Growing up on the streets of Hoboken, New Jersey, USA made him determined to work hard to get ahead. Starting out as a saloon singer in musty, little dives (because he carried his own P.A. system), he eventually got work as a band singer, first with The Hoboken Four then Harry James, then Tommy Dorsey. With the help of George Evans (Sinatra's genius press agent), Sinatra'a image was shaped in to 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 spontaniety and energy, rather than perfection, he was an instinctive actor who was best at playing parts that mirrored his own personality. A contorversial public affair with screen vixen Ava Gardner, broke up Frank's marriage to Nancy Barbato. After a vocal cord homorrhage all but ended his career, he fought back and won the coveted role of Maggio in From Here to Eternity (1953). He won an Oscar for best supporting actor, yet still didn't have widespread acceptance in Hollywood. He was to continue to give strong and memorable performances in such films as Man with the Golden Arm, The (1955), Suddenly (1954) and, especially, Manchurian Candidate, The (1962) -- 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 Detective, The (1968) and Ocean's Eleven (1960) are the best. His last lead role was as the aging detective in First Deadly Sin, The (1980). In it, he gave a moving performance that was a fitting finale to a long and rich career.

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