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 Frank Sinatra was born in Hoboken, New Jersey, to Italian immigrants Natalina Della (Garaventa), from Northern Italy, and Saverio Antonino Martino Sinatra, a Sicilian boxer, fireman, and bar owner. Growing up on the gritty streets of Hoboken made Sinatra determined to work hard to get ahead. Starting out as a saloon singer in musty little dives (he carried his own P.A. system), he eventually got work as a band singer, first with The Hoboken Four, then with Harry James and then Tommy Dorsey. With the help of George Evans (Sinatra's genius press agent), his image was shaped into that of a street thug and punk who was saved by his first wife, Nancy Barbato Sinatra. In 1942 he started his solo career, instantly finding fame as the king of the bobbysoxers--the young women and girls who were his fans--and becoming the most popular singer of the era among teenage music fans. About that time his film career was also starting in earnest, and after appearances in a few small films, he struck box-office gold with a lead role in Anchors Aweigh (1945) with Gene Kelly, a Best Picture nominee at the 1946 Academy Awards. Sinatra was awarded a special Oscar for his part in a short film that spoke out against intolerance, The House I Live In (1945). His career on a high, Sinatra went from strength to strength on record, stage and screen, peaking in 1949, once again with Gene Kelly, in the MGM musical On the Town (1949) and Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949). A controversial public affair with screen siren Ava Gardner broke up his marriage to Nancy Barbato Sinatra and did his career little good, and his record sales dwindled. He continued to act, although in lesser films such as Meet Danny Wilson (1952), and a vocal cord hemorrhage all but ended his career. He fought back, though, finally securing a role he desperately wanted--Maggio in From Here to Eternity (1953). He won an Oscar for best supporting actor and followed this with a scintillating performance as a cold-blooded assassin hired to kill the US President in Suddenly (1954). Arguably a career-best performance--garnering him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor--was his role as a pathetic heroin addict in the powerful drama The Man with the Golden Arm (1955).Known as "One-Take Charlie" for his approach to acting that strove for spontaneity and energy, rather than perfection, Sinatra was an instinctive actor who was best at playing parts that mirrored his own personality. He continued to give strong and memorable performances in such films as Guys and Dolls (1955), The Joker Is Wild (1957) and Some Came Running (1958). In the late 1950s and 1960s Sinatra became somewhat prolific as a producer, turning out such films as A Hole in the Head (1959), Sergeants 3 (1962) and the very successful Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964). Lighter roles alongside "Rat Pack" buddies Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. were lucrative, especially the famed Ocean's Eleven (1960). On the other hand, he alternated such projects with much more serious offerings, such as The Manchurian Candidate (1962), regarded by many critics as Sinatra's finest picture. He made his directorial debut with the World War II picture None But the Brave (1965), which was the first Japanese/American co-production. That same year Von Ryan's Express (1965) was a box office sensation. In 1967 Sinatra returned to familiar territory in Sidney J. Furie's The Naked Runner (1967), once again playing as assassin in his only film to be shot in the U.K. and Germany. That same year he starred as a private investigator in Tony Rome (1967), a role he reprised in the sequel, Lady in Cement (1968). He also starred with Lee Remick in The Detective (1968), a film daring for its time with its theme of murders involving rich and powerful homosexual men, and it was a major box-office success.After appearing in the poorly received comic western Dirty Dingus Magee (1970), Sinatra didn't act again for seven years, returning with a made-for-TV cops-and-mob-guys thriller Contract on Cherry Street (1977), which he also produced. Based on the novel by William Rosenberg, this fable of fed-up cops turning vigilante against the mob boasted a stellar cast and was a ratings success. Sinatra returned to the big screen in The First Deadly Sin (1980), once again playing a New York detective, in a moving and understated performance that was a fitting coda to his career as a leading man. He made one more appearance on the big screen with a cameo in Cannonball Run II (1984) and a final acting performance in Magnum, P.I. (1980), in 1987, as a retired police detective seeking vengeance on the killers of his granddaughter, in an episode entitled Laura (1987).
Bio:
Frank Sinatra was born in Hoboken, New Jersey, to Italian immigrants Natalina Della (Garaventa), from Northern Italy, and Saverio Antonino Martino Sinatra, a Sicilian boxer, fireman, and bar owner. Growing up on the gritty streets of Hoboken made Sinatra determined to work hard to get ahead. Starting out as a saloon singer in musty little dives (he carried his own P.A. system), he eventually got work as a band singer, first with The Hoboken Four, then with Harry James and then Tommy Dorsey. With the help of George Evans (Sinatra's genius press agent), his image was shaped into that of a street thug and punk who was saved by his first wife, Nancy Barbato Sinatra. In 1942 he started his solo career, instantly finding fame as the king of the bobbysoxers--the young women and girls who were his fans--and becoming the most popular singer of the era among teenage music fans. About that time his film career was also starting in earnest, and after appearances in a few small films, he struck box-office gold with a lead role in Anchors Aweigh (1945) with Gene Kelly, a Best Picture nominee at the 1946 Academy Awards. Sinatra was awarded a special Oscar for his part in a short film that spoke out against intolerance, The House I Live In (1945). His career on a high, Sinatra went from strength to strength on record, stage and screen, peaking in 1949, once again with Gene Kelly, in the MGM musical On the Town (1949) and Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949). A controversial public affair with screen siren Ava Gardner broke up his marriage to Nancy Barbato Sinatra and did his career little good, and his record sales dwindled. He continued to act, although in lesser films such as Meet Danny Wilson (1952), and a vocal cord hemorrhage all but ended his career. He fought back, though, finally securing a role he desperately wanted--Maggio in From Here to Eternity (1953). He won an Oscar for best supporting actor and followed this with a scintillating performance as a cold-blooded assassin hired to kill the US President in Suddenly (1954). Arguably a career-best performance--garnering him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor--was his role as a pathetic heroin addict in the powerful drama The Man with the Golden Arm (1955).Known as "One-Take Charlie" for his approach to acting that strove for spontaneity and energy, rather than perfection, Sinatra was an instinctive actor who was best at playing parts that mirrored his own personality. He continued to give strong and memorable performances in such films as Guys and Dolls (1955), The Joker Is Wild (1957) and Some Came Running (1958). In the late 1950s and 1960s Sinatra became somewhat prolific as a producer, turning out such films as A Hole in the Head (1959), Sergeants 3 (1962) and the very successful Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964). Lighter roles alongside "Rat Pack" buddies Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. were lucrative, especially the famed Ocean's Eleven (1960). On the other hand, he alternated such projects with much more serious offerings, such as The Manchurian Candidate (1962), regarded by many critics as Sinatra's finest picture. He made his directorial debut with the World War II picture None But the Brave (1965), which was the first Japanese/American co-production. That same year Von Ryan's Express (1965) was a box office sensation. In 1967 Sinatra returned to familiar territory in Sidney J. Furie's The Naked Runner (1967), once again playing as assassin in his only film to be shot in the U.K. and Germany. That same year he starred as a private investigator in Tony Rome (1967), a role he reprised in the sequel, Lady in Cement (1968). He also starred with Lee Remick in The Detective (1968), a film daring for its time with its theme of murders involving rich and powerful homosexual men, and it was a major box-office success.After appearing in the poorly received comic western Dirty Dingus Magee (1970), Sinatra didn't act again for seven years, returning with a made-for-TV cops-and-mob-guys thriller Contract on Cherry Street (1977), which he also produced. Based on the novel by William Rosenberg, this fable of fed-up cops turning vigilante against the mob boasted a stellar cast and was a ratings success. Sinatra returned to the big screen in The First Deadly Sin (1980), once again playing a New York detective, in a moving and understated performance that was a fitting coda to his career as a leading man. He made one more appearance on the big screen with a cameo in Cannonball Run II (1984) and a final acting performance in Magnum, P.I. (1980), in 1987, as a retired police detective seeking vengeance on the killers of his granddaughter, in an episode entitled Laura (1987).
Tivia:
When Bela Lugosi died virtually penniless, Sinatra quietly paid for his funeral.In 1963 his son Frank Sinatra Jr. was kidnapped. The kidnappers told Frank Sr. to call them from pay phones. During one call he ran out of coins, and briefly feared that it had cost him his son (the kidnappers gave him another chance). He paid the $250,000 ransom, Frank Jr. was returned and the kidnappers were eventually caught. However, as a result of the incident, he swore never to be caught without dimes again and carried a roll with him until his death.Briefly lost the ability to sing after his vocal cords hemorrhaged in 1953. When his voice returned it had an extra dimension which many fans believed made his singing better than before.Known for his mercurial personality, as all those who were close to him knew; he could be as sweet as a person could be one minute and equally as nasty and violent in the next moment. Some theorized that he was bipolar.On 5/10/1964, Brad Dexter (The Magnificent Seven (1960), among others) saved both Sinatra's life and that of Ruth Koch (wife of producer Howard W. Koch) during production of the World War II film None But the Brave (1965) in Kaui, HI. They were swimming at a beach when they were swept out to sea by the outgoing tide and nearly drowned in high, billowing waves. Dexter swam out and rescued them together, but they were not able to reach shore for nearly 45 minutes. In the waves, Sinatra reportedly became separated and murmured, "It's all over . . . please take care of my kids . . . I'm going to die . . . " Both Sinatra and Koch then fell unconscious for several minutes before two surfers arrived to help Dexter take them to shore. Dexter was later awarded a Red Cross medal for his bravery. Sinatra never forgot it and the two stayed close friends for the rest of their lives.Refused to stay or perform at any hotel that wouldn't allow Sammy Davis Jr. or any other African-American to enter.He inspired the Johnny Fontaine character in The Godfather (1972).Served as a mentor to Harry Connick Jr., whom he referred to as "The Kid".His version of "New York, New York" is played at Yankee Stadium after every Yankee home win. Liza Minnelli's version is played after every Yankee home loss.According to Mia Farrow's biography, "What Falls Away", he offered to have Woody Allen's legs broken when it was discovered that he was having an affair with Farrow's adopted daughter, Soon-Yi Previn (whom Allen later married).At his funeral, friends and family members placed items in his coffin that had personal references. These are reported to include ten dimes, several Tootsie Roll candies, a pack of Black Jack chewing gum, a roll of wild cherry Life Savers candy, a ring engraved with the word "Dream", a mini bottle of Jack Daniels whiskey, a pack of Camel cigarettes and a Zippo cigarette lighter.The epitaph on his headstone reads "The best is yet to come."He and the other members of the Rat Pack were banned from Marilyn Monroe's funeral by Joe DiMaggioWeighed over 13 pounds at birth, and had to be delivered by forceps. As a result, one of his ears was nearly severed. Showing no signs of life, he was held by his grandmother under cold running water. He began to breathe and cry. His mother-- a practical nurse--and his father, a tavern operator, had been hoping for a girl and had already chosen the name Frances. So they gave him the masculine form of the name: Francis.On 5/14/98, his last day of life, his family drove him to the hospital, frantically running stop signs and red lights. However, traffic was unusually light at that time, since many Americans were at home watching the final episode of the TV show Seinfeld (1989).When he first met Mia Farrow in 1964, he was 48 and she was 19, a fact that prompted Dean Martin to quip that he owned a bottle of Scotch older than Farrow.Reportedly kept a picture of Ava Gardner on his mirror long after their breakup.A forceps delivery at his birth left permanent scars on his cheek and ruptured an eardrum. The latter is the reason most often given for his being exempted from military service during World War II.Although he criticized rock music on several occasions, he expressed admiration for several artists in the genre. He called "Something", written by George Harrison and performed by The Beatles, one of his favorite songs and covered it at his concerts. He was such a big fan of Chicago's song "Color My World" that he offered to write a second stanza to it. He also enthusiastically embraced the Irish rock band U2 when they visited the US.Was instrumental in reuniting Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin after their decades of estrangement. During an appearance on Lewis' annual telethon for Muscular Dystrophy, Sinatra said that he had a friend who wanted to say hello; then, he escorted Martin onto the stage to a flabbergasted Lewis. The two remained reunited until Martin's death.Frank Capra claimed that Sinatra had the potential to be the best actor there ever was. He once told Frank to quit his musical career and concentrate solely on acting and that if he did he would go down as the greatest actor who ever lived.Had a longstanding dislike of Marlon Brando from the time they starred in Guys and Dolls (1955). Sinatra always felt he should have played Brando's part, with Gene Kelly in the other role. Sinatra nicknamed Brando "Mr. Mumbles" while Brando called him "Mr. Baldy".Known to be very generous with drivers and often tipped in excess of $100, usually much more than they were making for driving him.Was a fan of Magnum, P.I. (1980) and wanted to appear as a guest star. Through Larry Manetti a message was delivered to producer/star Tom Selleck for Selleck to give Frank a call. When hr called, Frank told him that he wanted to appear on "Magnum", but that Tom should not worry, because he did not want to be paid, he just wanted his expenses paid. Selleck agreed and asked Frank what kind of story line he wanted for his character. Frank said that he did not care, as long as his character was a tough guy, and that there be a fight scene where he knocks someone out. Selleck agreed to Frank's terms and concept for the character Frank would play, and he did appear on the show in 1986, in what would be his last, full acting, non-cameo role. His "expenses" turned out to be a problem for the producers and CBS (the network that aired the show during its original broadcast run), because Frank's expenses included the costs for his personal jet and his full entourage. The final tally was $300,000.Paparazzi were very aware of his legendary temper. One memorable account by Tina Sinatra has a paparazzi snooping around her dad's house, then suddenly finding himself nose-to-nose with Frank himself. Terrified, the photographer leaped into a pool (despite being unable to swim), requiring Frank to fish him out.He was broke by 1951. Ava Gardner had to pay for his plane ticket so he could accompany her to Africa, where she shot Mogambo (1953).While visiting Capitol Records in 1960, he refused to pay the 50-cent entry fee at the parking garage. The attendant had his car towed.Throughout his life he was a strong supporter of Jewish causes. He stepped forward in the early 1940s, when big names were needed to rouse America into saving Europe's remaining Jews, and he sang at an "Action for Palestine" rally (1947). He sat on the board of trustees of the Simon Wiesenthal Center; and he donated over $1 million to Jerusalem's Hebrew University, which honored him by dedicating the Frank Sinatra International Student Center. As a result of his support for the Jewish state, his movies and records were banned in some Arab countries.While filming a funeral scene in Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964), he learned that his close friend and benefactor, President John F. Kennedy, had been killed in Dallas earlier that day.Although he is most associated with the song "My Way", he didn't originally want to record it because he thought it was "self-serving and indulgent". Although he disliked the song, his persona became so associated with it that he ended every concert with it. It was famously parodied for a 1978 single by the British punk rock band Sex Pistols.He and Paul Newman are the only people to win an Honorary Oscar, a Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and a competitive Oscar.While filming a kidnapping scene for Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964), he learned that his son, singer Frank Sinatra Jr., had been kidnapped from his hotel room in Lake Tahoe, NV. For obvious reasons, the scene was never used in the completed film.Was a big influence on artists ranging from Jim Morrison, the lead singer of The Doors, to Tony Hadley, the lead singer of Spandau Ballet.In 1966 he was given a song to record, and after reading it over once, he despised it. The song was "Strangers in the Night", which turned out to be one of his biggest hits. Even after its success, he still hated the song and took every opportunity to deride it.A provision in his will is that if anyone contests it, they are automatically disinherited.Was the first choice to play the title role in Dirty Harry (1971), but broke his finger before shooting started and had to bow out of the production.Made no further public appearances after suffering a heart attack in January 1997.One of only five actors/actresses to have both a #1 single and an Oscar for acting. The others are Cher, Barbra Streisand, Jamie Foxx, and Bing Crosby.Was a great admirer of John F. Kennedy, campaigning for him in the 1960 presidential election and organizing his inauguration ball on 1/20/1961. In August 1962 Kennedy decided not to stay with Sinatra in Palm Springs, CA, due to recent revelations of Sinatra's longtime ties to various Mafia crime bosses, instead stayed with Bing Crosby--Sinatra's original rival and an active Republican.Divorced his third wife Mia Farrow after she refused to quit filming Rosemary's Baby (1968) in order to co-star with him in the "Rat Pack" crime drama The Detective (1968). He had the divorce papers delivered to her on set.Permanently injured one of his fingers while shooting a fight scene with Henry Silva in The Manchurian Candidate (1962). In the scene, Sinatra threw a karate chop and his hand went through a solid wooden table, breaking several bones in his little finger. The footage was left in the final cut.Was originally signed on to play Billy Bigelow in Carousel (1956), but walked off the set on the first day of filming after he found out that they were going to shoot each scene twice, using two different lens sizes, and was quoted as saying, "I was paid to make one movie, not two".Became estranged from Dean Martin during the final years of their lives after Martin quit "The Together Again Tour".While on a tour in 1974 which included Australia, Sinatra became enraged by his treatment by members of the Australian press. After a brief scuffle at the airport, he appeared on stage and delivered a hateful tirade against the press, calling them "bums and parasites," and calling the female reporters "buck-and-a-half hookers." In retaliation, the aviation union refused to refuel or otherwise maintain his private jet until he apologized. He never did. He was spirited away in the night after intervention by a high-level union leader.He saw Steve McQueen in his western TV series Wanted: Dead or Alive (1958) and requested him to take Sammy Davis Jr.'s role in Never So Few (1959). Davis had said in an interview he thought he was bigger than Sinatra in the entertainment world at that time. Since Davis' role in the film was originally written as a sidekick, it had to be re-written somewhat for McQueen. During filming, they got along so well that Sinatra wanted McQueen to appear in Ocean's Eleven (1960) as the cowboy Louis Jackson. McQueen was all for it but was convinced otherwise by critic Hedda Hopper, who told him it would not be a wise career move to be known as a Sinatra flunky. McQueen passed on the film, and although there were no hard feelings his brief friendship with Sinatra came to an end.He owned an extensive collection of electric toy trains. He had coveted electric trains as a boy and set up a track that wove through the path of his career. The train started at a replica of the Hoboken train station.On 5/20/1998 his funeral service was held at the Catholic Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills, CA. Stars in attendance included Kirk Douglas, Gregory Peck, Jill St. John, Robert Wagner, Jack Lemmon, Sidney Poitier, Jack Nicholson, Nancy Reagan, Jerry Lewis, Wayne Newton, Johnny Carson, Milton Berle, Bruce Springsteen, Debbie Reynolds, Liza Minnelli, Bob Dylan, Tom Selleck, Tony Bennett, Mickey Rooney, Shirley MacLaine, Robert Stack, Mia Farrow, Bob Newhart, Don Rickles, Sophia Loren, Diahann Carroll, Steve Lawrence, Eydie Gorm��, Joey Bishop, Tony Danza, Quincy Jones, Dom DeLuise, Tim Conway, Cuba Gooding Jr., Anthony Quinn, Tony Curtis, Jack Paar, Angie Dickinson, Paul Anka, Ben Vereen, Ed McMahon, Johnny Mathis, Red Buttons, Marlo Thomas, Phil Donahue, Suzanne Pleshette, Lorna Luft, Ann Miller, Dionne Warwick, Mamie Van Doren, Suzanne Somers, James Darren and of course, his children, Frank Sinatra Jr., Tina Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra. Over 1000 Sinatra fans lined the streets outside the church during the funeral and gave him one final round of applause as his flower-draped coffin was carried out of the church. Overhead, a skywriting plane created a giant heart in the sky. Ironically, Sinatra had attended Gary Cooper's funeral at the same church, almost 37 years to the day before his own.Lee J. Cobb credited Sinatra with saving his life after his career was nearly ruined by his defiance of the House Un-American Activities Committee investigating Communist "subversion" in the film industry. Cobb had defied HUAC for two years, after being named as a supposed Communist by Larry Parks in 1951. During those two years, Cobb's once-flourishing career floundered and his wife had to be institutionalized after having a mental breakdown. Finally,he agreed to testify as a "friendly" witness, appearing before HUAC in 1953. At the conclusion of his testimony, he praised the committee. Soon after his appearance there he had a massive heart attack. Sinatra--who barely knew Cobb--got him a part in his film The Miracle of the Bells (1948) when no other studio would hire him. In addition, knowing that Cobb was broke, Sinatra paid his hospital bills, then had Cobb stay with him before renting him a luxurious apartment. Cobb believes that Sinatra identified with him as a troubled artist down on his luck, as Sinatra's own career had been in a severe tailspin before he resurrected himself by winning an Oscar for From Here to Eternity (1953). Cobb later said that if it wasn't for Sinatra, he didn't think he would have come through that period alive. Sinatra told Cobb he thought that he was "robbed" when he failed to win the Oscar for his performance as Johnny Friendly in On the Waterfront (1954) (ironically, Sinatra originally had been scheduled to star in the picture, which was filmed in his hometown of Hoboken, NJ, but producer Sam Spiegel gave the role to Marlon Brando when he realized he could raise $1 million in financing for the picture by using Brando versus $500,000 if Sinatra was the star).He turned down the role of Paul Kersey in Death Wish (1974). It was eventually given to Charles Bronson, and was the role that made him an international superstar.Von Ryan's Express (1965), was his most successful film of the 1960s, grossing over $17 million (US) in 1965. |
| Name: |
Frank Sinatra |
Type: |
Music Artist,Actor,Producer (IMDB) |
| Area: |
All World |
Platform: |
IMDB |
| Category: |
|
Business scope: |
Music Artist,Actor,Producer |
| Products for sale: |
Music Artist,Actor,Producer |
| Model rank: |
667 |
| Last update: |
2024-07-01 04:40:46 |
| Height: |
5' 7?' (1.72 m) |
| Biography: |
Frank Sinatra was born in Hoboken, New Jersey, to Italian immigrants Natalina Della (Garaventa), from Northern Italy, and Saverio Antonino Martino Sinatra, a Sicilian boxer, fireman, and bar owner. Growing up on the gritty streets of Hoboken made Sin |
| Trivia: |
When Bela Lugosi died virtually penniless, Sinatra quietly paid for his funeral.In 1963 his son Frank Sinatra Jr. was kidnapped. The kidnappers told Frank Sr. to call them from pay phones. During one call he ran out of coins, and briefly feared that it had cost him his son (the kidnappers gave him another chance). He paid the $250,000 ransom, Frank Jr. was returned and the kidnappers were eventually caught. However, as a result of the incident, he swore never to be caught without dimes again and carried a roll with him until his death.Briefly lost the ability to sing after his vocal cords hemorrhaged in 1953. When his voice returned it had an extra dimension which many fans believed made his singing better than before.Known for his mercurial personality, as all those who were close to him knew; he could be as sweet as a person could be one minute and equally as nasty and violent in the next moment. Some theorized that he was bipolar.On 5/10/1964, Brad Dexter (The Magnificent Seven (1960), among others) saved both Sinatra's life and that of Ruth Koch (wife of producer Howard W. Koch) during production of the World War II film None But the Brave (1965) in Kaui, HI. They were swimming at a beach when they were swept out to sea by the outgoing tide and nearly drowned in high, billowing waves. Dexter swam out and rescued them together, but they were not able to reach shore for nearly 45 minutes. In the waves, Sinatra reportedly became separated and murmured, "It's all over . . . please take care of my kids . . . I'm going to die . . . " Both Sinatra and Koch then fell unconscious for several minutes before two surfers arrived to help Dexter take them to shore. Dexter was later awarded a Red Cross medal for his bravery. Sinatra never forgot it and the two stayed close friends for the rest of their lives.Refused to stay or perform at any hotel that wouldn't allow Sammy Davis Jr. or any other African-American to enter.He inspired the Johnny Fontaine character in The Godfather (1972).Served as a mentor to Harry Connick Jr., whom he referred to as "The Kid".His version of "New York, New York" is played at Yankee Stadium after every Yankee home win. Liza Minnelli's version is played after every Yankee home loss.According to Mia Farrow's biography, "What Falls Away", he offered to have Woody Allen's legs broken when it was discovered that he was having an affair with Farrow's adopted daughter, Soon-Yi Previn (whom Allen later married).At his funeral, friends and family members placed items in his coffin that had personal references. These are reported to include ten dimes, several Tootsie Roll candies, a pack of Black Jack chewing gum, a roll of wild cherry Life Savers candy, a ring engraved with the word "Dream", a mini bottle of Jack Daniels whiskey, a pack of Camel cigarettes and a Zippo cigarette lighter.The epitaph on his headstone reads "The best is yet to come."He and the other members of the Rat Pack were banned from Marilyn Monroe's funeral by Joe DiMaggioWeighed over 13 pounds at birth, and had to be delivered by forceps. As a result, one of his ears was nearly severed. Showing no signs of life, he was held by his grandmother under cold running water. He began to breathe and cry. His mother-- a practical nurse--and his father, a tavern operator, had been hoping for a girl and had already chosen the name Frances. So they gave him the masculine form of the name: Francis.On 5/14/98, his last day of life, his family drove him to the hospital, frantically running stop signs and red lights. However, traffic was unusually light at that time, since many Americans were at home watching the final episode of the TV show Seinfeld (1989).When he first met Mia Farrow in 1964, he was 48 and she was 19, a fact that prompted Dean Martin to quip that he owned a bottle of Scotch older than Farrow.Reportedly kept a picture of Ava Gardner on his mirror long after their breakup.A forceps delivery at his birth left permanent scars on his cheek and ruptured an eardrum. The latter is the reason most often given for his being exempted from military service during World War II.Although he criticized rock music on several occasions, he expressed admiration for several artists in the genre. He called "Something", written by George Harrison and performed by The Beatles, one of his favorite songs and covered it at his concerts. He was such a big fan of Chicago's song "Color My World" that he offered to write a second stanza to it. He also enthusiastically embraced the Irish rock band U2 when they visited the US.Was instrumental in reuniting Jerry Lewis and Dean Martin after their decades of estrangement. During an appearance on Lewis' annual telethon for Muscular Dystrophy, Sinatra said that he had a friend who wanted to say hello; then, he escorted Martin onto the stage to a flabbergasted Lewis. The two remained reunited until Martin's death.Frank Capra claimed that Sinatra had the potential to be the best actor there ever was. He once told Frank to quit his musical career and concentrate solely on acting and that if he did he would go down as the greatest actor who ever lived.Had a longstanding dislike of Marlon Brando from the time they starred in Guys and Dolls (1955). Sinatra always felt he should have played Brando's part, with Gene Kelly in the other role. Sinatra nicknamed Brando "Mr. Mumbles" while Brando called him "Mr. Baldy".Known to be very generous with drivers and often tipped in excess of $100, usually much more than they were making for driving him.Was a fan of Magnum, P.I. (1980) and wanted to appear as a guest star. Through Larry Manetti a message was delivered to producer/star Tom Selleck for Selleck to give Frank a call. When hr called, Frank told him that he wanted to appear on "Magnum", but that Tom should not worry, because he did not want to be paid, he just wanted his expenses paid. Selleck agreed and asked Frank what kind of story line he wanted for his character. Frank said that he did not care, as long as his character was a tough guy, and that there be a fight scene where he knocks someone out. Selleck agreed to Frank's terms and concept for the character Frank would play, and he did appear on the show in 1986, in what would be his last, full acting, non-cameo role. His "expenses" turned out to be a problem for the producers and CBS (the network that aired the show during its original broadcast run), because Frank's expenses included the costs for his personal jet and his full entourage. The final tally was $300,000.Paparazzi were very aware of his legendary temper. One memorable account by Tina Sinatra has a paparazzi snooping around her dad's house, then suddenly finding himself nose-to-nose with Frank himself. Terrified, the photographer leaped into a pool (despite being unable to swim), requiring Frank to fish him out.He was broke by 1951. Ava Gardner had to pay for his plane ticket so he could accompany her to Africa, where she shot Mogambo (1953).While visiting Capitol Records in 1960, he refused to pay the 50-cent entry fee at the parking garage. The attendant had his car towed.Throughout his life he was a strong supporter of Jewish causes. He stepped forward in the early 1940s, when big names were needed to rouse America into saving Europe's remaining Jews, and he sang at an "Action for Palestine" rally (1947). He sat on the board of trustees of the Simon Wiesenthal Center; and he donated over $1 million to Jerusalem's Hebrew University, which honored him by dedicating the Frank Sinatra International Student Center. As a result of his support for the Jewish state, his movies and records were banned in some Arab countries.While filming a funeral scene in Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964), he learned that his close friend and benefactor, President John F. Kennedy, had been killed in Dallas earlier that day.Although he is most associated with the song "My Way", he didn't originally want to record it because he thought it was "self-serving and indulgent". Although he disliked the song, his persona became so associated with it that he ended every concert with it. It was famously parodied for a 1978 single by the British punk rock band Sex Pistols.He and Paul Newman are the only people to win an Honorary Oscar, a Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and a competitive Oscar.While filming a kidnapping scene for Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964), he learned that his son, singer Frank Sinatra Jr., had been kidnapped from his hotel room in Lake Tahoe, NV. For obvious reasons, the scene was never used in the completed film.Was a big influence on artists ranging from Jim Morrison, the lead singer of The Doors, to Tony Hadley, the lead singer of Spandau Ballet.In 1966 he was given a song to record, and after reading it over once, he despised it. The song was "Strangers in the Night", which turned out to be one of his biggest hits. Even after its success, he still hated the song and took every opportunity to deride it.A provision in his will is that if anyone contests it, they are automatically disinherited.Was the first choice to play the title role in Dirty Harry (1971), but broke his finger before shooting started and had to bow out of the production.Made no further public appearances after suffering a heart attack in January 1997.One of only five actors/actresses to have both a #1 single and an Oscar for acting. The others are Cher, Barbra Streisand, Jamie Foxx, and Bing Crosby.Was a great admirer of John F. Kennedy, campaigning for him in the 1960 presidential election and organizing his inauguration ball on 1/20/1961. In August 1962 Kennedy decided not to stay with Sinatra in Palm Springs, CA, due to recent revelations of Sinatra's longtime ties to various Mafia crime bosses, instead stayed with Bing Crosby--Sinatra's original rival and an active Republican.Divorced his third wife Mia Farrow after she refused to quit filming Rosemary's Baby (1968) in order to co-star with him in the "Rat Pack" crime drama The Detective (1968). He had the divorce papers delivered to her on set.Permanently injured one of his fingers while shooting a fight scene with Henry Silva in The Manchurian Candidate (1962). In the scene, Sinatra threw a karate chop and his hand went through a solid wooden table, breaking several bones in his little finger. The footage was left in the final cut.Was originally signed on to play Billy Bigelow in Carousel (1956), but walked off the set on the first day of filming after he found out that they were going to shoot each scene twice, using two different lens sizes, and was quoted as saying, "I was paid to make one movie, not two".Became estranged from Dean Martin during the final years of their lives after Martin quit "The Together Again Tour".While on a tour in 1974 which included Australia, Sinatra became enraged by his treatment by members of the Australian press. After a brief scuffle at the airport, he appeared on stage and delivered a hateful tirade against the press, calling them "bums and parasites," and calling the female reporters "buck-and-a-half hookers." In retaliation, the aviation union refused to refuel or otherwise maintain his private jet until he apologized. He never did. He was spirited away in the night after intervention by a high-level union leader.He saw Steve McQueen in his western TV series Wanted: Dead or Alive (1958) and requested him to take Sammy Davis Jr.'s role in Never So Few (1959). Davis had said in an interview he thought he was bigger than Sinatra in the entertainment world at that time. Since Davis' role in the film was originally written as a sidekick, it had to be re-written somewhat for McQueen. During filming, they got along so well that Sinatra wanted McQueen to appear in Ocean's Eleven (1960) as the cowboy Louis Jackson. McQueen was all for it but was convinced otherwise by critic Hedda Hopper, who told him it would not be a wise career move to be known as a Sinatra flunky. McQueen passed on the film, and although there were no hard feelings his brief friendship with Sinatra came to an end.He owned an extensive collection of electric toy trains. He had coveted electric trains as a boy and set up a track that wove through the path of his career. The train started at a replica of the Hoboken train station.On 5/20/1998 his funeral service was held at the Catholic Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills, CA. Stars in attendance included Kirk Douglas, Gregory Peck, Jill St. John, Robert Wagner, Jack Lemmon, Sidney Poitier, Jack Nicholson, Nancy Reagan, Jerry Lewis, Wayne Newton, Johnny Carson, Milton Berle, Bruce Springsteen, Debbie Reynolds, Liza Minnelli, Bob Dylan, Tom Selleck, Tony Bennett, Mickey Rooney, Shirley MacLaine, Robert Stack, Mia Farrow, Bob Newhart, Don Rickles, Sophia Loren, Diahann Carroll, Steve Lawrence, Eydie Gorm��, Joey Bishop, Tony Danza, Quincy Jones, Dom DeLuise, Tim Conway, Cuba Gooding Jr., Anthony Quinn, Tony Curtis, Jack Paar, Angie Dickinson, Paul Anka, Ben Vereen, Ed McMahon, Johnny Mathis, Red Buttons, Marlo Thomas, Phil Donahue, Suzanne Pleshette, Lorna Luft, Ann Miller, Dionne Warwick, Mamie Van Doren, Suzanne Somers, James Darren and of course, his children, Frank Sinatra Jr., Tina Sinatra and Nancy Sinatra. Over 1000 Sinatra fans lined the streets outside the church during the funeral and gave him one final round of applause as his flower-draped coffin was carried out of the church. Overhead, a skywriting plane created a giant heart in the sky. Ironically, Sinatra had attended Gary Cooper's funeral at the same church, almost 37 years to the day before his own.Lee J. Cobb credited Sinatra with saving his life after his career was nearly ruined by his defiance of the House Un-American Activities Committee investigating Communist "subversion" in the film industry. Cobb had defied HUAC for two years, after being named as a supposed Communist by Larry Parks in 1951. During those two years, Cobb's once-flourishing career floundered and his wife had to be institutionalized after having a mental breakdown. Finally,he agreed to testify as a "friendly" witness, appearing before HUAC in 1953. At the conclusion of his testimony, he praised the committee. Soon after his appearance there he had a massive heart attack. Sinatra--who barely knew Cobb--got him a part in his film The Miracle of the Bells (1948) when no other studio would hire him. In addition, knowing that Cobb was broke, Sinatra paid his hospital bills, then had Cobb stay with him before renting him a luxurious apartment. Cobb believes that Sinatra identified with him as a troubled artist down on his luck, as Sinatra's own career had been in a severe tailspin before he resurrected himself by winning an Oscar for From Here to Eternity (1953). Cobb later said that if it wasn't for Sinatra, he didn't think he would have come through that period alive. Sinatra told Cobb he thought that he was "robbed" when he failed to win the Oscar for his performance as Johnny Friendly in On the Waterfront (1954) (ironically, Sinatra originally had been scheduled to star in the picture, which was filmed in his hometown of Hoboken, NJ, but producer Sam Spiegel gave the role to Marlon Brando when he realized he could raise $1 million in financing for the picture by using Brando versus $500,000 if Sinatra was the star).He turned down the role of Paul Kersey in Death Wish (1974). It was eventually given to Charles Bronson, and was the role that made him an international superstar.Von Ryan's Express (1965), was his most successful film of the 1960s, grossing over $17 million (US) in 1965. |
| Trademarks: |
Crooning voice
Black fedora
Blue eyes
Sports coat
Always wore a three piece suit or tuxedo |
| Quotes: |
I'm trying to figure out, Chairman of what Board? People come up to me and seriously say: "Well, what are you Chairman of?" And I can't answer them.
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I'm for anything that gets you through the night, be it prayer, tranquilizers or a bottle of Jack Daniels. But to me religion is a deeply personal thing in which man and God go it alone together, without the witch doctor in the middle.
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A friend is never an imposition.
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[his last words] I'm losing it.
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[Talking about Burt Reynolds] He is the one the ladies like to dance with and their husbands like to drink with. He is the larger-than-life actor of our times. He is gifted, talented, naughty and nice. |
| Salaries: |
The Naked Runner (1967) - $1,000,000
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The Manchurian Candidate (1962) - $1,000,000
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Ocean's Eleven (1960) - $700,000
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The Pride and the Passion (1957) - $10,000 /week
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| Job title: |
Music Artist,Actor,Producer |
| Others works: |
(1940) Single (w/Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra): "I'll Never Smile Again" (Victor).
(1993) Album: "Duets" (Capitol Records)
(1994) Album: "Duets II" (Capitol Records)
(2002) TV commercial: Ford (archive footage)
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| Spouse: |
Barbara Marx (July 11, 1976 - May 14, 1998) (his death)Mia Farrow (July 19, 1966 - August 16, 1968) (divorced)Ava Gardner (November 7, 1951 - July 5, 1957) (divorced)Nancy Barbato Sinatra (February 4, 1 |
| Children: |
Tina SinatraFrank Sinatra Jr.Nancy Sinatra |
| Parents: |
Natalina Della Garaventa
Antonino Martino Sinatra |
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