Frank Williams (actor)
Encyclopedia
Frank Williams is an English actor.
Williams was educated at Ardingly College
. He starred in The Army Game
(as Captain Pocket) and as the Vicar (the Reverend Timothy Farthing) in Dad's Army
. In 1970, he starred in the short-lived sitcom As Good Cooks Go
. In 1972, at the height of his Dad's Army fame, he made a cameo appearance in Monty Python's Flying Circus
. He also had an occasional role as a Bishop in You Rang, M'Lord?
.
Williams also appeared in two episodes of All Gas and Gaiters
starring as one of the vicars choral in 1967 and 1971. Although not a real-life clergyman, Williams was for some years a lay member of the General Synod
of the Church of England
, until 2000.
Williams has also appeared in many films, among them three Norman Wisdom
films: The Square Peg
(1958), The Bulldog Breed
(1960), and A Stitch In Time
(1963)
His autobiography, Vicar to Dad's Army - the Frank Williams story was published in 2002. He has lived for many years in Edgware, Middlesex. Williams appeared on This Morning
on Thursday 31 July 2008, talking about Dad's Army with fellow cast members Ian Lavender
and Bill Pertwee
. He also appeared on BBC1 Jonathan Ross Salutes Dad's Army on Sunday August 3, 2008.
Williams was educated at Ardingly College
Ardingly College
Ardingly College is a selective independent co-educational boarding and day school, founded in 1858 by Canon Nathaniel Woodard, included in the Tatler list of top public schools. The college is located in the village of Ardingly near Haywards Heath, West Sussex, England, having moved to its present...
. He starred in The Army Game
The Army Game
The Army Game is a British sitcom that aired on ITV from 1957 to 1961. Made in black-and-white, it is about National Service conscription to the post-war British Army. It was created by Sid Colin...
(as Captain Pocket) and as the Vicar (the Reverend Timothy Farthing) in Dad's Army
Dad's Army
Dad's Army is a British sitcom about the Home Guard during the Second World War. It was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft and broadcast on BBC television between 1968 and 1977. The series ran for 9 series and 80 episodes in total, plus a radio series, a feature film and a stage show...
. In 1970, he starred in the short-lived sitcom As Good Cooks Go
As Good Cooks Go
As Good Cooks Go is a black-and-white British sitcom that aired on BBC1 from 1969 to 1970. It stars Tessie O'Shea and was written by John Warren and John Singer.-Cast:*Tessie O'Shea - Blodwen O'Reilly*Robert Dorning - Mr Bullock ...
. In 1972, at the height of his Dad's Army fame, he made a cameo appearance in Monty Python's Flying Circus
Monty Python's Flying Circus
Monty Python’s Flying Circus is a BBC TV sketch comedy series. The shows were composed of surreality, risqué or innuendo-laden humour, sight gags and observational sketches without punchlines...
. He also had an occasional role as a Bishop in You Rang, M'Lord?
You Rang, M'Lord?
You Rang M'Lord? is a British television series written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, the creators of Dad's Army, It Ain't Half Hot Mum and Hi-de-Hi! It was broadcast between 1990 and 1993 on the BBC...
.
Williams also appeared in two episodes of All Gas and Gaiters
All Gas and Gaiters
All Gas and Gaiters was a British television ecclesiastical sitcom which aired on BBC1 from 1966 to 1971. It was written by Pauline Devaney and Edwin Apps, a husband-and-wife team who used the pseudonym of "John Wraith" when writing the pilot...
starring as one of the vicars choral in 1967 and 1971. Although not a real-life clergyman, Williams was for some years a lay member of the General Synod
General Synod
-Church of England:In the Church of England, the General Synod, which was established in 1970 , is the legislative body of the Church.-Episcopal Church of the United States:...
of the Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
, until 2000.
Williams has also appeared in many films, among them three Norman Wisdom
Norman Wisdom
Sir Norman Joseph Wisdom, OBE was an English actor, comedian and singer-songwriter best known for a series of comedy films produced between 1953 and 1966 featuring his hapless onscreen character Norman Pitkin...
films: The Square Peg
The Square Peg
The Square Peg is a 1958 British comedy film starring Norman Wisdom and directed by John Paddy Carstairs. Norman Wisdom plays two different characters: a man who digs and repairs roads and a Nazi General.-Cast:...
(1958), The Bulldog Breed
The Bulldog Breed
The Bulldog Breed is a 1960 British comedy film starring Norman Wisdom and directed by Robert Asher.-Plot:Norman Puckle , a well-meaning but clumsy grocer's assistant, can't seem to do anything right. After being rejected by Marlene, the love of his life, he attempts suicide, but can't even do that...
(1960), and A Stitch In Time
A Stitch in Time (film)
A Stitch in Time is a 1963 Norman Wisdom comedy film set in a children's hospital. It was directed by Robert Asher and edited by Gerry Hambling. The cast includes Edward Chapman, Jeanette Sterke, Jerry Desmonde, Jill Melford, Glyn Houston, Vera Day, Patsy Rowlands, Peter Jones, Ernest Clark,...
(1963)
His autobiography, Vicar to Dad's Army - the Frank Williams story was published in 2002. He has lived for many years in Edgware, Middlesex. Williams appeared on This Morning
This Morning
This Morning may refer to:* This Morning , a British daytime television show* This Morning , a Canadian radio show* CBS This Morning and This Morning, former names of the American morning show The Early Show...
on Thursday 31 July 2008, talking about Dad's Army with fellow cast members Ian Lavender
Ian Lavender
Arthur Ian Lavender , better known as Ian Lavender, is an English stage, film and television actor, best known for his role as Private Frank Pike in the BBC comedy series Dad's Army.-Early life and career:...
and Bill Pertwee
Bill Pertwee
William Desmond Anthony Pertwee MBE is a British comedy actor. He is best known for playing the part of antagonist ARP Warden Hodges in the popular sitcom Dad's Army.-Early and personal life:...
. He also appeared on BBC1 Jonathan Ross Salutes Dad's Army on Sunday August 3, 2008.
Television roles
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1958–1961 | The Army Game The Army Game The Army Game is a British sitcom that aired on ITV from 1957 to 1961. Made in black-and-white, it is about National Service conscription to the post-war British Army. It was created by Sid Colin... |
Captain T R Pocket |
| 1969–1977 | Dad's Army Dad's Army Dad's Army is a British sitcom about the Home Guard during the Second World War. It was written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft and broadcast on BBC television between 1968 and 1977. The series ran for 9 series and 80 episodes in total, plus a radio series, a feature film and a stage show... |
Reverend Timothy Farthing |
| 1970 | As Good Cooks Go As Good Cooks Go As Good Cooks Go is a black-and-white British sitcom that aired on BBC1 from 1969 to 1970. It stars Tessie O'Shea and was written by John Warren and John Singer.-Cast:*Tessie O'Shea - Blodwen O'Reilly*Robert Dorning - Mr Bullock ... |
Mr Bullock |
| 1979 | You're Only Young Twice | Mr Horrace Maddox in 1 episode, 'Cissie's Last Chance' |
| 1990–1993 | You Rang, M'Lord? You Rang, M'Lord? You Rang M'Lord? is a British television series written by Jimmy Perry and David Croft, the creators of Dad's Army, It Ain't Half Hot Mum and Hi-de-Hi! It was broadcast between 1990 and 1993 on the BBC... |
Bishop Charles |