Career
After working on stage and in 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, The Goodies and Love Thy Neighbour. He also appeared in the Danger Man episode "The Assassin" as Pepe in 1961.
He appeared alongside Benny Hill, Frankie Howerd, Harry Worth, Reg Varney and Spike Milligan in their comedy shows. He appeared in five episodes of Steptoe and Son during its original run from 1962 to 1965, and in 1973 appeared in the film Steptoe and Son Ride Again and that year's television Christmas special, the most recurring actor in the series other than the main stars Wilfrid Brambell and Harry H. Corbett. In 1974 he made a rare appearance in television drama, as Prince Albert in the second episode of Fall of Eagles. From 1966-68, he starred in the BBC radio comedy The Embassy Lark, a spin-off of The Navy Lark.
He continued to appear in films, mostly comedies, during the 1960s and 1970s, including Carry On Screaming!, alongside Steptoe and Son star Harry H. Corbett The Early Bird, The Bed Sitting Room, Up the Chastity Belt, Some Will, Some Won't alongside Thora Hird, Wilfrid Brambell and Ronnie Corbett and No Sex Please, We're British, as well as TV sitcom spin-off films. He also appeared, albeit uncredited in the 1970 film The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes as the one-armed doorman for the Diogenes Club. He was the most recurring guest star in the series Steptoe and Son.
Thornton is best known for playing Captain Peacock in the long-running BBC comedy series Are You Being Served? from 1972–85, and he later reprised his role for Grace & Favour from 1992-93. In 1984 he starred as Sir John Treymane in the hit London musical Me and My Girl earning rave reviews and an Olivier Award nomination.
In 1980, he joined John Cleese in the BBC Television Shakespeare production of The Taming of the Shrew. 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 the film Gosford Park (2001) as Mr. Burkett.
Frank was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1998 when he was surprised by Michael Aspel at Pinewood Studios.
Following the death of Trevor Bannister on 14 April 2011, Thornton is one of the two last surviving members (the other being Nicholas Smith) of the original cast of Are You Being Served?.
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