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Fabian Forte
1942-
Updated 4/24/2008.
biography
Born in Philidelphia in February 1943, Fabian Forte was discovered in late 1957 by Bob Marcucci and Peter De Angelis, owners of Chancellor Records. As Fabian sat on the front steps of his home, Marcucci walked by and began talking to the youth. Soon, Marcucci and De Angelis signed him to Chancellor. After a year of vocal training and a couple of failed singles, Marcucci and De Angelis began a launch for Fabian, who recorded more singles and appeared on American Bandstand. Fabian quickly gained a following, resulting in many hits and a film career.
LEFT: Fabian on the October 1960 cover of Teen Screen. CENTER and RIGHT: Chancellor Records promotional photos
Fabian charted eight hits on the Billboard Top 40 between February 1959 and March 1960, all on the Chancellor label. (Frankie Avalon also recorded for Chancellor.) Fabian's first chart hit was I'm a Man, released in February 1959 and reaching the #31 spot. His next two singles, Turn Me Loose and Tiger, went into Top Ten in the spring of 1959.
In 1959, Fabian signed with 20th Century Fox to do several films, the first of which was Hound Dog Man, released in the fall of 1959. His single from the film, also titled Hound Dog Man, went to the #9 position on the charts. With his increasingly busy acting career, Fabian eventually abandoned recording, and by the mid 1960s he began an association with American International Pictures, acting in several films for the studio.
the films of fabian
Hound Dog Man (1959)
With Stuart Whitman in the 20th Century Fox release Hound Dog Man
North to Alaska (1960)
With Ernie Kovacs and Stewart Granger in the 20th Century Fox western North to Alaska
Five Weeks in a Balloon (1962)
With Barbara Luna in the 20th Century Fox adventure Five Weeks in a Balloon
The Eleventh Hour (TV series, 1964)
With Fay Wray and Phil Ober in a January 1964 episode of the dramatic TV series The Eleventh Hour
Ride the Wild Surf (1964)
From Columbia's star-packed beach film Ride the Wild Surf. LEFT: With Shelley Fabares. CENTER and RIGHT: Fabian surfs
Dr. Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs (1966)
From the climax of American-International's Dr. Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs. Pictured are Fabian, Franco and Ciccio, and Laura Antonelli
From American-International's stock car film Fireball 500. LEFT: As stock car driver Leander. CENTER and RIGHT: With Annette Funicello and Frankie Avalon
The Wild Racers (1968)
With Mimsy Farmer in American International's The Wild Racers
A Bullet for Pretty Boy (1970)
From American International's A Bullet for Pretty Boy featuring Fabian as Pretty Boy Floyd
fabian today
Today, Fabian is still entertaining his fans. He tours with Frankie Avalon and Bobby Rydell in the Golden Boys of Rock and Roll show. Also, Fabian has served as producer for a number of film projects. He is married to Andrea Patrick, a former Miss Pennsylvania and Miss West Virginia who is a talent agency owner. See the Official Fabian Forte Website for more information on Fabian's current projects.
The Rat Patrol: The Complete First Season [DVD](1966) DVD
All 32 episodes from the debut season--including "The Chase of Fire Raid," "The Moment of Truce Raid," the three-part "The Last Harbor Raid," "The Take Me to Your Leader Raid," "The Delilah Raid," and "The B Negative Raid" with guest star Fabian--are collected in a four-disc set. 13 1/2 hrs. total. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, French.
North To Alaska [DVD](1960) DVD
Lusty, brawling epic of prospectors in Gold Rush Alaska stars John Wayne and Stewart Granger as partners who wind up fighting for the hand of lovely Capucine. Fun-filled adventure film also stars Ernie Kovacs, Fabian. 117 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 4.0, Spanish Dolby Digital mono, French Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish.
Mr. Hobbs Takes A Vacation [DVD](1962) DVD
James Stewart takes his family on a seaside holiday, only to be plagued by a lothario with eyes for his wife, a son who's glued to the TV set, a daughter who refuses to go out in public with braces, and two daughters with marital woes. Warm comedy co-stars Maureen O'Hara, Fabian, John Saxon, and John McGiver. 115 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English.
Five Weeks In A Balloon [DVD](1962) DVD
From master fantasist Jules Verne and director Irwin Allen comes this tale of a 19th-century British balloon expedition across Africa, a trip fraught with dangers both natural and man-made. Cedric Hardwicke, Red Buttons, Barbara Eden, Fabian, and Peter Lorre star. 101 min. Soundtrack: English.
The Longest Day (Special Edition) [DVD](1962) DVD
Acclaimed as one of Hollywood's greatest epics, producer Darryl F. Zanuck's re-creation of the Allied landing at Normandy on June 6, 1944 follows the grand-scale drama and personal stories of D-Day. International all-star cast includes John Wayne, Henry Fonda, Robert Mitchum, Rod Steiger, Richard Burton, Red Buttons, Sean Connery, Mel Ferrer, Robert Ryan. Widescreen; Soundtracks: English Dolby Digital 4.0, Dolby Digital Surround, French mono, Spanish mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish; audio commentary; featurettes; interview; photo gallery; theatrical trailer. Two-disc set.
Ride The Wild Surf [DVD](1964) DVD
Columbia attempted to catch the "beach party film" wave with this more serious look at three surf bums in Hawaii whose ambitions revolve around surfing competitions and girls. Tab Hunter, Susan Hart, Fabian, Shelley Fabares, Peter Brown and Barbara Eden star; theme by Jan and Dean. 101 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital stereo; Subtitles: English.
Ten Little Indians [DVD](1965) DVD
A dinner party in a remote Alpine retreat becomes a search for a murderer when, one by one, the guests of the unseen host are killed. Hugh O'Brian, Shirley Eaton, Wilfrid Hyde-White, Dennis Price, and Fabian star in this variation of the Agatha Christie thriller. 90 min. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, French, Spanish; featurette; theatrical trailer.
Fireball 500 (1966)/Thunder Alley [DVD](1967) DVD
Running moonshine through a small town on his way to Daytona, bootlegger Frankie Avalon competes with hot-headed local race car driver Fabian for the affections of Annette Funicello while evading a group of federal agents. The fast-paced comedic actioner "Fireball 500" also stars Chill Wills, Harvey Lembeck. Then, in "Thunder Alley," stock car racer Fabian is forced to retire after a blackout on the track leads to the death of another driver. Taking a job with Jan Murray's "thrill circus," he teaches Funicello and boyfriend Warren Berlinger to race, but when Fabian's old girlfriend causes friction between the trio, he must get back behind the wheel and overcome his affliction in this rubber-burning thriller from director Richard Rush ("The Stunt Man"). 181 min. total. Widescreen (Enhanced); Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital mono; Subtitles: English, Spanish, French.
Frankie & Annette: M-G-M Movie Legends Collection [DVD] DVD
"Surf's up" in this four-disc boxed set saluting AIP's teen comedy series and seaside sweethearts Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello. Anthropologist Bob Cummings uses the pair as part of a study of modern mating habits in the original "Beach Party" (1963), with Morey Amsterdam, Dorothy Malone, and Harvey Lembeck as Eric Von Zipper. Annette has her hands full when the Potato Bug, a British pop star who's Frankie's double, arrives at "Bikini Beach" (1964). Don Rickles and Little Stevie Wonder guest star. Gym owner Rickles wants to take over the kids' surf spot, and heiress Luciana Paluzzi wants to woo Frankie from Annette, in "Muscle Beach Party" (1964). Avalon trades his board for slats and joins Dwayne Hickman, Deborah Walley and James Brown for a "Ski Party" (1965). "Beach Blanket Bingo" (1965) boasts a missing singer, a mermaid, and skydiving surfdogs. Avalon wants to keep pal Hickman away from Funicello while he's on military duty in "How to Stuff a Wild Bikini" (1965), with Buster Keaton. Frankie's a moonshine-running hot rodder competing with racer Fabian for Annette's hand in "Fireball 500" (1966). And Fabian and Funicello burn rubber together in "Thunder Alley" (1967). 12 1/2 hrs. total. Widescreen; Soundtrack: English mono.
Kiss Daddy Goodbye (Revenge Of The Zombie) [DVD](1981) DVD
Supernatural tale of violence and vengeance, as a biker gang breaks into a house and kills the father of two children with bizarre powers. The twins use their abilities to bring their dad back to pseudo-life for a gruesome revenge. Marilyn Burns, Jon Cedar and Fabian Forte star. 92 min. Soundtrack: English.
Runaway Daughters [DVD](1994) DVD
Directed by Joe Dante ("Gremlins"), this comedic remake of the 1956 drive-in classic follows guy-crazy teens Angie, Mary and Laura as they steal a car and embark on an offbeat road trip. While trying to find one of their ex-lovers before he is sent out to sea with the Navy, the girls have a series of remarkable misadventures. Julie Bowen, Holly Fields, Paul Rudd, Robert Picardo, and the great Dick Miller star; look for director and Dante mentor Roger Corman in a small role. 82 min. Standard; Soundtrack: English Dolby Digital Surround; Subtitles: Spanish, French.
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filmography
Mr. Rock 'n' Roll: The Alan Freed Story (1999) with Paula Abdul, Judd Nelson, and Bobby Rydell
Runaway Daughters (1994) with Dick Miller, Roger Corman, and Joe Flaherty
Get Crazy (1983) with Malcolm McDowell, Lou Reed, Bobby Sherman, Mary Woronov, and Paul Bartel
Revenge of the Zombie (1981) with Marilyn Burns
Crisis in Mid-air (1979) with George Peppard and Martin Milner
Disco Fever (1978) with Michael Blodgett and Casey Kasem
Katie: Portrait of a Centerfold (1978) with Kim Basinger and Tab Hunter
Getting Married (1978) with Mark Harmon and Bess Armstrong
The Day the Lord Got Busted (1976) with William Bonner and Casey Kasem
Little Laura and Big John (1973) with Karen Black
A Bullet for Pretty Boy (1970) with Jocelyn Lane and Adam Roarke
The Devil's 8 (1969) with Christopher George, Leslie Parrish, and Ross Hagen
Maryjane (1968) with Diane McBain and Frank Alesia
The Wild Racers (1968) with Mimsy Farmer
Thunder Alley (1967) with Annette Funicello, Diane McBain, Warren Berlinger, and Jan Murray
Fireball 500 (1966) with Annette Funicello, Frankie Avalon, Julie Parrish, and Harvey Lembeck
Dr. Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs (1966) with Vincent Price; the sequel to Dr. Goldfoot and the Bikini Machine
Ten Little Indians (1966) with Hugh O'Brian, Shirley Eaton, and Daliah Lavi
Dear Brigitte (1965) with James Stewart and Billy Mumy
Ride the Wild Surf (1964) with Peter Brown, Tab Hunter, Barbara Eden, Shelley Fabares, and Susan Hart
The Longest Day (1962) with Eddie Albert, Paul Anka, John Wayne, and an all-star cast
Five Weeks in a Balloon (1962) with Barbara Eden, Barbara Luna, and Red Buttons
Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation (1962) with James Stewart, John Saxon, and Maureen O'Hara
Love in a Goldfish Bowl (1961) with Tommy Sands, Jan Sterling, and Denny Miller
High Time (1960) with Bing Crosby, Tuesday Weld, and Yvonne Craig
North to Alaska (1960) with John Wayne, Stewart Granger, and Ernie Kovacs
Hound-Dog Man (1959) with Stuart Whitman and Carol Lynley
TELEVISION GUEST APPEARANCES
Murphy Brown, episode Opus One, originally aired April 6, 1998
Blossom, episodes Beach Blanket Blossom: Parts 1 and 2, originally aired February 21, 1994
The Facts of Life, episode 62 Pick Up, originally aired February 21, 1987
The New Love, American Style, episode Love And The Girl Of My Dreams, originally aired January 3, 1986
The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, episode Mystery On The Avalanche Express, originally aired February 26, 1978. This episode also featured Deborah Walley
Laverne & Shirley, episode Laverne & Shirley Meet Fabian, originally aired November 22, 1977
The Love Boat, episode All's Affair In Love And War, originally aired October 6, 1977
The F.B.I., episode The Unknown Victim, originally aired January 3, 1971
The Rat Patrol, episode The B Negative Raid, originally aired January 30, 1967
The Virginian, episode Outcast, originally aired October 26, 1966
Daniel Boone, episode The First Beau, originally aired December 9, 1965
The Virginian, episode Two Men Named Laredo, originally aired January 6, 1965
The Eleventh Hour, episode ?, originally aired January 1964
Wagon Train, episode The Molly Kincaid Story, originally aired September 16, 1963
The Virginian, episode Say Goodbye to All That, originally aired January 23, 1963
Bus Stop, episode A Lion Walks Among Us, originally aired December 3, 1961
links
The Fabulous Fabian
This is the official web site for Fabian and contains information about Fabian's life and career over the past 40 years. Through the aid of pictures you will meet his family and friends, recall his movie and TV roles, be able to listen to original recordings of his most popular songs and have access to his calendar of performances and events. Lots of photos!
Click on the logo to go back to Brian's Drive-In Theater
This page premiered August 22, 2001.
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