Teen Idol Frankie Avalon & Beauty Queen Wife Made It to 60 Years - They're Happy Grandparents after Raising 8 Kids

• Frankie Avalon once dominated the pop music charts in the late 1950s and early 1960s, thanks to his charm and charisma.
• After his stint as a singer, he ventured into acting throughout the 1960s, appearing in the "Beach Party" franchise and "The Alamo."
• Nowadays, the former teen idol continues to perform music but has also chosen to focus mostly on his family with his wife of 60 years.

Before Frankie Avalon became a teen idol, he was first known as Francis Thomas Avallone. Born on September 18, 1940, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, he was one of the only teen idols to come from the state.

Like many young stars, he had humble beginnings playing the trumpet before being discovered by a talent scout. He was given an appearance on a TV show, which led to more TV appearances.

By the late 1950s, he managed to make a career for himself in the music industry. He topped the pop charts in the late 1950s and early 1960s before choosing to fully venture into acting. He starred in the "Beach Party" franchise, where he met Annette Funicello, his co-star who eventually turned into a very good friend of his.

In the same way that Avalon was a teen idol, Funicello also started working in the industry at a young age. She was on "The Mickey Mouse Club" as a teenager, and it catapulted her to fame.

Their paths eventually crossed in "Beach Party," a movie about an anthropologist who observes the habits of American teens as they enjoyed a typical summer by the beach filled with partying, surfing, and romance. Following the first movie, they went on to star in another four "Beach Party" movies together.

By the 1990s, Funicello was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, which affected her ability to talk and move around. Even then, she and Avalon remained close, with the actor stepping in as Funicello's daughter Gina's godfather.

"We've been close from the beginning," the actor shared. He was present in many of Fumicillo's real-life milestones, including her wedding.

Even when the actress' condition worsened, Avalon tried to be there for her as much as he could. It was his goddaughter Gina who kept him updated on Funicello's situation.

When Funicello passed away in 2013 at the age of 70, Avalon made sure to leave her with nothing but good words. During an interview, he said:

"For at least the past six, seven years, she was without communication. It was a terrible existence... it makes me smile to know that she's up there dancing and singing and having a good time."

Despite the close relationship between Funicello and Avalon back in the day, their friendship was purely platonic. The actor had his eyes, heart, and mind set on another woman: Katheryn "Kay" Diebel.

Avalon Married a Beauty Queen

Hollywood didn't just bring Avalon life-long friends, but it also brought him the woman of his dreams. His circumstances allowed him to meet beauty queen Kathryn Diebel, whom he immediately fell in love with.

They met through Gretchen Wayne, the daughter-in-law of his "The Alamo" co-star, John Wayne. He spotted Diebel on one occasion and instantly had marriage on his mind.

Avalon's agent wasn't happy with his new-found love. He warned the actor that marrying during the height of his career would ruin his teen idol image.

Unfortunately for his agent, there wasn't anything that could stop Avalon from pursuing the love of his life. On January 19, 1963, the actor wed Diebel in West Hollywood, where only 50 people were in attendance to celebrate with them.

Through the years, Diebel and Avalon had their hands full. They had eight children together, with their eldest son, Frankie Jr., launching a career in the entertainment industry like his dad. His most notable appearance was in the original "Karate Kid" film.

Their second son, Tony, went on to become a musician like his dad. He also taught music at the Rock Nation School and has accompanied Avalon on his tours.

The Avalon family expanded more when their eight children began having families of their own. Diebel and Avalon have ten grandchildren, which has kept them busy as doting grandparents.

Despite the early words of precaution from his agent, Avalon had absolutely no regrets about marrying at a young age. He and Diebel have been together for 60 years and is surrounded by so much love and happiness.

He once revealed that one of his favorite parts of being a grandfather is being able to say goodbye to them. While he enjoys their company every weekend, he also appreciates quiet nights at home just relaxing and watching the news.

When it's time for his kids and grandkids to go home, he puts on his robe, and they see it as a sign for them to get going. Then, they repeat the same routine every Sunday.

Recently, he's split his time between Las Vegas, where he continues to perform, and California, where he has two properties. The Avalons reside in Westlake Village, while they maintain a second home in Lake Arrowhead.

He and his children live within ten miles of each other, which is why they're able to keep in close contact. They have a family tradition of getting together every Sunday for dinner at their Westlake home.

Even when he is no longer around, Avalon hopes his children and grandchildren continue to get together. He's also published a cookbook, which he hopes his family would continue to refer to for their Sunday meals in the future.

Being of Italian descent, food has always been an important part of Avalon's life. Many of his recipes were passed down to him by his mother, Mary Avallone, who was from Sicily. His dad, Nicholas, was also a butcher from Naples.

In a rare sighting, Avalon engaged with the public by showing people a piece of his private life. The video shows him getting out of a red car with his wife as they are greeted by their two dogs in front of their property.

He goes on to introduce his dogs to the viewers before showing off his beloved car, a 2004 Thunderbird. The actor also proudly said that 2023 was a special year because he and his wife celebrated their 60th anniversary as a married couple.

Then, he walks the man into their house, where he gives a guided tour of the property. The large property boasts comfortable lounge furniture, which he uses each Sunday when the entire family comes around.

The living room leads to a beautifully vast garden, complete with a patio, a fountain, and a swimming pool. He even noted that because of the untouched greenery in his backyard, his family sometimes has unexpected visitors at home – wildlife animals which included raccoons, mountain lions, and coyotes.

Avalon credits his work as a singer and actor for allowing him to acquire such property. It's a piece of paradise that he enjoys sharing with his wife and family and something he one day hopes to leave with them.

At one point in the video, Avalon couldn't help but gush about his wife. "She's lovely. She's the greatest mom, the greatest wife," he said. The singer-actor added that it's his wife that keeps the house running smoothly, keeping it organized, clean, and safe for their whole family.

Avalon remains absolutely smitten, the same way he was back then. He even has a tattoo of his wife's name from decades ago, which broke his usually clean-cut image.

Ultimately, he reflected on how blessed he is to have such a wonderful family. There's nothing more that he can ask for, especially since he also still gets to enjoy the career he's been passionate about for decades.

He credits the love and respect he and Diebel share for one another as the main reason why they've managed to stay married for six decades.

When he's not performing in Las Vegas clubs or guesting on shows like "Dancing With the Stars," he is a busy businessman with products he sells through an 800 number. His products include tanning products, arthritis treatment, and an album of his songs which he put out for his fans.

His Growing Family

Despite all these, Avalon's number one priority is spending time with his family. "They keep me young," he once said of his grandchildren.

The 82-year-old has kept a close relationship with all his eight children, namely Frank Burt, Tony, Dina, Laura, Joseph, Nicolas, Kathryn, and Carla. In his cookbook, "Frankie Avalon's Italian Family Cookbook: From Mom's Kitchen to Mine," he shared that on many family dinners, his sons and sons-in-law have taken over the cooking.

While they prepared the meals, Avalon sat back and spent time with his other children and grandchildren. He credits the love and respect he and Diebel share for one another as the main reason why they've managed to stay married for six decades.

When the time comes that Avalon finally retires, he can expect his children to continue living up to the family name. His lookalike eldest son remains a great musician, with fans taking notice of him as his dad's drummer on tour.

For now, fans can continue enjoying the greatness of Avalon's diverse talents, as he remains to have shows scheduled in Las Vegas. Despite the years that have passed, Avalon has managed to keep his shows' seats full, thanks to the unwavering support of his loyal fans.