Cold-eyed Australian character actor known particularly for his biblical villains Pontius Pilate in Ben-Hur (1959) and King Herod in King of Kings (1961). Also played Herod in an acclaimed 1950s stage production of "Salome.".
His father, F.W. Thring, invented the forerunner of the clapperboard still in use today. He was also big in early theatre and film production in Australia.