Francis Thomas Avallone – better known as Frankie Avalon – is a singer and former teen idol, and actor born on 18th September 1940 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA. He is best known as the first ‘manufactured’ teen idol, and for appearing in popular beach party comedy films during the 1960s as a popular musician and singer.
Have you ever wondered how rich Frankie Avalon is? According to sources, it has been estimated that Frankie Avalon’s overall net worth is $30 million as of mid-2016, accumulated thanks to the enormous popularity he achieved by the release of his first singles in the late ‘50s, making him one of the most beloved teen idols of the time. His later equally lucrative film career significantly increased his net worth.
Frankie Avalon Net Worth $30 Million
Avalon entered show business as a child prodigy trumpet player, earning an appearance on “The Jackie Gleason Show”. During his teenage years, he played backup trumpet in a local band, where he was discovered by manager Bob Marcucci who launched the future teen star’s career. Frankie’s first single, “Cupid”, came out eight months later in 1957, and his third release “Dede Dinah” reached the Top 10. It was in 1959 that Avalon released his first No.1 single, “Venus” and released another six Top 40 records that same year, a solid start to isnet worth.
The following year, Avalon got his first movie role, starring in “Guns of the Timberland” which was directed by and starred John Wayne. Even though his music chart domination was coming to an end by 1962, Avalon preserved his successful career by teaming up with Annette Funicello and starring in a series of “Beach Party” surfer films such as “Beach Party”(2013), “Muscle Beach Party”(1964), “Bikini Beach”(1964),”Pajama Party”(1964),”Beach Blanket Bingo”(1965),”I’ll Take Sweden”(1965), “Ski Party”(1965), “How to Stuff a Wild Bikini”(1965) etc. These films were a combination of surfing, comedy, and dancing in bikinis, and achieved great popularity among teenage audiences and made a fortune at the box office. Although he was still recording songs, Frankie was now better known among younger audience for his movies.
As a sumbol of his era, he went on to appear in the 1950s themed musical “Grease”(1978) in which he sang the “Beauty School Drop-out” song. Four years later, Frankie starred in a film of a completely different genre, the horror thriller “Blood Song”(1982). In 1987 he reunited with Funicello to film a cheerful movie throwback – “Back to the Beach” – and continued to put on nostalgic shows around the country during the late eighties and early nineties by performing the Beach Party hit singles that made them famous. His net worth was maintained.
When it comes to his more recent activity, Avalon created a line of health and beauty care called Frankie Avalon Products. He also published the “Frankie Avalon’s Italian Family Cookbook: From Mom’s Kitchen to Mine and Yours” in October 2015.
In his personal life, Avalon has been married to Kathryn “Kay” Diebel since January 1963 and the couple have eight children and ten grandchildren. Two of his sons, Frankie Avalon Jr. a former actor, and Tony, a guitar player, both play on tours with their father.
Beach Party, Beach Blanket Bingo, Muscle Beach Party, Grease, Back to the Beach, Bikini Beach, Ski Party, Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine, Pajama Party, Fireball 500, The Alamo, Panic in Year Zero!, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, I'll Take Sweden, Sergeant Deadhead, The Haunted House of Horror...
TV Shows
Easy Does It... Starring Frankie Avalon
#
Quote
1
[on his "Beach Party" movies] They weren't great pictures, but they were fun, and they really represented that period of time well.
2
Well, we all age, but I'd been taking herbal supplements for a long time.
3
When I started to play trumpet I was fortunate to learn very quickly.
4
Yes, but I don't think of the Teen Angel as of an age.
5
I think today's music absolutely stinks. I really do mean that.
6
I'll be 65 in September and I work as much as I want to, take cruises with Kay, relax with my family, do everything in moderation, because I want to enjoy my life.
7
I learned not to blink in a close-up or move your head at all, because if you did, they wouldn't use it.
8
I wish I could talk to [Annette Funicello], but she doesn't even correspond at this point.
9
I've been around two years shy of 50 years doing what I do. I am a musician.
10
It captures a lot of the spirit of the '50s.
11
Rocco paid me 35 bucks a week at Murray's Inn in South Jersey. People started asking Rocco to have me sing.
12
No sooner [did I] take it seriously [then] I had million-selling hits and movies with John Wayne.
13
I was not a trained actor.
14
The kids have all seen it on DVD or videotape.
15
Kids know me from their Grease (1978) DVD, so they instantly respond. You can hear a pin drop when I do my old songs.
16
[about touring in his "oldies" shows] I like that because the fans want to see onstage what they know so well from the big screen.
17
These kids today, everything is about hitting a vocal home run. They look for the top note in every song. They don't know what they're singing about. They have no style.
18
God's delay is not God's denial.
#
Fact
1
Born in South Philadelphia.
2
Due to the popularity of Grease (1978) and its soundtrack, he considers "Beauty School Dropout" to be his most popular song.
3
He had the last #1 hit of the 1950s with the ballad,"Why".
He met Michael Wayne's wife, Gretchen Wayne (aka Gretchen Diebel), on the set of the John Wayne film The Alamo (1960), in which he had a part. Four years later he married beauty pageant winner Kathryn Diebel, Gretchen's sister. So he is part of the extended John Wayne family.
6
Has a house in the San Bernardino Mountains in Southern California.
7
His sister Theresa is two years older than he is.
8
He sang the song "These Are The Good Times" in both the movie Beach Blanket Bingo (1965) and when he guest-starred in The Patty Duke Show (1963) in 1965.
9
Mother, Mary Avallone was born July 3, 1916; father, Nicholas Avallone was born April 27, 1913. Sister, Theresa Avallone.
10
He studied acting with Wynn Handman in New York and Estelle Harmon in Los Angeles.
11
He and his wife have eight children and they are, in order of age, Frank Burt Avalon, Tony, Dina, Laura, Joseph, Nicolas, Kathryn and Carla.
Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The Early Years (1955-1970)
2000
TV Movie documentary performer: "Beach Party"
Hard Eight
1996
performer: "Christmas Medley"
Blue Sky
1994
performer: "Venus"
Full House
1991
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Betsy's Wedding
1990
performer: "Come Fly with Me"
Born on the Fourth of July
1989
performer: "Venus"
She's Out of Control
1989
performer: "Venus"
Good Morning, Vietnam
1987
performer: "Beach Blanket Bingo"
Back to the Beach
1987
performer: "California Sun", "Venus"
Shifshuf Naim
1981
performer: "Why"
Going Steady
1979
performer: "Why"
Good Old Days Part II
1978
TV Special performer: "Hound Dog", "Itsy Bitsy Teenie Weenie Yellow Polka Dot Bikini", "Breaking Up is Hard to Do", "Bye Bye Love", "I Want to Hold Your Hand", "Why"
Grease
1978
performer: "Beauty School Drop-Out"
The Sonny and Cher Show
1976
TV Series performer - 1 episode
The Lucy Show
1967
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Fireball 500
1966
performer: "Fireball 500", "My Way", "Turn Around", "A Chance Like That", "Country Carnival"
The Patty Duke Show
1965
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Sergeant Dead Head
1965
performer: "The Difference in Me Is You", "Let's Play Love"
How to Stuff a Wild Bikini
1965
performer: "If It's Gonna Happen" - uncredited
Ski Party
1965
performer: "Ski Party", "Lots, Lots More", "Paintin' the Town"
I'll Take Sweden
1965
performer: "I'll Take Sweden", "Would You Like My Last Name", "The Bells Keep Ringin'", "There'll Be Rainbows Again"
Beach Blanket Bingo
1965
performer: "Beach Blanket Bingo", "I Think You Think", "These Are the Good Times" - uncredited
Bikini Beach
1964
performer: "Gimme Your Love, Yeah Yeah Yeah", "How About That", "Because You're You"
Muscle Beach Party
1964
performer: "Runnin' Wild", "Surfer's Holiday", "A Girl Needs a Boy" Part 2
Beach Party
1963
performer: "Beach Party", "Don't Stop Now"
Drums of Africa
1963
performer: "The River Love"
The Castilian
1963
performer: "Canción de Fernán", "El valle de las espadas"
Come Fly with Me
1963
performer: "Come Fly With Me"
Operation Bikini
1963
performer: "The Girl Back Home"
The Jack Benny Program
1963
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Sail a Crooked Ship
1961
performer: "Opposites Attract"
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
1961
performer: "Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea"
The Alamo
1960
performer: "Here's to the Ladies"
Hound-Dog Man
1959
writer: "What Big Boy?"
The Dick Clark Show
1958
TV Series performer - 2 episodes
Jamboree!
1957
performer: "Don't Want To Be Teacher's Pet"
Rules Don't Apply
2016
performer: "Venus"
10 Cloverfield Lane
2016
performer: "Venus"
I Am Santa Claus
2014
Documentary performer: "Why"
Jersey Boys
2014
performer: "If You Don't Think I'm Leaving"
Pan Am
2012
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Metal Evolution
2011
TV Series documentary performer - 1 episode
The Help
2011
performer: "Swingin' on a Rainbow"
20 to 1
2010
TV Series documentary performer - 1 episode
United States of Tara
2010
TV Series 1 episode
Dexter
2009
TV Series performer - 2 episodes
California's Golden Parks
2009
TV Series documentary performer - 1 episode
La tele de tu vida
2007
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Frágil
2004
performer: "Venus"
Deuces Wild
2002
performer: "Silent Night"
Un paso adelante
2002
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Father
2018/II
completed
Jack Freidman
Renegade
1996
TV Series
Dan Travis
Casino
1995
Frankie Avalon (achive footage)
A Dream Is a Wish Your Heart Makes: The Annette Funicello Story
1995
TV Movie
Frankie Avalon
Burke's Law
1995
TV Series
Johnny Fingers
Back to the Beach
1987
Annette's Husband
Blood Song
1982
Paul Foley
Fantasy Island
1980
TV Series
Martin Ward
$weepstake$
1979
TV Series
Sergei
Frankie and Annette: The Second Time Around
1978
TV Movie
Frankie
Grease
1978
Teen Angel
The Love Boat
1978
TV Series
Nick Heider
Police Story
1974
TV Series
Lee / David Koslenko
The Take
1974
Danny James
Saga of Sonora
1973
TV Movie
Stagecoach Driver
Love, American Style
1971
TV Series
Henry (segment "Love and the Tuba")
It Takes a Thief
1969
TV Series
Guido Cartarenzi
Horror House
1969
Chris
Skidoo
1968
Angie
Off to See the Wizard
1967
TV Series
Jack
The Lucy Show
1967
TV Series
Tommy Cheever
The Million Eyes of Sumuru
1967
Tommy Carter
Fireball 500
1966
Dave Owens
Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine
1965
Craig Gamble
Sergeant Dead Head
1965
Sergeant O.K. Deadhead / Sergeant Donovan
How to Stuff a Wild Bikini
1965
Frankie
Ski Party
1965
Todd Armstrong
I'll Take Sweden
1965
Kenny Klinger
Beach Blanket Bingo
1965
Frankie
The Bing Crosby Show
1965
TV Series
Ted Keefer
Combat!
1965
TV Series
Eddie Cane
Burke's Law
1963-1965
TV Series
Ralph Hirt / Max
Pajama Party
1964
Socum
Bikini Beach
1964
Frankie / Potato Bug
Muscle Beach Party
1964
Frankie
Amigos del martes
1964
TV Series
Mr. Novak
1963
TV Series
David Muller
Rawhide
1963
TV Series
Billy Farragut
Beach Party
1963
Frankie
Drums of Africa
1963
Brian Ferrers
The Castilian
1963
Jerifán
Operation Bikini
1963
Seaman Joseph Malzone
The Eleventh Hour
1963
TV Series
Larry Thatcher
Panic in Year Zero!
1962
Rick Baldwin
Sail a Crooked Ship
1961
Ens. Rodney J. Foglemeyer
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea
1961
Lt (j.g.) Danny Romano
The Alamo
1960
Smitty
Saiyûki
1960
Alakazam (English version, singing voice)
Guns of the Timberland
1960
Bert Harvey
Jamboree!
1957
Frankie Avalon
Producer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Back to the Beach
1987
co-executive producer
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Home & Family
2012-2015
TV Series
Himself / Himself - Guest
Chow Ciao! With Fabio Viviani
2013
TV Series
Himself
The View
2013
TV Series
Himself
Inside Edition
2013
TV Series documentary
Himself
Philadelphia: The Great Experiment
2013
TV Series
Himself
The 37th Annual Daytime Emmy Awards
2010
TV Special
Himself
Hollywood Don't Surf!
2010
Documentary
Himself
The Florence Henderson Show
2009
TV Series
Himself
American Idol
2009
TV Series
Himself - Performer
The Wages of Spin
2008
Documentary
Himself
Mr. Warmth: The Don Rickles Project
2007
Documentary
Himself / Frankie
My Music: The 70s
2007
TV Movie
Himself
Charlie Gracie Fabulous
2007
Documentary
Himself
My Music: Movie Songs
2007
TV Special
Himself
Grease: You're the One That I Want!
2007
TV Series
Himself
Larry King Live
2005
TV Series
Himself
The Wayne Brady Show
2003
TV Series
Himself
VH-1 Where Are They Now?
2000-2002
TV Series documentary
Himself / Teen Angel
American Soundtrack: Red, White & Rock
2002
TV Special documentary
Himself
VH-1 Behind the Movie
2002
TV Series documentary
Himself
Biography
1996-2001
TV Series documentary
Himself
Sabrina, the Teenage Witch
2001
TV Series
Himself
Behind the Music
2001
TV Series documentary
Himself / Teen Angel
Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The Early Years (1955-1970)
2000
TV Movie documentary
Himself (uncredited)
68th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade
1999
TV Special
Himself
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
1997
TV Series
Himself
Ballyhoo: The Hollywood Sideshow!
1996
Documentary
Himself - Host
Talk Soup
1996
TV Series
The Big Kahuna
The Life and Times of the Everly Brothers
1996
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Howie Mandel's Sunny Skies
1995
TV Series
Himself
The Stöned Age
1994
Himself
American Bandstand's Teen Idol
1994
TV Special
Himself
20/20
1992
TV Series documentary
Himself
Twist
1992
Documentary
Himself
Vicki!
1992
TV Series
Himself
American Bandstand's 40th Anniversary Special
1992
TV Movie
Himself
John Wayne's 'The Alamo'
1992
Video documentary short
Himself
Idols
1991
TV Movie documentary
Himself
One on One with John Tesh
1991
TV Series
Himself
Full House
1991
TV Series
Himself
Thank Ya, Thank Ya Kindly
1991
TV Movie documentary
Himself
The Joan Rivers Show
1990
TV Series
Himself
Troop Beverly Hills
1989
Himself
The 6th Annual American Cinema Awards
1989
TV Special
Himself
Christmas at Pee Wee's Playhouse
1988
TV Movie
Himself
The Starlight Annual Foundation Benefit
1988
TV Special
Himself
Sábado noche
1988
TV Series
Himself
Spring Break Reunion II
1988
TV Movie
Himself
Opryland Celebrates 200 Years of American Music
1988
TV Movie
Himself - Host
The Annual Entertainment Industry Honors Presentes a Salute to Bud Grant
1987
TV Movie
Himself
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1965-1987
TV Series
Himself / Himself - Guest
Good Morning America
1979-1987
TV Series
Himself
Friday Night
1987
TV Series
Himself
Liberty Weekend
1986
TV Special documentary
Himself
America Votes the #1 Song
1986
TV Movie
Himself - Host
American Bandstand's 33 1/3 Celebration
1985
TV Special
Himself
Good Time Rock 'n' Roll
1985
TV Movie documentary
Himself
Our Time
1985
TV Series
Himself
Salute!
1983
TV Series
Himself
Madame's Place
1982
TV Series
Himself
Happy Days
1982
TV Series
Himself
Hour Magazine
1981
TV Series
Himself
The Roots of Rock 'n' Roll
1981
TV Series documentary
Himself - Host
Horas doradas
1980
TV Series
Himself
Sha Na Na
1980
TV Series
Himself
The 21st Annual Grammy Awards
1979
TV Special
Himself
Good Old Days Part II
1978
TV Special
Himself - Co-Host
Dinah!
1975-1978
TV Series
Himself
Good Old Days
1977
TV Special
Himself - Co-host
The Mike Douglas Show
1962-1977
TV Series
Himself - Vocalist / Himself - Co-Host / Himself - Actor / ...