David Barry (born Meurig Wyn Jones, 30 April 1943) is a Welsh actor and novelist. He is best known for his role as Frankie Abbott, (the gum-chewing

mother's boy Mother's boy, also commonly and informally mummy's boy or mama's boy, is a term for a man seen as having an unhealthy dependence on his mother at an age at which he is expected to be self-reliant (e.g. live on his own, be economically independent) ...

who was convinced he was extremely tough), in the LWT sitcom ''

Please Sir! ''Please Sir!'' is a British television sitcom created by John Esmonde and Bob Larbey and featuring actors John Alderton, Deryck Guyler, Penny Spencer, Joan Sanderson, Noel Howlett, Erik Chitty and Richard Davies. Produced by London Weekend ...

'' and the spin-off series ''

The Fenn Street Gang ''The Fenn Street Gang'' is a British television sitcom which ran for three seasons between 1971 and 1973. Created by John Esmonde and Bob Larbey, it was a spin-off from their popular ''Please Sir!'' series. Synopsis The series follows the li ...

''. He also appeared in two TV spin-off movies - ''

'' (1971) and ''

George and Mildred ''George and Mildred'' is a British sitcom produced by Thames Television and first aired between 1976 and 1979. It is a spin-off from ''Man About the House'', and starred Brian Murphy and Yootha Joyce as constantly-sparring married couple Ge ...

'' (1980). His first broadcast script was written for ''The Fenn Street Gang'' and he wrote many episodes of

Thames TV Thames Television, commonly simplified to just Thames, was a franchise holder for a region of the British ITV television network serving London and surrounding areas from 30 July 1968 until the night of 31 December 1992. Thames Television broad ...

's '' Keep it in the Family.'' In 2016 Barry reprised the role of Frankie Abbott in his own play ''A Day in the Lives of Frankie Abbott''. In 2017, he appeared in the horror comedy short film ''Frankula''. In 2018, he appeared in another horror comedy short film called ''Bad Friday''. Barry is also a novelist. His police thriller ''Each Man kills,'' set in Swansea, was published in 2002, to be followed by ''Willie the Actor'' in 2008. His autobiography was entitled ''Flashback.'' He has also written a children's book, ''The Ice Cream Time Machine''. He lives in

Tunbridge Wells Royal Tunbridge Wells is a town in Kent, England, southeast of central London. It lies close to the border with East Sussex on the northern edge of the Weald, High Weald, whose sandstone geology is exemplified by the rock formation High Roc ...

, Kent.

Bibliography

*''Each Man Kills'' *''Willie the Actor'' *''Murder in Wales'' *''Muscle'' *''A Deadly Diversion'' *''Walking Shadows'' *''Careless Talk'' *''More Careless Talk'' *''The Franz Anton Mesmer Show'' *''The Ice Cream Time Machine'' *''Mr Micawber Down Under'' *''Flashback: An Autobiography'' *''The Wrecking Bar'' (as Meurig Jones) *''Missing Persons'' (as Meurig Jones)

References

External links

Personal website

BBC Comedy
* 1943 births Welsh male television actors Living people Welsh novelists People from Bangor, Gwynedd {{UK-tv-actor-1940s-stub