Gretchen Franklin
Known for Acting · 59 credits
- Born
- 1911-07-07
- Died
- 2005-07-11
- Place of birth
- Covent Garden, London, England, UK
Biography
Born in Covent Garden, West London in 1911, Gretchen Franklin was an English actress and dancer whose showbusiness career spanned over 70 years. She was best known for her role as Ethel Skinner in the long-running BBC 1 soap opera EastEnders. She appeared in the very first episode in 1985 and was a regular in the series until 1988. After this she returned to the show intermittently until 2000 when her character was killed off, allowing Franklin to retire from acting at the age of 89. Born into a theatrical family (her father had a song and dance act, her grandfather was a famous music hall entertainer at the turn of the century and her cousin was Dad's Army star Clive Dunn) Gretchen Franklin made her theatre debut as a teenage chorus girl. She toured with comedians such as Gracie Fields before making the switch to serious acting. Her film appearances included Cloak Without Dagger (1956), Flame in the Streets (1961), The Murder Game (1965), Help! (1965), How I Won The War (1967), Twisted Nerve (1968), The Night Visitor (1971), The Three Musketeers (1973), Quincy's Quest (1979), and Ragtime (1981), among others. She is namechecked in The Fall's 1990 song Telephone Thing.
Known For
TV Shows (34)
EastEnders
1985
as Ethel Skinner
Z-Cars
1962
Blackadder
1983
as Cordelia
The Sweeney
1975
as Florence, the Charlady
The Protectors
1972
as Nelly Baxter
Keeping Up Appearances
1990
as Daddy's Fiance
Gideon's Way
1965
as Martha Bray
Dixon of Dock Green
1955
as Mrs. Walcott
Churchill's People
1974
as Mrs Baxter
Terry and June
1979
as Cath
Sykes
1972
as Bookstall Assistant
Journey to the Unknown
1968
as Mrs. Barrett
Story Parade
1964
as Mrs. Huxtable
Budgie
1971
as Carrie Wetherall
Rising Damp
1974
as Aunt Maud
Danger UXB
1979
as Mrs. Flack
Six Days of Justice
1972
as Annie
The Scales of Justice
1962
as Rose Jenkins
George and Mildred
1976
as Mother
Londoners
1965
as Mrs. Hincastle
Hazell
1978
as Pearl
Castle Haven
1969
Black and Blue
1973
as Mrs. Pitt
Armchair Theatre
1956
as Miss Julia / Mrs. Chard / Else / Edie Tidy / Mrs. Marriott / Tea Lady
I Didn't Know You Cared
1975
as Auntie Lil
Quatermass
1979
as Edna
Nicholas Nickleby
1977
as Miss Knag
Saturday Playhouse
1958
as Susan Sillsby / Mrs. Wilson / Mrs. Catt
The Organization
1972
as Edna
Bowler
1973
as Mrs Bowler
Bowler
1973
Dead Ernest
1982
A Slight Case Of...
1965
The Artful Dodger
1959
Movies (25)
The Three Musketeers
1973
as D’Artagnan’s Mother
Ragtime
1981
as Elderly Woman
The Four Musketeers
1974
as D'Artagnan's Mother (archive footage) (uncredited)
Help!
1965
as Neighbour
Twisted Nerve
1968
as Clarkie
How I Won the War
1967
as 2nd Old Lady
The One and Only Phyllis Dixey
1978
as Phyllis's Dresser
Subterfuge
1968
as Bus Conductress
Secrets
1973
as Mrs. Pitt
Flame in the Streets
1961
as Mrs. Bingham
The Silent Playground
1963
as Mrs. Elgin
Quincy's Quest
1979
as Witch
Return to Waterloo
1984
as Woman on Train
The Company Man
1970
as Tea Lady
The Night Visitor
1971
as Mrs. Hansen
Trottie True
1949
as Martha (uncredited)
Before I Wake
1955
as Elsie
The High Terrace
1956
as Mrs. Webb
The Man Who Came to Die
1965
as Mrs. Marriott
The Secret Place
1957
as Mother (uncredited)
Cloak Without Dagger
1956
as Emmie
The Murder Game
1965
as Landlady
The Poet
1960
as Erminia
Ticket to Paradise
1961
as Mrs. Higginbottom
The Trouble with Our Ivy
1961
as Mrs. Chard
About Gretchen Franklin
Born in Covent Garden, West London in 1911, Gretchen Franklin was an English actress and dancer whose showbusiness career spanned over 70 years. She was best known for her role as Ethel Skinner in the long-running BBC 1 soap opera EastEnders. She appeared in the very first episode in 1985 and was a regular in the series until 1988. After this she returned to the show intermittently until 2000 when her character was killed off, allowing Franklin to retire from acting at the age of 89. Born into a theatrical family (her father had a song and dan… With 59 credits spanning from 1949 to 1990, Gretchen Franklin has appeared in 25 films and 34 TV shows.
Fans searching for Gretchen Franklin movies, Gretchen Franklin filmography, or the latest projects starring Gretchen Franklin can stream many of these titles on CineFlixo, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Gretchen Franklin Movies
- The Three Musketeers (1973) — as D’Artagnan’s Mother
- Ragtime (1981) — as Elderly Woman
- The Four Musketeers (1974) — as D'Artagnan's Mother (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Help! (1965) — as Neighbour
- Twisted Nerve (1968) — as Clarkie
Where to Watch Gretchen Franklin Films
Most Gretchen Franklin movies and series are available to stream on CineFlixo in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Gretchen Franklin, check our movies catalogue and browse page.