Anthony Franciosa
A brooding, intense Method actor of the 1950s who earned an Oscar nomination for his raw portrayal of a drug addict's brother, but whose fiery temperament often overshadowed his talent.
1928–2006 (age 78)·American actor·Birthday: October 25·The Silent Generation
Biography
Anthony Franciosa burst out of the New York theater scene with a volcanic performance in 'A Hatful of Rain,' a role that took him to Broadway, the Venice Film Festival (where he won Best Actor), and the Academy Awards. He was the epitome of the intense, Brando-influenced actor of the era—handsome, volatile, and utterly committed. Hollywood quickly signed him, leading to starring roles in films like 'The Long, Hot Summer' and 'Career.' However, a reputation for being difficult on set began to limit his opportunities in major studio films. He transitioned successfully to television, headlining series like 'The Name of the Game' and 'Search,' where his magnetism found a steady home. His later career was a mix of European genre films and character parts, his intensity undimmed. Franciosa's legacy is that of a formidable talent whose flame burned brightly but whose own passions sometimes got in the way of a more conventional stardom.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Anthony was born in 1928, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Anthony Was Born
The biggest hits of 1928
#1 Movie
The Singing Fool
Best Picture
Wings
Anthony's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1928Born
Alexander Fleming discovers penicillin; Mickey Mouse debuts
President: Calvin Coolidge"Ol' Man River" — Paul WhitemanBest Picture: Wings
1933Started school
FDR's New Deal launches; Prohibition ends
Gas: $0.18/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stormy Weather" — Ethel WatersBest Picture: Cavalcade
1941Became a teenager
Pearl Harbor attack brings the US into WWII
Gas: $0.19/galHome: $3,060Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Chattanooga Choo Choo" — Glenn MillerBest Picture: How Green Was My Valley
1944Could drive
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1946Could vote
United Nations holds its first General Assembly
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $5,150Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Prisoner of Love" — Perry ComoBest Picture: The Best Years of Our Lives
1949Turned 21
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1958Turned 30
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1968Turned 40
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1978Turned 50
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1988Turned 60
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1998Turned 70
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2006Died at 78
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
Key Achievements
- Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for reprising his stage role in the film adaptation of 'A Hatful of Rain.'
- Won the Volpi Cup for Best Actor at the Venice Film Festival for his performance in 'A Hatful of Rain.'
- Starred as lead in the NBC television series 'The Name of the Game,' a pioneering 90-minute format show.
- Received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor for his Broadway debut in 'A Hatful of Rain.'
Did You Know?
He was married four times, including to actresses Shelley Winters and Judy Balaban.
He was considered for the role of Tony Soprano in early development of the HBO series.
He turned down the role of Matt Helm in 'The Silencers,' which later went to Dean Martin.
He was an accomplished painter and held several exhibitions of his work.
“An actor is a guy who, if you ain't talking about him, ain't listening.”
