Frankie Avalon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Frankie Avalon
|
|
|---|---|
Avalon in 1959
|
|
| Born |
Francis Thomas Avallone
September 18, 1940 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
|
| Occupation | Singer, actor |
| Years active | 1952–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Kathryn Diebel
(m. 1963) |
| Children | 8 |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments | |
Francis Thomas Avallone (born September 18, 1940), known as Frankie Avalon, is an American singer and actor. He was a popular "teen idol" in the late 1950s. He had many hit songs, including two that reached number one in 1959: "Venus" and "Why".
Frankie Avalon also became a well-known actor in the 1960s. He starred in several fun "beach party" movies. Later, he had a memorable role in the 1978 musical film Grease, where he sang "Beauty School Dropout".
Contents
Early life and beginnings
Frankie Avalon was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His parents were Mary and Nicholas Avallone. His family had roots in Italy, with his mother from Sicily and his father's family from Salerno and Sicily.
Career highlights
Music in the 1950s
Frankie Avalon first appeared on national television in December 1952. He played the trumpet on The Jackie Gleason Show. As a teenager, he also played music with his friend Bobby Rydell in a band called Rocco and the Saints.
In 1959, Frankie had two huge number one hits: "Venus" and "Why". "Why" was actually the very last number one song of the 1950s. Between 1958 and 1962, he had 31 songs that made it onto the U.S. Billboard charts. Some of his other popular songs included "Just Ask Your Heart" and "I'll Wait for You".
Acting in the 1960s
Frankie Avalon started acting in films in the late 1950s. His first movie appearance was in Jamboree (1957). He played the trumpet and sang a song.
In 1960, he got a big acting role in the Western movie The Alamo, starring John Wayne. Wayne was very impressed with Frankie's acting. Frankie also provided the singing voice for a character in the animated film Alakazam the Great (1960).
He appeared in other movies like the science fiction film Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961). He also starred with Ray Milland in Panic in Year Zero! (1962).
Beach party films
A very important part of Frankie's career was starring in the "beach party" movies. These were fun musical comedies. The first one was Beach Party (1963), where he starred with Annette Funicello. It was a big hit! This led to many sequels, including Muscle Beach Party (1963) and Bikini Beach (1964).
One of his most remembered beach films is Beach Blanket Bingo (1965). Frankie said it was "a lot of kids having a lot of fun" and "about young romance". He also appeared in many TV shows during this time, like The Patty Duke Show.
By 1966, Frankie wanted to try different types of movies. He starred in a stock car racing film called Fireball 500 (1966). He also appeared in the comedy Skidoo (1968).
Later career
In 1978, Frankie Avalon gained new fans with his role in the movie Grease. He played the "Teen Angel" and sang the famous song "Beauty School Dropout".
In the 1980s, Frankie had the idea to make a new beach party movie with Annette Funicello. This led to the film Back to the Beach (1987), which was quite successful. He also started his own business, Frankie Avalon Products, selling health and beauty items.
In 1995, he made a cameo appearance as himself with Robert De Niro in the film Casino.
Frankie Avalon has continued to perform on stage. He has played the Teen Angel in stage versions of Grease. In 2009, he performed on American Idol. He also tours with other famous singers from his era, like Fabian and Bobby Rydell, in a show called "Dick Fox's Golden Boys".
In 2015, Frankie Avalon released a cookbook called Frankie Avalon's Italian Family Cookbook. In 2021, he performed on Dancing with the Stars.
Personal life
Frankie Avalon married Kathryn "Kay" Diebel on January 19, 1963. They met while playing cards at a friend's house. Kay was a beauty pageant winner.
Frankie and Kay Avalon have eight children. Their son, Frankie Jr., was an actor who appeared in the original The Karate Kid movie.
Discography
Acting roles
- 1956 The Honeymooners as Himself
- 1957 Jamboree as Himself
- 1960 Guns of the Timberland as Bert Harvey
- 1960 Alakazam the Great as Alakazam (English version, singing voice)
- 1960 The Alamo as Smitty
- 1961 Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea as Lieutenant Junior Grade Danny Romano
- 1961 Sail a Crooked Ship as Ensign Rodney J. Foglemeyer
- 1962 Panic in Year Zero! as Rick Baldwin
- 1962–1963 The Eleventh Hour (TV series, in episode entitled "A Tumble from a High White House") as Larry Thatcher
- 1963 Operation Bikini as Seaman Joseph Malzone
- 1963 The Jack Benny Program (TV series, episode: "The Frankie Avalon Show") as Himself
- 1963 The Patty Duke Show (TV series, episode: "How to Be Popular")
- 1963 The Castilian as Jerifán
- 1963 Drums of 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 / Potato Bug
- 1964 Pajama Party as Socum
- 1965 Combat! (TV series) as Eddie Cane
- 1965 Beach Blanket Bingo as Frankie
- 1965 I'll Take Sweden as Kenny Klinger
- 1965 Ski Party as Todd Armstrong
- 1965 How to Stuff a Wild Bikini as Frankie
- 1965 The Patty Duke Show (TV series, episode: "A Foggy Day in Brooklyn Heights") as Himself
- 1965 Sergeant Deadhead as Sergeant O.K. Deadhead / Sergeant Donovan
- 1965 Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine as Craig Gamble
- 1966 Fireball 500 as Dave Owens
- 1967 The Million Eyes of Sumuru as Tommy Carter
- 1967 The Lucy Show (TV series, in episode entitled "Lucy The Starmaker") as Tommy Cheever
- 1968 Skidoo as Angie
- 1969 The Haunted House of Horror as Chris
- 1971 Love, American Style (TV series) as Henry (segment "Love and the Tuba")
- 1974 The Take as Danny James
- 1978 Grease as Teen Angel
- 1978 The Love Boat (TV series, in the episode "Memories of You/Computerman/Parlez Vous?") as Nick Heider
- 1982 Blood Song as Paul Foley
- 1982 Happy Days (TV series, in the episode "Poobah Doo Dah") as Himself
- 1982 Madame's Place (TV series, in the episode "The Common Fighting Machine") as Himself
- 1987 Back to the 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 episode "Joey Goes Hollywood") as Himself
- 1992 Twist (documentary)
- 1995 Casino as Himself
- 1996 Renegade – (TV series, in the episode "High Rollers") as Dan Travis
- 2001 Sabrina the Teenage Witch – (TV series, in the Season 5 episode "Beach Blanket Bizarro") as Himself
- 2007 Charlie Gracie Fabulous (documentary)
- 2007 The Wages of Spin (documentary)
- 2007 Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project (documentary)
- 2018 Papa as Jack Freidman
See also
In Spanish: Frankie Avalon para niños
