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Gretchen Franklin
Actor

Gretchen Franklin

7 Jul 1911Born
11 Jul 2005Died
94Age at death
64Credits

Biography

Born in Covent Garden, West London in 1911, Gretchen Franklin was an English actress and dancer whose showbusiness career spanned over 70 years. She was best known for her role as Ethel Skinner in the long-running BBC 1 soap opera EastEnders. She appeared in the very first episode in 1985 and was a regular in the series until 1988. After this she returned to the show intermittently until 2000 when her character was killed off, allowing Franklin to retire from acting at the age of 89.

Read the full biography

Born into a theatrical family (her father had a song and dance act, her grandfather was a famous music hall entertainer at the turn of the century and her cousin was Dad's Army star Clive Dunn) Gretchen Franklin made her theatre debut as a teenage chorus girl. She toured with comedians such as Gracie Fields before making the switch to serious acting. Her film appearances included Cloak Without Dagger (1956), Flame in the Streets (1961), The Murder Game (1965), Help! (1965), How I Won The War (1967), Twisted Nerve (1968), The Night Visitor (1971), The Three Musketeers (1973), Quincy's Quest (1979), and Ragtime (1981), among others. She is namechecked in The Fall's 1990 song Telephone Thing.

Known for

Filmography

  1. 1990Keeping Up AppearancesSeries: Daddy's Fiance (1 episode)
  2. 1985EastEndersSeries: Ethel Skinner (670 episodes)
  3. 1984Return to WaterlooFilm: Woman on Train
  4. 1983BlackadderSeries: Cordelia (1 episode)
  5. 1982Dead ErnestSeries (7 episodes)
  6. 1981RagtimeFilm: Elderly Woman
  7. 1979Quincy's QuestFilm: Witch
  8. 1979Terry and JuneSeries: Cath (1 episode)
  9. 1979QuatermassSeries: Edna (2 episodes)
  10. 1979Danger UXBSeries: Mrs. Flack (1 episode)
  11. 1978The One and Only Phyllis DixeyFilm: Phyllis's Dresser
  12. 1978The Famous FiveSeries: Mrs Janes (1 episode)
  13. 1978HazellSeries: Pearl (1 episode)
  14. 1977Nicholas NicklebySeries: Miss Knag (1 episode)
  15. 1976George and MildredSeries: Mother (1 episode)
  16. 1975I Didn't Know You CaredSeries: Auntie Lil (7 episodes)
  17. 1975The SweeneySeries: Florence, the Charlady (1 episode)
  18. 1974Churchill's PeopleSeries: Mrs Baxter (1 episode)
  19. 1974The Four MusketeersFilm: D'Artagnan's Mother (archive footage) (uncredited)
  20. 1974Rising DampSeries: Aunt Maud (1 episode)
  21. 1973The Three MusketeersFilm: D’Artagnan’s Mother
  22. 1973SecretsFilm: Mrs. Pitt
  23. 1973Black and BlueSeries: Mrs. Pitt (1 episode)
  24. 1973BowlerSeries (13 episodes)
  25. 1973BowlerSeries: Mrs Bowler (13 episodes)
  26. 1972The ProtectorsSeries: Nelly Baxter (1 episode)
  27. 1972SykesSeries: Bookstall Assistant (1 episode)
  28. 1972The OrganizationSeries: Edna (3 episodes)
  29. 1972Six Days of JusticeSeries: Annie (1 episode)
  30. 1971BudgieSeries: Carrie Wetherall (1 episode)
  31. 1971The Night VisitorFilm: Mrs. Hansen
  32. 1970The Company ManFilm: Tea Lady
  33. 1969Castle HavenSeries (100 episodes)
  34. 1968Twisted NerveFilm: Clarkie
  35. 1968SubterfugeFilm: Bus Conductress
  36. 1968Journey to the UnknownSeries: Mrs. Barrett (1 episode)
  37. 1967How I Won the WarFilm: 2nd Old Lady
  38. 1965The Murder GameFilm: Landlady
  39. 1965A Slight Case Of...Series (1 episode)
  40. 1965Help!Film: Neighbour (uncredited)
  41. 1965LondonersSeries: Mrs. Hincastle (1 episode)
  42. 1965The Man Who Came to DieFilm: Mrs. Marriott
  43. 1965Gideon's WaySeries: Martha Bray (1 episode)
  44. 1964The Four Seasons of Rosie CarrSeries: Amy Bennett (1 episode)
  45. 1964Story ParadeSeries: Mrs. Huxtable (1 episode)
  46. 1964The ProtectorsSeries: Mrs Bolland (1 episode)
  47. 1963The Silent PlaygroundFilm: Mrs. Elgin
  48. 1962The Scales of JusticeSeries: Rose Jenkins (1 episode)
  49. 1962Steptoe and SonSeries: Aunt Daphne (1 episode)
  50. 1962Z-CarsSeries (1 episode)
  51. 1961The Trouble with Our IvyFilm: Mrs. Chard
  52. 1961Flame in the StreetsFilm: Mrs. Bingham
  53. 1961Ticket to ParadiseFilm: Mrs. Higginbottom
  54. 1960The PoetFilm: Erminia
  55. 1959Bleak HouseSeries: Mrs Guppy (1 episode)
  56. 1959The Artful DodgerSeries (6 episodes)
  57. 1958Saturday PlayhouseSeries: Susan Sillsby, Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Catt (1 episode)
  58. 1957The Secret PlaceFilm: Mother (uncredited)
  59. 1956The High TerraceFilm: Mrs. Webb
  60. 1956Armchair TheatreSeries: Miss Julia, Mrs. Chard, Else, Edie Tidy, Mrs. Marriott, Tea Lady (1 episode)
  61. 1956Cloak Without DaggerFilm: Emmie
  62. 1955Dixon of Dock GreenSeries: Mrs. Walcott (1 episode)
  63. 1955Before I WakeFilm: Elsie
  64. 1949Trottie TrueFilm: Martha (uncredited)

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.