FABIAN
Information from IMDb
Date of Birth
6 February 1942,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Birth Name
Fabiano Anthony Forte
Height
6' (1.83 m)
Spouse
Andrea Patrick (19 September 1998 - present) 1 child
Kate Forte (22 November 1980 - 1990) (divorced)
Katie Regan (24 September 1966 - 3 January 1979) (divorced) 2 children
Trivia
Rock-and-roll folklore has it that Fabian was sitting on his front porch stairs in acute despair over his family's extreme poverty and health problems when he was approached by two music promoters, Robert P. Marcucci and Peter De Angelis, and asked if he wanted to be a pop star.
Father of screenwriter Christian Forte (Albino Alligator (1996)) and Julie Forte, an animator.
His initial records didn't click, but appearances on Dick Clark's "Bandstand" (1952) made him a huge overnight success.
Occasionally tours with Frankie Avalon and Bobby Rydell. He and Avalon were discovered by Bob Marcucci. Their formative years with Marcucci was the basis for The Idolmaker (1980).
Posed nude for "Playgirl" magazine in 1973, but regretted the attempt for renewed publicity, claiming he looked "fat and stupid."
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Live Theatre at 7065 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.
Inducted into the Philadelphia Hall of Fame on November 17, 2000.
He is the older brother of Florida Marlins' TV broadcaster Frank Forte.
Mini Biography-1
Swinging teen idol Fabiano Anthony Forte, better known to his fans as Fabian, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1943, to a police officer. His father took ill and died when Fabian was young and the boy was forced to find work to help pay the family bills. With no experience but looks to die for, he was "discovered" one day by record promoters and artificially groom for rock 'n' roll stardom. Given singing lessons and a complete visual makeover (including black pompadour and sexy V-neck sweaters), Fabian was marketed with a rebel image and snarling baritone unlike the other clean-cut heartthrobs of his heyday, Frankie Avalon and Bobby Rydell. After a couple of false starts, including one of his earliest singles entitled "Shivers", Fabian zoomed to stardom on the strength of Dick Clark's American "Bandstand" (1952), later winning the Silver Award as "The Most Promising Male Vocalist of 1958".
From 1959-1960, Fabian recorded a number of "Top 10" hits, including "Tiger", "Hound Dog Man" and what would be his signature song, "Turn Me Loose". He was able to parlay his pop success into an acting career in the early 60s, coasting for awhile on his single name alone. Trained in acting by Sanford Meisner, some of his more notable film achievements include Hound-Dog Man (1959) (his movie debut), North to Alaska (1960) with John Wayne, High Time (1960) with Bing Crosby and the all-star war epic The Longest Day (1962). Most of his other films, however, were geared toward the young, finding himself entrapped in cheap-jack beach or biker films. The invasion of The Beatles in the mid-60s left Fabian and many of his contemporaries by the musical wayside. He continued to hang on and billed himself as Fabian Forte for a time in low-budget films, including A Bullet for Pretty Boy (1970) in which he played the notorious criminal "Pretty Boy Floyd". He also made frequent appearances on the traveling nostalgia revue circuit, courtesy of Dick Clark. In the 1990s, Fabian evolved into a minor TV, film and music producer. Married to his third wife Andrea Patrick, a one-time "Miss Pennsylvania" AND "Miss West Virginia" since 1998, he has two children from his first wife: Christian Forte, a screenwriter, and Julie Forte, an animator, born in 1969 and 1970, respectively.
IMDb Mini Biography By: Gary Brumburgh
Mini Biography-2
Born on February 6, 1943 to Josephine and Domenic Forte, Fabian Forte was actually discovered at the age of 14 sitting on his front steps in Philadelphia. Fabian was actually watching his father being taken away in an ambulance when someone approached him about getting into the record business. His father couldn't work any longer and, being that Fabian was the oldest of three brothers, he took a chance at "making some money" in the music business to help his family out. He never thought of it as a career, only as a way of stepping in for his father at that time. And, before you knew it, soon thousands were to throng to his concerts. At 15, Fabian won the Silver Award as "The Promising Male Vocalist of 1958". By the time he was 18, he had recorded dozens of hit singles, eight albums and earned gold records for "Turn Me Loose" and "Tiger" and a gold album for "The Fabulous Fabian".
In his latest endeavor, Fabian hosts and headlines in the hit show, "The Original Stars of Bandstand" at the newest theater to hit Branson, Missouri, The Dick Clark Theater. His first appearance on American "Bandstand" (1952) was when it all began, on June 19, 1958, and he appeared over 20 times and filled in as host for Dick Clark on dozens of "Caravan of Stars" Tours. "The Original Stars of Bandstand" re-creates those days-gone-by and, as Fabian says, "It is a like a reunion when I can get re-acquainted with all of my friends again". The show stars Bobby Vee and features The Chiffons, Brian Hyland, Chris Montez and rare footage of the performers and Dick Clark.
Fabian also performs with two of his Philadelphia buddies, Frankie Avalon and Bobby Rydell as "The Golden Boys" in one of the longest running shows of its kind, today. In their 20th year together, they have appeared in every major city in the United States and around the world and have played to packed venues in Atlantic City and Las Vegas and have starred in such television specials as "The American Music Awards", "Miss Teenage America" and "Command Performance: An All-Star Salute To The President". The Philadelphia Music Alliance honored Fabian in 2000, with a star on their Walk of Fame and Fabian visits the city any chance he gets to enjoy the best cheese steaks anywhere!
As an actor, Fabian makes frequent television and feature film appearances. Some of his most memorable television roles have been his guest appearances on "Laverne & Shirley" (1976), "The Facts of Life" (1979), "Blossom" (1990) & "Murphy Brown" (1988). Fabian has enjoyed a successful commercial career representing products such as Pepsi, Denny's & NutriSystem to name just a few and lends his distinctive voice to radio and voice-overs for commercials and television projects. Fabian recently hosted a PBS Special, titled At the Drive-In (2003) (TV), which became his second special for PBS. In front of 85,000 fans in Baton Rouge, Lousiana, "Fabian's GoodTime Rock 'n Roll Show", featuring the great rock acts from the 50s & 60s, was the first concert produced for pay-per-view-television and PBS. Fabian was the host, performer and producer of this concert special. Fabian is also an Emmy-nominated producer for his work on the highly acclaimed documentary series "The Wild West" (1993).
Fabian's early films rocketed him to stardom in the acting arena and his screen debut in 1959 came with the film, Hound-Dog Man (1959), directed by Don Siegel and he traveled internationally for the films Five Weeks in a Balloon (1962) and The Longest Day (1962). He worked with two of our great screen giants in North to Alaska (1960) with John Wayne and High Time (1960) with Bing Crosby. Fabian was fortunate to have worked with the incomparable and gracious James Stewart in two films in his career, Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (1962) & Dear Brigitte (1965) and he learned to surf with Tab Hunter in the cult classic, Ride the Wild Surf (1964). He was even interviewed by Michelle Pfeiffer in the 1996, Jon Avnet-directed film, Up Close & Personal (1996).
Fabian's role as a homicidal maniac in the TV production titled "Bus Stop: A Lion Walks Among Us (#1.10)" (1961), directed by Robert Altman, solidly established him as a versatile and powerful actor. This history-making production was the first television show to run one hour without commercials.
Fabian is one of the first pop rock artists ever to have been known by just one name. And to answer the most popular question of all, yes, Fabian is his real birth name being named after his grandfather, Fabiano Forte. Everything from children to his own font to hurricanes have been named after him, which really caused quite a stir. His full name is Fabian Anthony Forte.
In 1998, Fabian married model Andrea Patrick, a former Miss Pennsylvania-USA and Miss West Virginia, who is the owner/CEO of Patrick Talent Agency. He is also a proud father of a son, Christian Forte, and his wife, and their daughter, Fabian's granddaughter, Ava Josephine, and a daughter, Julie Forte. Fabian and Andrea are actively involved in the American Diabetes Association, the American Heart Assocation and Fabian has helped raise money for veterans with his Celebrity Golf Tournament in North Carolina. Andrea and Fabian live on 20 acres in Southwestern Pennyslvania with their dog, Max, in a home that Andrea designed.
An overnight singing sensation, a film star with over 30 films to his credit, and the producer of his own concert series, Fabian continues to expand his ever-growing career. This pop music and motion picture icon, received one of show business' highest honors when he was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on January 8, 2002. Fabian's 40+ years performing for his loyal fans at packed concerts, stadiums, casinos, festivals and theater productions garnered him the 2188th star and Fabian honored his fans by dedicating his star to them on this memorable day.
IMDb Mini Biography By: Andrea Patrick Forte
Personal Quotes
When I got into show business, I really had no interest in it at all. I had no expectations. As a result, I don't take it very seriously.
Filmography
Actor
1999 Mr. Rock 'n' Roll: The Alan Freed Story (TV movie)
1994 Runaway Daughters (TV movie)...Mr. Rusoff
1984 Movie Macabre (TV series)– Kiss Daddy Goodbye (1984) … Deputy Blanchard
1983 Get Crazy...Marv (as Fabian Forte)
1982 The Love Boat (TV series)– New York, A.C./Live It Up/All's Fair in Love and War (1982) … Joe Baylor
1981 Kiss Daddy Goodbye...Deputy Blanchard (as Fabian Forte)
1980 Fantasy Island (TV series)– PlayGirl/Smith's Valhalla (1980) … Walter Wilde (as Fabian Forte)
1979 Crisis in Mid-air (TV movie)...Billy Coleman
1978/I Jukebox...Richie Desmond
1978 Katie: Portrait of a Centerfold (TV movie)...Emcee
1978 Getting Married (TV movie)...Wayne Spanka
1978 The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries (TV series)– Mystery on the Avalanche Express (1978) … Paul Leyton
1973 Little Laura and Big John...John
1973 Love, American Style (TV series)
Steve Stone (segment "Love and the Crisis Line")
– Love and the Crisis Line/Love and the Happy Family/Love and the Vertical Romance (1973) … Steve Stone (segment "Love and the Crisis Line")
1973 The Miracle Man...Matthew Crowe (as Fabian Forte)
1971 The Hard Ride...Police officer (uncredited)
1971 The F.B.I. (TV series)
Bryan Hazard– Unknown Victim (1971) … Bryan Hazard (as Fabian Forte)
1970 A Bullet for Pretty Boy...Charles Arthur 'Pretty Boy' Floyd (as Fabian Forte)
1969 The Devil's 8...Sonny
1968 The Wild Racers...Joe Joe Quillico
1968 Maryjane...Phil Blake
1967 Theatre of Stars (TV series)– Wipeout (1967) … Grenier
1967 Thunder Alley..Tommy Callahan
1967 The Rat Patrol (TV series)– The B Negative Raid (1967) … Cpl. Pennell
1963-1966 The Virginian (TV series)
Charlie Ryan / Eddie / Josh Laredo / …
– The Outcast (1966) … Charlie Ryan
– Two Men Named Laredo (1965) … Eddie/Josh Laredo
– Say Goodbye to All That (1963) … Martin Beldon
1966 Dr. Goldfoot and the 'S' Bomb
1966 Fireball 500...Leander
1965 Daniel Boone (TV series)– The First Beau (1965) … David Ellis (as Fabian Forte)
1965 Ten Little Indians...Mike Raven
1965 Dear Brigitte...Kenneth 'Kenny' Taylor
1964 Ride the Wild Surf...Jody Wallis
1964 The Eleventh Hour (TV series)– You're So Smart, Why Can't You Be Good? (1964) … Gilbert Brubaker
1963 The Greatest Show on Earth (TV series(– Uncaged (1963) … Mac
1963 Wagon Train (TV series)– The Molly Kincaid Story (1963) … Rome
1962 The Dick Powell Show (TV series)– Run Till It's Dark (1962) … Jake Cobb
1962 The Longest Day...U.S. Army Ranger
1962 Five Weeks in a Balloon...Jacques
1962 Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation...Joe
1962 The Gertrude Berg Show (TV series)– Peace Corps (1962) … Paul Volk (as Fabian Forte)
1961 Bus Stop (TV series)– A Lion Walks Among Us (1961) … Luke Freeman
1961 Love in a Goldfish Bowl...Giuseppe La Barba
1960 North to Alaska...Billy Pratt
1960 High Time...Gil Sparrow
1960 The Red Skelton Show (TV series)– Episode #9.17 (1960) … Guest
1959 Hound-Dog Man...Clint
Soundtrack
2000 Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The Early Years (1955-1970) (TV documentary) (performer: "I'm Growin' Up")
1986 Best of Bandstand (video documentary) (performer: "Turn Me Loose")
1981 American Pop (performer: "Turn Me Loose")
1978 Bobby Vinton's Rock 'n Rollers (TV movie) (performer: "Turn Me Loose", "Land of a Thousand Dances")
1965 Ten Little Indians (performer: "Ten Little Indians")
1961 Love in a Goldfish Bowl (performer: "You're Only Young Once")
1960 North to Alaska ("If You Knew")
1959 The Dick Clark Show (TV series)– Episode #2.27 (1959) (performer: "Turn Me Loose" - uncredited, "Tiger" - uncredited)
Producer
1993 The Wild West (TV mini-series documentary) (co-executive producer)
1985 Good Time Rock 'n' Roll (TV documentary) (producer)
