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. 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, Suddenly and, especially, The Manchurian Candidate - 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 and Ocean's Eleven are the best. His last lead role was as the aging detective in The First Deadly Sin. He gave a moving performance that was a fitting finale to a long and rich career.


The Naked Runner (1967): $1,000,000
The Pride and the Passion (1957): $10,000/week
From Here to Eternity (1953): $8,000
Meet Danny Wilson (1951): $25,000
Take Me Out to the Ball Game (1949): $125,000
The Miracle of the Bells (1948): $100,000
Higher and Higher (1943): $25,000
Reveille with Beverly (1943): $1,500
Las Vegas Nights (1941): $15/day
Major Bowes Amateur Theater of the Air (1935): $35.00

Some three decades late, the Hungarian-born actress Eva Bartok claimed that her daughter, Deana, born in 1957 during Bartok's marriage to the actor Curd Jürgens, was actually fathered by Sinatra, during a brief affair that he and Bartok had had following his breakup in 1956 with the sultry Ava Gardner. Sinatra never acknowledged paternity. Father of Nancy Sinatra, Tina Sinatra, and Frank Sinatra Jr.. Member (leader) of the "Rat Pack" - Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford and Joey Bishop. All appeared in Ocean's Eleven (1960) and Sergeants 3 (1962). According to Mia Farrow's biography, 'What Falls Away', he offered to have Woody Allen's legs broken when he was found to be having an affair with her adopted daughter, Soon-Yi Previn. Former father-in-law of Tommy Sands. His daughter Nancy Sinatra and Sands were married on 11 September 1960 and divorced in 1965. Brother-in-law of John Charles Farrow, Prudence Farrow, Stephanie Farrow and Tisa Farrow. The epitaph on his headstone reads "The best is yet to come." Godfather of singer Nikka Costa. Was, at one time, part owner of the Sands Hotel/Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada, and the Cal-Neva Lodge in Lake Tahoe. As the name implies, the latter was bisected by the California-Nevada borderline. A forcep 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 service during World War II. An accomplished amateur painter, he not only recorded the Grammy-winning album "Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely" (Capitol: 1958), but designed the cover art, as well. Received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 1971 Academy Awards for his many contributions to charity over the years. Bob Hope, who hosted the Oscars that year, remarked, "It's interesting how Sinatra announced his retirement, and they gave him a humanitarian award". Sinatra himself hosted or co-hosted the Academy Awards four different times, in 1963, 1969, 1975 and 1985. His album "Frank Sinatra Conducts Tone Poems of Color" (Capitol: 1955) not only was rare in the sense that he conduced an orchestra as opposed to singing, but was also the first album to be recorded at the Capitol [Records] Tower, today a prominent landmark at Hollywood and Vine in Los Angeles. 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. Served as a mentor to performer Harry Connick Jr., whom he referred to as "The Kid". Was originally signed on to play Billy Bigelow in Carousel (1956), but he 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". Mentioned in the Marillion song "Sugar Mice" (from their 1987 album "Clutching at Straws"). Was best friends with Dean Martin. Of all the members of the Rat Pack, he considered Dean his closest confidant and best friend. Writer of several songs including "This Love of Mine" and "I'm a Fool to Want You.". In On the Town (1949), he co-sang "New York, New York". Years later, he used the song "Theme From New York, New York" (first performed by friend Liza Minnelli, and commonly referred to as simply "New York, New York") as a showstopper in his live performances.In his "Concert For The Americas"(1982) he combined the 2 songs,using the first verse of the earlier song. Turned down the lead role in The Pajama Game (1957), which would have paired him up with Janis Paige, who played the role on Broadway. As a result, Paige lost out on playing the part to Doris Day, who was considered a bigger box- office draw. 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. Grandfather of singer A.J. Lambert. He was 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. He was drafted into the Army during World War II but got a 4F because of a damaged eardrum, something that was apparent at birth after a complicated delivery using forceps. He and the other members of the Rat Pack were banned from Marilyn Monroe's funeral by Joe DiMaggio Though he had a lot of affairs during his marriage with his first wife Nancy, it was his relationship with Ava Gardner that finally led to a divorce. His heritage was entirely Italian. Was offered the role of "Don Altobello" in The Godfather: Part III (1990). Even though he had been a vocal critic of the first "Godfather" film, which featured a character based on him, he was intrigued by the offer, reportedly because the first two "Godfather" films had been so successful. Ultimately, he declined the offer and The part was played by Eli Wallach, whom Sinatra competed with for the role of Maggio in From Here to Eternity (1953). Was such a big fan of Chicago's song, "Colour My World" that he offered to write a second stanza to it. Was in line to star in Dirty Harry (1971) as was noted in several trade papers at the time. Irvin Kershner was slated to direct, but Sinatra had to back out of the project because of some trouble with a broken bone in his hand, although it has been suggested that he wanted to act in something lighter after the recent death of his father. Godfather of Lorna Luft. 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 Cobb. 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 Cobb 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). Made no further public appearances after suffering a heart attack in January 1997. Was active in Democratic Party politics from the 1944 presidential election until the late 1960s. In 1970 he supported Ronald Reagan's re-election campaign for Governor of California, and in 1972 he attended the Republican National Convention for the first time. He 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. Suffered from dementia in his final years. Has sold over 250 million records worldwide. Was in talks to appear in The Verdict (1982). Although the song Sinatra is most identified with is his hit "My Way", he originally didn't want to record it because he thought the song was "self-serving and indulgent.". Weighed 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; and suddenly he began to breathe, and cry. His mother - a Practical nurse - and his father - a Hoboken tavern owner - had been hoping for a girl, and had already chosen the name Frances. So they gave him the masculine form of the name: Francis. Briefly lost the ability to sing after his vocal chords hemorrhaged in 1953. When his voice returned, it had an extra dimension which many fans believed made his singing better than before. Mentioned in the song "Hey Manhattan!" by Prefab Sprout. Pictured on a 42¢ USA commemorative postage stamp issued 13 May 2008, one day before the 10th anniversary of his death. He had a longstanding dislike of Marlon Brando from the time they starred in Guys and Dolls (1955/I). 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". Once appeared as a head-and-shoulders shot on MasterCard credit card. The film Von Ryan's Express was his most successful of the 1960s, grossing over $17 million US dollars in 1965. His only job as film director was the anti-war film None But the Brave, which was the first Japanese and American co-production. The studios involved were Warner Bros. and Toho Studios. His father's name was Martin Anthony Sinatra. His mother's name was Natalie 'Dolly' Barbato, a midwife. All of his single recordings in 1943 which included "Oh What A Beautiful Morning"/ "People Will Say We're In Love" were recorded a cappella with The Bobby Tucker Singers because of a musician's strike. 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. Died the same month as Phil Hartman, who often impersonated him on Saturday Night Live.