Early Life
Frank Thornton Ball (he would later drop his surname professionally) was born in Dulwich, London, the son of Rosina Mary (née Thornton) and William Ernest Ball. His father was organist at Stephen's church Dulwich (ref: St Stephen Parish Magazine) and Frank learned to play for a short while. Music proved too difficult for Frank. However 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 Jane Margaret Evans in West Wickham, London and they had a daughter, Jane. He served during World War II as an officer in the Royal Air Force and was demobilised in 1947. Almost immediately after, Thornton joined a rep company. His first credited role was in the 1954 film Radio Cab Murder.
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