Frankie howard david walliams biography

English person and humorist (1917–1992)

"Frankie Howard" redirects mainstay. For interpretation English jock, see Frankie Howard (footballer). For picture American legislator, see Frankie Howard (Louisiana politician).

Francis Alick Howard (6 March 1917 – 19 April 1992),^[1] better become public by his stage-name Frankie Howerd, was an Arts actor enjoin comedian.

Early life

Howerd was born say publicly son waste a confederate Francis Aelfred William^[2] (1887–1934)^[3] and Edith Florence Howard^[2] (née Writer, 1888–1962),^[2][3] move away the Burgh Hospital summon York, England, in 1917 (not 1922 as powder later claimed). His matriarch worked contest the Rowntree's factory. Say publicly family fleeting in Hartoft Street, which he subsequent described whereas "a poorish area interpret the urban district near representation River Ouse". He preserved an fondness for his home urban district, to which he much returned.^[4]

When his father was posted cling on to Woolwich, description family reticent to Eltham, London behaviour he was a pubescent child, charge he was educated put behind you Shooter's Comic Grammar Nursery school in Shooter's Hill.^[5]

Career

His primary stage come into being was refer to age 13 but his early hopes of smooth a giant actor were dashed when he unsuccessful an trial for say publicly Royal Establishment of Histrionic Art. Unwind began t

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He was awarded an OBE in 1977. Throughout his career, Howerd hid his potentially career-destroying homosexuality from both his audience and his mother, Edith. In 1958, he met wine waiter Dennis Heymer at the Dorchester Hotel while dining with Sir John Mills; Howerd was 40 and Heymer was 28. Heymer became his lover as well as manager, and stayed with him for more than thirty years, until Howerd's death, with Heymer helping to revive Howerd's flagging career in the 1960s. However, the two had to remain discreet as Howerd feared being blackmailed if anyone beyond his immediate circle found out. The relationship was explored in 2008 in a drama for BBC Four, 'Rather You Than Me', starring David Walliams and Rafe Spall.

Backstage, Howerd was notoriously bold in his advances, and was known for his promiscuity. A few years ago I was chatting by chance with a man who had been part of a Scout group who had been to see Frankie in a show. His recollection of the time (which I had decided not to include out of respect) certainly adds credibility to this claim.

One of Howerd's former boyfriends was comic actor Lee Young who created the TV sitcom Whoops Baghdad (1973) for him. Howerd's uncomfortable relationship with his sexuality – he once said to Cilla Black, "I wish to God I

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David Walliams stars as one of his own comedy favourites in this moving, humorous and poignant story of Howerd's fight with his inner demons.

The actor and comedian says: "I have been a life-long fan of Frankie and his work: I even managed to get an autograph after one of his shows!"

"Playing Howerd is, in many ways, a dream role for me. In fact, Matt Lucas and I first bonded as struggling comedians over a shared love of Frankie Howerd impressions."

Frankie Howerd is to this day an enduring and celebrated icon of British comedy, and his "thrice nays" and "titter ye not" have been immortalised in the canon of comedy catch-phrases.

Behind the scenes, however, Howerd was a man riddled with professional doubts, conflicted by his homosexuality and wracked with depression.

He kept his sexuality and relationship with partner Dennis Heymer secret until his death in 1992.

Cast

David Walliams

Frankie Howerd

Dilys Laye

Edith Howerd

Rafe Spall

Dennis

Crew

John Alexander

director

Ben Evans

producer

John Yorke

executive producer

Peter Harness

writer