Frank Mills (British actor)

Albert Frank Mills (11 August 1927 – 11 February 2021) was an English actor. He starred in numerous films and television series such as Rumpole of the Bailey.[1] He was best known for his television work, notably the role of Billy Williams in Coronation Street.

Frank Mills
Publicity Photo of Frank Mills
Born
Albert Frank Mills

(1927-08-11)11 August 1927
London, England
Died11 February 2021(2021-02-11) (aged 93)

Biography

Early life

Mills was born in London, England, in August 1927.

Career

During the 1970s Mills appeared as the fraudulent medium Mr Tyson in The Treasure of Abbot Thomas (1974), as chip shop proprietor Len Holmes, in The Sweeney episode "May" (1976)[2] and as paedophile Reginald Barton in the Granada Television daytime series, Crown Court, the episode entitled "Common Sense" (1978).

Further television appearances during the 1980s saw him appear as Commissionaire Peterson in 'The Blue Carbuncle' episode of The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes in 1984, and Reginald Crump in Miss Marple: A Pocketful of Rye in 1985.[3][4] Also in 1984 he appeared as Harry Martin, an accountant or book keeper, employed by agoraphobic bookmaker Albert Wendle in the Minder episode Get Daley![5] He again appeared in Minder in 1991, this time in the episode The Greatest Show in Willesden in which he played Arthur Daley's barber, Len.[6] He also appeared in Channel 5's revival of Minder starring Shane Richie and Lex Shrapnel.[7] Along with Linal Haft and Paul Brooke he is one of only three actors to appear in both the classic series and this reboot, but starring in different roles in each.

In 1997 he played Albert Potter in the Yorkshire Television period drama Heartbeat, the episode entitled "Small Beer."

Mills appeared in television series such as The Brief, Midsomer Murders, Foyle's War, Flambards and The Palace.

Other television appearances have included Season Three of Hetty Wainthropp Investigates playing Frank Wainthropp (1997), and as William Caulder, an ill-treated pensioner in a retirement home who commits suicide in the 2004 The Royal episode "For Better For Worse".[1][8]

He starred alongside Ray Brooks in the 1984 hit BBC drama Big Deal as the grumpy bookmaker Gil.[9]

Death

Mills died in February 2021 at the age of 93.[10][11]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1977The Glitterball[12]Supermarket ManagerUncredited
1980Rough Cut[13][1]Passport Clerk
1982Witness for the ProsecutionChief Inspector Hearne
1982The Missionary[1][14]Sir Cyril Everidge
1984Champions[1][14]Charles
1985Parker[1][14]Mr. Epps
1987Bellman and True[1]Security Man
1993Closing Numbers[1][14]Frank
1995The Young Poisoner's Handbook[1][14]Uncle Jack
1998The Tribe[13]Emily's Father
2001Bodywork[13][1]Sydney Greengrass
2002Mrs Caldicot's Cabbage War[13][1]Leslie
2003Wondrous Oblivion[1]Mr. Robinson
2005Oliver Twist[1][14]Elderly Officer

References
  1. "Frank Mills". British Film Institute. Archived from the original on 24 March 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  2. "The Sweeney", May (TV Episode 1976), IMDb.com
  3. "Sherlock Holmes : The Blue Carbuncle (1984) - David Carson, Alan Grint, Paul Annett, John Bruce, Ken Grieve | Cast and Crew". AllMovie.
  4. "Miss Marple: A Pocketful of Rye". 14 July 1990. p. 26 – via BBC Genome.
  5. "#4.10 Get Daley". www.minder.org.
  6. "#8.9 The Greatest Show in Willesden". www.minder.org.
  7. "Thank Your Lucky Stars (2009)". BFI. Archived from the original on 21 September 2019.
  8. "BBC Two - Hetty Wainthropp Investigates, Series 3, A Minor Operation". BBC.
  9. "Big Deal". 9 December 1984. p. 45 – via BBC Genome.
  10. "MILLS - Deaths Announcements - Telegraph Announcements". announcements.telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  11. "Albert Frank 'Frank' Mills". Maldon and Burnham Standard.
  12. "The Glitterball (1977)". Movie Review Query Engine. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  13. "Frank Mills". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  14. "Frank Mills List of Movies and TV Shows". TV Guide. Retrieved 1 March 2021.


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