Frank Coda (1st Assistant in The Dummy)

Frank Coda was born on 14th May 1931 in London and had an extensive career mainly in television playing small or supporting roles, occasionally portraying characters of Italian or Mediterranean origins. During the latter part of his career he seemed to corner the niche market for playing waiters or restaurant workers in Thames Television sitcoms.

His first credited appearance on television was in the early ITV series The Granville Melodramas, a series of theatre productions staged from The Granville Theatre for live television transmissions. Coda has a credit of 'other parts played by' for 'Puss in Boots' (20th December 1955). This was followed by a similarly staged programme from the BBC. Theatre Night was a series of 45 minute excerpts from then current popular stage plays running in London. Coda was part of the cast for a transmission of 'Expresso Bongo' (11th December 1958)

On the stage during the 1960s Coda was a member of the Theatre Workshop repertory company headed by Joan Littlewood. Macbird, a satire of American politics written by Barbara Garson, opened a new season at the Theatre Royal in Stratford East, London during April 1967. The production was directed by Joan Littlewood and she more utilised the services of Coda in the cast. The play was controversial as it had been refused a licence by the Lord Chamberlain on the grounds that it made fun of the head of state of a friendly power. Therefore it was presented by the Theatre Royal Club which enabled the play to be staged without licence. To buy tickets for performances of the play you had to be a member of the club.

Coda continued working with Joan Littlewood with a production of Mrs Wilson’s Diary at the Royal, Stratford during September and October 1967. The play was written by Richard Ingram and John Wells and was billed as an affectionate lampoon of the Prime Minister Harold Wilson. Coda played the roles of Colonel Wigg and David Frost. During November 1967 theatre lovers could see Coda in The Marie Lloyd Story at the Royal Stratford Theatre in the role of Lloyd’s husband Dillon. Earlier in the year Joan Littlewood had used Coda in her stage production of The Provoked Wife at the Royal, Stratford.

By the time Coda came to appear in Beasts he had established himself as a familiar face on the small screen. Aside from Beasts 1976 would see Coda popping up in episodes of Bless This House, Rogue's Rock, The Squirrels and the Many Lives of Patrick. He would continue to balance small supporting roles in both dramas and sitcoms for the remainder of his career.

His final television appearance was playing an old man in an episode of Eastenders (14th January 2003). He was sometimes credited as Frank Codo.

Film Credits
1959 No Safety Ahead (uncredited appearance)
1961 Touch of Death (playing Sergeant Byrne)
1962 A Prize To Arms (playing Brodie. Patrick Magee was also in the cast)
1969 Oh! What A Lovely War (uncredited appearance as a soldier)
1973 Ooh…You Are Awful (playing a mafia heavy)
1977 Under The Bed (short film)
1978 Sweeney 2
1981 Omen III: The Final Conflict
1989 Queen of Hearts
1995 The Young Poisoner’s Handbook, I.D.

Television Credits
1955 The Granville Melodramas – “Puss in Boots”
1958 Theatre Night – “Expresso Bongo”
1961 Coronation Street (8 episodes playing Mario Bonarti), The Interrogator (Bernard Lee was also in the cast)
1962 Z Cars – “Stab in the Dark”, No Hiding Place – “Accessories After The Fact”, BBC Sunday Night Play – “Behind The Line” (cast headlined by Bernard Lee)
1963 The Rag Trade – “Baby Dolls”, Babysitters Unlimited, First Night – “The Way With Reggie” (notable for early role by Michael Caine as the eponymous Reggie), Dixon of Dock Green – “The Torch Bearers” (playing Syd Price)
1964 The Human Jungle – “The Twenty-Four Hour Man”
1965 The Secret Agent – “You’re Not in Any Trouble Are You?”, For Whom The Bell Tolls
1969 Armchair Theatre – “The Good Son”
1970 Z Cars – “Threats and Menaces”, Callan – “Amos Green Must Live”
1971 Budgie – “Out”
1972 Callan – “I Never Wanted This Job”, Dixon of Dock Green – “Bust Up”
1974 Dixon of Dock Green – “Harry’s Back”, My Name Is Harry Worth, Don’t Drink The Water (as the regular character Bill), The Brothers – “Secret Meetings”, Bless This House – “They Don’t Write Songs Like That Any More”, Thriller - “Where The Action Is”
1975 Comedy Premiere – “Honey”, The Sweeney – “Supersnout”, Oil Strike North - “Shore Leave”
1976 Bless This House – “The Frozen Limit”, Rogue’s Rock, Beasts – “The Dummy”, The Squirrels – “Fluffy-Bun”, The Many Wives of Patrick – “Why Not Tonight, Josephine?”
1977 Hazell – “Hazell Goes To The Dogs”
1978 Rumpole of the Bailey – “Rumpole and the Younger Generation”, The Many Wives of Patrick – “Shades of Night”, The Rag Trade – “Fenner’s Folly”, The Losers – “All Down in Black and White”, Morecambe and Wise Show Special, Eric and Ernie’s Christmas Show
1979 The Dick Emery Comedy Hour, Rumpole of the Bailey – “Rumpole and the Age For Retirement”, The Dick Emery Special
1980 Can We Get On With It Now Please – “Variations in Two Flats”, The Dick Emery Hour
1981 The Chinese Detective – “Washing”
1982 Don’t Rock The Boat – “Combat Fatigue”, Minder – “Dreamhouse”, Janet and Company, The Bounder– “The Rival" (as a waiter), Tom Dick and Harriet – “On The Town” (as a waiter), Don’t Wait Up (as a waiter)
1983 The Morecambe and Wise Christmas Show
1984 Grandad, Lady Is A Tramp, The Gentle Touch – “The Conference”, Duty Free - “Adios”
1985 Night Train To Murder (Morecambe and Wise TV movie), CATS Eyes - “Blue For Danger”, The Bill – “The Suspects”
1986 Chance In A Million – “The Lost Weekend”, Slinger’s Day – “Black Letter Day”, Fresh Fields – “Happy Returns” (as a waiter), Executive Stress (promoted to the position of Maitre D)
1987 Never The Twain – “A Night To Remember”, Don’t Wait Up, Drummonds - “Sweethearts”, All At Number 20 – “Warts and All” (as a waiter)
1988 Tickets For The Titanic – “Incident on the Line”
1989 Only Fools and Horses – “Chain Gang”, T Bag and the Revenge of the T-Set - “Turkish Delight”, The Nineteenth Hole, The Bill – “Feasting With Panthers”, Ever Decreasing Circles – “Moving On” (as a waiter)
1991 The Bill – “Dead Man’s Boots”, Hope It Rains – “The King” (as a waiter), Never The Twain – “Viva Espana”
1993 Demob
1995 Soldier Soldier – “Love Not Money”, Devil’s Advocate, The Bill – “A Quiet Night In”
1998 The Bill – “The Personal Touch”
1999 Maisie Rain – “European Forty Five”, The Bill – “Up In Smoke”
2002 TLC – “Agency Nurse”
2003 Eastenders