1950s In December 1952, Avalon made his American network television debut playing the trumpet in
The Honeymooners "Christmas Party" sketch on
The Jackie Gleason Show. Two singles showcasing Avalon's trumpet playing were issued on
RCA Victor's X sublabel in 1954. His trumpet playing was also featured on some of his LP songs as well. As a teenager, he played with
Bobby Rydell in Rocco and the Saints. In 1959, "
Venus", which was a number one single for five consecutive weeks, and "
Why" went to
number one on the
Billboard Hot 100. "Why" was the first number one hit of the 1960s. Avalon had 31 charted U.S.
Billboard singles from 1958 to late 1962, including "
Just Ask Your Heart" (U.S. No. 7), "
I'll Wait for You" (U.S. No. 5), "
Bobby Sox to Stockings" (U.S. No. 8), and "
A Boy Without a Girl" (U.S. No. 10). He was less popular in the
UK, but did still manage four chart hits with "Why", "
Ginger Bread", "Venus" and "Don't Throw Away All Those Teardrops". Most of his
hit songs were
written and/or produced by
Bob Marcucci, head of
Chancellor Records. Avalon concentrated on his acting career which detracted from his recording career, and "Why" of 1959 would be Avalon's final top 10 hit. Avalon's first film was a short appearance in
Jamboree (1957), playing a trumpet and singing "Teacher's Pet". In the late 1950s, teen idols were often given roles in films, supporting older male stars in order to attract a younger audience, such as
Ricky Nelson in
Rio Bravo (1959).
Alan Ladd's daughter was a Frankie Avalon fan, who recommended that he co-star with her father in the Western
Guns of the Timberland (1960). Avalon sings two songs, "The Faithful Kind" and "Gee Whiz Whillikins Golly Gee"; both were released as singles. Ladd announced he would reteam Avalon and his daughter in
Six Steps to Freedom but the film was never made.
1960s Rushes for
Timberland were seen by
John Wayne, who was looking for a young actor to play the (fictitious) role of "Smitty" in his passion project,
The Alamo (1960). Avalon was cast in his second dramatic part. After making the film Wayne told the press: "We're not cutting one bit of any scene in which Frankie appears. I believe he is the finest young talent I've seen in a long time." "Mr Wayne said I was natural as far as acting goes," said Avalon. He added: "My ambition when I was ten years old was to have my own band like
Harry James. I never expected anything like this... I'd like to be identified as a singer, dancer, and actor. I don't want to be just one thing." Avalon was now in demand as an actor. He provided the singing voice for the lead character in the English-language version of a Japanese musical
anime,
Alakazam the Great (1960), which was done at the behest of the US distributor,
American International Pictures. It was the first in what would be a long association with that company. For
Irwin Allen, Avalon had a small role and sang the title song in the science fiction adventure film,
Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1961), a solid commercial hit. He had a supporting role in a comedy,
Sail a Crooked Ship (1961). Avalon was teamed with
Ray Milland in the science fiction film,
Panic in Year Zero! (1962), written by
Lou Rusoff.
Samuel Z. Arkoff of
American International Pictures (AIP) said Avalon and Milland were teamed together because "they both have particular types of followers and the combination adds up to an attraction". For AIP, Avalon made a war film with
Tab Hunter,
Operation Bikini (1963), singing a few songs in flashback. At
MGM, he played the lead in an adventure film set in Africa,
Drums of Africa (1963). Of more significance for Avalon's career was a project originally written by Rusoff,
Beach Party (1963). This cheerful pop rock-and-roll musical comedy starred
Annette Funicello and was directed by
William Asher. Arkoff said AIP originally wanted
Fabian Forte to co-star with Funicello, but when he proved unavailable, they went with Avalon; it was a big hit and led to several sequels.
Filmink wrote "Avalon's warm persona and slightly cartoonish vibe were ideal for the beach party movies, with their in-jokes, double-takes, songs and silliness."
Pajama Party (1964) was the unofficial fourth film in the series; it was a science fiction spoof in which Avalon ceded the leading man duties to
Tommy Kirk, retaining a cameo. He was back as the leading man in
Beach Blanket Bingo (1965). He later recalled: "That's the picture of mine that I think people remember best, and it was just a lot of kids having a lot of fun ... a picture about young romance and about the opposition of adults and old people ... also fun because we got to learn how to fake skydive out of an airplane." Avalon also appeared in nearly two dozen TV episodes, including
ABC's
The Bing Crosby Show and
The Patty Duke Show, appearing often as himself. Later, he became a national television spokesperson for
Sonic Drive-In. In 1965, he appeared in the
Combat! TV series episode "Brother, Brother" as a childhood friend of Pfc. Kirby, played by Jack Hogan. Avalon and
Tuesday Weld supported
Bob Hope in the comedy film, ''
I'll Take Sweden'' (1965) for
Edward Small. According to
Filmink AIP gave "Avalon three terrific non-beach chances in 1965–the studio really looked after him with a series of roles that were utterly perfect for the singer." More popular was AIP's
Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine (1965), a comedy with
Vincent Price and Hickman. This was liked well enough to justify a sequel, although Avalon did not appear; Fabian Forte took over the Avalon role. In January 1966, Avalon said he no longer wanted to make beach films. "Even a seagull leaves the beach from time to time, and I'm getting a little sick of sand." AIP tried to find a new starring formula for Avalon, casting him as a stock car driver in
Fireball 500 (1966), alongside Fabian and Funicello, for director William Asher. It was a medium financial success and led to other AIP stock car films, though none had Avalon starring in them. For
Harry Alan Towers and AIP he played the lead role in
The Million Eyes of Sumuru (1967), and also had a solid role in
Skidoo (1968), a comedy from
Otto Preminger. In England, he was in AIP's
The Haunted House of Horror (1968).
Filmink argued
Skidoo "essentially killed Avalon's career as a movie star." In early 1979, Avalon portrayed Sergei in the episode "Dewey and Harold and Sarah and Maggie" of the
NBC television series
$weepstake$.
1980s The 1980 film
The Idolmaker, written by Ed Di Lorenzo and directed by
Taylor Hackford, was a thinly-disguised biography of Avalon ("Tommy Dee" in the film) as well as 1950s teenage star
Fabian Forte (called "Caesare" in the film), along with songwriter/producer Bob Marcucci (called "Vinnie Vacarri"). In the film, Dee clashes with the record producer and younger singer Caesare, who he feels threatens his career. Eventually, Dee and Caesare quit the label, but their record careers collapse just as the
British Invasion begins. The real Fabian threatened a lawsuit, despite the filmmakers' insistence that the film presented only fictional characters (though Marcucci was a paid consultant). Avalon denied most of the film's events. In 1980, Avalon appeared in the film
Blood Song as Paul Foley, a serial killer. The movie was shot in October–November 1980 in North Bend/Coos Bay, Oregon. It was released in October 1982. Avalon also appeared in the
Happy Days episode "Poobah Doo Dah" playing himself where he sings his hits "Venus" and "Why". Avalon had the idea of returning to beach party films with Funicello. He hired several screenwriters and shopped the screenplay around town, eventually managing to set up the project at
Paramount Pictures.
Back to the Beach (1987) was a moderate success. In 1989, Avalon and Funicello appeared as themselves in cameo roles, out jogging the streets in
Troop Beverly Hills. Not long afterward Funicello retired, having been diagnosed with
multiple sclerosis. Avalon then turned to marketing and created Frankie Avalon Products, a line of health and cosmetic aids. Cono, who shared some mutual friends with Avalon, succeeded the late Bobby Rydell in the Dick Fox's Golden Boys tour in 2025. == Personal life ==