Frank Thring

Infobox actor
name = Frank Thring


caption = Thring in the Trailer of "King of Kings"
imagesize = 165px
birthname = Frank William Thring
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birthplace = Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
deathdate = Dda|1994|12|29|1926|5|11
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yearsactive =
spouse = Joan Cunliffe (divorced)
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Frank William Thring (11 May 1926 — 29 December 1994) was an Australian character actor.

Early life

Thring was born in Melbourne, Victoria and educated at Melbourne Grammar School. His father, Frank W. Thring, was the head of Eftee 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 circuit Hoyts.

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 an Alfred 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 the Royal Australian Air Force in 1945. He made his British theatrical debut performing as Herod in Oscar 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 the Royal Shakespeare Theatre production of "Titus Andronicus" with Laurence Olivier, Vivien Leigh and Anthony Quayle. He also played Captain Hook opposite Peggy Cummins' Peter Pan. Among his other acclaimed stage roles were George Bernard Shaw’s "Arms and the Man", Captain Ahab in Orson Welles’s "Moby-Dick", Falstaff in "Henry IV, Part 1", and Bertolt 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 the Victorian 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, 1994

External 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]