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FRANCHOT FACTS

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FULL NAME: Stanislas Pascal Franchot Tone

PRONUNCIATION: Fran-show Hear Franchot say it himself here. (433KB wav)

DEBUT: Born on February 27, 1905 in Niagara Falls, NY

FAMILY: His parents were Dr. Frank J. Tone (a pioneer in the field of electro-chemistry and former president of the Carborundum Company of America) and Gertrude Franchot Tone (of the socially and politically prominent up-state New York Franchot family.) His elder brother Jerry (Frank Jerome Tone, Jr.) was also an executive at Carborundum.

MOST FAMOUS ANCESTOR: Irish patriot Theobald Wolfe Tone

EDUCATION:

The Hill School - Pottstown, PA

Cornell University - Phi Beta Kappa '27

Rennes University - France

FIRST CAREER AMBITION: To be a language teacher

FIRST ACTING EXPERIENCE: At Cornell University where he studied drama and romance languages and was president of the drama society his senior year.

THEATRICAL TRIVIA: Franchot portrayed Curly in the 1931 Broadway production of Green Grow the Lilacs, written by his lifelong friend, Lynn Riggs. The story was later developed into the now-famous musical Oklahoma! Tex Ritter was his understudy.

Franchot as Curly

HOLLYWOOD: As an original member of New York's Group Theatre, in 1932 he was the first to leave and head west for work in motion pictures, making him the first Method actor to perform on film. Although his voice was perfect for talkies and good looks a natural for the screen, his heart remained on the stage and he abruptly (if only temporarily) abandoned Hollywood in 1939 to return to Broadway -- an unheard of career move in those days.

MARRIAGES:  Photos of Franchot with his wives here.

• Joan Crawford (1935-39)
• Jean Wallace (1941-48) -- two sons (and three grandchildren, 1 great-grandchild)
• Barbara Payton (1951-52)
• Dolores Dorn (1956-59)

ACADEMY AWARD NOMINATION: Best Actor (1935) for his portrayal of Roger Byam in Mutiny On The Bounty

HOLLYWOOD WALK OF FAME: Franchot's star is located at 6560 Hollywood Boulevard (on the south side of the street between Hudson and Whitley Avenues) - it was one of the 1,539 inaugural stars installed between 1958 and 1960.

VITALS: According to a 1940 Universal Studios bio, Franchot stood six feet tall, weighed 165 pounds and had brown hair and hazel eyes.

IRONY OF IMAGE: Despite being raised in a wealthy, socialite atmosphere and being typecast in films as the suave, society playboy, Franchot was most at home in the woods -- he spent his off-time relaxing at his country home in Canada and enjoyed shooting rifles (he was an excellent shot!) and chopping wood.

FINAL CURTAIN: Franchot died on September 18, 1968 at his Manhattan home from lung cancer. He remained active despite his illness and at the time of his death he was planning to produce and star in a film about the life of artist Pierre Auguste Renoir

Franchot in his later years

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Original Material © 1998-2006 Lisa Burks | All Rights Reserved

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