Home> Facts and Trivia > Stars > Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra Facts
| Sign | Sagittarius |
| Born |
Dec 12, 1915 Hoboken, NJ |
| Died |
May 14, 1998 Los Angeles, CA |
| Age | Died at 82 |
| Total Facts | 116 |
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.
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). C
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.
A provision in his will is that if anyone contests it, they are automatically disinherited.
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.
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.
All the films he produced made a profit.
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.".
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.
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.
Became a friend of Laurence Harvey, with whom he co-starred in The Manchurian Candidate (1962). According to Sinatra's valet, George Jacobs, Sinatra called him "Ladyboy" in recognition of Harvey's bisexuality. In an interview about the film that was included in the video recording, Sinatra expressed his sorrow that "Larry" was no longer alive.
Became estranged with Dean Martin during the final years of their lives, ever since Dean quit 'The Together Again Tour'.
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.
Brother-in-law of John Charles Farrow, Prudence Farrow, Stephanie Farrow and Tisa Farrow.
Called "Something", written by George Harrison and performed by The Beatles, one of his favorite songs.
Campaigned for Ronald Reagan in the 1980 and 1984 presidential elections.
Died the same month as Phil Hartman, who often impersonated him on "Saturday Night Live" (1975).
Divorced his third wife Mia Farrow after she refused to quit filming the classic thriller Rosemary's Baby (1968) in order to co-star with him in Rat Pack crime drama The Detective (1968). He had the divorce papers delivered to her on set.
Elected to the New Jersey Hall of Fame in 2007 for his services to the entertainment industry (inaugural election). Official induction ceremonies held in May 2008.
Father of Nancy Sinatra, Tina Sinatra, and Frank Sinatra Jr..
Former father-in-law of Tommy Sands. His daughter Nancy Sinatra and Sands were married on 11 September 1960 and divorced in 1965.
Godfather of Lorna Luft.
Godfather of singer Nikka Costa.
Godfather to Quinn Gonzalez
Got the role of Pvt. Maggio in From Here to Eternity (1953) after Eli Wallach passed on it to do a Tennessee Williams play on stage, according to Wallach on a June 20th broadcast of "Morning Sedition" on "Air America Radio.".
Grandfather of singer A.J. Lambert.
Had numerous #1 albums, and seven #1 singles (or more, depending on whether you include the songs he sang fronting a big-band): "Five Minutes More", "Leanin' the Blues", "Mam'selle", "Oh! What It Seemed To Be" "Strangers in the Night", "All Or Nothing At All" with the Harry James Band, and "Somethin' Stupid", shared with his daughter Nancy Sinatra. He also has four #1 hits singing as the front singer of the Tommy Dorsey Band, although he was not directly credited as the artist. These include "I'll Never Smile Again", "Dolores", "There Are Such Things", "In The Blue Of Evening".
Has a 62 year span of top-ten albums on Billboard -- from The Voice of Frank Sinatra which reached No. 1 in 1946 to Nothing But the Best, which reached No. 2 in 2008.
Has sold over 250 million records worldwide.
Hated giving autographs.
He and Paul Newman are the only people to win an Honorary Oscar, a Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award and a competitive Oscar.
He and the other members of the Rat Pack were banned from Marilyn Monroe's funeral by Joe DiMaggio
He asked to sing at Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey's 1978 funeral in St. Paul, MN. The officiating minister refused. The job went to Metropolitan Opera baritone Robert Merrill.
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".
He is credited as co writer of 7 songs including "This Love Of Mine" (1941) and " Mr. Success" (1958).
He was awarded 3 Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Motion Pictures at 1600 Vine Street, for Recording at 1737 Vine Street, and for Television at 6538 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
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 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.
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 voted the 59th Greatest Movie Star of all time by Entertainment Weekly.
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.
His death is referred to in the Badly Drawn Boy song "You Were Right".
His father's name was Martin Anthony Sinatra. His mother's name was Natalie 'Dolly' Garavente, a midwife.
His heritage was entirely Italian.
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 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.
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.
In 1960, when he was in the process of forming his own label, Reprise Records, he pointed out the Capitol Tower to a friend, saying, "See that? I helped build that. Now, it's time to build one of my own." A few years later, referring to his label's success, he stated, "We may not be a Cadillac yet, but we ain't no Bug [Volkswagen], neither."
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 the loss 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 payphone scare, Sinatra swore never to be caught without dimes again, and carried a roll of dimes with him constantly until his death.
In 1981 he was heavily criticized for performing a ten-day gig in South Africa. Jesse Jackson and the United Nations special committee on Apartheid publicly condemned Sinatra for "collaboratng with the apartheid regime.".