Frank Carson
Frank Carson KSG | |
---|---|
Birth name | Hugh Francis Carson |
Born | [1] Belfast, Northern Ireland | 6 November 1926
Died | 22 February 2012 Blackpool, Lancashire, England | (aged 85)
Medium | Television |
Genres | comedy |
Spouse |
Ruth Campbell (m. 1950) |
Notable works and roles | The Comedians |
Hugh Francis Carson KSG (6 November 1926 – 22 February 2012) was a Northern Irish comedian and actor from Belfast. He was best known for being a regular face on television for many years from the 1970s onwards, appearing in series such as The Comedians and Tiswas. His trademark line was "It's the way I tell them!". Carson was a member of the entertainment charity the Grand Order of Water Rats.[2]
Early life
Carson was one of six children born to a working-class Catholic family from the inner-city Belfast locality known as the Half Bap (now called Cathedral Quarter). He attended St Patrick's
Carson spent three years in the British Army's Parachute Regiment, mainly in the Middle East in the late 1940s. During his service he shot dead an armed terrorist.[7] He himself was shot in the leg and on another occasion narrowly escaped death when a bomb went off outside a cinema. The seven RAF men he was with were all killed.[7] He also assisted with the clear up after the King David Hotel bombing in Jerusalem and made 40 parachute descents.[8][9]
Television career
Carson became a popular performer on Irish television, before moving to England to work as a stand-up club comedian. He had success on the long-running television music-hall revival show,
In 1975, Carson took the part of Paddy O'Brien, described as "an Irish Republican landlord and coalman", in
He was the subject of This Is Your Life in 1985 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews at Heathrow Airport after the two had flown over together from Dublin.[11]
When he had
Later life and death
Carson was still working, making live appearances, in cabaret, pantomime and the summer season throughout the UK. He spent much of his time helping the needy which included raising £130,000 for the Royal Victoria Hospital Children's Cancer Ward in 1986. [citation needed]
A theft from Carson's dressing room in Blackpool in 1995
On 2 September 2009, aged 82, Carson returned to the stage appearing at the North Pier Theatre midweek season run of The Comedians in Blackpool, where he lived.[13] On 30 October 2009, he appeared at the Velvet Hall in Paphos, Cyprus.[14]
A routine hernia operation left Carson, who had a heart pacemaker, seriously ill and he underwent a knee replacement operation in July 2009.[13] Subsequent x-rays, 14 days after being discharged from hospital, showed that he had a previously undetected cracked rib, which may have been the cause of the hernia. In August 2011, Carson had an operation to remove a malignant tumour from his stomach.[citation needed]
Carson died at his home in Blackpool on 22 February 2012, at the age of 85. He was survived by his wife, Ruth (née Campbell, 1927–2015), whom he married on 21 January 1950, as well as his daughter, Majella, and his sons, Tony and Aidan, in addition to numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Personal life
Carson was a Roman Catholic.
Although he stayed out of Northern Irish politics, he openly supported
Carson lived in Layton, Blackpool,[18] where he attended Blackpool F.C. matches at Bloomfield Road.[19] He was a director of Staffordshire football club Chasetown F.C.[20] and in the 1970s and 1980s he was appointed a Director and Vice-President of Newport County football club in South Wales to raise the profile of the club.[21]
In 2009 Carson took part in the television show Cash in the Celebrity Attic to raise money for a local hospice, raising over £900 in the process.
Carson lived for many years in Balbriggan in the north of County Dublin, and served two terms as mayor of the town.[22]
Filmography
| Incomplete Television | Excluding Interviews
Year | Title | Role | Note(s) |
---|---|---|---|
1960's | Opportunity Knocks
|
Himself | Won 3 Times |
1974-77 | The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club | Himself | Variety TV Show |
1975-76 | The Melting Pot
|
Paddy O'Brien | 7 Episodes |
1979 | Mersey Pirate | 2 Episodes | |
1980 | Here Comes Channel 8 | TV Movie | |
1981 | The Ballyskillen Opera House | Frank O'Grady | |
1981 | Tiswas | Himself | 2 Episodes |
1982 | The Kenny Everett Television Show | Various | 2 Episodes |
1986 | Roland Rat: The Series | Hans Q. Krakenspiner | 1 Episode |
References
- ^ a b "Comic Frank Carson dies aged 85". BBC News. BBC. 23 February 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
- ^ "Frank Carson Obituary". The Telegraph. 23 February 2012. Archived from the original on 14 April 2012. Retrieved 20 July 2016.
- ^ "1939 BSD c complete 3". lennonwylie.co.uk.
- ^ Barker, Dennis (23 February 2012). "Frank Carson obituary". The Guardian. London.
- ^ Nikkhah, Roya (3 March 2012). "Comedian Frank Carson laid to rest in Belfast". The Daily Telegraph. London.
- ^ "Immigration and Emigration in Northern Ireland". BBC.co.uk. Retrieved 12 March 2008.
- ^ a b c Barker, Dennis (23 February 2012). "Frank Carson obituary". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
- Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 14 March 2009.
- ^ "Frank Carson obituary". The Times. 24 February 2012. p. 60.
- ISBN 0-86051-195-2.
- ^ "Frank Carson | This Is Your Life | 1985 Intro" – via www.youtube.com.
- ^ McNally, Kelby (17 January 2014). "Linda Nolan in tears after row with Jim Davidson over 'Frank Carson's dressing room' | Showbiz". Daily Express. Retrieved 4 May 2014.
- ^ a b "Frank ready to make 'em laugh". Blackpool Gazette. 2 September 2009. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
- ^ "Paphos People: The Big Night Out with Frank Carson". paphospeople.com. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
- ^ Funeral Procession For Comedian Frank Carson Sky News
- ^ Borislav Todorov for Eligo International. "Association of Papal Orders in Great Britain". PapalKnights.org.uk. Archived from the original on 6 February 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2012.
- ^ "Comedian Frank Carson backs UKIP". BBC News. 15 May 2009. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
- ^ Robinson, Joe (23 October 2009). "Stars hail Variety line-up". Blackpool Gazette. Retrieved 1 November 2009.
- ^ "It's A Cracker!". Up the Pool. 2009–10 season (Blackpool vs Derby County). Blackpool F.C. 18 August 2009.
- ^ Cheese, Caroline (5 January 2008). "Live – FA Cup fifth round". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 14 March 2009.
- ^ "Frank Carson laugh 'lifted club'". BBC News. BBC. 23 February 2012. Retrieved 9 August 2018.
- ^ Balbriggan Will Miss Frank Carson Archived 14 July 2012 at archive.today Monday, 27 February 2012 15:20.
External links
- Frank Carson at IMDb
- Comedy CV – Frank Carson