Frank Sinatra

Francis Albert Sinatra
1915 -1998 (heart & kidney disease; bladder cancer)
American born Hoboken

Nickname The Voice, Chairman of the Board (of Show Business), Ol' Blue Eyes, Swoonatra, The Sultan of Swoon, La Voz . Height 5' 7" (1.70 m). Growing up on the streets of Hoboken, New Jersey, made Frank 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, 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. 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. About that time his film career was also starting in earnest. Known as "One-Take Charlie" for his approach to acting that strove for spontaneity and energy, rather than perfection, he was an instinctive actor who was best at playing parts that mirrored his own personality. A controversial public affair with screen siren Ava Gardner broke up his marriage to Nancy Barbato. After a vocal cord hemorrhage all but ended his career, he fought back and won the coveted role of Maggio in From Here to Eternity (1953). He won an Oscar for best supporting actor, yet still didn't have widespread acceptance in Hollywood. He continued to give strong and memorable performances in such films as The Man with the Golden Arm (1955), Suddenly (1954) and, especially, The Manchurian Candidate (1962) - probably his best film. For the rest of the 1960s he concentrated mainly on lighter roles, playing hard-boiled private eyes and hamming it up with his Rat Pack buddies Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr.. Of these films, The Detective (1968) and Ocean's Eleven (1960) are the best. His last lead role was as the aging detective in The First Deadly Sin (1980). He gave a moving performance that was a fitting finale to a long and rich career. Spouse Barbara Marx (11 July 1976 - 14 May 1998) (his death), Mia Farrow (19 July 1966 - August 1968) (divorced), Ava Gardner (7 November 1951 - 5 July 1957) (divorced), Nancy Barbato (4 February 1939 - 29 October 1951) (divorced) 3 children.

"Hey Arnold!" (1996) , Young at Heart (1995) , Who Framed Roger Rabbit (1988) , "Magnum, P.I." (1987) , Cannonball Run II (1984) , The First Deadly Sin (1980) , Contract on Cherry Street (1977) , Celebration: The American Spirit (1976) , "A Christmas Night with the Stars" (1970) , Dirty Dingus Magee (1970) , Lady in Cement (1968) , The Detective (1968) , Tony Rome (1967) , The Naked Runner (1967) , Assault on a Queen (1966) , Cast a Giant Shadow (1966) , Marriage on the Rocks (1965) , Von Ryan's Express (1965) , None But the Brave (1965) , Robin and the 7 Hoods (1964) , 4 for Texas (1963) , "Burke's Law" (1963) , A New Kind of Love (1963) , Come Blow Your Horn (1963) , The List of Adrian Messenger (1963) , "The Dick Powell Show" (1963) , The Manchurian Candidate (1962) , Advise & Consent (1962) , The Road to Hong Kong (1962) , Sergeants 3 (1962) , The Devil at 4 O'Clock (1961) , Pepe (1960) , Ocean's Eleven (1960) , Can-Can (1960) , Glück und Liebe in Monaco (1959) , Never So Few (1959) , A Hole in the Head (1959) , Some Came Running (1958) , Kings Go Forth (1958) , Pal Joey (1957) , The Joker Is Wild (1957) , The Pride and the Passion (1957) , Around the World in Eighty Days (1956) , Johnny Concho (1956) , High Society (1956) , Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956) , The Man with the Golden Arm (1955) , The Tender Trap (1955) , Guys and Dolls (1955) , "Producers' Showcase" (1955) , Not as a Stranger (1955) , Young at Heart (1954) , Suddenly (1954) , "The Colgate Comedy Hour" (1954) , From Here to Eternity (1953) , Meet Danny Wilson (1952) , Double Dynamite (1951) , "The Frank Sinatra Show" (1950) , On the Town (1949) , Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949) , The Kissing Bandit (1948) , The Miracle of the Bells (1948) , It Happened in Brooklyn (1947) , Till the Clouds Roll By (1946) , Anchors Aweigh (1945) , Step Lively (1944) , Higher and Higher (1943) , Ship Ahoy (1942) , Las Vegas Nights (1941)