis William Thring IV was an Australian character actor in radio, stage, television and film; as well as a theatre director.
27 Facts About Frank Thring
1. 2.
Frank Thring was known for always wearing black and styling his home in black decor.
3.
Frank Thring, he was actually Francis William Frank Thring IV.
4.
Frank Thring's father was the head of the theatrical firm J C Williamson's in the 1920s, and subsequently founded the theatre film production studio Efftee Studios in the 1930s, in Melbourne, Australia.
5.
Frank Thring has been anachronistically claimed to have been the inventor of the clapperboard.
6.
Frank Thring said his earliest memory is of his mother standing on a stepladder in the foyer of the Regent Theatre in Melbourne, and arranging gladioli in the vases attached to the pillars.
7.
Frank Thring's career spanned more than 45 years, much of it spent alternating between stage, film and television.
8.
Frank Thring's family operated Melbourne radio station 3XY, from the opening of the station in 1935.
9.
Frank Thring commenced working at 3XY as both a thespian and radio announcer in 1941, as a young man of 15.
10.
When Frank Thring Sr died in 1936, Frank Thring Jr.
11.
Frank Thring began acting in professional stage roles after his discharge from the Royal Australian Air Force in 1945.
12.
Frank Thring was memorable as Herod in Irene Mitchell's production of Oscar Wilde's Salome at Melbourne's Arrow Theatre in 1951, and made his British theatrical debut in the same part in 1954.
13.
Frank Thring was Saturninus in the Royal Shakespeare Theatre production of Titus Andronicus with Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh and Anthony Quayle.
14.
Frank Thring played Captain Hook opposite Peggy Cummins' Peter Pan.
15.
Frank Thring appeared as Al-Kadir, Emir of Valencia in El Cid.
16.
Frank Thring was awarded the Erik Kuttner Award for Acting.
17.
Frank Thring is the only actor to portray on film both of the historical figures directly responsible for authorizing the crucifixion of Christ according to the Gospels.
18.
Frank Thring played numerous glowering bad guys in Hollywood epics of the 1950s and 1960s.
19.
Frank Thring played suave gangsters in Alvin Rides Again and The Man from Hong Kong.
20.
Frank Thring was the recurring villain Doctor Stark who would use mischievous means in attempts to steal Skippy and other animals out of Waratah National Park in several episodes of Skippy the Bush Kangaroo.
21.
Frank Thring had the lead roles in the 1959 ABC TV play Treason, and the 1962 ABC play Light Me a Lucifer.
22.
Frank Thring was featured in numerous TV commercials and guest-starring roles on popular weekly series, variety programs and quiz shows, often dressed in black funereal attire and other sinister costumes - the interior of his house was featured in an Australian TV program and the walls were black.
23.
Frank Thring was appointed 1982's King of the Melbourne Moomba Festival.
24.
Frank Thring was briefly married to actress Joan Cunliffe during the 1950s.
25.
Frank Thring was flamboyantly gay, but he wanted children and was greatly distressed when his marriage ended without issue.
26.
On 29 December 1994, Frank Thring died from esophageal cancer, aged 68.
27.
Frank Thring was cremated and his ashes scattered off the coast of Queenscliff, Victoria.