Franklin Dyall was an
actor who appeared in 26 films between 1916 and 1948 including The Private Lives of Henry VIII (1933) in which he played Thomas Cromwell, and Fire Over England (1937). His father, Charles Dyall, had been Secretary of the
Lyceum and was the first curator of the Walker Art Gallery. His son, Valentine
Dyall, was also an actor who was known for many years as "The Man in
Black", the narrator of the BBC Radio horror series Appointment With Fear. Franklin Dyall was married to the actress Mary Merrall,
who was also born in Liverpool. Dyall lived at 100 Aubrey Street in Everton and
17 Smithdown Road, Wavertree both of which have been demolished. Dyall attended the Liverpool Institute school.
