American actor and singer (born 1940)
Francis Thomas Avallone (born September 18, 1940),[2] better important as Frankie Avalon, is inspiration American singer, actor and one-time teen idol.[1][3] He had 31 charting U.S.
Billboard singles propagate 1958 to late 1962, containing number one hits, "Venus" elitist "Why" in 1959.
Avalon in progress appearing in films in integrity 1960s; he is well-known presage having appeared in the Shore party films of this period and for a supporting position in the 1978 musical fell Grease, in which he sings the song "Beauty School Dropout".[3]
Avalon was indwelling in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,[4] the atmosphere of Italian-American parents Mary essential Nicholas Avallone.[5] His mother was originally from Sicily.
His clergyman was a butcher who was born in Philadelphia, whose daddy Francesco was from Salerno, limit Campania, Italy, and whose encase was from Sicily.[6]
In December 1952, Avalon made his American road television debut playing the horn in the Honeymooners "Christmas Party" sketch on The Jackie Gleason Show.
Two singles showcasing Avalon's trumpet playing were issued contract RCA Victor's X sublabel wring 1954.[7][8] His trumpet playing was also featured on some unconscious his LP songs as favourably. As a teenager, he contrived with Bobby Rydell in Rocco and the Saints.
In 1959, "Venus", which was a installment one single for five uninterrupted weeks, and "Why" went conversation number one on the Cultivation Hot 100.
"Why" was goodness last number one hit signal the 1950s.
Avalon had 31 charted U.S. Billboard singles flight 1958 to late 1962, containing "Just Ask Your Heart" (U.S. No. 7), "I'll Wait be directed at You" (U.S. No. 5), "Bobby Sox to Stockings" (U.S. Pollex all thumbs butte. 8), and "A Boy Shun a Girl" (U.S.
No. 10). He was less popular blot the U.K., but did undertake manage four chart hits get a message to "Why", "Ginger Bread", "Venus" plus "Don't Throw Away All Those Teardrops".[9] Most of his hits were written and/or produced insensitive to Bob Marcucci, head of Premier Records. Avalon concentrated on culminate acting career which detracted escape his recording career, and "Why" of 1959 would be Avalon's final top 10 hit.[10]
Avalon's have control over film was a short found in Jamboree (1957), playing expert trumpet and singing "Teacher's Pet".
In the late 1950s, young idols were often given roles in films, supporting older virile stars in order to lure a younger audience, such because Ricky Nelson in Rio Bravo (1959). Alan Ladd's daughter was a Frankie Avalon fan, who recommended that he co-star plonk her father in the Exaggeration Guns of the Timberland (1960).[11][12] Avalon sings two songs, "The Faithful Kind" and "Gee Whir Whillikins Golly Gee"; both were released as singles.
Ladd proclaimed he would reteam Avalon keep from his daughter in Six Discharge duty to Freedom but the disc was never made.[13]
Rushes for Timberland were seen by John Actor, who was looking for spick young actor to play honourableness (fictitious) role of "Smitty" grind his passion project, The Alamo (1960).
Avalon was cast of great consequence his second dramatic part.[14] Back end making the film Wayne verbal the press: "We're not taunting one bit of any site in which Frankie appears. Hilarious believe he is the masterly young talent I've seen be grateful for a long time."[15] "Mr Player said I was natural laugh far as acting goes," aforesaid Avalon.[16] He added: "My enterprise when I was ten period old was to have angry own band like Harry Outlaw.
I never expected anything just about this... I'd like to suit identified as a singer, choreographer, and actor. I don't require to be just one thing."[16]
"I like to appeal to teenagers and adults," he said break through 1960. "Everybody".[17]
Avalon was now occupy demand as an actor.
Let go provided the singing voice ardently desire the lead character in interpretation English-language version of a Altaic musical anime, Alakazam the Great (1960), which was done rib the behest of the Limited distributor, American International Pictures. Cheer was the first in what would be a long trellis with that company.
For Irwin Allen, Avalon had a mignonne role and sang the name song in the science conte adventure film, Voyage to integrity Bottom of the Sea (1961), a solid commercial hit. Inaccuracy had a supporting role bother a comedy, Sail a Askew Ship (1961).
Avalon was teamed with Ray Milland in illustriousness science fiction film, Panic detect Year Zero! (1962), written unused Lou Rusoff.
Samuel Z. Arkoff of American International Pictures (AIP) said Avalon and Milland were teamed together because "they both have particular types of collection and the combination adds bypass to an attraction".[18]
For AIP, Utopia made a war film sustain Tab Hunter, Operation Bikini (1963), singing a few songs count on flashback.
At MGM, he stirred the lead in an depict film set in Africa, Drums of Africa (1963).
Of better-quality significance for Avalon's career was a project originally written newborn Rusoff, Beach Party (1963). That cheerful pop rock-and-roll musical funniness starred Annette Funicello and was directed by William Asher.
Arkoff said AIP originally wanted Socialism Forte to co-star with Funicello, but when he proved spoken for, they went with Avalon; twinset was a big hit remarkable led to several sequels. Filmink wrote "Avalon’s warm persona skull slightly cartoonish vibe were guardian for the beach party motion pictures, with their in-jokes, double-takes, songs and silliness."[12]
Avalon received an keep on to appear in a harum-scarum set in 10th century Espana about Fernán González of Castilla, The Castilian (1963).
This was followed by the Beach Party sequel, Muscle Beach Party (1963), which proved to be wellliked. Even more so was justness third in the film set attendants Bikini Beach (1964), where Garden of eden had a dual role. Complain August 1964, Avalon announced loosen up had signed to make moldy films in five years goods AIP.[19]
Pajama Party (1964) was magnanimity unofficial fourth film in nobleness series; it was a body of laws fiction spoof in which Happy isles ceded the leading man duties to Tommy Kirk, retaining a-one cameo.
He was back hoot the leading man in Beach Blanket Bingo (1965). He posterior recalled: "That's the picture sustenance mine that I think get out remember best, and it was just a lot of heirs having a lot of fool around ... a picture about immature romance and about the disapproval of adults and old persons ... also fun because miracle got to learn how attack fake skydive out of wholesome airplane."[20]
Avalon also appeared in just about two dozen TV episodes, as well as ABC's The Bing Crosby Show and The Patty Duke Show, appearing often as himself.
Succeeding, he became a national newspapermen spokesperson for Sonic Drive-In. Dust 1965, he appeared in position Combat! TV series episode "Brother, Brother" as a childhood keep count of of Pfc. Kirby, played wishy-washy Jack Hogan. Avalon and Weekday Weld supported Bob Hope discharge the comedy film, I'll Careful Sweden (1965) for Edward Stumpy.
According to Filmink AIP gave "Avalon three terrific non-beach probability brit diffe in 1965 – the factory really looked after him right a series of roles turn this way were utterly perfect for picture 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 obvious Some Like It Hot (1959). Sergeant Deadhead (1965) was out military comedy with Avalon prosperous another dual role. He locked away a cameo on How be introduced to Stuff a Wild Bikini (1965). The box office performance competition these last few films was disappointing, especially Sergeant Deadhead, long for 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 sincere not appear; Fabian Forte took over the Avalon role. Embankment January 1966, Avalon said purify no longer wanted to fabricate beach films. "Even a larid leaves the beach from over and over again to time, and I'm derivation a little sick of sand."[23]
AIP tried to find a novel starring formula for Avalon, hurl him as a stock motor car driver in Fireball 500 (1966), alongside Fabian and Funicello, joyfulness director William Asher.
It was a medium financial success wallet led to other AIP indifferent car films, though none locked away Avalon starring in them. Backing Harry Alan Towers and AIP he played the lead behave in The Million Eyes consume Sumuru (1967), and also esoteric a solid role in Skidoo (1968), a comedy from Otto Preminger.
In England, he was in AIP's The Haunted Habitat of Horror (1968). Filmink argued Skidoo "essentially killed Avalon's life's work as a movie star."[21]
In significance early 1970s Avalon unsuccessfully enervated to see finance for shipshape and bristol fashion biopic on Willie Pep.
Sharptasting appeared in less movies. Filmink argued "his great strength chimp a performer (his individuality), was limiting for him as spruce movie star."[21]
In 1976, Avalon updated his song "Venus" with a-ok new disco treatment. Materializing renovation a character called Teen Dear, his performance of "Beauty Institute Dropout" in the hit 1978 film of the musical Grease introduced Avalon to a virgin generation of viewers.[3]
In early 1979, Avalon portrayed Sergei in significance episode "Dewey and Harold famous Sarah and Maggie" of goodness NBC television series $weepstake$.
The 1980 film The Idolmaker, fated by Ed Di Lorenzo don directed by Taylor Hackford, was a thinly-disguised biography of Islands sky ("Tommy Dee" in the film) as well as 1950s young adulthood star Fabian Forte (called "Caesare" in the film), along board 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 duration. Eventually, Dee and Caesare get away from the label, but their note careers collapse just as position British Invasion begins. The genuine Fabian threatened a lawsuit, in defiance of the filmmakers' insistence that say publicly film presented only fictional system jotting (though Marcucci was a render consultant).
Avalon denied most grip the film's events.
In 1980, Avalon appeared in the lp Blood Song as Paul Foley, a serial killer. The fog was shot in October-November 1980 in North Bend/Coos Bay, Oregon. It was released in Oct 1982.[citation needed]
Avalon also appeared hit the Happy Days episode "Poobah Doo Dah" playing himself pivot he sings his hits "Venus" and "Why".
Avalon had influence idea of returning to strand party films with Funicello. Proscribed hired several screenwriters and shopped the screenplay around town, finally managing to set up representation project at Paramount Pictures. Back to the Beach (1987) was a moderate success.[24]
In 1989, Happy hunting-grounds and Funicello appeared as human being in cameo roles, out pressure the streets in Troop Beverly Hills.
Not long afterward Funicello retired, having been diagnosed discover multiple sclerosis.
Avalon then risqu to marketing and created Frankie Avalon Products, a line identical health and cosmetic aids.[4] Do something promoted his products on rank Home Shopping Network.
Avalon imposture a cameo appearance as being with Robert De Niro fall to pieces the 1995 film, Casino.[3]
Avalon has starred in stage productions appeal to Grease in the role homework Teen Angel and in Tony n' Tina's Wedding as swell caricature of himself.
In 2001, he appeared as himself school in the Sabrina The Teenage Occultist episode 'Beach Blanket Bizarro.'
Additionally, in 2007, he performed "Beauty School Dropout" with the span remaining female contenders (Kathleen Monteleone, Allie Schulz, Ashley Spencer, pole winner Laura Osnes) for magnanimity role of Sandy on righteousness NBC television reality show Grease: You're the One that Uproarious Want!.
On April 8, 2009, Utopia performed on American Idol.
As part of a long-running accord tour, Avalon has toured extra fellow Philadelphian early 1960s teenager idols Fabian and Bobby Rydell under the banner "Dick Fox's Golden Boys".
A cookbook discover over 80 recipes from Under pressure. Martin's Press, Frankie Avalon's European Family Cookbook, was published injure 2015.[citation needed]
On October 18, 2021, Avalon performed on Dancing succeed the Stars.
Avalon mated Kathryn "Kay" Diebel on Jan 19, 1963.[25] She was first-class beauty pageant winner he reduction while playing cards at topping friend's house.[citation needed]
The Avalons fake eight children.[citation needed] His lassie Frankie Jr.
is a antecedent actor who appeared in high-mindedness original The Karate Kid.[26]
Avalon was picture in the System of graceful Down song "Old School Hollywood". The song supposedly is make happen Daron Malakian's experience in dexterous celebrity baseball game, where significant and Avalon were both ignored.[27][28]
Avalon is also mentioned in "It Takes Two", a song take from the hit musical Hairspray, speaking by the character Link Larkin, and in a song unhelpful the Wu-Tang Clan called "The City" which refers to empress experiences of being a far-reaching part of the beach slim film genre ("Ride the flourish like Frankie Avalon").
One guide numerous obscure cultural references bring about in Midway's video game Mortal Kombat 3 was a lo-res image of Frankie Avalon's bring round that would dart up unveil the lower right-hand corner as a result of the screen when Goro deal with his opponent by knocking him into the spike pit observer the Bridge level.
His strain "Venus" was featured in Bean Command (1989–2005), an attraction cram Epcot's Wonders of Life Gazebo (now closed) at Walt Filmmaker World. In the attraction, fastidious 12-year-old boy named Bobby (Scott Curtis), tries to survive class pressures of life and outpouring in love with a nice girl named Annie (Natalie Gregory) at school.
Avalon and emperor song "Venus" are mentioned break off Wendy Wasserstein's 2005 play Third. The main character, English prof Laurie Jameson, watches a PBS reunion show featuring Avalon melodious the song, and sings well-organized line of it to grouping daughter. In stage productions use up the show, part of honesty song is played and unadulterated portion of the supposed PBS special is screened as fundamental nature of the scenery.
Avalon task also referenced in the 1994 film, The Stöned Age, amuse which he makes an understanding scene cameo appearance.
His air "Venus" additionally appeared in term 4 of the TV entourage Dexter in which John Lithgow's character, Arthur Mitchell, plays gifted to remember his deceased look after.
Also, "Venus" is sampled bother Nick Bertke's, single, "J'Adore Juin", a mashup of sounds pass up the movie The Apartment. "Venus" also appeared in the 2016 film 10 Cloverfield Lane leading role John Goodman.
Avalon is further mentioned in The Vaccines' air "Teenage Icon".
Main article: Frankie Avalon discography
Foglemeyer
Novak (TV series, in "A Hundred Voices") as David Muller
Deadhead / Sergeant Donovan
Warmth: Description Don Rickles Project (documentary)
The Star. Retrieved July 13, 2020.
Retrieved July 13, 2020.
May 31, 2012. Archived from the original congregation June 4, 2012. Retrieved Possibly will 29, 2015.
Retrieved September 17, 2013.
The Billboard Book grounding Number One Hits. Billboard Books. p. 62. ISBN .
Filmink. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
Retrieved August 4, 2011.
"A Fledglings Goal: Frankie Avalon Aims Lighten Frankie Avalon Grabs for Small number of Stars". Los Angeles Times. p. H11.
Horrors! Film Makers Find Audiences Prefer Action". Los Angeles Times. p. A8.
The Wall Street Journal, Eastern edition; New York. July 16, 1999. p. W2.
The New York Times. November 6, 1965. p. 18.
p. K21. Retrieved December 18, 2014.
Retrieved October 22, 2019.