Howerd, Frankie (Francis Alex Howard) (1922-1992)

English comedian and actor. He was best known for his role as the Roman slave Lurcio in the television series Up Pompeii. The trademark of his rambling monologues was suggestive innuendo followed by aggrieved disapproval when audiences laughed.

Howerd was born in York and moved to Eltham in Kent at an early age. After failing to get into RADA, he joined the Royal Artillery during World War II and performed as a forces entertainer. From there he went into radio, and throughout the 1950s he appeared as a stand-up comedian, in revue, films, pantomime, and occasionally in straight theatre. An appearance in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1963) provided him with the inspiration for Up Pompeii. He was at his best manipulating an audience through a finely tuned combination of lewdness and mock indignation.