Francis Thomas Avallone (born September 18, 1939 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) was an actor and teen idol in the 1950s and early 1960s.

By the time he was 12, Avalon began making appearances on U.S. television for his trumpet prowess, and as a teenager, played with Bobby Rydell in a band known as Rocco and the Saints. In 1959, his songs Venus and Why both went to No.1 on Billboard magazine's Hot 100.

During the 1960s, Avalon became known for his roles in the beach film genre. Later, he became the U.S. national television spokesperson for Sonic Drive-In.

Frankie Avalon married Kathryn Diebel on January 26, 1962. Still together, the couple has 8 children. In her autobiography, gossip queen Rona Barrett revealed that Avalon fathered a girl, born in December 1960, by a fan. Barrett was the assistant to Avalon's manager, Robert Marcucci, at the time.

In 1987 Avalon and Annette Funicello returned to the movies, with the aptly titled Back to the Beach .

Songs

• "Cupid"
• "Venus"
• "Why?"
• "Cupid"
• "Dede Dinah"
• "You Excite Me"
• "Ginger Bread"
• "What Little Girl"
• "I'll Wait You"
• "Bobby Sox to Stockings"
• "A Boy Without a Girl"
• "Two Fools"
• "Just Ask Your Heart"
• "Beauty School Dropout"
• "Swinging On A Rainbow"
• "Don't Throw Away All Those Teardrops"
• "Where Are You"
• "Tuxedo Junction"
• "Don't Let Love Pass Me By"
• "Togetherness"
• "The Puppet Song"
• "A Perfect Love"
• "All of Everything"
• "Who Else But You"
• "True, True Love"
• "You Are Mine"
• "A Miracle"

Filmography

• Jamboree (1957)
• The Enchanted Monkey (1960) (voice)
• Guns of the Timberland (1960)
• The Alamo (1960)
• Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961
• Sail a Crooked Ship (1961)
• Panic in Year Zero! (1962)
• Operation Bikini (1963)
• The Castilian (1963)
• Drums of Africa (1963)
• Beach Party (1963)
• 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) (Cameo)
• Sergeant Dead Head (1965)
• Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine (1965)
• Fireball 500 (1966)
• The Million Eyes of Sumuru (1967)
• Skidoo (1968)
• Horror House (1969)
• The Take (1974)
• Grease (1978)
• Blood Song (1982)
• Back to the Beach (1987) (also co-executive producer)
• Troop Beverly Hills (1989) (Cameo)
• The Stoned Age (1994) (Cameo)
• Casino (1995) (Cameo)