Frank Thring

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 life

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).

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. 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. 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.

Career Thring’s 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).

Radio 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. 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.

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. One of Thring's most well-known screen roles was as Pontius Pilate in Ben-Hur (1959). He also appeared as Al-Kadir, Emir of Valencia in El Cid (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. , and appeared in two biographical films about famous bushrangers: Ned Kelly 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?".

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

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 - the interior of his house was featured in an Australian TV program and the walls were also black. However, his acting career was interrupted by bouts of alcoholism and periods of ill health.

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".

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, but he wanted children and was greatly distressed when his marriage ended without issue.

Filmography The Vikings (1958) – Aella A Question of Adultery (1958) – Mr. Stanley The Flaming Sword (1958) – Gar Dick and the Duchess – "The Courtroom" (1958 TV series) – Wembler Treason (1959) – Karl Albrecht Ben Hur (1959) – Pontius Pilate This Is Television (1960) - as himself King of Kings (1961) – Herod Antipas El Cid (1961) – Al Kadir Light Me a Lucifer (1962, TV Movie) – The Devil Photo Finish (1965 TV movie) – Sam Kinsale Hey You! – "The Soup Kitchen" (1967 TV series) – Mr Goodly Australian Playhouse – "The Heat's On" (1967 TV series) – Mr Paisley Skippy the Bush Kangaroo – "Double Trouble"; "Trapped"; "Long Way Home" (1967 TV series) – Dr Stark Salome (1968) – Herod Age of Consent (1969) – Godfrey Delta – The Initiates (1969 TV series) – Dr Spencer The Link Men – "See Amsterdam and Die" (1970 TV series) – Bruce Crane Ned Kelly (1970) – Judge Barry The Man Who Shot the Albatross (1970 TV Movie) – Judge Atkins Alvin Rides Again (1974) – Fingers The Cherry Orchard (1974 TV movie) The Man from Hong Kong (1975) – Willard Mad Dog Morgan (1976) – Superintendent Cobham Up The Convicts (1976 TV series) – Sgt Bastion The Importance of Keeping Perfectly Still (1977 short film) Against the Wind – "The Seeds of Fire"; "The Wild Goose" (1978 TV mini-series) – Magistrate Outbreak of Love (1981 TV mini-series) – Arthur Langton At Last... Bullamakanka: The Motion Picture (1983) – TV Producer Eureka Stockade (1984 TV mini-series) – Judge Bodyline – Episode 1.1 (1984 TV mini-series) – Lord Harris Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome (1985) – The Collector Death of a Soldier (1986) – Religious speaker The Steam-Driven Adventures of Riverboat Bill (1986) – voice Howling III (1987) – Jack Citron The Devil in Evening Dress (1987) – Host Mission: Impossible – "Bayou" (1989 TV series) – Jake Morgan Hercules Returns (1993) – Zeus (voice) (final film role)