- Born
- Died
- Birth nameFrank John Fontaine
- Nickname
- Frankie
- Frank Fontaine was born on April 19, 1920 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. He was an actor, known for Hit Parade of 1951 (1950), The Jackie Gleason Show (1966) and The Jack Benny Program (1950). He was married to Alma Claire Wakeham. He died on August 4, 1978 in Spokane, Washington, USA.
- SpouseAlma Claire Wakeham(August 17, 1937 - August 4, 1978) (his death, 11 children)
- ParentsRaymond Joseph Fontaine Sr.Anna Dorothy McCarthy
- RelativesAnna Dorothy Fontaine(Sibling)Raymond Joseph Fontaine Jr.(Sibling)
- As with fellow "professional drunks" Jack Norton and Foster Brooks, he was a nondrinker in private life.
- On the commentary of The Simpsons (1989) Season Five DVD, the show writers admit that Barney Gumble was based in part on Fontaine's Crazy Guggenheim.
- Father of 11 children.
- Parents were circus performers: father Ray Fontaine - strong man and mother Anna McCarthy - trapeze artist.
- He had a good singing voice when not in character, something he proved both on Jackie Gleason: American Scene Magazine (1962) and in the best-selling album "Songs I Sing on 'The Jackie Gleason Show'". The latter went to number one on the Billboard Album Charts in 1962.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content