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Francis Thomas Avallone (born September 18, 1939 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) was an actor and teen idol in the 1950s and early 1960s.
By the time he was 12, Avalon began making appearances on U.S. television for his trumpet prowess, and, seven years later, he had a #1 hit, "Venus," recorded on the Chancellor label.
Later in the 1960s, Avalon became known for his roles in the beach film genre. Later, he became the U.S. national television spokesperson for Sonic Drive-In.
Avalon married Kathryn Diebel on January 26, 1962. Still together, the couple has 8 children. In her autobiography, gossip queen Rona Barrett revealed that Avalon fathered a girl, born in December 1960, by a fan. Barrett was the assistant to Avalon's manager, Robert Marcucci, at the time.
In 1987 Avalon and Annette Funicello returned to the movies, with the aptly titled Back to the Beach.
Among his films was:
'Operation Bikini' (1963) (with Tab Hunter)
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