‘American Bandstand’s Frankie Avalon Still Looks ‘Young’ at 83 & Cooks for Family of 19 in Longtime Home

• Teen heartthrob Frankie Avalon has been married for 60 years and has eight kids and ten grandkids.
• The "American Bandstand" star cooks for his family.
• At 83, he shared a video from his kitchen and amazed fans with his ageless appearance.

Frankie Avalon is an American singer and actor who burst onto the Hollywood scene in the 1950s and quickly became a heartthrob to many teenage girls worldwide.

He had an enduring Hollywood career and now enjoys a quieter life that revolves around family. Avalon is now in his early 80s but still looks as good as ever.

Avalon started showing an interest in performing arts when he became a child prodigy playing the trumpet in Philadelphia. He began his career in 1952, but his 1957 appearance on "American Bandstand" shot him to fame with his single "De De Dinah."

His music career filled in the time before he became a movie star. He first began starring in films in the 1960s. He often starred alongside Anette Funicello in a series of beach films and later starred in television shows. By 1978, Avalon was the Teen Angel in "Grease," which introduced him as an actor to an entirely new generation.

Aside from all his professional triumphs, Avalon also became successful in his personal life. In 1963, he married Kay Diebel, a beauty pageant champion, and together, the pair welcomed eight children.

Avalon even has his wife's name tattooed on him. He joked he got the tattoo when he was doing the beach films, and he spent more time covering it up than he did acting out the scenes.

Why Did Avalon Become A Cook for His Family of 19?

Although his Hollywood career was something to behold, Avalon also enjoyed simpler pursuits, like being in the kitchen and sharing recipes from his family. With eight children and ten grandchildren, Avalon finds peace in the kitchen. Talking about why he decided to publish a recipe book, Avalon shared:

"All of my [eight] kids live within 10 miles of where I live. I want to keep that tradition going when I am out of this world. Now my kids and grandkids have got this piece of material they can refer to."

Avalon has collected recipes from his family members over the years, and one of his favorites is a gravy made from meatballs, sausages, and ribs. The gravy simmers on the stove in a tomato sauce, leaving Avalon's family with healthy appetites.

The former Hollywood star has lived in Westlake Village for over 27 years after he sold his La Quinta property for $955,000. He says it has significantly influenced his cooking as he can access fresh produce and seafood whenever needed.

Although he loves spending time with his children and grandchildren, Avalon admitted that after having his entire family there for the day, he likes to sit alone and watch the news. To get his family out of his home, he joked that he wears his robe and walks around the house until they say they will leave.

Avalon did not stop at cooking lovely dinners for his family, though. He compiled all of his beloved recipes into a cookbook called "Frankie Avalaon's Italian Family Cookbook From Mom's Kitchen to Mine and Yours."

The former musician and actor revealed that he had often thought of writing a cookbook, and when a publisher approached him to do so, he knew it was the right time. He had several meetings to discuss its concept and then got to work.

Avalon revealed it took significant time to compile all the recipes, but he is satisfied with the outcome. Most of the recipes in the book are from his mother, who wrote them down for him before she passed away. When asked what made cooking special, Avalon said it was the time spent with others. He divulged:

"The fun of cooking is the fun of communicating with people, even if it's just two people. As you're cooking, you're talking; you're having a glass of wine. It's wonderful; it's an experience. Once you get into cooking, it becomes something that you really look forward to doing."

One of the people who has remained by Avalon's side through all of it is his wife. When asked how the couple managed to stay married for as long as they had, Avalon said it all came down to love and respect for one's spouse.

Avalon Looks Young at 83

Avalon shared a video of himself in his kitchen on Facebook and talked about his role on "The Ed Sullivan Show." He opened up about being nervous on the show and singing in front of such a big crowd for the first time. He shared that being live on Facebook reminded him of that time.

Avalon also answered some questions from fans. One question was who Avalon's favorite actor was, and he joked that it was himself, listing all of his acting achievements with a smile.

While the content of the video was charming, fans were more focused on the octogenarian's appearance. They wondered how Avalon still looked so "young" and said they looked much older than him.

One fan said Avalon still looked great even after all these years, and another gushed, "You are still handsome, Frankie. You just keep getting better with age." Most fans sent him and his family love and blessings.

When asked how he keeps his youthful appearance, Avalon, now 83, joked that he didn't know and thought it might be something to do with maintaining his hair throughout the years. He also joked that he didn't recognize himself in the mirror.

In an October 2022 interview, Avalon, who said he was doing well, revealed that he has been active and has been involved in health and products. He even has a product of his own that he sells on his website.

Avalon's fans often share their thoughts with him on his Facebook Live videos, and he said he had received an incredible response on each of them. The actor thanked his fans for their love and support throughout the years and said he would continue making the videos.