Frank Fontaine

About this actor

Frank Fontaine (19 April 1920 – 4 August 1978) was an American comedian and singer. Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, he is best known for his appearances on television shows of the 1950s and 1960s, including The Jackie Gleason Show, The Jack Benny Show, and The Tonight Show. One of his earliest appearances was on the radio show, The Jack Benny Program. During an episode which aired on April 16, 1950, Fontaine played a bum (named "John L. C. Silvoney") who asked Benny for a dime for a cup of coffee. The smallest coin Benny had to offer was a fifty-cent piece, so he gave it to him. The story Benny told about this event became a running gag during later shows. Fontaine's goofy laugh and other voice mannerisms made a hit with the audience, and Benny brought him back for several more radio shows between 1950 and 1952. He also later appeared in several of Benny's televisions shows. On the Jackie Gleason show, he played the character Crazy Guggenheim during Gleason's "Joe The Bartender"...