Draft:Kenneth Thornett
Kenneth Thornett | |
|---|---|
| Born | Kenneth James Thornett 19 September 1925 Lambeth, London, England |
| Died | 4 January 1983 (aged 57) Kensington, London, England |
| Years active | 1943–1977 |
Kenneth Thornett (September 19, 1925, Lambeth, London, England – January 4, 1983, Kensington, London, England) was an English actor, who is best known for playing Police Constable Dickins in all episodes in the first series of the British television series The Adventures of Black Beauty.
Theatre
Joining a provincial tour of A Man with Red Hair, Thornett made his London debut, aged 15.[1] After touring in Blossom Time, he joined the Wolverhampton and Birmingham Alexandra Repertories, receiving his early training with the latter.[2] During this time, he met fellow actress Diana Johnson, marrying her in 1946 but divorcing sometime afterwards.
Initially an estate agent, Thornett was seen by Francis L. Sullivan when playing in an amateur production of When We Are Married.[3]
His most memorable theatrical role was as Lofty in Seagulls Over Sorrento, accepting a tour in South Africa. In 1952, he headed out to Australia alongside fellow leads Frank Taylor and Michael Anderson to appear in the Melbourne premiere.[4] Keneth (as he became known down there) spent the next three-and-a-half years working in Australian theatre, returning to England, his first work being in Grand National Night in Eastbourne[5] and then playing two leads in a nationwide tour of Separate Tables.[3] Two years later, he appeared on Broadway in The Visit.[6]
Screen
Thornett ventured into TV upon his return to the UK in the mid-1950s. Aside from Black Beauty, his appearances include ITV Play of the Week, BBC Sunday-Night Play, Edgar Wallace Mysteries, The Scales of Justice, No Hiding Place, First Night, Z-Cars, Dixon of Dock Green, Sherlock Holmes, The Wednesday Play, Doctor Who, Hugh and I, Comedy Playhouse, Softly, Softly, Doctor in the House, The Troubleshooters, Doctor at Large, Please Sir!, Jack the Ripper, Love Thy Neighbour, Upstairs, Downstairs and Rosie.
In film, is also known for playing Councillor Gordon in Burke & Hare (1972).[7]
References
- ^ Sheerness Times Guardian, 27 June 1947 (pg.2)
- ^ The Playbill - Page 26
- ^ a b Goodnight Mrs. Puffin programme, Strand Theatre - 1961
- ^ "Playwright here by air for Melbourne premiere", The Sunday Telegraph (Sydney), 24 February 1952 (pg.42)
- ^ Eastbourne Herald, 14 April 1956 (pg.12-13)
- ^ The Visit broadwayworld.com
- ^ "Burke & Hare (1972) : Full Cast & Crew". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2017-01-26.
External links
- Kenneth Thornett at IMDb
- Keneth Thornett/Kenneth Thornett at Theatricalia
- Kenneth Thornett's Australian theatre credits at AusStage
- Kenneth Thornett at the Internet Broadway Database
Category:1925 births
Category:1983 deaths
Category:English male film actors
Category:English male television actors
Category:20th-century English male actors