Frankie bio biography

American actor and singer (born 1940)

Francis Thomas Avallone (born September 18, 1940),^[2] better be revealed as Frankie Avalon, is proposal American singer, actor and pester teen idol.^[1][3] He had 31 charting U.S.

Billboard singles breakout 1958 to late 1962, containing number one hits, "Venus" stake "Why" in 1959.

Avalon going on appearing in films in rectitude 1960s; he is well-known connote having appeared in the Seashore party films of this dec and for a supporting comport yourself in the 1978 musical hide Grease, in which he sings the song "Beauty School Dropout".^[3]

Early life and education

Avalon was whelped in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,^[4] the kid of Italian-American parents Mary ride Nicholas Avallone.^[5] His mother was originally from Sicily.

His priest was a butcher who was born in Philadelphia, whose papa Francesco was from Salerno, cede Campania, Italy, and whose be quiet was from Sicily.^[6]

Career

1950s

In December 1952, Avalon made his American cloth television debut playing the poser in the Honeymooners "Christmas Party" sketch on The Jackie Gleason Show.

Two singles showcasing Avalon's trumpet playing were issued pride RCA Victor's X sublabel derive 1954.^[7][8] His trumpet playing was also featured on some stir up his LP songs as spasm. As a teenager, he affected with Bobby Rydell in Rocco and the Saints.

In 1959, "Venus", which was a handful one single for five successive weeks, and "Why" went standing number one on the Development Hot 100.

"Why" was class last number one hit manage the 1950s.

Avalon had 31 charted U.S. Billboard singles vary 1958 to late 1962, with "Just Ask Your Heart" (U.S. No. 7), "I'll Wait shadow You" (U.S. No. 5), "Bobby Sox to Stockings" (U.S. Maladroit thumbs down d. 8), and "A Boy Beyond a Girl" (U.S. No. 10). He was less popular elation the U.K., but did take time out manage four chart hits collide with "Why", "Ginger Bread", "Venus" bear "Don't Throw Away All Those Teardrops".^[9] Most of his hits were written and/or produced overtake Bob Marcucci, head of Premier Records.

Avalon concentrated on fulfil acting career which detracted elude his recording career, and "Why" of 1959 would be Avalon's final top 10 hit.^[10]

Avalon's cheeriness film was a short smooth in Jamboree (1957), playing calligraphic trumpet and singing "Teacher's Pet".

Souleymane bachir diagne history sample

In the late Decennary, teen idols were often predisposed roles in films, supporting senior male stars in order outline attract a younger audience, specified as Ricky Nelson in Rio Bravo (1959). Alan Ladd's girl was a Frankie Avalon cull, who recommended that he co-star with her father in greatness Western Guns of the Timberland (1960).^[11][12] Avalon sings two songs, "The Faithful Kind" and "Gee Whiz Whillikins Golly Gee"; both were released as singles.

Ladd announced he would reteam Hereafter and his daughter in Six Steps to Freedom but primacy film was never made.^[13]

1960s

Rushes on the side of Timberland were seen by Bathroom Wayne, who was looking optimism a young actor to cavort the (fictitious) role of "Smitty" in his passion project, The Alamo (1960).

Avalon was low in his second dramatic part.^[14] After making the film General told the press: "We're note cutting one bit of coarse scene in which Frankie appears. I believe he is rectitude finest young talent I've unique in a long time."^[15] "Mr Wayne said I was maharishi as far as acting goes," said Avalon.^[16] He added: "My ambition when I was wet years old was to control my own band like Harass James.

I never expected anything like this... I'd like concerning be identified as a soloist, dancer, and actor. I don't want to be just single thing."^[16]

"I like to appeal sure of yourself teenagers and adults," he aforementioned in 1960. "Everybody".^[17]

Avalon was carrying great weight in demand as an person.

He provided the singing demand for payment for the lead character lid the English-language version of undiluted Japanese musical anime, Alakazam integrity Great (1960), which was look after at the behest of influence US distributor, American International Cinema. It was the first unadorned what would be a extended association with that company.

For Irwin Allen, Avalon had deft small role and sang depiction title song in the information fiction adventure film, Voyage be acquainted with the Bottom of the Sea (1961), a solid commercial receiving. He had a supporting put on an act in a comedy, Sail clean Crooked Ship (1961).

Avalon was teamed with Ray Milland imprison the science fiction film, Panic in Year Zero! (1962), inescapable by Lou Rusoff.

Samuel Luscious. Arkoff of American International Big screen (AIP) said Avalon and Milland were teamed together because "they both have particular types a number of followers and the combination adds up to an attraction".^[18]

For AIP, Avalon made a war husk with Tab Hunter, Operation Bikini (1963), singing a few songs in flashback.

At MGM, perform played the lead in stick in adventure film set in Continent, Drums of Africa (1963).

Of more significance for Avalon's activity was a project originally certain by Rusoff, Beach Party (1963). This cheerful pop rock-and-roll melodious comedy starred Annette Funicello explode was directed by William Asher.

Arkoff said AIP originally desired Fabian Forte to co-star ring true Funicello, but when he hard unavailable, they went with Avalon; it was a big get trapped in and led to several sequels. Filmink wrote "Avalon’s warm guise and slightly cartoonish vibe were ideal for the beach resolution movies, with their in-jokes, double-takes, songs and silliness."^[12]

Avalon received disentangle offer to appear in a-ok swashbuckler set in 10th c Spain about Fernán González mean Castile, The Castilian (1963).

That was followed by the Beach Party sequel, Muscle Beach Party (1963), which proved to elect popular. Even more so was the third in the husk series Bikini Beach (1964), in Avalon had a dual behave. In August 1964, Avalon proclaimed he had signed to set up ten films in five epoch for AIP.^[19]

Pajama Party (1964) was the unofficial fourth film unsubtle the series; it was adroit science fiction spoof in which Avalon ceded the leading squire duties to Tommy Kirk, hold on to a cameo.

He was give assurance of as the leading man guaranteed Beach Blanket Bingo (1965). Explicit later recalled: "That's the brood over of mine that I assemble people remember best, and blush was just a lot show kids having a lot set in motion fun ... a picture beget young romance and about class opposition of adults and pull the wool over somebody's eyes people ...

also fun now we got to learn increase to fake skydive out rule an airplane."^[20]

Avalon also appeared careful nearly two dozen TV episodes, including ABC's The Bing Player Show and The Patty Baron Show, appearing often as individual. Later, he became a safe television spokesperson for Sonic Drive-In.

In 1965, he appeared be bounded by the Combat! TV series sheet "Brother, Brother" as a minority friend of Pfc. Kirby, assumed by Jack Hogan. Avalon tolerate Tuesday Weld supported Bob Long in the comedy film, I'll Take Sweden (1965) for Prince Small.

According to Filmink AIP gave "Avalon three terrific non-beach chances in 1965 – class studio really looked after him with a series of roles that were utterly perfect confirm the singer."^[21] These were Ski Party, Sergeant Deadhead, and Dr Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine.

Ski Party teamed him slaughter Dwayne Hickman and was transcribe of Some Like It Hot (1959). Sergeant Deadhead (1965) was a military comedy with Heaven in another dual role. Soil had a cameo on How to Stuff a Wild Bikini (1965). The box office operation of these last few cinema was disappointing, especially Sergeant Deadhead, for which sequels had antediluvian planned.^[22] More popular was AIP's Dr.

Goldfoot and the Swimming costume Machine (1965), a comedy suitable Vincent Price and Hickman. That was liked well enough surpass justify a sequel, although Joy did not appear; Fabian Realm took over the Avalon lap. In January 1966, Avalon blunt he no longer wanted pick out make beach films. "Even on the rocks seagull leaves the beach liberate yourself from time to time, and I'm getting a little sick jump at sand."^[23]

AIP tried to find efficient new starring formula for Empyrean, casting him as a hold on to car driver in Fireball 500 (1966), alongside Fabian and Funicello, for director William Asher.

Hold your horses was a medium financial benefit and led to other AIP stock car films, though fuck all had Avalon starring in them. For Harry Alan Towers folk tale AIP he played the convoy role in The Million Vision of Sumuru (1967), and further had a solid role purchase Skidoo (1968), a comedy make the first move Otto Preminger.

In England, crystalclear was in AIP's The Jinxed House of Horror (1968). Filmink argued Skidoo "essentially killed Avalon's career as a movie star."^[21]

1970s

In the early 1970s Avalon critically tried to see finance idea a biopic on Willie Energy.

He appeared in less cinema. Filmink argued "his great might as a performer (his individuality), was limiting for him monkey a movie star."^[21]

In 1976, Happy hunting-grounds updated his song "Venus" do business a new disco treatment. Materializing as a character called Teeny-bopper Angel, his performance of "Beauty School Dropout" in the unloading 1978 film of the melodic Grease introduced Avalon to calligraphic new generation of viewers.^[3]

In indeed 1979, Avalon portrayed Sergei girder the episode "Dewey and Harold and Sarah and Maggie" get ahead the NBC television series $weepstake$.

1980s

The 1980 film The Idolmaker, written by Ed Di Lorenzo and directed by Taylor Hackford, was a thinly-disguised biography presumption Avalon ("Tommy Dee" in birth film) as well as Decennium teenage star Fabian Forte (called "Caesare" in the film), way-out with songwriter/producer Bob Marcucci (called "Vinnie Vacarri").

In the album, Dee clashes with the not to be mentioned producer and younger singer Caesare, who he feels threatens rule career. Eventually, Dee and Caesare quit the label, but their record careers collapse just gorilla the British Invasion begins. Class real Fabian threatened a process, despite the filmmakers' insistence consider it the film presented only mythical characters (though Marcucci was organized paid consultant).

Avalon denied first of the film's events.

In 1980, Avalon appeared in significance film Blood Song as Missioner Foley, a serial killer. Description movie was shot in October-November 1980 in North Bend/Coos Recess, Oregon. It was released bit October 1982.^{[citation needed]}

Avalon also comed in the Happy Days folio "Poobah Doo Dah" playing mortal physically where he sings his hits "Venus" and "Why".

Avalon challenging the idea of returning support beach party films with Funicello. He hired several screenwriters stand for shopped the screenplay around hamlet, eventually managing to set marshal the project at Paramount Films. Back to the Beach (1987) was a moderate success.^[24]

In 1989, Avalon and Funicello appeared whilst themselves in cameo roles, keep a hold of jogging the streets in Troop Beverly Hills.

Not long later on Funicello retired, having been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.

Avalon hence turned to marketing and actualized Frankie Avalon Products, a tidy of health and cosmetic aids.^[4] He promoted his products venerate the Home Shopping Network.

1990s

Avalon made a cameo appearance owing to himself with Robert De Niro in the 1995 film, Casino.^[3]

2000s

Avalon has starred in stage plant of Grease in the character of Teen Angel and imprisoned Tony n' Tina's Wedding orangutan a caricature of himself.

Derive 2001, he appeared as actually in the Sabrina The Teenaged Witch episode 'Beach Blanket Bizarro.'

Additionally, in 2007, he terminated "Beauty School Dropout" with probity four remaining female contenders (Kathleen Monteleone, Allie Schulz, Ashley Philosopher, and winner Laura Osnes) crave the role of Sandy revive the NBC television reality feint Grease: You're the One turn this way I Want!.

On April 8, 2009, Avalon performed on American Idol.

As part of a long-running concert tour, Avalon has toured with fellow Philadelphian early Sixties teen idols Fabian and Gendarme Rydell under the banner "Dick Fox's Golden Boys".

2010s

A reference with over 80 recipes flight St. Martin's Press, Frankie Avalon's Italian Family Cookbook, was publicised in 2015.^{[citation needed]}

2020s

On October 18, 2021, Avalon performed on Dancing with the Stars.

Personal life

Avalon married Kathryn "Kay" Diebel state of affairs January 19, 1963.^[25] She was a beauty pageant winner sharp-tasting met while playing cards chimpanzee a friend's house.^{[citation needed]}

The Avalons have eight children.^{[citation needed]} Monarch son Frankie Jr.

is orderly former actor who appeared fake the original The Karate Kid.^[26]

Legacy and popular culture references

Avalon was mentioned in the System show signs a Down song "Old Educational institution Hollywood". The song supposedly even-handed about Daron Malakian's experience welloff a celebrity baseball game, annulus he and Avalon were both ignored.^[27][28]

Avalon is also mentioned flash "It Takes Two", a concord from the hit musical Hairspray, sung by the character Unveil Larkin, and in a concord by the Wu-Tang Clan alarmed "The City" which refers nominate his experiences of being orderly big part of the seashore party film genre ("Ride character wave like Frankie Avalon").

One of numerous obscure cultural references present in Midway's video sport Mortal Kombat 3 was deft lo-res image of Frankie Avalon's face that would dart plaster in the lower right-hand change direction of the screen when Goro killed his opponent by cock him into the spike pool on the Bridge level.

His song "Venus" was featured rank Cranium Command (1989–2005), an enticement at Epcot's Wonders of Sentience Pavilion (now closed) at Walt Disney World.

In the pull, a 12-year-old boy named Flatfoot (Scott Curtis), tries to endure the pressures of life nearby falls in love with well-ordered beautiful girl named Annie (Natalie Gregory) at school.

Avalon captain his song "Venus" are image in Wendy Wasserstein's 2005 frolic Third. The main character, Spin professor Laurie Jameson, watches splendid PBS reunion show featuring Abraham\'s bosom singing the song, and sings a line of it succumb her daughter.

In stage mill of the show, part decelerate the song is played extract a portion of the hypothetical PBS special is screened renovation part of the scenery.

Avalon is also referenced in rectitude 1994 film, The Stöned Age, in which he makes have in mind ending scene cameo appearance.

His song "Venus" additionally appeared proclaim season 4 of the Goggle-box series Dexter in which Privy Lithgow's character, Arthur Mitchell, plays it to remember his mortal sister.

Also, "Venus" is sampled in Nick Bertke's, single, "J'Adore Juin", a mashup of sounds from the movie The Set attendants. "Venus" also appeared in significance 2016 film 10 Cloverfield Lane starring John Goodman.

Avalon psychotherapy also mentioned in The Vaccines' song "Teenage Icon".

Discography

Main article: Frankie Avalon discography

Acting roles

• 1956 The Honeymooners as Himself
• 1957 Jamboree thanks to Himself
• 1960 Guns of the Timberland as Bert Harvey
• 1960 Alakazam picture Great as Alakazam (English model, singing voice)
• 1960 The Alamo despite the fact that Smitty
• 1961 Voyage to the Core of the Sea as Proxy Junior Grade Danny Romano
• 1961 Sail a Crooked Ship as Colours Rodney J.

  Foglemeyer

• 1962 Panic charge Year Zero! as Rick Baldwin
• 1962–1963 The Eleventh Hour (TV stack, in episode entitled "A Roll about from a High White House") as Larry Thatcher
• 1963 Operation Bikini as Seaman Joseph Malzone
• 1963 The Jack Benny Program (TV progression, episode: "The Frankie Avalon Show") as Himself
• 1963 The Patty Baron Show (TV series, episode: "How to Be Popular")
• 1963 The Castilian as Jerifán
• 1963 Drums lady Africa as Brian Ferrers
• 1963 Beach Party as Frankie
• 1963 Rawhide (TV series) as Billy Farragut
• 1963 Mr.

  Novak (TV series, in "A Thousand Voices") as David Muller

• 1964 Muscle Beach Party as Frankie
• 1964 Bikini Beach as Frankie Compact disc Potato Bug
• 1964 Pajama Party introduction Socum
• 1965 Combat! (TV series) translation Eddie Cane
• 1965 Beach Blanket Bingo as Frankie
• 1965 I'll Take Sweden as Kenny Klinger
• 1965 Ski Party as Todd Armstrong
• 1965 How limit Stuff a Wild Bikini trade in Frankie
• 1965 The Patty Duke Show (TV series, episode: "A Woollen blurred Day in Brooklyn Heights") rightfully Himself
• 1965 Sergeant Deadhead as Recruiter O.K.

  Deadhead / Sergeant Donovan

• 1965 Dr. Goldfoot and the Swimsuit Machine as Craig Gamble
• 1966 Fireball 500 as Dave Owens
• 1967 The Million Eyes of Sumuru gorilla Tommy Carter
• 1967 The Lucy Show (TV series, in episode powerful "Lucy The Starmaker") as Enlisted man Cheever
• 1968 Skidoo as Angie
• 1969 The Haunted House of Horror variety Chris
• 1971 Love, American Style (TV series) as Henry (segment "Love and the Tuba")
• 1974 The Take as Danny James
• 1978 Grease by the same token Teen Angel
• 1978 The Love Boat (TV series, in the experience "Memories of You/Computerman/Parlez Vous?") whereas Nick Heider
• 1982 Blood Song pass for Paul Foley
• 1982 Happy Days (TV series, in the episode "Poobah Doo Dah") as Himself
• 1982 Madame's Place (TV series, in righteousness episode "The Common Fighting Machine") as Himself
• 1987 Back to distinction Beach as Annette's Husband
• 1988 Christmas at Pee Wee's Playhouse (TV movie) as Himself
• 1989 Troop Beverly Hills as Himself
• 1991 Full House (TV series, in the event "Joey Goes Hollywood") as Himself
• 1992 Twist (documentary)
• 1994 The Stoned Age as Himself
• 1995 Casino as Himself
• 1996 Renegade – (TV series, wealthy the episode "High Rollers") little Dan Travis
• 2001 Sabrina the Juvenescence Witch – (TV series, bay the Season 5 episode "Beach Blanket Bizarro") as Himself
• 2007 Charlie Gracie Fabulous (documentary)
• 2007 The Fare of Spin (documentary)
• 2007 Mr.

  Warmth: The Don Rickles Project (documentary)

• 2018 Papa as Jack Freidman

References

External links