Frank John Williams (2 July 1931 – 26 June 2022) was an English actor, best known for playing Reverend Timothy Farthing in the BBC television sitcom Dad's Army (1969–1977). Often cast as a member of the clergy, Williams appeared in similar roles in sitcoms including The Worker, Vanity Fair, Hi-de-Hi and You Rang, M'lord? and film What's Up Nurse!. Williams reprised his role of Reverend Farthing in the 2016 film adaptation of Dad's Army. Early life Williams was born in Edgware, Middlesex, on 2 July 1931, to William Williams, a Welsh nonconformist, and his wife Alice (née Myles). He was educated at a school which temporarily functioned in St Andrew’s Church, Edgware, and two private schools before attending Ardingly College, West Sussex, and Hendon School (then Hendon County School). Williams was an only child and in 1956 bought a house one and a half miles away from his parents' house. Career Williams started his acting career in repertory theatre and worked with the Watford Palace Theatre, which was being run by Jimmy Perry, the creator of Dad's Army some years later. Williams also met many of his future co-stars including Michael Knowles, Colin Bean, Donald Hewlett and Mavis Pugh. At the time, television was in its infancy and it was this sector of the industry that Williams wished to enter. He made several television appearances throughout the 1950s, during series one of The Army Game he made various small appearances and in 1957 was invited back as a regular character, the commanding officer Captain Pocket. Williams continued to play the role until the series ended in 1960. In total, he appeared in 116 episodes of The Army Game which were transmitted weekly. His first film appearance was as an uncredited extra in The Story of Gilbert and Sullivan in 1953, his first larger role came in 1956 with the film The Extra Day in which he played the role of Sid. Williams went on to appear in three films with Norman Wisdom including: The Square Peg (1958), The Bulldog Breed (1960) and A Stitch In Time (1963). He then appeared in films such as: Inn for Trouble (1960), Just for Fun (1963), Hide and Seek (1964), Headline Hunters (1968), One of Our Dinosaurs Is Missing (1975), Jabberwocky (1977), What's Up Nurse! (1977), The Human Factor (1979) and Oh! Heavenly Dog (1980). He had a leading role in the BBC TV