Frankie Avalon had the eyes of many young women on him in the ‘50s after singing “Venus.” Other hits were just up ahead, topping charts left and right. Wanting to appeal to teens and adults alike, he didn’t want to be categorized as a teen idol.
He later starred alongside Annette Funicello in the “Beach Party” movies. Avalon tried to appeal to different audiences in the 1970s with the song “Beauty School Dropout” from the “Grease” soundtrack. Now in his 80s, he doesn’t perform much apart from small guest appearances. He did, however, release a cookbook! We can’t help but wonder what dishes he has come up with.
Luke Halpin (1960s)
Animal-based movies and TV shows like "Flipper" were incredibly trendy back in the 1960s. We don't know why exactly - they just were. And then "Jaws" came along in the '70s - but we digress. The franchise "Flipper" was maybe named after the dolphin, but Luke Halpin was definitely the star playing the role of Sandy Ricks.
Halpin stuck with the character for the rest of the franchise as well as the TV show. He kept acting until shifting into stuntwork in the 1980s. Now well into his 70s, Halpin and his wife live in Florida. Unfortunately, he is battling both stage five neck and head cancer (in remission) and Alzheimer’s disease.
Annette Funicello (1950s)
We all know that stars like Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera started out in the Mickey Mouse Club, but the show has been creating stars long before those two icons were even a thought in the world. In fact, this is how '50s teen star Annette Funicello got her claim to fame.
Funicello was adored by the fans and by Walt himself, who gave her the role of Anita Cabrillo in "Zorro," the TV show. By the 1980s, Funicello had a well-established career as an actress and musician, but it came to an abrupt end when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. In 2013, Funicello passed away.
Paul Newman (1960s)
Actors who pursue careers in other fields are nothing new, but Paul Newman was probably one of the first ones who did it well enough to become a pro. Even with roles in iconic films like "The Hustler" and "Cool Hand Luke," Newman still made time for another career as a race car driver.
He was pretty good at it, too, and even won some titles. Paul Newman worked with some of the very best actors in his heyday, including the likes of Tom Cruise and Robert Redford. He retired from acting in 2007 and passed away a year later at 83 years old after fighting lung cancer.
David Cassidy (1970s)
Without a shadow of a doubt, David Cassidy is best known for his role as Keith Partridge from the classic '70s musical sitcom "The Partridge Family." This was the role that turned Cassidy into a teen idol sensation and in many ways, this decade was his for the taking.
As the years went on, Cassidy continued to show up in shows such as "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," "The Best Stiller Show," "Malcolm in the Middle," "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," and many more. Sadly though, at the age of 67, Cassidy passed away in his Fort Lauderdale home on November 21, 2017.