Frank Carson
With a beaming smile and a catchphrase on his lips, this Belfast comic became a staple of British TV comedy for decades.
1926–2012 (age 86)·Northern Irish comedian and actor·Birthday: November 6·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Frank Carson's comedy was a product of the working men's clubs, a rapid-fire delivery of gags delivered with irresistible glee. The Belfast-born son of a door-to-door salesman, he served as a paratrooper before winning a talent contest that launched his stage career. His big break came on the ITV show 'The Comedians,' where his machine-gun timing and buoyant persona made him a standout. The phrase 'It's the way I tell 'em!' became his trademark, a self-aware wink that audiences adored. For years, he was a ubiquitous presence on television, from children's show 'Tiswas' to countless panel games and variety specials, his energy never flagging. More than just a joke-teller, Carson was a beloved figure in the entertainment industry, known for his charity work and his role as King Rat of the Grand Order of Water Rats.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Frank was born in 1926, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Frank Was Born
The biggest hits of 1926
#1 Movie
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
Frank's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1926Born
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1931Started school
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1939Became a teenager
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1942Could drive
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1944Could vote
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1947Turned 21
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1956Turned 30
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1966Turned 40
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1976Turned 50
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1986Turned 60
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1996Turned 70
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 80
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2012Died at 86
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
Key Achievements
- Rose to national fame as a core performer on the hit 1970s television series 'The Comedians'.
- Became a household name with his catchphrase 'It's the way I tell 'em!', which entered the popular lexicon.
- Served as the 'King Rat' (president) of the Grand Order of Water Rats, a major entertainment charity.
- Maintained a prolific television career for over four decades, appearing on shows from 'Tiswas' to 'Last of the Summer Wine'.
Did You Know?
He was awarded the Knighthood of St. Gregory by Pope John Paul II for his charitable services.
Before comedy, he served in the British Army's Parachute Regiment.
He once worked as an electrician and a plasterer.
A blue plaque commemorates him at his childhood home in Belfast.
“It's the way I tell 'em!”
