Frank Carson facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Frank Carson
Carson in 2007
Birth name	Hugh Francis Carson
Born	(1926-11-06)6 November 1926 Belfast, Northern Ireland
Died	22 February 2012(2012-02-22) (aged 85) Blackpool, Lancashire, England
Medium	Television
Genres	comedy
Spouse	Ruth Campbell ​ (m. 1950)​
Notable works and roles	The Comedians

Hugh Francis Carson KSG (born November 6, 1926 – died February 22, 2012) was a very popular comedian and actor from Belfast, Northern Ireland. He became famous on television from the 1970s onwards. You might remember him from shows like The Comedians and Tiswas. His special saying was "It's the way I tell them!". Frank Carson was also a member of a charity group for entertainers called the Grand Order of Water Rats.

Frank Carson's Early Life

Frank Carson was one of six children. His family lived in a working-class area of Belfast. He went to St Patrick's Elementary School. Later, his family moved to another part of Belfast. Before becoming a comedian, Frank worked as an electrician and then as a plasterer. His family had roots in Italy, with his grandmother coming from Sicily. When he was young, Frank was a choirboy at St Patrick's Catholic church.

Frank also spent three years in the British Army's Parachute Regiment. This was in the late 1940s, mostly in the Middle East. During his time in the army, he faced dangerous situations. He was shot in the leg once. Another time, he was very lucky to survive when a bomb exploded near a cinema. He also helped with the clean-up after a big bombing in Jerusalem. He made 40 parachute jumps during his service.

Frank Carson's Television Career

Frank Carson first became a well-known performer on Irish television. After that, he moved to England to work as a stand-up comedian in clubs. He became very successful on a TV show called The Good Old Days, which brought back old music-hall acts.

He then won a popular national talent show called Opportunity Knocks three times! This show was presented by Hughie Green. Frank was one of the most famous comedians on The Comedians. Other comedians on the show included Charlie Williams and Bernard Manning. Each episode of The Comedians featured 30 minutes of non-stop stand-up comedy from different performers. The show was a huge hit in Britain and really helped Frank Carson's career take off.

After The Comedians, other similar shows were made, like The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club. This show tried to bring the feel of northern English working men's clubs to television. Frank Carson was on TV regularly for many years after The Comedians. He also performed live on stage and even for the Royal Family.

In 1975, Frank Carson played a character named Paddy O'Brien in a TV comedy called The Melting Pot. This show was written by Spike Milligan. However, the BBC stopped the show after only one episode was shown.

In 1985, Frank was the special guest on the show This Is Your Life. He was surprised by the host, Eamonn Andrews, at Heathrow Airport.

Even after having heart surgery in 1976, Frank kept working. He became a regular on the children's TV series Tiswas. In the 1990s, he also started acting in TV shows and two movies. In 1996, he was a guest on "The Ant And Dec Show." In 1998, he was the opening act for a concert by singer Mary Black in Dubai.

Later Life and Passing

Frank Carson continued to work, performing live in shows, pantomimes, and summer seasons across the UK. He spent a lot of his time helping people in need. For example, in 1986, he raised £130,000 for the Royal Victoria Hospital Children's Cancer Ward.

In 2009, at 82 years old, Frank Carson returned to the stage. He appeared in a show called The Comedians at the North Pier Theatre in Blackpool, where he lived. He also performed in Cyprus later that year.

Frank had some health challenges in his later years. A routine operation in 2009 led to other issues. In August 2011, he had an operation to remove a malignant tumour from his stomach.

Frank Carson passed away at his home in Blackpool on February 22, 2012. He was 85 years old. He was survived by his wife, Ruth, whom he married in 1950. He also had a daughter, Majella, and two sons, Tony and Aidan, along with many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His funeral was held on March 3, 2012, at St Patrick's Church in Belfast. This was the same church where he had married his wife Ruth over 60 years earlier. Many famous people and fans attended his funeral to say goodbye.

Frank Carson's Personal Life

Frank Carson was a Roman Catholic. In 1987, the Catholic Church recognized his amazing charity work. He was given a special award called a papal knighthood of the Order of St. Gregory by Pope John Paul II.

While he usually stayed out of Northern Irish politics, he did openly support the UKIP political party in his later years.

Frank lived in Layton, Blackpool, and he loved to watch Blackpool F.C. football matches. He was also a director for a football club called Chasetown F.C. and a Vice-President for Newport County football club in the 1970s and 1980s to help them become more well-known.

In 2009, Frank Carson took part in a TV show called Cash in the Celebrity Attic. He raised over £900 for a local hospice, which is a place that cares for people who are very ill.

For many years, Frank lived in Balbriggan in Ireland. He even served two terms as the mayor of that town.

Frank Carson's Filmography