Frankie Burke
Encyclopedia
Frankie Burke was a Hollywood actor.
Born in Brooklyn
with the name Francis Vaselle Aiello, Frankie Burke was both tenacious and talented. He went to P.S. 25 on Lafayette and Throop streets before going on to Alexander Hamilton (vocation) High School, now known as Paul Robeson HS, at 150 Albany avenue. He grew up watching James Cagney
on film in local theaters and, having been told many times how much he resembled him, figured if Cagney could become famous, so could he. Frankie sold newspapers on the street corners before deciding to hitchhike to Hollywood in 1937 to meet Cagney, but when the first attempt failed, he went back to Brooklyn.
This is where he was discovered by a Warner Brothers talent scout, out searching for young men who resembled Cagney for a role in Angels with Dirty Faces
. Apparently, the resemblance was so astounding that Frankie was hired on the spot. Frankie went on to do an estimated sixteen more films (a lot of his roles were uncredited) before disappearing altogether after his last role in Shadow of the Thin Man
in 1941.
After a divorce in the 1940s, Burke returned to Nevada to work and then on to the east coast to stay with family. In the early 1960s, he opted to become a hobo
and travel across the United States in freight trains.
Burke died of lung cancer
in 1983. He is survived by one son.
Born in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
with the name Francis Vaselle Aiello, Frankie Burke was both tenacious and talented. He went to P.S. 25 on Lafayette and Throop streets before going on to Alexander Hamilton (vocation) High School, now known as Paul Robeson HS, at 150 Albany avenue. He grew up watching James Cagney
James Cagney
James Francis Cagney, Jr. was an American actor, first on stage, then in film, where he had his greatest impact. Although he won acclaim and major awards for a wide variety of performances, he is best remembered for playing "tough guys." In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked him eighth...
on film in local theaters and, having been told many times how much he resembled him, figured if Cagney could become famous, so could he. Frankie sold newspapers on the street corners before deciding to hitchhike to Hollywood in 1937 to meet Cagney, but when the first attempt failed, he went back to Brooklyn.
This is where he was discovered by a Warner Brothers talent scout, out searching for young men who resembled Cagney for a role in Angels with Dirty Faces
Angels with Dirty Faces
Angels with Dirty Faces is a 1938 American gangster film directed by Michael Curtiz and starring James Cagney, Pat O'Brien, the Dead End Kids and Humphrey Bogart, along with Ann Sheridan and George Bancroft...
. Apparently, the resemblance was so astounding that Frankie was hired on the spot. Frankie went on to do an estimated sixteen more films (a lot of his roles were uncredited) before disappearing altogether after his last role in Shadow of the Thin Man
Shadow of the Thin Man
Shadow of the Thin Man is the fourth of the six The Thin Man films. It was released in 1941 and was directed by W. S. Van Dyke. It stars William Powell and Myrna Loy as Nick and Nora Charles. Also, in this film their son Nick Jr. is old enough to figure in the comic subplot...
in 1941.
After a divorce in the 1940s, Burke returned to Nevada to work and then on to the east coast to stay with family. In the early 1960s, he opted to become a hobo
Hobo
A hobo is a term which is often applied to a migratory worker or homeless vagabond, often penniless. The term originated in the Western—probably Northwestern—United States during the last decade of the 19th century. Unlike 'tramps', who work only when they are forced to, and 'bums', who do not...
and travel across the United States in freight trains.
Burke died of lung cancer
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in tissues of the lung. If left untreated, this growth can spread beyond the lung in a process called metastasis into nearby tissue and, eventually, into other parts of the body. Most cancers that start in lung, known as primary...
in 1983. He is survived by one son.