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Frank William Thring (11 May 1926 – 29 December 1994) was an Australian character actor. Thring was born in Melbourne and educated at the Melbourne Grammar School. His father, F. W. Thring, was the head of Efftee Studios, in Melbourne, in the 1920s, and is said to be 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. Frank said his earliest memory is of his mother – Olive Kreitmeyer – standing on a stepladder in the foyer of the Regent Theatre in Melbourne, and... MORE

Frank William Thring (11 May 1926 – 29 December 1994) was an Australian character actor. Thring was born in Melbourne and educated at the Melbourne Grammar School. His father, F. W. Thring, was the head of Efftee Studios, in Melbourne, in the 1920s, and is said to be 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. Frank said his earliest memory is of his mother – Olive Kreitmeyer – standing on a stepladder in the foyer of the Regent Theatre in Melbourne, and arranging gladioli in the vases attached to the pillars. His career spanned more than 35 years, much of it spent alternating between stage, film and television. Perhaps his most famous role was that of Pontius Pilate in Ben-Hur (1959). 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 LESS