First appeared: 9th December 1960
Last appeared: 3rd February 1971
Frank Pemberton played the role of postman Frank Barlow between 1960 and 1964 and then in guest appearances in 1967 and 1971.
Born in Manchester in 1913, Pemberton was originally employed as an engineering apprentice before setting on becoming an actor. He made his television debut in Barbados Quest in 1955 and he appeared in various other programmes during the late 1950s including Champion Road (1958), Armchair Theatre (1959) and Hancock’s Half Hour (1957-1959).
But it was in late 1960 that he secured his most well-known role as 47 year old postie and head of the Barlow family Frank in new drama serial Coronation Street. He appeared in the very first episode and would remain a regular character until 1964. Married to Ida and father to Ken and David, he constantly clashed with son Ken over class. Amongst his storylines was facing widowhood when Ida was hit by a bus in 1961; leaving the Post Office and opening his own DIY shop; dating Corner Shop proprietor Florrie Lindley; and becoming engaged to Christine Hardman who was 26 years his junior. The engagement ended when local gossip proved too much. In 1964, he won £5000 on Premium Bonds and moved to Wilmslow in Cheshire.
In actual fact, the reason for Frank’s departure was the axing of the character by young producer Tim Aspinall, a 1960s version of Brian Park. Frank Pemberton was in a long line of actors who were sacked from the serial. Aspinall wanted to get rid of the dead-wood in the cast and unfortunately Pemberton was one of them. The sacking hit him hard and he failed to secure another acting job and suffered a stroke in 1965. He did return to the Street for guest appearances in an episode in March 1967 when Frank gave Ken some advice; and then in an episode in February 1971 when Frank attended daughter-in-law Valerie’s funeral. In his final episode he was seen sitting down as Pemberton was recovering from a stroke and still had trouble with his legs. In total, Pemberton appeared in 278 episodes.
As was said, Pemberton failed to seek other acting jobs and collapsed and died while queuing for the dole in 1975. Although Frank Barlow wasn’t officially killed off, it is true to say that when Frank Pemberton died, the character of Frank Barlow died with him.
I don't have any information about his private life i.e. if he was married or had children. Would someone care to enlighten me please?
Did you ever see or meet Frank Pemberton? Do you have any pieces of trivia about him?
Research from from Corriepedia and IMDB.
Frank Pemberton played the role of postman Frank Barlow between 1960 and 1964 and then in guest appearances in 1967 and 1971.
Born in Manchester in 1913, Pemberton was originally employed as an engineering apprentice before setting on becoming an actor. He made his television debut in Barbados Quest in 1955 and he appeared in various other programmes during the late 1950s including Champion Road (1958), Armchair Theatre (1959) and Hancock’s Half Hour (1957-1959).
But it was in late 1960 that he secured his most well-known role as 47 year old postie and head of the Barlow family Frank in new drama serial Coronation Street. He appeared in the very first episode and would remain a regular character until 1964. Married to Ida and father to Ken and David, he constantly clashed with son Ken over class. Amongst his storylines was facing widowhood when Ida was hit by a bus in 1961; leaving the Post Office and opening his own DIY shop; dating Corner Shop proprietor Florrie Lindley; and becoming engaged to Christine Hardman who was 26 years his junior. The engagement ended when local gossip proved too much. In 1964, he won £5000 on Premium Bonds and moved to Wilmslow in Cheshire.
In actual fact, the reason for Frank’s departure was the axing of the character by young producer Tim Aspinall, a 1960s version of Brian Park. Frank Pemberton was in a long line of actors who were sacked from the serial. Aspinall wanted to get rid of the dead-wood in the cast and unfortunately Pemberton was one of them. The sacking hit him hard and he failed to secure another acting job and suffered a stroke in 1965. He did return to the Street for guest appearances in an episode in March 1967 when Frank gave Ken some advice; and then in an episode in February 1971 when Frank attended daughter-in-law Valerie’s funeral. In his final episode he was seen sitting down as Pemberton was recovering from a stroke and still had trouble with his legs. In total, Pemberton appeared in 278 episodes.
As was said, Pemberton failed to seek other acting jobs and collapsed and died while queuing for the dole in 1975. Although Frank Barlow wasn’t officially killed off, it is true to say that when Frank Pemberton died, the character of Frank Barlow died with him.
I don't have any information about his private life i.e. if he was married or had children. Would someone care to enlighten me please?
Did you ever see or meet Frank Pemberton? Do you have any pieces of trivia about him?
Research from from Corriepedia and IMDB.
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2 comments:
He looks like he could be Peter's real grandfather! Look at the jawline and eyes.
Gosh you're right! I can see a resemblence
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