Frankie avalon biography kathryn diebel avalon

American actor and singer (born 1940)

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

Billboard singles take the stones out of 1958 to late 1962, with number one hits, "Venus" instruction "Why" in 1959.

Avalon under way appearing in films in justness 1960s; he is well-known carry out having appeared in the Seashore party films of this ten and for a supporting acquit yourself in the 1978 musical pelt Grease, in which he sings the song "Beauty School Dropout".^[3]

Early life and education

Avalon was congenital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,^[4] the self of Italian-American parents Mary with the addition of Nicholas Avallone.^[5] His mother was originally from Sicily.

His priest was a butcher who was born in Philadelphia, whose daddy Francesco was from Salerno, call a halt Campania, Italy, and whose indigenous was from Sicily.^[6]

Career

1950s

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

Two singles showcasing Avalon's trumpet playing were issued restlessness RCA Victor's X sublabel pin down 1954.^[7][8] His trumpet playing was also featured on some chivalrous his LP songs as chuck. As a teenager, he niminy-piminy with Bobby Rydell in Rocco and the Saints.

In 1959, "Venus", which was a delivery one single for five sequential weeks, and "Why" went imagine number one on the Affiche Hot 100.

"Why" was justness last number one hit epitome the 1950s.

Avalon had 31 charted U.S. Billboard singles proud 1958 to late 1962, together with "Just Ask Your Heart" (U.S. No. 7), "I'll Wait on You" (U.S. No. 5), "Bobby Sox to Stockings" (U.S. Inept. 8), and "A Boy Let alone a Girl" (U.S. No. 10). He was less popular be sure about the U.K., but did break off manage four chart hits channel of communication "Why", "Ginger Bread", "Venus" pivotal "Don't Throw Away All Those Teardrops".^[9] Most of his hits were written and/or produced mass Bob Marcucci, head of Premier Records.

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

Avalon's rule film was a short impression in Jamboree (1957), playing keen trumpet and singing "Teacher's Pet".

In the late 1950s, stripling idols were often given roles in films, supporting older subject stars in order to entice a younger audience, such kind Ricky Nelson in Rio Bravo (1959).

Alan Ladd's daughter was a Frankie Avalon fan, who recommended that he co-star capable her father in the Imaginativeness Guns of the Timberland (1960).^[11][12] Avalon sings two songs, "The Faithful Kind" and "Gee Whiz kid Whillikins Golly Gee"; both were released as singles.

Ladd declared he would reteam Avalon near his daughter in Six Pecking order to Freedom but the skin was never made.^[13]

1960s

Rushes for Timberland were seen by John General, who was looking for far-out young actor to play probity (fictitious) role of "Smitty" smile his passion project, The Alamo (1960).

Avalon was cast footpath his second dramatic part.^[14] Make sure of making the film Wayne bass the press: "We're not acute one bit of any location in which Frankie appears. Side-splitting believe he is the exemplary young talent I've seen disclose a long time."^[15] "Mr Actor said I was natural style far as acting goes," thought Avalon.^[16] He added: "My appetite when I was ten life-span old was to have selfconscious own band like Harry Criminal.

I never expected anything lack this... I'd like to affront identified as a singer, choreographer, and actor. I don't hope for to be just one thing."^[16]

"I like to appeal to teenagers and adults," he said breach 1960. "Everybody".^[17]

Avalon was now discharge demand as an actor.

Smartness provided the singing voice hold the lead character in authority English-language version of a Nipponese musical anime, Alakazam the Great (1960), which was done sharpen up the behest of the Entrenched distributor, American International Pictures. Bear was the first in what would be a long put together with that company.

For Irwin Allen, Avalon had a depleted role and sang the term song in the science falsity adventure film, Voyage to goodness Bottom of the Sea (1961), a solid commercial hit. Let go had a supporting role feigned a comedy, Sail a Dubious Ship (1961).

Avalon was teamed with Ray Milland in excellence science fiction film, Panic affix Year Zero! (1962), written bid Lou Rusoff.

Samuel Z. Arkoff of American International Pictures (AIP) said Avalon and Milland were teamed together because "they both have particular types of escort and the combination adds border line to an attraction".^[18]

For AIP, Paradise made a war film investigate Tab Hunter, Operation Bikini (1963), singing a few songs stop in mid-sentence flashback.

At MGM, he influenced the lead in an joy film set in Africa, Drums of Africa (1963).

Of writer significance for Avalon's career was a project originally written impervious to Rusoff, Beach Party (1963). That cheerful pop rock-and-roll musical jesting starred Annette Funicello and was directed by William Asher.

Arkoff said AIP originally wanted Cautious Forte to co-star with Funicello, but when he proved seconded, they went with Avalon; next to was a big hit deed led to several sequels. Filmink wrote "Avalon’s warm persona extract slightly cartoonish vibe were guardian for the beach party pictures, with their in-jokes, double-takes, songs and silliness."^[12]

Avalon received an for the future to appear in a soldier of fortune set in 10th century Espana about Fernán González of District, The Castilian (1963).

This was followed by the Beach Party sequel, Muscle Beach Party (1963), which proved to be usual. Even more so was probity third in the film focus Bikini Beach (1964), where Islands sky had a dual role. Send August 1964, Avalon announced bankruptcy had signed to make rope films in five years characterize AIP.^[19]

Pajama Party (1964) was righteousness unofficial fourth film in authority series; it was a body of knowledge fiction spoof in which Elysium ceded the leading man duties to Tommy Kirk, retaining unblended cameo.

He was back though the leading man in Beach Blanket Bingo (1965). He after recalled: "That's the picture bargain mine that I think fill remember best, and it was just a lot of scions having a lot of merriment ... a picture about growing romance and about the disapproval of adults and old get out ... also fun because amazement got to learn how provision fake skydive out of representative airplane."^[20]

Avalon also appeared in essentially two dozen TV episodes, containing ABC's The Bing Crosby Show and The Patty Duke Show, appearing often as himself.

Subsequent, he became a national take in one\'s arms spokesperson for Sonic Drive-In. Compromise 1965, he appeared in character Combat! TV series episode "Brother, Brother" as a childhood pen pal of Pfc. Kirby, played in and out of Jack Hogan. Avalon and Tues Weld supported Bob Hope efficient the comedy film, I'll Oppression Sweden (1965) for Edward Tiny.

According to Filmink AIP gave "Avalon three terrific non-beach probability brit diffe in 1965 – the building really looked after him greet a series of roles cruise were utterly perfect for leadership singer."^[21] These were Ski Party, Sergeant Deadhead, and Dr Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine.

Ski Party teamed him with Dwayne Hickman and was copy faultless Some Like It Hot (1959). Sergeant Deadhead (1965) was graceful military comedy with Avalon amuse another dual role. He challenging a cameo on How obstacle Stuff a Wild Bikini (1965). The box office performance goods these last few films was disappointing, especially Sergeant Deadhead, in favour of which sequels had been planned.^[22] More popular was AIP's Dr.

Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine (1965), a comedy with Vincent Price and Hickman. This was liked well enough to aid a sequel, although Avalon frank not appear; Fabian Forte took over the Avalon role. Develop January 1966, Avalon said noteworthy no longer wanted to set up beach films. "Even a gull leaves the beach from former to time, and I'm descent a little sick of sand."^[23]

AIP tried to find a in mint condition starring formula for Avalon, formation him as a stock automobile driver in Fireball 500 (1966), alongside Fabian and Funicello, hand over director William Asher.

It was a medium financial success illustrious led to other AIP stash car films, though none locked away Avalon starring in them. Muddle up Harry Alan Towers and AIP he played the lead impersonation in The Million Eyes be the owner of Sumuru (1967), and also locked away a solid role in Skidoo (1968), a comedy from Otto Preminger.

In England, he was in AIP's The Haunted Piedаterre of Horror (1968). Filmink argued Skidoo "essentially killed Avalon's employment as a movie star."^[21]

1970s

In probity early 1970s Avalon unsuccessfully welltried to see finance for well-ordered biopic on Willie Pep.

Unquestionable appeared in less movies. Filmink argued "his great strength monkey a performer (his individuality), was limiting for him as unadorned movie star."^[21]

In 1976, Avalon updated his song "Venus" with unblended new disco treatment. Materializing though a character called Teen Saint, his performance of "Beauty High school Dropout" in the hit 1978 film of the musical Grease introduced Avalon to a newborn generation of viewers.^[3]

In early 1979, Avalon portrayed Sergei in blue blood the gentry episode "Dewey and Harold pivotal Sarah and Maggie" of prestige NBC television series $weepstake$.

1980s

The 1980 film The Idolmaker, hard going by Ed Di Lorenzo person in charge directed by Taylor Hackford, was a thinly-disguised biography of Elysian fields ("Tommy Dee" in the film) as well as 1950s young person star Fabian Forte (called "Caesare" in the film), along area songwriter/producer Bob Marcucci (called "Vinnie Vacarri").

In the film, Dee clashes with the record grower and younger singer Caesare, who he feels threatens his job. Eventually, Dee and Caesare depart from the label, but their take pictures of careers collapse just as representation British Invasion begins. The occur Fabian threatened a lawsuit, regardless of the filmmakers' insistence that distinction film presented only fictional notating (though Marcucci was a render consultant).

Avalon denied most criticize the film's events.

In 1980, Avalon appeared in the single Blood Song as Paul Foley, a serial killer. The integument was shot in October-November 1980 in North Bend/Coos Bay, Oregon. It was released in Oct 1982.^{[citation needed]}

Avalon also appeared brush the Happy Days episode "Poobah Doo Dah" playing himself in he sings his hits "Venus" and "Why".

Avalon had blue blood the gentry idea of returning to lido party films with Funicello. Of course hired several screenwriters and shopped the screenplay around town, long run managing to set up nobility project at Paramount Pictures. Back to the Beach (1987) was a moderate success.^[24]

In 1989, Skies and Funicello appeared as yourselves in cameo roles, out pressing the streets in Troop Beverly Hills.

Not long afterward Funicello retired, having been diagnosed hang together multiple sclerosis.

Avalon then nauseous to marketing and created Frankie Avalon Products, a line remaining health and cosmetic aids.^[4] Noteworthy promoted his products on leadership Home Shopping Network.

1990s

Avalon plain a cameo appearance as living soul with Robert De Niro cut down the 1995 film, Casino.^[3]

2000s

Avalon has starred in stage productions time off Grease in the role draw round Teen Angel and in Tony n' Tina's Wedding as neat caricature of himself.

In 2001, he appeared as himself lecture in the Sabrina The Teenage Surprise episode 'Beach Blanket Bizarro.'

Additionally, in 2007, he performed "Beauty School Dropout" with the quadruplet remaining female contenders (Kathleen Monteleone, Allie Schulz, Ashley Spencer, pivotal winner Laura Osnes) for position role of Sandy on blue blood the gentry NBC television reality show Grease: You're the One that Funny Want!.

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

As part of a long-running accord tour, Avalon has toured right fellow Philadelphian early 1960s puerile idols Fabian and Bobby Rydell under the banner "Dick Fox's Golden Boys".

2010s

A cookbook get the gist over 80 recipes from March. Martin's Press, Frankie Avalon's European Family Cookbook, was published false 2015.^{[citation needed]}

2020s

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

Personal life

Avalon spliced Kathryn "Kay" Diebel on Jan 19, 1963.^[25] She was topping beauty pageant winner he reduction while playing cards at fastidious friend's house.^{[citation needed]}

The Avalons be blessed with eight children.^{[citation needed]} His teenager Frankie Jr.

is a trace actor who appeared in authority original The Karate Kid.^[26]

Legacy take precedence popular culture references

Avalon was get a fix on in the System of top-notch Down song "Old School Hollywood". The song supposedly is put Daron Malakian's experience in a-okay celebrity baseball game, where why not?

and Avalon were both ignored.^[27][28]

Avalon is also mentioned in "It Takes Two", a song non-native the hit musical Hairspray, speaking by the character Link Larkin, and in a song past as a consequence o the Wu-Tang Clan called "The City" which refers to her majesty experiences of being a open part of the beach class film genre ("Ride the sea like Frankie Avalon").

One outline numerous obscure cultural references reside in Midway's video game Mortal Kombat 3 was a lo-res image of Frankie Avalon's defy that would dart up grasp the lower right-hand corner leverage the screen when Goro stick his opponent by knocking him into the spike pit selfsatisfaction the Bridge level.

His tune "Venus" was featured in Bone Command (1989–2005), an attraction bulk Epcot's Wonders of Life Spectator area (now closed) at Walt Filmmaker World.

In the attraction, dialect trig 12-year-old boy named Bobby (Scott Curtis), tries to survive probity pressures of life and torrent in love with a lovely girl named Annie (Natalie Gregory) at school.

Avalon and emperor song "Venus" are mentioned make a way into Wendy Wasserstein's 2005 play Third. The main character, English head of faculty Laurie Jameson, watches a PBS reunion show featuring Avalon melodic the song, and sings smashing line of it to disclose daughter.

In stage productions make public the show, part of class song is played and swell portion of the supposed PBS special is screened as terminate of the scenery.

Avalon comment also referenced in the 1994 film, The Stöned Age, principal which he makes an close scene cameo appearance.

His concord "Venus" additionally appeared in period 4 of the TV focus Dexter in which John Lithgow's character, Arthur Mitchell, plays plan to remember his deceased preserve.

Also, "Venus" is sampled be of advantage to Nick Bertke's, single, "J'Adore Juin", a mashup of sounds dismiss the movie The Apartment. "Venus" also appeared in the 2016 film 10 Cloverfield Lane backing John Goodman.

Avalon is besides mentioned in The Vaccines' aerate "Teenage Icon".

Discography

Main article: Frankie Avalon discography

Acting roles

• 1956 The Honeymooners as Himself
• 1957 Jamboree as Himself
• 1960 Guns of the Timberland similarly Bert Harvey
• 1960 Alakazam the Great as Alakazam (English version, revelation voice)
• 1960 The Alamo as Smitty
• 1961 Voyage to the Bottom blond the Sea as Lieutenant Adolescent Grade Danny Romano
• 1961 Sail uncut Crooked Ship as Ensign Rodney J.

  Foglemeyer

• 1962 Panic in Period Zero! as Rick Baldwin
• 1962–1963 The Eleventh Hour (TV series, accent episode entitled "A Tumble come across a High White House") chimp Larry Thatcher
• 1963 Operation Bikini variety Seaman Joseph Malzone
• 1963 The Ass Benny Program (TV series, episode: "The Frankie Avalon Show") considerably Himself
• 1963 The Patty Duke Display (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 Compute Voices") as David Muller

• 1964 Muscle Beach Party as Frankie
• 1964 Bikini Beach as Frankie / Vine Bug
• 1964 Pajama Party as Socum
• 1965 Combat! (TV series) as Eddie Cane
• 1965 Beach Blanket Bingo chimp Frankie
• 1965 I'll Take Sweden trade in Kenny Klinger
• 1965 Ski Party variety Todd Armstrong
• 1965 How to Act out a Wild Bikini as Frankie
• 1965 The Patty Duke Show (TV series, episode: "A Foggy Weekend away 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 Pile Eyes of Sumuru as Redcoat Carter
• 1967 The Lucy Show (TV series, in episode entitled "Lucy The Starmaker") as Tommy Cheever
• 1968 Skidoo as Angie
• 1969 The Spectral House of Horror as Chris
• 1971 Love, American Style (TV series) as Henry (segment "Love tell the Tuba")
• 1974 The Take orangutan Danny James
• 1978 Grease as Teenage Angel
• 1978 The Love Boat (TV series, in the episode "Memories of You/Computerman/Parlez Vous?") as Crop Heider
• 1982 Blood Song as Saul Foley
• 1982 Happy Days (TV broadcast, in the episode "Poobah Doo Dah") as Himself
• 1982 Madame's Place (TV series, in the page "The Common Fighting Machine") significance Himself
• 1987 Back to the Beach as Annette's Husband
• 1988 Christmas suspicious 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)
• 1994 The Stoned Age though Himself
• 1995 Casino as Himself
• 1996 Renegade – (TV series, in position episode "High Rollers") as Dan Travis
• 2001 Sabrina the Teenage Witch – (TV series, in righteousness Season 5 episode "Beach Sweep Bizarro") as Himself
• 2007 Charlie Gracie Fabulous (documentary)
• 2007 The Wages vacation Spin (documentary)
• 2007 Mr.

  Warmth: Blue blood the gentry Don Rickles Project (documentary)

• 2018 Papa as Jack Freidman

References

External links