- Frank Thring
Infobox actor
name = Frank Thring
caption = Thring in the Trailer of "King of Kings "
imagesize = 165px
birthname = Frank William Thring
birthdate =
birthplace =Melbourne , Victoria,Australia
deathdate = Dda|1994|12|29|1926|5|11
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spouse = Joan Cunliffe (divorced)
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website =Frank William Thring (11 May 1926 — 29 December 1994) was an
Australia n characteractor .Early life
Thring was born in
Melbourne , Victoria and educated atMelbourne Grammar School . His father,Frank W. Thring , was the head ofEftee Studios in Melbourne in the 1920s, and is said to be the inventor of the clapboard. [ [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0861930/bio Frank Thring biography at IMDb] ] Thring sr. was also a noted film producer ("The Sentimental Bloke "), and partner in the nationwide Australian theatre circuitHoyts .Career
In a career spanning over 35 years, much of it spent alternating between stage, film and television, perhaps his most famous film role was that of
Pontius Pilate in "Ben-Hur" (1959). He also appeared as Al Kadir in "El Cid " (1961). Thring was also awarded the 'Erik Kuttner Award for Acting' (1965).In addition to these roles, Thring played
Herod Antipas in "King of Kings" (1961) and the usurping king Aella (Ælla of Northumbria ) in "The Vikings " (1958). One of his final screen roles was as the devilish Collector in "Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome " (1985); another was a comedic role as anAlfred Hitchcock -like film director in the horror movie spoof, "Howling III " (1987).Thring trained as an actor at Melbourne radio station
3XY and began acting in professional stage roles after his discharge from theRoyal Australian Air Force in 1945. He made his British theatrical debut performing as Herod inOscar Wilde 's play "Salome" in 1954. Two years later, he played Sir Lancelot Spratt in "Doctor in the House ", which ran for 240 performances at the Victoria Palace in London.citation |editor-last=Parsons |editor-first=Philip |first=Sally |last=Dawes |chapter=Frank Thring |title=Companion to Theatre in Australia |publisher=Currency Press |year=1995 |isbn=0868193577 ]He was
Saturninus in theRoyal Shakespeare Theatre production of "Titus Andronicus " withLaurence Olivier ,Vivien Leigh andAnthony Quayle . He also playedCaptain Hook oppositePeggy Cummins 'Peter Pan . Among his other acclaimed stage roles wereGeorge Bernard Shaw ’s "Arms and the Man ", Captain Ahab inOrson Welles ’s "Moby-Dick ",Falstaff in "Henry IV, Part 1 ", andBertolt Brecht ’s "Life of Galileo ".Thring's television credits include the Australian miniseries "Against the Wind" and "Bodyline". He was also the recurring villain Doctor Stark who immobilizes echidnas with a lethal drug in several episodes of "
Skippy the Bush Kangaroo ". He appeared in two biographical films about famous bushrangers: "Ned Kelly " (1970) and "Mad Dog Morgan " (1976). He played suave gangsters in "Alvin Purple Rides Again " (1974) and "The Man from Hong Kong " (1975).Personal life
Off-screen, Thring was known for his flamboyant, often waspish, persona. He 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. However, his acting career was interrupted by bouts of alcoholism and periods of ill health.
Thring was appointed 1982 "King of Moomba", "this doyenne [sic] of film and theatre looked nothing short of majestic in his regal garb and riding on a thespian-inspired float". [Craig Bellamy, Gordon Chisholm, Hilary Eriksen (17 Feb 2006). [http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/rsrc/PDFs/Moomba/History%20of%20Moomba.pdf "Moomba: A festival for the people.": pp.17-22; photo p. 21] ]
Although homosexual, Thring was briefly married to actress Joan Cunliffe during the 1950s; this ended in divorce. In 1994, he died from
cancer , aged 68. He was cremated and his ashes scattered off the coast of Queenscliff, Victoria. A celebration of his life was held at theVictorian Arts Centre , Melbourne, in 1995. [A Tribute to Frank, booklet published for the celebration of Thring’s memory, Victorian Arts Centre Playhouse,5 March 1995 ]Notes
References
* "The Dictionary of Performing Arts in Australia — Theatre . Film . Radio . Television — Volume 1" — Ann Atkinson, Linsay Knight, Margaret McPhee — Allen & Unwin Pty. Ltd., 1996
* "The Australian Film and Television Companion" — compiled by Tony Harrison — Simon & Schuster Australia, 1994External links
*imdb name|id=0861930
* [http://www.dougmacaulay.com/kingspud/sel_by_actor_index_2.php?actor_first=Frank&actor_last=Thring Doug Macaulay's Great Character Actors biography]
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