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Frank Thring

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Template:Short description Template:For Template:For Template:Use Australian English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox person Francis William Thring IV (11 May 1926 – 29 December 1994) was an Australian character actor in radio, stage, television and film; as well as a theatre director. His early career started in London in theatre productions, before he starred in Hollywood film, where he became best known for roles in Ben-Hur in 1959 and King of Kings in 1961. He was known for always wearing black and styling his home in black decor.

Early lifeEdit

Thring was born in Melbourne. Although sometimes referred to as Frank Thring Jr. because of his well-known father, F. W. Thring, he was actually Francis William Thring (or William Francis Thring) IV. His forebears were Francis William Thring (1812–1887), Francis William Thring (known as William Thring) (1858–1920); William Frank Thring, known as Francis William Thring or F. W. Thring, (1882–1936).Template:Efn

Thring was the son of F. W. Thring and Olive (née Kreitmeyer), and was educated at the Melbourne Grammar School. His 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. He has been anachronistically claimed to have been the inventor of the clapperboard.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Thring Sr. was also a noted film producer (The Sentimental Bloke), and partner in the nationwide Australian theatre circuit Hoyts. Thring Sr. died in July 1936 at the age of 53, when Frank Jr. was 10 years old.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> His second wife (Frank Jr.'s mother) inherited all the businesses. Frank 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.

CareerEdit

His career spanned more than 45 years, much of it spent alternating between stage, film and television. Perhaps his most famous roles were that of Pontius Pilate in Ben-Hur (1959) and Herod Antipas in King of Kings (1961).<ref name="ABC_RN_Artworks_21Sep2008_Thring">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

RadioEdit

Thring's family operated Melbourne radio station 3XY, from the opening of the station in 1935. He commenced working at 3XY as both a thespian and radio announcer in 1941, as a young man of 15. His numerous jobs at the microphone included being Uncle Frankie in the children's session.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> When Thring Sr died in 1936 (see above), Thring Jr.'s mother inherited the businesses. However, Thring Jr. incorrectly told people that he owned 3XY.<ref name="ReferenceA"/>

StageEdit

He began acting in professional stage roles after his discharge from the Royal Australian Air Force in 1945. He was memorable as Herod in Irene Mitchell's production of Oscar Wilde's Salome at Melbourne's Arrow Theatre in 1951,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and made his British theatrical debut in the same part 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.<ref name=dawes>Template:Cite book</ref>

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.<ref name=dawes /> Another stage role was in the musical Robert and Elizabeth opposite June Bronhill and Denis Quilley.

Later in life he returned to the stage playing both butlers in the Melbourne Theatre Company's production of The Importance of Being Earnest in 1988. His final stage appearance was in Humorists Read the Humorists at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival in 1992.

FilmEdit

Thring first appeared on screen as a child in the 1932 Australian film The Sentimental Bloke, directed by his father F. W. Thring.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite book</ref> One of Thring's most well-known screen roles was as Pontius Pilate in Ben-Hur<ref name="NYT2">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> (1959). He also appeared as Al-Kadir, Emir of Valencia in El Cid<ref name=NYT2/> (1961). Thring was also awarded the Erik Kuttner Award for Acting (1965). In addition to these roles, Thring played a barrister in The Case of Mrs. Loring (1958), the usurping king Aella (Ælla of Northumbria) in The Vikings<ref name=NYT2/> (1958) and Herod Antipas in King of Kings<ref name="NYT">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> (1961). 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. He played numerous glowering bad guys in Hollywood epics of the 1950s and 1960s.<ref name="ABC_RN_Artworks_21Sep2008_Thring"/> Back in Australia, he starred opposite James Mason and a young Helen Mirren in Michael Powell's film Age of Consent<ref name=NYT/> (1969), and appeared in two biographical films about famous bushrangers: Ned Kelly<ref name=NYT/> (1970) and Mad Dog Morgan (1976). He played suave gangsters in Alvin Rides Again<ref name=NYT/> (1974) and The Man from Hong Kong<ref name=NYT/> (1975). In his later years, his screen roles included the devilish Collector in Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome<ref name=NYT/> (1985), and a comedic role as an Alfred Hitchcock-like film director in the horror movie spoof, Howling III<ref name=NYT/> (1987).

TelevisionEdit

Thring's television credits include the Australian miniseries Against the Wind and Bodyline. He was also 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.<ref name="australiantelevision">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He also acted in commercials, particularly one in which he would glare at the camera saying "You do have your television licence. Don't you?".<ref>Template:Cite AV mediaTemplate:CbignoreTemplate:Dead YouTube link</ref>

He had the lead roles in the 1959 ABC TV play Treason, and the 1962 ABC play Light Me a Lucifer.

Personal lifeEdit

Off-screen, Thring was known for his flamboyant, often waspish, persona.<ref name="Stephens">Template:Cite news</ref> 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 - the interior of his house was featured in an Australian TV program and the walls were also black.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> However, his acting career was interrupted by bouts of alcoholism and periods of ill health.Template:Cn

Thring was appointed 1982's King of the Melbourne Moomba Festival. A reviewer wrote of Thring, "this doyenne [sic] of film and theatre looked nothing short of majestic in his regal garb and riding on a thespian-inspired float".<ref>Craig Bellamy, Gordon Chisholm, Hilary Eriksen (17 February 2006). Moomba: A festival for the people.: pp.17–22; photo p. 21 Template:Webarchive</ref>

Thring was briefly married to actress Joan Cunliffe during the 1950s. The marriage ended in divorce. Cunliffe lived in London and was manager of both Rudolf Nureyev and Margot Fonteyn. Thring was flamboyantly gay,<ref>Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> but he wanted children and was greatly distressed when his marriage ended without issue.<ref name=Stephens />

On 29 December 1994, Thring died from esophageal 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.<ref>A Tribute to Frank, booklet published for the celebration of Thring's memory, Victorian Arts Centre Playhouse, 5 March 1995</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

FilmographyEdit

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Further readingEdit

  • The Dictionary of Performing Arts in Australia – Theatre . Film . Radio . Television – Volume 1 – Ann Atkinson, Linsay Knight, Margaret McPhee – Allen & Unwin Pty. Ltd., 1996.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
  • The Australian Film and Television Companion – compiled by Tony Harrison – Simon & Schuster Australia, 1994.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
  • The Two Frank Thrings – Peter Fitzpatrick – Monash University Publishing, 2012.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

NotesEdit

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ReferencesEdit

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External linksEdit

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