Francis Thomas Avallone was the name that Frankie Avalon went by before he became famous as a teen idol. He was one of the rare adolescent idols to originate from the state of Pennsylvania, and he was born on September 18, 1940 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
A talent scout found him while he was only starting his career as a trumpet player, much like the beginnings of many other rising young talents. He was given the opportunity to participate on a TV program, which ultimately led to further opportunities for him to do so.
By the middle of the 1960s, he had established himself as a successful musician in the business world. Before he decided to devote himself entirely to acting, he dominated the pop charts in the latter half of the 1950s and the early 1960s. He had a starring role in the “Beach Party” series, and it was there that he met Annette Funicello, who was cast alongside him and went on to become one of his closest friends.
Funicello began his career in the entertainment business at a young age, much as Avalon did when she was in her prime as a teen idol. As a young adult, she appeared on “The Mickey Mouse Club,” which is mostly credited with launching her career in the entertainment industry.
Their lives would ultimately collide in the film “Beach Party,” which told the story of an anthropologist who followed the routines of American teenagers as they spent a normal summer at the beach, participating in activities such as partying, surfing, and dating. After the success of the first film, the two of them went on to feature in a total of four further “Beach Party” films.
In the 1990s, Funicello received a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, which severely impacted both her ability to communicate and her mobility. Even after that, she and Avalon never severed their friendship; in fact, the actor ended up being Funicello’s daughter Gina’s godfather.
“We’ve been close from the very beginning,” the actor said. He was there for several of Fumicillo’s significant life events, including her wedding, which took place in real life.
Even when the actress’ health deteriorated, Avalon did all in his power to be there for her and support her. Gina, who was his goddaughter, was the one who kept him informed about what was going on with Funicello.
Avalon made certain to provide Funicello, who died away in 2013 at the age of 70, with nothing but kind words before she left this world. In the course of an interview, he stated:
“There has been no contact between the two of them for at least the previous six or seven years. It was a horrible life, but knowing that she is now singing and dancing in heaven and having a fantastic time makes me happy.
In spite of the fact that Funicello and Avalon had a very close connection in the past, their friendship was not romantic in any way. The actor had another lady, Katheryn “Kay” Diebel, firmly planted in his thoughts, as well as his eyes and emotions.
Avalon He wed a Princess of Beauty.
Not only did Hollywood offer Avalon lifelong friends, but it also introduced him to the lady who would become the love of his life. Because of his circumstances, he was able to meet former beauty queen Kathryn Diebel, and he fell in love with her almost instantly.
They were acquainted with one another via Gretchen Wayne, who is the daughter-in-law of his co-star in “The Alamo,” John Wayne. When he saw Diebel for the first time, the thought of getting married immediately sprang into his head.
The new relationship that Avalon’s agent had discovered did not make him happy. He cautioned the actor that getting married when he was at the pinnacle of his career would be disastrous for his image as a teen idol.
Avalon’s agent was in for a rude awakening when it became clear that nothing could prevent Avalon from chasing the love of his life. On January 19, 1963, the actor wed Diebel in West Hollywood, and there were just fifty people there to rejoice with them and share in the joy of the occasion.
Diebel and Avalon had a lot on their plates over the course of several years. They ended up having eight children together, with their oldest son, Frankie Jr., following in his father’s footsteps by beginning a career in the entertainment business. His role in the first “Karate Kid” movie is widely considered to be his most memorable acting performance.
Tony, the couple’s second son, eventually followed in his father’s footsteps and became a musician. In addition to that, he was a music instructor at the Rock Nation School and he traveled with Avalon on his tours.
The Avalon family became even larger as their eight children started having children of their own and started their own households. As doting grandparents, Diebel and Avalon have a lot on their plate because to the fact that they have 10 grandkids.
Avalon had absolutely no regrets whatsoever about getting married at such a young age, in spite of the early words of warning he received from his agency. He and Diebel have been married for sixty years, and their home is filled with an overwhelming amount of love and joy.
He previously disclosed the fact that one of his favorite aspects of being a grandpa is having the opportunity to say farewell to his grandchildren. Even while he likes being in their company every weekend, he still values the opportunity to unwind in peace while watching the news on his television at home.
When it comes time for his children and grandchildren to go, he will put on his robe, and they will take this as a cue that it is time for them to leave as well. After then, they always carry out the same activities on Sundays.
Recent months have seen him dividing his time between California, where he owns two residences, and Las Vegas, where he continues to play. The Avalons call Westlake Village their primary residence, but they also have a house at Lake Arrowhead on their property.
Because of the short distance between their homes (less than 10 miles), he is able to maintain tight relationships with each of his children. They have a long-standing custom of gathering everyone in the family together for Sunday supper at their house in Westlake.
Avalon has a strong desire that his children and grandkids maintain their relationships with one another even after he is gone. He has also written and published a cookbook, which he hopes his loved ones will use for years to come while preparing the Sunday dinners they have together.
Avalon’s family is originally from Italy, thus good cuisine has always played a significant role in her life. His Sicilian mother, Mary Avallone, was the source of many of his family’s recipes, which she taught him and handed down to him. Nicholas, the man who would become his son’s father, was also a butcher in Naples.
Avalon made an appearance in public and gave people a glimpse into his personal life, which was a very unusual occurrence. In the video, he and his wife are seen stepping out of a red automobile and being welcomed by their two dogs as they arrive at their home. The footage was taken in front of their house.
After that, he proceeds to tell the audience about his pets and then displays his most prized possession, a Thunderbird from the year 2004. The actor further said with great pride that the year 2023 was significant for him and his wife as it marked the occasion of their 60th wedding anniversary as a married pair.
After that, he takes the guy by the hand and leads him inside their home, where he provides a tour of the grounds. When he has everyone in the family around on Sundays, he takes use of the luxurious lounge furniture that comes with the vast property that he owns.
The front door of the living room opens out into a stunningly expansive garden that has a patio, a fountain, and a swimming pool. He also said that as a result of the undeveloped vegetation in his backyard, his family often has uninvited guests at their house in the form of wild creatures. Some of these visitors have included raccoons, mountain lions, and coyotes.
Avalon attributes his success as a singer and actor to the fact that he is now in a position to own such property. It’s a slice of paradise that he likes spending with his wife and their family, and he intends to bequeath it to them one day.
Avalon couldn’t contain his excitement while talking about his wife at one point in the video. “She is quite pretty. He referred to her as the best mother and the best wife in the world. The singer-actor went on to say that his wife is the one that ensures that everything in their home is in order, that it is clean, and that it is secure for all of their children.
Avalon is still completely taken aback by her, just as he was all those years before. His typically impeccable appearance was tarnished by the fact that he had a tattoo of his wife’s name that was done decades ago.
In the end, he paused to consider how fortunate he is to be surrounded by such a lovely family. There is nothing more that he could want, particularly considering the fact that he is still able to take pleasure in the line of work that he has been enthusiastic about for decades.
When he’s not appearing as a special guest on television programs like “Dancing With the Stars” or singing in clubs in Las Vegas, he’s a busy businessman who sells things over the phone using a toll-free number. Tannin products, an arthritis cure, and a CD of his songs that he put out for his admirers are all examples of what he has to offer as goods.
His Family Is Continued to Grow
Despite all however, Avalon’s first goal is always to be with his loved ones, especially his family. When asked about his grandkids, he famously stated, “They keep me young.”
The father of eight, who is now 82 years old, has maintained strong bonds of affection with all of his offspring, including Frank Burt, Tony, Dina, Laura, Joseph, Nicolas, Kathryn, and Carla. In his cookbook titled “Frankie Avalon’s Italian Family Cookbook: From Mom’s Kitchen to Mine,” he revealed that on numerous occasions his sons and sons-in-law have taken up the responsibility of preparing the food for the family meal.
Avalon took some time to visit with his other children and grandkids as the rest of the family worked on preparing the meals. He believes that the primary reason he and Diebel have been able to maintain their marriage for the last six decades is due to the love and respect they have for one another.
It is reasonable for Avalon to anticipate that his offspring would continue to uphold the standards set by the family name once he has finally settled down to enjoy his retirement. His oldest son, who has a striking resemblance to him, is also a talented musician; during his father’s tours, people often recognize him as the drummer.
Fans have the opportunity to continue reveling in Avalon’s grandeur and the breadth of his abilities for the time being, since the performer still has gigs booked in Las Vegas. Because of the unflinching devotion of his devoted followers, Avalon has been able to maintain his performances selling out despite the passage of time and the passage of seats in those events.
