Frank Harold Crossley (3 May 1874 – 11 August 1943) was an Australian comedian.

History

Crossley was born at Kew, Victoria, the youngest of four children of Henry Crossley and Elizabeth Jane Crossley (née Barnes). He appeared in companies led by

George Rignold George Richard Rignold, born George Richard Rignall, (1839 – 16 December 1912) was an England, English-born actor, active in Britain and Australia. Early life Rignold was born in Birmingham, England. He was the son of William Rignall, an actor ...

J. C. Williamson James Cassius Williamson (26 August 1845 – 6 July 1913) was an American actor and later Australia's foremost impresario, founding the J. C. Williamson's theatrical and production company. Born in Pennsylvania, Williamson moved with his fami ...

William Anderson William Anderson may refer to: Arts and entertainment * William Anderson (artist) (1757–1837), painter of marine and historical paintings * William Anderson (theatre) (1868–1940), Australian stage entrepreneur * William Anderson (1911–1986), ...

George Marlow George Marlow (24 September 1876 – 21 May 1939) (born Joseph Marks) was an Australian theatrical entrepreneur born in London of Jewish extraction, noted for bringing melodrama and pantomime to Sydney audiences in the early 1900s. His name has b ...

, and

Bland Holt Bland Holt (born Joseph Thomas Holt, (24 March 1851 – 28 June 1942)Dennis Shoesmith,, Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 4, MUP, 1972, pp 413-414. Accessed 1 August 2009 was a comedian and theatrical producer, active in Australia. Bi ...

, best remembered for his role as "Karl Von Pumpernick", the polite lunatic, in an early Melbourne production of '' The Belle of New York'' and the

burlesque A burlesque is a literary, dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or by ludicrous treatment of their subjects.

''Fun on the Bristol'', which starred John F. Sheridan. He enrolled with the

First AIF The First Australian Imperial Force (1st AIF) was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during the First World War. It was formed as the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) following Britain's declaration of war on Germany on 15 Aug ...

in July 1916 and was posted to the 18th Reinforcements of the 23rd Battalion. He served overseas before being attached to the 1st Australian Concert Party, called The Anzac Coves, which was formed by General Birdwood, and became famous in England and Scotland. Crossley died in a Melbourne hospital and his remains were interred at the

Coburg Cemetery Coburg Pine Ridge Cemetery is located in the northern Melbourne suburb of Preston, Victoria, Australia. The main entrance is on Bell Street, Preston. The Cemetery is managed by Greater Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust (GMCT), and work closely wit ...

Family

Crossley married singer and pianist Lilian Kathleen "Lily" Lloyd "Miss Iza Millet" ( – 15 May 1933) in 1899. They had two daughters: *Iza Crossley (21 September 1899 – 1992) married Gordon Ireland. She was a singer and excellent swimmer She appeared (credited as "Isa Crossley") in the movies ''

The Mystery of a Hansom Cab ''The Mystery of a Hansom Cab'' is a mystery fiction novel by the Australian writer Fergus Hume. The book was first published in Australia in 1886. Set in Melbourne, the story focuses on the investigation of a homicide involving a body discovered ...

'', and ''

Diggers in Blighty ''Diggers in Blighty'' is a 1933 Australian film starring and directed by Pat Hanna. Hanna decided to direct this film himself after being unhappy with how F. W. Thring had handled ''Diggers'' (1931).Andrew Pike and Ross Cooper, ''Australian Fi ...

'', and perhaps ''

The Scottish Covenanters ''The Scottish Covenanters'' is a 1909 production made by the Limelight Department of the Salvation Army in Australia The Salvation Army, Australia Territory (nicknamed "Salvos" in Australian English) is an evangelical Protestant Christian ...

'' of 1909. *Moya Summerson Crossley (9 September 1901 – ) married Leslie Thomas Lonergan. She was a violinist and composer of several songs: "My Mother's Eyes", "My Home Town" and "A-U-double-S-I-E". They had a home at 20 Service Crescent, South Melbourne. He was a cousin of

Ada Crossley Ada Jemima Crossley (3 March 1871 – 17 October 1929) was an Australian contralto notable as the first RCA Victor Red Seal, Red Seal recording artist engaged in the US by the Victor Talking Machine Company in 1903. Born at Tarraville, Gippslan ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Crossley, Frank 1874 births 1943 deaths 19th-century Australian male actors 20th-century Australian male actors Australian male comedians Male actors from Melbourne Comedians from Melbourne People from Kew, Victoria People from South Melbourne Australian military personnel of World War I Military personnel from Melbourne 20th-century Australian comedians Australian people of English descent