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 |
In his 1947 film It Happened in Brooklyn (1947), Frank introduced the now-standard, "Time After Time", which charted at #17 in 1947. It was later re-recorded, by Frank, in 1959 as the B-side to "French Foreign Legion". In 1960, Frankie Ford's rendition of the song charted at #75 US. Interestingly, that version fared much better than all, in Brooklyn, reaching NYC's Top 10. In 1966. Chris Montez's version peaked at #36 US.
In his memoir, "Mr. S.: My Life With Frank Sinatra", the legend's valet, George Jacobs, said that Sinatra cried when he heard that the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King had been assassinated, one of the few times he had seen his employer in tears.
Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1980.
Inspired the Johnny Fontaine character in The Godfather (1972).
Interred at Desert Memorial Park, Cathedral City, California, USA. Specific Interment Location: B-8, #151.
Is one of only five actors/actresses to have both a #1 single and an Oscar for acting. The others are Cher, Barbra Streisand, Jamie Foxx, and Bing Crosby.
Like most members of The Rat Pack, Sinatra was known to much prefer the labels "The Clan" and "The Summit".
Made no further public appearances after suffering a heart attack in January 1997.
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).
Mentioned in the Marillion song "Sugar Mice" (from their 1987 album "Clutching at Straws").
Mentioned in the song "Hey Manhattan!" by Paddy McAloon (aka "Prefab Sprout").
Mentioned in the song "Its My Life" by Bon Jovi.
Named Entertainer of the Century in 2000.
Named Humanitarian of the Year by the Variety Clubs of America in 1983.
On 14 May 1998, his last day of life, his family drove him to the hospital, frantically running stop signs and red lights. However, traffic was unusually light at that time, since many Americans were at home watching the final episode of the TV show "Seinfeld" (1990).
On 20 May 1998, his funeral service was held at the Catholic Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills, California. Stars in attendance included Kirk Douglas, Gregory Peck, Robert Wagner, Jack Lemmon, Sidney Poitier, Jack Nicholson, Nancy Davis, Jerry Lewis, Wayne Newton, Johnny Carson, Milton Berle, Bruce Springsteen, Debbie Reynolds, Liza Minnelli, Bob Dylan, Tom Selleck, Tony Bennett, Mickey Rooney, Shirley MacLaine, Robert Stack, Mia Farrow, Bob Newhart, Don Rickles, Sophia Loren,
On May 10, 1964, Film Star Brad Dexter (Magnificent Seven, etc.) saved both Frank Sinatra's Life and the Life of Ruth Koch (wife of Producer Howard Koch), during production of the World War II film, None But the Brave, in Kaui, Hawaii. They were swimming at a beach when they were swept out to sea by the outgoing tide and nearly drowned in high billowing waves. Sinatra's co-star Dexter swam out and rescued them together and were not able to reach shore for nearly 45 minutes. In the waves, Sinatra reportedly became separated and murmured "Its all over...please take care of my kids...Im going to die..." Towards the end, both Sinatra and Koch had fallen unconscious for several minutes before two surfers arrived to help Dexter take them to shore. Dexter was later awarded a Red Cross medal for his bravery.
Once appeared as a head-and-shoulders shot on MasterCard credit card.
One-time son-in-law of John Farrow and Maureen O'Sullivan.
Owned an extensive collection of electric toy trains. He had coveted electric trains as a boy and set up a track that wove through the path of his career. The train started at a replica of the Hoboken train station.
Permanently injured one of his fingers while shooting a fight scene in The Manchurian Candidate (1962). In the scene, Sinatra threw a Karate chop and his hand went through a solid wooden table, breaking several bones in his little finger. The footage was left in the final cut.
Pictured on a 42¢ USA commemorative postage stamp issued 13 May 2008, one day before the 10th anniversary of his death.
Played the Stage Manager in a musical version of "Our Town" on a TV special in 1955, with Paul Newman and Eva Marie Saint playing George and Emily. In that production, he introduced what would become another of his well-known signature songs: "Love and Marriage."
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.
Reportedly kept a picture of Ava Gardner on his mirror long after their break up.
Second cousin of composer/arranger/conductor Raymond Sinatra. Ray Sinatra's father was a cousin of his father.
Served as a mentor to performer Harry Connick Jr., whom he referred to as "The Kid".
Sinatra saw Steve McQueen in his western TV series "Wanted: Dead or Alive" (1958) and requested him to take Sammy Davis Jr.'s role in Never So Few (1959). Davis had said in an interview he thought he was bigger than Sinatra in the entertainment world at that time. Since Davis' role in the film was originally written as a sidekick, it had to be re-written somewhat for McQueen. During filming they got along so well that Sinatra wanted McQueen to appear in Ocean's Eleven (1960) as the cowboy Louis Jackson. McQueen was all for it but was convinced otherwise by critic Hedda Hopper, who told him it would not be a wise career move to be known as a Sinatra flunky. McQueen passed on the film, and although there were no hard feelings his brief friendship with Sinatra came to an end.
Sinatra's valet George Jacobs said that his employer had derogatory nicknames for many of his friends, including "Sheeny" for Cary Grant, "Shanty" for Gene Kelly, "Jew" for Jerry Lewis, "The African Queen" for Johnny Mathis, and "Wop" for Dean Martin. His private plane was called "El Dago".
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.
Suffered from dementia in his final years.
The epitaph on his headstone reads "The best is yet to come."
The film, Von Ryan's Express (1965), was his most successful of the 1960s, grossing over $17 million US dollars in 1965.
The only member of the "Rat Pack" to win an Academy Award
The protagonist of A Hole in the Head is, Tony Manetta (Frank Sinatra), a Miami hotel operator of The Garden of Eden. The actual hotel used for the exterior shots was the Cardozo Hotel, located on Miami Beach's Ocean Drive. The hotel has been owned by Gloria and Emilio Estefan for many years.
The protagonist of A Hole in the Head is, Tony Manetta (Frank Sinatra), a Miami hotel operator of The Garden of Eden. The actual hotel used for the exterior shots was the Cardozo Hotel, located on Miami Beach's Ocean Drive. The hotel has been owned by Gloria and Emilio Estefan for many years.
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.
Thought by many to be the finest American popular singer of our time.
Throughout his life, Frank Sinatra was a strong supporter of Jewish causes. Sinatra stepped forward in the early 1940s, when big names were needed to rouse America into saving Europe's remaining Jews, and he sang at an "Action for Palestine" rally (1947). He sat on the board of trustees of the Simon Wiesenthal Center; and he donated over $1 million to Jerusalem 's Hebrew University, which honored him by dedicating the Frank Sinatra International Student Center. As the result of his support for the Jewish State, his movies and records were banned in some Arab countries.
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.
Turned down the role of Paul Kersey in Death Wish (1974). It was eventually given to Charles Bronson, and was the role that made him an international superstar.
Underwent major surgery for intestinal cancer in 1986.
Was a great admirer of John F. Kennedy, campaigning for him in the 1960 presidential election and organizing his inauguration ball on 20 January 1961. In August 1962, Kennedy decided not to stay with Sinatra in Palm Springs, due to recent allegations of Mafia ties, and instead stayed with Bing Crosby - Sinatra's original rival and an active Republican.
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.
Was best friends with Dean Martin. Of all the members of the Rat Pack, he considered Dean his closest confidant and best friend.
Was broke by 1951. Ava Gardner had to pay his plane ticket, so he could accompany her to Africa, where she shot Mogambo (1953).
Was considered for the role of Nicky Arnstein in Funny Girl (1968). This was vetoed by Barbra Streisand, as she didn't like him. The role was eventually played by Omar Sharif.
Was friends with fellow singer Rosemary Clooney. Two members of her family went on to appear in remakes of Sinatra films. Her nephew George Clooney appeared in Ocean's Eleven (2001) and its sequels, in Sinatra's role, while her son Miguel Ferrer appeared in a supporting role in The Manchurian Candidate (2004). Ferrer also voiced Danny Ocean in a "Robot Chicken" (2005) parody.
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.
Was in talks to appear in The Verdict (1982).