Fabian Forte (born Fabiano Anthony Forte, February 6, 1943), professionally known as Fabian, is an American singer and actor. Forte rose to national prominence after performing several times on '' American Bandstand''. He became a

teen idol A teen idol is a celebrity with a large teenage fan base. Teen idols are generally young but are not necessarily teenagers. An idol's popularity may be limited to teens, or may extend to all age groups. By region Asia East Asia possess ...

of the late 1950s and early 1960s. Eleven of his songs reached the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.

Early life

Fabian Forte is the son of Josephine and Dominic Forte; his father was a Philadelphia police officer. He is the eldest of three brothers and grew up in the

Discovery

Forte was discovered in 1957 by Bob Marcucci and Peter DeAngelis, owners of

Chancellor Records Chancellor Records was a record label associated with ABC-Paramount Records, which initially distributed the smaller label. Based in Philadelphia, it was an integral part of the dominance of popular Philadelphia artists and music in the late 1950s ...

. At the time, record producers were looking to the

South Philadelphia South Philadelphia, nicknamed South Philly, is the section of Philadelphia bounded by South Street to the north, the Delaware River to the east and south and the Schuylkill River to the west.Fabian Forte interview
PopEntertainment.com (2007-09-19). Retrieved on 2015-05-29. When Fabian's father returned from the hospital he was unable to work, so when Marcucci persisted, Fabian and his family were amenable, and he agreed to record a single.

Frankie Avalon Francis Thomas Avallone (born September 18, 1940), better known as Frankie Avalon, is an American actor, singer, and former teen idol. He had 31 charting U.S. ''Billboard'' singles from 1958 to late 1962, including number one hits, "Venus" an ...

, also of South Philadelphia, suggested Forte as a possibility. Fabian later said, "They gave me a pompadour and some clothes and those goddamned white bucks and out I went." "He was the right look and right for what we were going for", wrote Marcucci later.

Singing stardom

Ed Sullivan Fabian The Ed Sullivan Show 1959

Early songs

Fabian was given an allowance from the record company of $30 a week (). He also kept working part-time at a pharmacy as well as studying at South Philadelphia High School, while practicing his singing. Fabian later said "I didn't know what I was doing, but I knew my goal, to try to make extra money. That meant a lot to our family. I rehearsed and rehearsed, and I really felt like a fish out of water. And we made a record. And it was horrible. Yet it got on

Georgie Woods Georgie Woods (1927 – June 18, 2005) was an American radio personality who was best known for his broadcasting career in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area. Woods came to Philadelphia from New York in 1953 and began broadcasting from AM statio ...

. For some reason, Georgie Woods played it." The song was "Shivers", which was a local hit in Chicago. This helped Fabian meet

Dick Clark Richard Wagstaff Clark (November 30, 1929April 18, 2012) was an American radio and television personality, television producer and film actor, as well as a cultural icon who remains best known for hosting '' American Bandstand'' from 1956 to 19 ...

, who agreed to try Fabian at one of Clark's record hops, where singers would perform to teenage audiences. Fabian lip synched to a song and Clark wrote "the little girls at the hop went wild. They started screaming and yelling for this guy who didn't do a thing but stand there. I've never seen anything like it." Clark told Marcucci "you got a hit, he's a star. Now all you have to do is teach him to sing." Clark eventually put the young singer on '' American Bandstand'' where he sang "I'm in Love". Fabian later admitted this song "was not very good either" but "the response – they told me – was overwhelming. I had no idea. All during that period, I was doing record hops. Not getting paid for it, but for the record company promotions. Just lip synching to my records. The response was really good."

Hit songs

Marcucci gave a song written by

Mort Shuman Mortimer Shuman (12 November 1938 – 2 November 1991) was an American singer, pianist and songwriter, best known as co-writer of many 1960s rock and roll hits, including "Viva Las Vegas". He also wrote and sang many songs in French, such as " ...

and

Doc Pomus Jerome Solon Felder (June 27, 1925 – March 14, 1991), known professionally as Doc Pomus, was an American blues singer and songwriter. He is best known as the co-writer of many rock and roll hits. Pomus was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall ...

to Fabian, "I'm a Man" (not the Bo Diddley hit), which Fabian later said he "liked a lot and was very comfortable with. It was giving me more experience, but I still felt like a fish out of water." Pomus' biographer later wrote Fabian's "labored reading of a macho lyric lent him a vulnerability that couldn't have been missed by his pubescent fans." The song made the top 40. Marcucci heavily promoted Fabian's next single, "Turn Me Loose", using a series of advertisements saying "Fabian Is Coming", then "Who is Fabian?" then finally "Fabian is Here". It worked and "Turn Me Loose" went into the Top Ten, peaking at number 9. This was later followed by "Hound Dog Man", (US #9; UK #46), and his biggest hit, "Tiger", which reached No. 3 on the US charts. It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a

gold disc Music recording certification is a system of certifying that a music recording has shipped, sold, or streamed a certain number of units. The threshold quantity varies by type (such as album, single, music video) and by nation or territory (see ...

by the RIAA. Other singles that charted included "String Along", "About This Thing Called Love" and "This Friendly World", which reached No. 12 on the US charts. At age 15, he won the Silver Award as "The Promising Male Vocalist of 1958". His first album, ''Hold That Tiger'' reached the top 15 within two weeks. The song "Think of Me", although it did not chart in US, was a big hit in some Asian countries including Sri Lanka in 1964. In 1959, Forte told a judge he was earning $250,000 a year (). (An earlier report put this at $137,000) He kept up his studies and graduated from high school in June 1960. During the

payola Payola, in the music industry, is the illegal practice of paying a commercial radio station to play a song without the station disclosing the payment. Under US law, a radio station must disclose songs they were paid to play on the air as spons ...

scandal of the 1960s, Forte testified before Congress that his recordings had been doctored electronically to "significantly improve his voice." His career in music basically ended when he was 18 after he bought out of his contract with Marcucci for $65,000. In 1974, he said, "I felt controlled. I felt like a puppet. It was frightening, like a three-year nightmare." Marcucci later admitted to punching Fabian on one occasion when the singer sat in the aisle of a movie theatre, not in the middle of the row like Marcucci had asked; Fabian was spotted by a teenage fan who screamed. Marcucci was angry that he did not see the film and hit the singer. In 1963, he signed a contract with Dot Records. He spent the next thirteen years concentrating on acting. Fabian later said in 1971 that "I must say I never knew arcuccito cheat me out of any money due me and he never promised me anything he didn't deliver." He stated he left his manager because "all the songs were sounding the same. So I bought myself out of the contract. It cost me plenty – a lot more than I thought it would."

Acting

20th Century Fox

20th Century-Fox had enjoyed success casting teen idol pop stars in movies, such as

Elvis Presley Elvis Aaron Presley (January 8, 1935 – August 16, 1977), or simply Elvis, was an American singer and actor. Dubbed the "Honorific nicknames in popular music, King of Rock and Roll", he is regarded as Cultural impact of Elvis Presley, one ...

and

Pat Boone Patrick Charles Eugene Boone (born June 1, 1934) is an American singer and actor. He was a successful pop singer in the United States during the 1950s and early 1960s. He sold more than 45 million records, had 38 Top 40 hits, and appeared in mo ...

. They decided to do the same thing with Fabian and signed him to a long-term contract. His first leading role was ''

Hound-Dog Man ''Hound-Dog Man'' is a 1959 film directed by Don Siegel, based on the 1947 novel by Fred Gipson, and starring Fabian, Carol Lynley, and Stuart Whitman. Plot In 1912, Clint McKinney and his younger brother Spud talk their father Aaron into lettin ...

'' (1959), based on the novel by

Fred Gipson Frederick Benjamin "Fred" Gipson (February 7, 1908 – August 14, 1973) was an American writer and screenwriter. He is best known for writing the 1956 novel ''Old Yeller'', which became a popular 1957 Walt Disney film. Gipson was born on a farm ...

(who had written ''

Old Yeller ''Old Yeller'' is a 1956 children's literature, children's novel written by Fred Gipson and illustrated by Carl Burger. It received a Newbery Medal, Newbery Honor in 1957. The title is taken from the name of the yellow dog who is the center of t ...

'') and directed by

Don Siegel Donald Siegel ( ; October 26, 1912 – April 20, 1991) was an American film and television director and producer. Siegel was described by ''The New York Times'' as "a director of tough, cynical and forthright action-adventure films whose taut ...

. He co-starred with the more experienced

Stuart Whitman Stuart Maxwell Whitman (February 1, 1928 – March 16, 2020) was an American actor, known for his lengthy career in film and television. Whitman was born in San Francisco and raised in New York until the age of 12, when his family relocated to ...

and sang several songs, including the title track. The ''Psychotronic Encyclopedia of Film'' featured a photo of Forte's screen test where he appeared in the same outfit that

wore in Fox's '' Love Me Tender''. "Acting came natural to me. I don't know why", Fabian later said. Fabian's recording of the ''Hound Dog Man'' title song was a top ten hit but the film was not a financial success – in contrast to Presley and Boone's first films. The studio, however, tried again in two smaller roles, supporting a bigger star – '' High Time'', with Bing Crosby, and ''

North to Alaska ''North to Alaska'' is a 1960 comedic Western/Northern film directed by Henry Hathaway and John Wayne (uncredited). The picture stars Wayne along with Stewart Granger, Ernie Kovacs, Fabian, and Capucine. The script is based on the 1939 play ' ...

'', with John Wayne. Both films were popular especially the latter and in November 1960 his contract with the studio was amended with an increase in salary – it was now a seven-year deal with an option for two films a year. He later said that "acting wasn't like the singing, because it was very private – quiet on the set. No screaming eenage fans It was a wonderful experience. I got to meet and work with John Wayne,

Jimmy Stewart James Maitland Stewart (May 20, 1908 – July 2, 1997) was an American actor and military pilot. Known for his distinctive drawl and everyman screen persona, Stewart's film career spanned 80 films from 1935 to 1991. With the strong morality h ...

, and

Peter Lorre Peter Lorre (; born László Löwenstein, ; June 26, 1904 – March 23, 1964) was a Hungarian and American actor, first in Europe and later in the United States. He began his stage career in Vienna, in the Austro-Hungarian Empire, before movin ...

. Elvis came over to meet me when I was on the lot.

Marilyn Monroe Marilyn Monroe (; born Norma Jeane Mortenson; 1 June 1926 4 August 1962) was an American actress. Famous for playing comedic " blonde bombshell" characters, she became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s and early 1960s, as wel ...

Natalie Wood Natalie Wood ( Zacharenko; July 20, 1938 – November 29, 1981) was an American actress who began her career in film as a child and successfully transitioned to young adult roles. Wood started acting at age four and was given a co-starring r ...

and

Gary Cooper Gary Cooper (born Frank James Cooper; May 7, 1901May 13, 1961) was an American actor known for his strong, quiet screen persona and understated acting style. He won the Academy Award for Best Actor twice and had a further three nominations, ...

were also on the lot. I was on the plane with Marlon Brando for eight hours coming back from Tahiti." The Fox contract included television series as well as films. Fabian was cast by director Robert Altman as a psychotic killer in "

A Lion Walks Among Us "A Lion Walks Among Us" is a 1961 episode of the TV drama series ''Bus Stop (TV series), Bus Stop'', with guest star Fabian Forte, which was highly controversial because of its depiction of violence. It was an early work of director Robert Altman. ...

", an episode of the television series ''Bus Stop''. This episode was highly controversial due to its violent content, with many affiliates refusing to run the program, so much so, that it was even mentioned in the US Senate. However, the series was good for Fabian's acting career, and saw him regarded with more respect. He later said he regarded this as his best performance. Paramount borrowed him from Fox to co-star with teen idol Tommy Sands in ''

Love in a Goldfish Bowl ''Love in a Goldfish Bowl'' is a 1961 teen film directed by Jack Sher starring singing idols Tommy Sands and Fabian. Plot Gordon Slide and Blythe Holloway are two platonic best friends at a college, both from single-parent families. They are so ...

'' (1961). In 1961, Bob Marcucci announced that Fabian and Avalon would star in ''Virginia Ridge'' by Clarence Fillmore about the

Battle of New Market The Battle of New Market was fought on May 15, 1864, in Virginia during the Valley Campaigns of 1864 in the American Civil War. A makeshift Confederate army of 4,100 men defeated the larger Army of the Shenandoah under Major General Franz S ...

, where Virginia Military cadets took on union soldiers. The movie was never made. Instead Fabian co-starred opposite

Tuesday Weld Tuesday Weld (born Susan Ker Weld; August 27, 1943) is an American actress and model. She began acting as a child and progressed to mature roles in the late 1950s. She won a Golden Globe Award for Most Promising Female Newcomer in 1960. Over t ...

in an episode of ''

The Dick Powell Show ''The Dick Powell Show'' is an American television anthology series that ran on NBC from September 26, 1961, until September 17, 1963, primarily sponsored by the Reynolds Metals Company. Overview The series was an anthology of various dramas ...

'', titled " Run Till It's Dark". In ''

Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation ''Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation'' is a 1962 American comedy film directed by Henry Koster and starring James Stewart and Maureen O'Hara. The film is based on the novel ''Mr. Hobbs' Vacation'', by Edward Streeter and features a popular singer of the ...

'' (1962), he romanced (and sang with) the daughter of a family man played by James Stewart; this was a big hit. So too was '' The Longest Day'' (1962), Fox's all-star epic about the D-Day landings; Fabian appeared among a number of other teen idols as US Rangers. Less popular, though still widely seen, was ''

Five Weeks in a Balloon ''Five Weeks in a Balloon, or, A Journey of Discovery by Three Englishmen in Africa'' (french: Cinq semaines en ballon) is an adventure novel by Jules Verne, published in 1863. It is the first novel in which he perfected the "ingredients" of hi ...

'' (1962),

Irwin Allen Irwin Allen (born Irwin O. Cohen, June 12, 1916 – November 2, 1991) was an American film and television producer and director, known for his work in science fiction, then later as the "Master of Disaster" for his work in the disaster film genr ...

's take on Jules Verne; Fabian sang one song but again it was a supporting role. When Fox temporarily shut down following cost overruns on '' Cleopatra'', Fabian was one of the first actors whose options were exercised after the studio re-opened. He was to have supported Stewart again in ''

Take Her, She's Mine ''Take Her, She's Mine'' is a 1963 American comedy film starring James Stewart and Sandra Dee based on the 1961 Broadway comedy written by Henry Ephron and Phoebe Ephron. The film was directed by Henry Koster with a screenplay by Nunnally Johnso ...

'' (1963) but did not appear in the final film. Samuel Z. Arkoff of

American International Pictures American International Pictures (AIP) is an American motion picture production label of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. In its original operating period, AIP was an independent film production and distribution company known for producing and releasing fi ...

said he wanted Fabian to play the lead in ''

Beach Party ''Beach Party'' is a 1963 American film and the first of seven beach party films from American International Pictures (AIP) aimed at a teen audience.Smith, Gary A. Smith (2009) ''The American International Pictures Video Guide'', McFarland p.2 ...

'' (1963) but was unable to do it because of his Fox contract. Arkoff, Samuel Z. & Richard Turbo, ''Flying Through Hollywood By the Seat of My Pants'', Birch Lane Press, 1992, pg. 129 Fabian had not become a film star but was in demand as an actor, appearing in episodes of series like '' The Virginian'', ''

Wagon Train ''Wagon Train'' is an American Western series that aired 8 seasons: first on the NBC television network (1957–1962), and then on ABC (1962–1965). ''Wagon Train'' debuted on September 18, 1957, and became number one in the Nielsen ratings ...

'', '' The Greatest Show on Earth'' and '' The Eleventh Hour''. He had a good role in a surf movie made for Columbia, ''

Ride the Wild Surf ''Ride the Wild Surf'' is a 1964 American romantic drama film. It was filmed in 1963 and distributed in 1964. Unlike the beach party movies of the era, this was a departure from the typical Hollywood approach to surfing as it was a drama, not a ...

'' (1964) (with

Tab Hunter Tab Hunter (born Arthur Andrew Kelm; July 11, 1931 – July 8, 2018) was an American actor, singer, film producer, and author. Known for his blond, clean-cut good looks, Hunter starred in more than forty films. He was a Hollywood heartthrob of t ...

), and was reunited with James Stewart for Fox's '' Dear Brigitte'' (1965) – the film failed to repeat the success of ''Hobbs''.

Harry Alan Towers Harry Alan Towers (19 October 1920 – 31 July 2009) was a British radio and independent film producer and screenwriter. He wrote numerous screenplays for the films he produced, often under the pseudonym Peter Welbeck. He produced over 80 f ...

cast him as one of the victims in '' Ten Little Indians'' (1965). In October 1965, Fox announced it had picked up Fabian's option to make three more films for the studio, starting with ''Custer's Last Stand''. However, that film was not made and Fabian made no further films for Fox.

AIP

In November 1965, he signed a seven-picture deal with

(AIP). His first film for the company was alongside ''Beach Party'' stars

and Annette Funicello in the 1966 stock car racing film ''

Fireball 500 ''Fireball 500'' is a 1966 stock car racing film, blended with the beach party film genre. A vehicle for stars Frankie Avalon, Annette Funicello, and Fabian, it was one of a string of similar racing films from the 1960s. Written by William Ashe ...

''. AIP then sent him to Italy to play a role originally intended for Avalon in ''

Dr. Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs ''Dr. Goldfoot and the Girl Bombs'' ( Italian: ''Le spie vengono dal semifreddo'', lit. "The spies who came in from the cool") is a 1966 Eurospy comedy film, made in Technicolor and directed by Mario Bava. Serving as a sequel to two unrelated fi ...

'' (1966), supporting

Vincent Price Vincent Leonard Price Jr. (May 27, 1911 – October 25, 1993) was an American actor, art historian, art collector and gourmet cook. He appeared on stage, television, and radio, and in more than 100 films. Price has two stars on the Hollywood Wal ...

and directed by

Mario Bava Mario Bava (31 July 1914 – 27 April 1980) was an Italian filmmaker who worked variously as a director, cinematographer, special effects artist and screenwriter, frequently referred to as the "Master of Italian Horror" and the "Master of the M ...

. Back in the United States, he made another stock car racing film for AIP, '' Thunder Alley'' (1967), opposite Funicello and directed by Richard Rush. His fourth movie for AIP was '' Maryjane'' (1968), where Fabian played a school teacher fighting the evils of the marijuana trade. He returned to racing car dramas with ''

The Wild Racers ''The Wild Racers'' is a 1968 American film directed by Daniel Haller and starring Fabian, Mimsy Farmer, and Judy Cornwell. The screenplay concerns a Grand Prix racing car driver. Plot Stock car racer Jo Jo Quillico goes to Europe after an acc ...

'' (1968), partly financed by

Roger Corman Roger William Corman (born April 5, 1926) is an American film director, producer, and actor. He has been called "The Pope of Pop Cinema" and is known as a trailblazer in the world of independent film. Many of Corman's films are based on works t ...

and shot in Europe. This was not a big hit on release but has developed a cult following;

Quentin Tarantino Quentin Jerome Tarantino (; born March 27, 1963) is an American film director, writer, producer, and actor. His films are characterized by stylized violence, extended dialogue, profanity, dark humor, non-linear storylines, cameos, ensembl ...

described it as his favorite racing car movie. '' The Devil's 8'' (1968) was an AIP rip-off of ''

The Dirty Dozen ''The Dirty Dozen'' is a 1967 American war film directed by Robert Aldrich and starring Lee Marvin with an ensemble supporting cast including Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson, Jim Brown, John Cassavetes, Richard Jaeckel, George Kennedy ...

'' (with a script co-written by John Milius). His seventh and final film for the studio was '' A Bullet for Pretty Boy'' (1970). Fabian also played Josh Ashley in '' Little Laura and Big John'' (1973) for

Crown International Pictures Crown International Pictures (CIP) was an independent film studio and distribution company formed in 1959 by Newton P. Jacobs. History Jacobs was a branch head of RKO Pictures until 1947, when he formed Favorite Films, an organization which relea ...

. He performed in ''John Loves Mary'' in summer stock in 1962.

Later years

Forte later admitted the pressures of his career and home life caused him to start drinking in the 1960s.Kiersh, Edward. ''Where Are You Now, Bo Diddley?: The Artists Who Made Us Rock and Where They Are Now'', Random House (2010). From June 1969 onwards he was billed as "Fabian Forte".

Return to singing

In 1973, he began singing again. To raise his profile, he posed nude for ''

Playgirl ''Playgirl'' was an American magazine that featured general interest articles, lifestyle and celebrity news, in addition to nude or semi-nude men. In the 1970s and 1980s, the magazine printed monthly and was marketed mainly to women, although ...

'' magazine. "I knew it was a mistake the minute I saw the thing sold in a paper bag. I could barely live with myself." In January 1974 he started an act at the MGM-Grand in Las Vegas. He was managed at this stage by

Allan Carr Allan Carr (born Allan Solomon; May 27, 1937 – June 29, 1999) was an American producer and manager of stage for the screen. Carr was nominated for numerous awards, winning a Tony Award and two People's Choice Awards, and was named Producer o ...

. In March 1974 he performed at the Blue Max of the Hyatt Regency O'Hara in Chicago. A review said "he seems rather lost in the act he was putting on... he's giving it the old beach party try. But all that, unfortunately, can't distract for long from the basic lack of talent." In October 1974 Carr – by then no longer his manager – said that Fabian was "a sensational lounge act in Nevada and shouldn't play anywhere else except on prom nights. He's not a middle of the road act in a middle of the road room. At the 12.30 am show at the Blue Max, when the conventioneers had had a few drinks it was terrific... This boy probably made $18,000 last year; this year he'll make about $270,000." He often performed in Las Vegas in the mid 1970s until he fell into difficulties with the authorities after attacking a Las Vegas district attorney, and resultant bankruptcy. He retired once more in 1977, then resumed performing in 1981. He never regained his teenage popularity, but has continued performing.

''The Idolmaker''

The film '' The Idolmaker'' (1980), written by Edward Di Lorenzo and the first feature film directed by

Taylor Hackford Taylor Edwin Hackford (born December 31, 1944) is an American film director and former president of the Directors Guild of America. He won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film for '' Teenage Father'' (1979). Hackford went on to direct ...

, was a thinly disguised biography of Fabian (called Caesare in the film), as well as songwriter/producer Marcucci (called Vinnie Vacarri) and

(called Tommy Dee). In the movie version, singer Caesare—a pretty boy with little singing talent—goes through a whirlwind of success in a short time, and in a fit of pique, he abruptly fires his songwriters and quits his record label. The real-life Fabian launched a $64 million lawsuit at the time of the picture's release, claiming the film made him look like "a totally manufactured singer, a mere pretty face without any singing ability or acting talent." The filmmakers insisted that the movie presented only fictional characters (although Marcucci was a paid consultant on the film). Forte claimed they settled out of court, where he and his wife received apologies and Marcucci's 7.5% ownership of the film passed to Forte. He appeared in a 1982 television commercial for ''The Idols of Rock n' Roll'' and in the documentary film ''

The Bituminous Coal Queens of Pennsylvania ''The Bituminous Coal Queens of Pennsylvania'' is a 2005 documentary film directed by David Hunt and Jody Eldred about the fiftieth annual "Pennsylvania Bituminous Coal Queen" beauty pageant which took place on Sunday, August 17, 2003, at the St ...

'' (2005). In the 1980s, he developed some sitcoms for television. Forte hosted and headlined in the hit show ''The Original Stars of Bandstand'' at The Dick Clark Theater in Branson, Missouri. The show starred Forte and

Bobby Vee Robert Thomas Velline (April 30, 1943 – October 24, 2016), known professionally as Bobby Vee, was an American singer who was a teen idol in the early 1960s and also appeared in films. According to ''Billboard'' magazine, he had thirty-ei ...

and featured

The Chiffons :''The Chiffons also briefly recorded under the name The Four Pennies; for the British band of the latter name see The Four Pennies.'' The Chiffons are an American girl group originating from the Bronx, a borough of New York City, in 1960. Hist ...

Brian Hyland Brian Hyland (born November 12, 1943) is an American pop singer and instrumentalist who was particularly successful during the early 1960s. He continued recording into the 1970s. AllMusic journalist Jason Ankeny says "Hyland's puppy-love pop v ...

Chris Montez Chris Montez (born Ezekiel Christopher Montañez on January 17, 1943) is an American guitarist and vocalist, whose stylistic approach has ranged from rock & roll to pop standards and Latin music. His rock sound is exemplified in songs such as hi ...

and rare footage of the performers and

. As part of a long-running concert tour, Fabian has toured with fellow Philadelphian 1950s teen idols Bobby Rydell and

as Dick Fox's Golden Boys.

Personal life

He was drafted, but rejected, for military service during the Vietnam War. According to USMC Lt. Col. Arthur Eppley, Forte was declared 4F (unfit for service). In 1982, he was arrested for reportedly sticking his cigarette into a passenger who asked him to put out the cigarette in a non-smoking section of an aircraft. The passenger turned out to be a district attorney, but ultimately no charges were brought.

Race car accident

In 1978, Fabian was participating in a charity racing event in

Watkins Glen, New York Watkins Glen is a village and census-designated place in and the county seat of Schuyler County, New York, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,829. Watkins Glen lies within the towns of Dix and Reading. To the southwest ...

. He was practicing at

Willow Springs International Motorsports Park Willow Springs International Motorsports Park (commonly referred to as Willow Springs) is located in Willow Springs near Rosamond, California, about north of Los Angeles. It is the oldest permanent road course in the United States. Construct ...

under the instruction of professional driver

Bill Simpson E. J. "Bill" Simpson (March 14, 1940 – December 16, 2019) was an American racecar driver, but is best known as a pioneer in the racing safety business with his company Simpson Performance Products. He left Simpson Performance in a controversy s ...

when he rolled his car and suffered minor cuts and bruises. In 1982, a jury found him 40% liable for the accident (Fabian testified that Simpson repeatedly urged him to drive faster while Simpson testified that Fabian suddenly accelerated wildly in spite of his orders to slow down). He received $32,000 in an out-of-court settlement ().

Marriages

Forte has been married three times. His first marriage was to model Kathleen Regan in September 1966. They had two children together, Christian and Julie, before separating in June 1975. In October 1975, Forte was arrested after an argument with Regan in which he was accused of hitting her. He was put on probation for two years. The couple divorced in 1979. "My fault", said Fabian. He married Kate Netter in 1980; they divorced in 1990. In 1998, he married Andrea Patrick, a former Bituminous Coal Queen and Miss Pennsylvania USA. He and Andrea were later sued by the resort where they were married for unpaid bills. Fabian relocated from Los Angeles to Fayette County, Pennsylvania, to be closer to his wife's family; he and his wife were sued by the builder of their house, also for unpaid bills. They live on in southwestern Pennsylvania in a home that she designed. In 2013, he said he played "25 shows a year. It gets me out of the house... I've never been happier. t homeI ride my ATV and tractor and cut the grass. Where I grew up, there wasn't any grass." He and Patrick also work for ''Gladys Magazine''.

Philanthropy

Fabian and Andrea Forte are actively involved in the American Diabetes Association, the American Heart Association and Forte has helped raise money for veterans with his Celebrity Golf Tournament in North Carolina.

Discography

All albums use Forte's mononymous name Fabian. Before going to Chancellor records, Forte cut two albums on his own, one of which contained the original version of the song "Old Time Rock and Roll", but both albums were a commercial failure.

Singles

Albums

*''Hold That Tiger'' (1959) *''The Fabulous Fabian'' (1959) *''The Fabian Facade: Young and Wonderful'' (1959) *''The Good Old Summertime'' (1960) *''Rockin' Hot'' (1961) *''Fabian's 16 Fabulous Hits'' (1962) *''Fabulously Grateful'' (1963)

Filmography

*''

'' (1959) – Clint McKinney *'' High Time'' (1960) – Gil Sparrow *''

'' (1960) – Billy Pratt *''

'' (1961) – Giuseppe La Barba *''

'' (1962) – Joe Carmody *''

'' (1962) – Jacques *'' The Longest Day'' (1962) – U.S. Army Ranger *''

'' (1964) – Jody Wallis *'' Dear Brigitte'' (1965) – Kenneth 'Kenny' Taylor *'' Ten Little Indians'' (1965) – Mike Raven *''

'' (1966) – Sonny Leander *''

'' (1966) – Bill Dexter *'' Thunder Alley'' (1967) – Tommy Callahan *'' Maryjane'' (1968) – Phil Blake *''

'' (1968) – Joe Joe Quillico *'' The Devil's 8'' (1969) – Sonny *'' A Bullet for Pretty Boy'' (1970) – Charles Arthur 'Pretty Boy' Floyd *'' The Hard Ride'' (1971) – Police officer (uncredited) *'' Soul Hustler'' (1976) – Matthew Crowe *'' Little Laura and Big John'' (1973) – John *''

Getting Married ''Getting Married'' is a play by George Bernard Shaw George Bernard Shaw (26 July 1856 – 2 November 1950), known at his insistence simply as Bernard Shaw, was an Irish playwright, critic, polemicist and political activist. His influenc ...

'' (aired 17 May 1978 TV movie) – Wayne Spanka *'' Katie: Portrait of a Centrefold'' (aired 23 October 1978 TV movie) – Emcee *'' Disco Fever'' (1978) – Richie Desmond *'' Crisis in Mid-Air'' (aired 13 February 1979 TV movie) – Billy Coleman *''

Kiss Daddy Goodbye ''Kiss Daddy Goodbye'', also known as ''Revenge of the Zombie'', is a 1981 American horror film directed by Patrick Regan. The film stars Fabian, Marilyn Burns, Jon Cedar, and Marvin Miller. It is about two psychic children who avenge the death ...

'' (1981) – Deputy Blanchard *''

American Pop ''American Pop'' is a 1981 American adult animated jukebox musical drama film starring Ron Thompson and produced and directed by Ralph Bakshi. It was the fourth animated feature film to be presented in Dolby sound. The film tells the story of f ...

'' (1981) *''

Get Crazy ''Get Crazy'' is a 1983 American musical comedy film directed by Allan Arkush, and stars Malcolm McDowell, Allen Garfield, Daniel Stern, Gail Edwards, and Ed Begley Jr. Plot It is December 31, 1982, and the Saturn Theater is preparing fo ...

'' (1983) – Marv *'' Runaway Daughters'' (aired 12 August 1994 TV movie) – Mr. Rusoff *'' Up Close & Personal'' (1996) – Himself *'' Mr. Rock 'n' Roll: The Alan Freed Story'' (aired 31 October 1999)

Television

*'' Bus Stop'' – 2 December 1961 – episode "

" *''

The Gertrude Berg Show ''Mrs. G. Goes to College'' (retitled ''The Gertrude Berg Show'' starting with episode 14) is a 26-episode American sitcom which aired on CBS from October 4, 1961, to April 5, 1962. The series starred Emmy Award-winning actress Gertrude Berg. S ...

'' – 8 February 1962 – episode "Peace Corps" *''

'' – 9 October 1962 – episode " Run Till It's Dark" with

*'' The Virginian'' – 23 January 1963 – episode "Say Goodbye to All That" – with

Lee J. Cobb Lee J. Cobb (born Leo Jacoby; December 8, 1911February 11, 1976) was an American actor, known both for film roles and his work on the Broadway stage. He often played arrogant, intimidating and abrasive characters, but he also acted as respectabl ...

*''

'' – 16 September 1963 – episode "Molly Kincaid Story" w/Barbara Stanwyck, Carolyn Jones *'' The Greatest Show on Earth'' – 29 October 1963 – "Uncaged" *'' The Eleventh Hour'' – 22 January 1964 – episode "You're So Smart, Why Can't You Be Good?" – with

Fay Wray Vina Fay Wray (September 15, 1907 – August 8, 2004) was a Canadian/American actress best known for starring as Ann Darrow in the 1933 film ''King Kong''. Through an acting career that spanned nearly six decades, Wray attained international r ...

*'' The Virginian'' – 6 January 1965 – episode "Two Men Named Laredo" *'' Daniel Boone (1964 TV series)'' – 9 December 1965 – Season 2 Episode 12 "The First Beau" – David Ellis with

Veronica Cartwright Veronica Cartwright (born April 20, 1949) is a British-American actress. She is known for appearing in science fiction and horror films, and has earned numerous accolades, including three Primetime Emmy Award nominations. As a child actress, ...

*''The Virginian'' – 2 October 1966 – "The Outcast" *''

The Rat Patrol ''The Rat Patrol'' is an American action and adventure television series that aired on ABC between 1966 and 1968. The show follows the exploits of four Allied soldiers — three Americans and one British — who are part of a long-range desert ...

'' – 30 January 1967 – "The B Negative Raid" *''

Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre ''Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre'' is an American anthology series, sponsored by Chrysler Corporation, which ran on NBC from 1963 through 1967. The show was hosted by Bob Hope, but it had a variety of formats, including musical, dramatic ...

'' (1967) – episode "Wipeout" *''

The F.B.I. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. Operating under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice, t ...

'' – 3 January 1971 – episode "Unknown Victim" – with

Tom Skerritt Thomas Roy Skerritt (born August 25, 1933) is an American actor who has appeared in over 40 films and more than 200 television episodes since 1962. He is known for his film roles in ''M*A*S*H'', ''Alien'', '' The Dead Zone'', '' Top Gun'', '' A ...

*'' Love, American Style'' – 23 February 1973 – episode "Love and the Crisis Line/Love and the Happy Family/Love and the Vertical Romance" – with Ed Begley Jr. *'' Laverne & Shirley'' – 22 November 1977 – episode "Laverne and Shirley Meet Fabian" *''

The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries ''The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries'' (re-titled ''The Hardy Boys'' for season three) is an American television mystery series based on the ''Hardy Boys'' and ''Nancy Drew'' juvenile novels. The series, which ran from January 30, 1977, to Janu ...

'' – 26 February 1978 – episode "Mystery on the Avalanche Express" – with

Deborah Walley Deborah Walley (August 12, 1941May 10, 2001) was an American actress noted for playing the title role in ''Gidget Goes Hawaiian'' (1961) and appearing in several beach party films. Early years Walley was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut to Ice ...

*''

Fantasy Island ''Fantasy Island'' is an American fantasy drama television series created by Gene Levitt. It aired on ABC from 1977 to 1984. The series starred Ricardo Montalbán as the mysterious Mr. Roarke and Hervé Villechaize as his assistant, Tattoo. ...

'' (1980) – episode "PlayGirl/Smith's Valhalla" – with

Leslie Nielsen Leslie William Nielsen (11 February 192628 November 2010) was a Canadian actor and comedian. With a career spanning 60 years, he appeared in more than 100 films and 150 television programs, portraying more than 220 characters. Nielsen was bo ...

*''

The Love Boat ''The Love Boat'' is an American romantic comedy/drama television series that aired on ABC from 1977 to 1986; in addition, four three-hour specials aired in 1986, 1987, and 1990. The series was set on the luxury passenger cruise ship MS ''Pa ...

'' – 20 February 1982 – episode "New York, A.C./Live It Up/All's Fair in Love and War" – with

Edd Byrnes Edward Byrne Breitenberger (July 30, 1932 – January 8, 2020), known professionally as Edd Byrnes, was an American actor, best known for his starring role in the television series '' 77 Sunset Strip.'' He also was featured in the 1978 film '' Gr ...

, Jill St. John,

Bobby Sherman Robert Cabot Sherman Jr. (born July 22, 1943), known professionally as Bobby Sherman, is an American retired paramedic, police officer, singer, actor and occasional songwriter who became a teen idol in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He had a s ...

and Annette Funicello *''New Love, American Style'' – 3 January 1986 – "Love and the Girl of My Dreams" *'' The Facts of Life'' – 21 February 1987 – "62 Pick Up" *''

Rags to Riches Rags to riches refers to any situation in which a person rises from poverty to wealth, and in some cases from absolute obscurity to heights of fame, fortune and celebrity—sometimes instantly. This is a common archetype in literature and popul ...

'' – 5 April 1987 – episode "Business is Business" *''

Amen Amen ( he, אָמֵן, ; grc, ἀμήν, ; syc, ܐܡܝܢ, ; ar, آمين, ) is an Abrahamic declaration of affirmation which is first found in the Hebrew Bible, and subsequently found in the New Testament. It is used in Jewish, Christian, and ...

'' – 30 March 1991 – episode "Deak Scam" *''The Wild West'' – 22 March 1993 – documentary (Fabian co-executive produced) *'' Blossom'' – 14 & 21 February 1994 "Beach Blanket Blossom" *'' Murphy Brown'' – 6 April 1998 – episode "Opus One" with

Chubby Checker Chubby Checker (born Ernest Evans; October 3, 1941) is an American rock and roll singer and dancer. He is widely known for popularizing many dance styles, including The Twist dance style, with his 1960 hit cover of Hank Ballard & The Midnight ...

and Lesley Gore

Television variety

*'' American Bandstand'' – 19 June 1958 – sang "I'm in Love" *''American Bandstand'' – 20 June 1958 – sang "I'm in Love" again *''The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show'' – 28 June 1958 – sang "I'm in Love" – with

Paul Anka Paul Albert Anka (born July 30, 1941) is a Canadian-American singer, songwriter and actor. He is best known for his signature hit songs including " Diana", " Lonely Boy", " Put Your Head on My Shoulder", and "(You're) Having My Baby". Anka also ...

*''American Bandstand'' – 30 June 1958 – did not sing *''The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show'' – 13 September 1958 – sang "Lilly Lou" *''The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show'' – 6 December 1958 – sang "I'm a Man" *''American Bandstand'' – 12 December 1958 – sang "I'm a Man" *''The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show'' – 17 January 1959 – sang "I'm a Man" and "Hypnotised" *''The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show'' – 7 March 1959 – sang "Turn Me Loose" and "Stop Thief!" *''American Bandstand'' – 12 March 1959 – sang "Turn Me Loose" *''

The Perry Como Show Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como (; May 18, 1912 – May 12, 2001) was an Italian-American singer, actor and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century, he recorded exclusively for RCA Victor for 44 years, after signin ...

'' – 4 April 1959 – sang "Turn Me Loose" *''The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show'' – 18 April 1959 – sang "Turn Me Loose" and "Hold Me in Your Arms" *''

The Ed Sullivan Show ''The Ed Sullivan Show'' is an American television variety show that ran on CBS from June 20, 1948, to March 28, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. It was replaced in September 1971 by the '' CBS Sunday Night M ...

'' – 24 May 1959 *''The Ed Sullivan Show'' – 21 June 1959 *'' This Is Your Life'' – Dick Clark – 24 June 1959 *''American Bandstand'' 2nd Anniversary Show – 5 August 1959 – makes congratulatory phone call *''The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show'' – 22 August 1959 – sang "Got the Feeling" and "Come On and Get Me" *''

The Red Skelton Show ''The Red Skelton Show'' is an American television comedy/variety show that aired from 1951 to 1971. In the decade prior to hosting the show, Richard "Red" Skelton had a successful career as a radio and motion pictures star. Although his televi ...

'' – "Freddie and Fabian" – 11 November 1959 – sang "This Friendly World" *''The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show'' – 14 November 1959 – sang "Hound Dog Man" *''

What's My Line? ''What's My Line?'' is a panel game show that originally ran in the United States on the CBS Television Network from 1950 to 1967, originally in black and white and later in color, with subsequent U.S. revivals. The game uses celebrity panelis ...

'' – 15 November 1959 – as the mystery guest *"Startime" ''The Dean Martin Variety House'' – 12 January 1960 – sings "I Love the Love" (with Martin) and "All of Me" *''

'' – 2 February 1960 – appears in a sketch and sings "About This Thing Called Love" *''The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show'' – 12 March 1960 – sings "String Along" and "About This Thing Called Love" *''The Dick Clark Saturday Night Beechnut Show'' – 27 August 1960 – sings "King of Love" and "Tomorrow" *''

'' – 5 October 1960 – sings "Rambling Wreck from Georgia Tech", "Buckle Down Winsocki Buckle Down", "Saturday Afternoon Before The Game" (with Frankie Avalon and Como), "Long Before" *''American Bandstand'' – 16 December 1960 – sang "Kissin' and Twistin'" and "Long Before" *'' Candid Camera'' – 1961 – goes to Hackensack High School in Hackensack, New Jersey where he is introduced to a female student to see their reaction *''

Here's Hollywood ''Here's Hollywood'' is an American celebrity interview program which aired on weekday afternoons on NBC at 4:30 Eastern time from September 26, 1960, to December 28, 1962. Overview In the first season, the interviews were conducted by Dean Mill ...

'' – 3 August 1961 – guest on talk show *''The New March of Dimes: The Scene Stealers'' – 2 January 1962 – guest star on charity revue *''American Bandstand'' – 30 November 1962 *''

Pantomime Quiz ''Pantomime Quiz'', initially titled ''Pantomime Quiz Time'' and later ''Stump the Stars'', was an American television game show produced and hosted by Mike Stokey. Running from 1947—1959, it has the distinction of being one of the few te ...

'' – 26 August 1963 – Julie London v Fabian *''

Fractured Flickers ''Fractured Flickers'' is a live-action syndicated half-hour television comedy show that was produced by Jay Ward, who is otherwise known for cartoons. The pilot film was produced in 1961 (hence the 1961 copyright notice on the animated main t ...

'' – 1963 – special guest *''American Bandstand'' – 8 August 1964 – sang "Cream Puff" *''American Bandstand'' – 22 August 1964 *''

Hollywood Squares ''Hollywood Squares'' (originally ''The Hollywood Squares'') is an American game show in which two contestants compete in a game of tic-tac-toe to win cash and prizes. The show Television pilot, piloted on NBC in 1965 and the regular series debut ...

'' – 1–5 May 1967 *''Hollywood Squares'' – 25–29 September 1967 *''

Tattletales ''Tattletales'' is an American game show produced by Goodson- Todman Productions in association with Fremantle. The program had two runs on the CBS daytime schedule between February 1974 and June 1984. It was hosted by Bert Convy, with severa ...

'' – 1974: one week/5 episodes with first wife Katie *''Good Old Days'' – 11 October 1977 – with Dick Clark and Frankie Avalon *''Rock and Rollers'' – 1978 *''Sorority '62'' – 1978 *''Hollywood Squares'' – 1979 *''Rock and Roll: The Early Days'' – 1984 *''Good Time Rock 'n' Roll'' – 1985 *''Hollywood Squares'' – 6–10 April 1987 *''Hollywood Squares'' – 14–18 March 1989 *''Let's Rock Tonight'' – 1989 *''Lost in the '50s'' – 6 October 1989 *''Remember'' – 29 June 1991 – PBS *''Hollywood Rocks the Movies: The Early Years (1955–70)'' – 2 July 2000 (documentary) *''At the Drive In'' – 28 November 2003 (host)

Theatre

*''John Loves Mary'' (1962) *''Love is a Time of Day'' (1971) – Windmill Dinner Theatre *''Grease'' (1998) – touring theatre productions

Unmade projects

*''The Beardless Warriors'' (1960) – for 20th Century Fox based on the novel by

Richard Matheson Richard Burton Matheson (February 20, 1926 – June 23, 2013) was an American author and screenwriter, primarily in the fantasy, horror, and science fiction genres. He is best known as the author of '' I Am Legend'', a 1954 science fictio ...

*''A Summer World'' (1961) – for 20th Century Fox with

Dolores Hart Dolores Hart, O.S.B. (born Dolores Hicks; October 20, 1938) is an American Roman Catholic Benedictine nun who was a prominent actress. Following her movie debut with Elvis Presley in '' Loving You'' (1957), she made ten films in five years, inc ...

and

Bradford Dillman Bradford Dillman (April 14, 1930 – January 16, 2018) was an American actor and author. Early life Bradford Dillman was born on April 14, 1930, in San Francisco, the son of Dean Dillman, a stockbroker, and Josephine (née Moore). Bradford's pa ...

about a high school student who falls for an older woman (

Suzy Parker Suzy Parker (born Cecilia Ann Renee Parker; October 28, 1932 – May 3, 2003) was an American model and actress active from 1947 until 1970. Her modeling career reached its zenith during the 1950s, when she appeared on the covers of dozens of ma ...

), based on a script by Howard Koch from the novel by Richard Dougherty – directed by Franklin J. Shaeffner – allegedly postponed when Dillman refused to appear next to Fabian *''

'' (1963) – Fabian was originally announced for the male lead *''Robin Hood Jones'' (1965) – for AIP *''Custer's Last Stand'' (1965) – an often-postponed film for Fox where Fabian was to play an Indian scout *a migrant farm labourer in a biopic written by

Alex Grasshoff Alexander Grasshoff (December 10, 1928 – April 5, 2008) was an American documentary filmmaker and director who received three Oscar nominations. Along with fellow producer Robert Cohn, he is perhaps best known for writing and directing the doc ...

, who had previously made a documentary about him for

David L. Wolper David Lloyd Wolper (January 11, 1928 – August 10, 2010) was an American television and film producer, responsible for shows such as ''Roots'', '' The Thorn Birds'', and ''North and South'', and the theatrically-released films ''L.A. Confiden ...

– this was a passion project for Fabian who spent weeks researching the film (circa 1967) *'' The Oblong Box'' (1969) – Fabian originally was announced as

's co star *''Bury an Angel'' (1970), film made by Burwalt Productions starring Robert Fuller and Sherry Bain *''Golden Boy'' (1972) – produced by David Roseman and William Lieberman under the direction of Herbert Hantman from a screenplay by Lory Patrick – also starring Paul Micale and Jacqueline Bosordi – also known as ''Murder Can Be Fatal'' *Fabian was also reportedly considered for roles in ''

West Side Story ''West Side Story'' is a musical conceived by Jerome Robbins with music by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents. Inspired by William Shakespeare's play '' Romeo and Juliet'', the story is set in the mid ...

'' (1961) and ''

The Roman Spring of Mrs Stone ''The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone'' is a 1961 British romantic drama film made by Warner Bros. It was directed by José Quintero and produced by Louis de Rochemont with Lothar Wolff as associate producer. The screenplay was written by Gavin Lam ...

''.All the Actors in Tony Crawley's Casting Calls
Crawleyscastingcalls.com. Retrieved on 2015-05-29.

References

;Additional sources * * * * * *

External links

* * * *
''Fabian''
at Brian's Drive In Theater
Biography
at Universal Attractions {{DEFAULTSORT:Forte, Fabian 1943 births Living people 20th-century American male actors 20th Century Studios contract players Male actors from Philadelphia American male film actors American male singers American male television actors American male pop singers American people of Italian descent American rock singers Playgirl Men of the Month Rock and roll musicians Television producers from Pennsylvania Musicians from Philadelphia Singers from Pennsylvania Chancellor Records artists