Leo Franklyn

Leo Franklyn (7 April 1897 – 17 September 1975) was an English actor. Much of his early career was in Edwardian musical comedy; in his later career he was chiefly associated with farce.

In the years between the First and Second World Wars, Franklyn was a well-known performer in musical comedies, appearing in both British and American shows. He spent ten years performing in Australia in musical comedies. From the 1940s he appeared regularly in pantomime as the Dame.

From the 1950s to his death he was principally associated with British farces. From 1956 to 1969 he was a member of Brian Rix's company, first at the Whitehall Theatre, and later at the Garrick.

Franklyn was born in London and educated by the Franciscan Brotherhood. He served in the army in the first years of the First World War, and made his stage debut in Sunderland in August 1916 in the chorus of The Belle of New York. When the production opened in London in December 1916, Franklyn made his West End debut. He toured for three years in Julian Wylie's musical comedy companies.

In the West End, Franklyn appeared with Lupino Lane in Turned Up.The Times commented, "Mr. Leo Franklyn … shows a pretty sense of humour. He can also dance." In 1923, Franklyn undertook a tour of the northern provinces, appearing in Scotland in the musical comedy Kissing Time in which he played Bibi St. Po. In the late 1920s he went to Australia for more than ten years, appearing in shows such as The Duchess of Dantzic, Gay Divorce,The Girl Friend, Music in the Air, Our Miss Gibbs and The Quaker Girl.

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