Frank Newton Gifford (1930 - 2015)

Born 16 Aug 1930 in Santa Monica, Los Angeles, California, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 9 Aug 2015 at age 84 in Greenwich, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States

Biography

Frank Gifford is Notable.

Frank Gifford was an American football player, an actor on a few movies (Jerry Maguire (1996)), and a sportscaster for football on the CBS television network and for other sports on ABC. He passed away in 2015.^[1]

Frank Newton Gifford was born on 16 August 1930 in Santa Monica, California, a son of 30-year-old oil worker Weldon Gifford and 26-year-old Lola (Hawkins) Gifford. He was his mother’s third child. The family lived at 1620 Pico Blvd. in Santa Monica.^[2]

By 1935, the family had moved to Bakersfield, California, where the 1940 U.S. Census recorded 9-year-old Frank in the household of 40-year-old W. Gifford, a driller in the oil fields, and his 35-year-old wife Lola Gifford. The other children in the household were his 14-year-old sister Winona Gifford and 11-year-old brother Waine Gifford. The family had lived in the same place (Bakersfield) in 1935.^[3]

After a 12-year playing career as a halfback and flanker for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL), he was a play-by-play announcer and commentator for 27 years on ABC's Monday Night Football.

Gifford won the NFL Most Valuable Player Award from United Press International in 1956, the same season his team won the NFL Championship. During his career, he participated in five league championship games and was named to eight Pro Bowls. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977. After retiring as a player, Gifford was an Emmy Award-winning sportscaster, known for his work on ABC's Monday Night Football, Wide World of Sports and the Olympics.

Spouses Maxine Ewart (13 January 1952 - ?) (divorced) (3 children) Astrid Lindley (11 March 1978 - 1986) (divorced) Kathie Lee Epstein (18 October 1986 - present) (2 children)

In his earlier years, as a student in California, Gifford landed some bit parts in Hollywood films, including appearances as a football player in That’s My Boy in 1951 and The All American, with Tony Curtis, released in 1953. He also appeared in Sally and St. Anne and Bonzo Goes to College, both in 1952, the latter a sequel to the Ronald Reagan film, Bedtime for Bonzo.

-Film & TV

Earlier in his career, while still a prominent football star, Gifford landed a few minor film and TV acting roles. In the 1958 WWII film, Darby’s Rangers, which starred James Garner, he appeared as one of a number of young soldiers.

Gifford had a named role in another James Garner film, Up Periscope in 1959, a WWII submarine drama in which Gifford played Ensign Cy Mount, and is shown in one scene (at right) propped up on a stretcher, shirtless and wounded. In television, Gifford appeared in the Shirley Booth sitcom Hazel for a 1963 episode titled, “Hazel and the Halfback.”

In 1964, Gifford made a second appearance on the TV quiz show, What’s My Line?, this time as a celebrity panelist asking the questions. In 1965, Gifford was approached to play the lead role in a Tarzan film, but that role later went to Mike Henry.

In 1968, he and his then-wife Maxine appeared in the film, Paper Lion, based on the 1966 nonfiction book by American writer George Plimpton, who spends time as a player with the Detroit Lions to do an insider’s account of how an average American male might fare in professional football. In the film Alan Alda played Plimpton and Gifford and his wife appeared as themselves in one scene.

“Gifford’s Gigs” Ads, Film, TV, Books, Etc. 1950s-2000s

1956: What’s My Line?, TV Guest 1957: Vitalis Hair Tonic

1957: Wilson Sporting Goods (football)

1957: Jantzen sweater ad (wearing beret)

1958: Jantzen Sportswear – sweater

1958: Film: Darby’s Rangers, bit part

1959: Vitalis Hair Tonic Ad

1959: Film: Up Periscope

1960: Paris Belts (w/16 pg booklet)

1960: Wards Boots (hunting)

1960: Book: The Frank Gifford Story

1961: Jantzen Sportswear /ski sweater

1961: Jantzen ads (w/ Bob Cousy, others)

1962: Sports Illustrated Cover, Dec 12

1962: Lucky Strike cigarette ads

1962: Jantzen Ad – Snorkeling in Kauai

1962: Jantzen Sportswear w/Cousy, others

1962: Jantzen Sweater w/ K. Venturi, Cousy

1963: Guest Star, Hazel TV Show

1963: Jantzen Sweater w/ Hornung & Cousy

1964: What’s My Line?, TV Guest Panelist

1965: Jantzen Swimsuits

1965: CBS Radio Ad w/other hosts

1966: Jantzen Hawaiian Beachboy Tights

1966: Jantzen Sportswear w/ D. Marr, Cousy

1966: CBS Radio Ad – NY Giants No.16

1966: Jantzen Swimtrunks w/B Hull, others

1968: Jantzen Spoken Here w/ Don Meredith

1968: Film: Paper Lion, bit part, himself

1960s Radio Spots – Leukemia PSAs

1969: Book: Frank Gifford: His Golden Year

1971: TV: Monday Night Football (to 1997)

1971: TV Guide Cover w/Cosell & Meredith

1975: Dry Sack Sherry Ad

1976: Book: Frank Gifford on Courage

1977: Playboy (Nov), Frank Gifford Profile

1978: Planters Nuts Ad

1978: Riddell Ad, soccer shoes

1979: Dry Sack from Spain 1979: Planters Mixed Nuts

1982: TV Ads: Planters Nuts

1984: GQ, Cover

1984: Nabisco Brands, w/Bobby Orr

1984: Nabisco Brands, w/D. Meredith

1991: Buick “Super Drivers” Sales Brochure

1993: Book: The Whole Ten Yards

1993: TV: Carnival Cruise w Kathie Lee

1996: “Milk Mustache”w/Michaels & Costas

1996: Film: Jerry Maguire, bit part, himself

2008: Book: The Glory Game _______________________

Not a complete list.^[4]

Trivia (20)

Height 6' 1" (1.85 m)

Had an affair with flight attendant Suzen Johnson in 1997; the one-time encounter was allegedly arranged, paid for, and taped by the Globe tabloid.

Played halfback/wide receiver/defensive back for the National Football League's New York Giants (1952-1964).

Inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, 1977.

His daughter, Vicki, wed Robert F. Kennedy's son, Michael LeMoyne Kennedy.

Two children with Kathie Lee Gifford: Cody Gifford (born in 1990) and Cassidy Gifford (born in 1993).

Briefly considered, in the early 1960s, for the title role in a new series of Tarzan movies; the part eventually was given to another pro-football player - Mike Henry.

Modeled Jantzen swimwear along with fellow football-star Paul Hornung in a series of 1950's magazine ads.

Was a pro football analyst on CBS and joined ABC's NFL Monday Night Football (1970) in 1971.

Graduated from the University of Southern California.

Graduated from Bakersfield (Calif.) High School.

Suffered a deep concussion in 1960 from a vicious tackle by Chuck Bednarik of the Eagles. Missed the entire 1961 season and came back in 1962.

Recipient of the Pete Rozelle Award (which rewards exceptional longtime contributions to radio and TV in pro football) in 1995.

Is a member of the fraternity Phi Sigma Kappa.

Ranks 61st on NFL All-Time Rushing Average List (4.2964).

Inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1975.

Covered Alpine Skiing for ABC Sports during the Winter Olympics along with former US Ski Team coach, Bob Beattie.

Father, with Maxine Ewart, of Jeff Gifford and Vicky Gifford Kennedy.

Inducted into the California Community College Sports Hall of Fame in 1986.

Release of the book, "Giants Among Men: How Robustelli, Huff, Gifford and the Giants Made New York a Football Town and Changed the NFL" by Jack Cavanaugh.

Release of his book, "The Glory Game: How the 1958 NFL Championship Changed Football Forever".^[5]

Frank Gifford

American sportscaster and retired professional football player Frank Gifford has an estimated net worth of $18 million in 2013. Throughout his entire career as a professional footballer, Gifford has played as a wide receiver and half back for the New York Giants of the National Football League. He played for the team from 1952 through 1964.

Francis Newton “Frank” Gifford was born on August 16, 1930 in Santa Monica, California. He attended the University of Southern California where he was named as an All-American player and athlete.

On his entire football career, Frank Gifford has made eight Pro Bowl appearances (1953, 1954, 1955,1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1963). He also made six All-Pro selection (1953, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959). On July 30, 1977, Gifford was elected into Pro Football Hall of Fame. After his retirement, he started working as a commentator for NFL games which are aired on CBS. Ethnicity

Caucasian

Weight

196 lbs (89 kg)

Education

University of Southern California (USC)^[6]

Children of Frank Newton Gifford and Maxine are: i.Jeff Gifford. ii.+Vicki Gifford. iii.Kyle Gifford.

Children of Frank Newton Gifford and Kathie Lee Epstein are: i.Cody Newton Gifford. ii.Casidy Gifford.^[7]

Frank Newton Gifford was born to Weldon Wayne and Lola Mae (Hawkins) Gifford on August 16, 1930 in Santa Monica, California. He was the younger brother of Winona and Waine Gifford. Because of the unsteady work that Weldon Gifford found as an itinerant laborer in the oil fields of the Southwest, the Giffords and their three children were constantly relocating. In his autobiography The Whole Ten Yards, Gifford recalled that his mother once counted forty-seven different places that the family had lived during her youngest son's childhood.

The uncertain nature of his father's work meant that Gifford grew up in near-poverty and the constant moves never allowed him to stay in one school for an entire year until he was in high school. Frustrated by his poor academic performance, Gifford became a habitual truant after enrolling at Bakersfield High School in Bakersfield, California. After joining the school's football team as a quarterback, however, Gifford paid more attention to his studies, an accomplishment he credited to the guidance of his coach, Homer Beatty. After completing his secondary education in 1948, Gifford spent a year at Bakersfield Junior College to muster enough academic credits to enter the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles, where he had been offered a football scholarship. Still on academic probation during his first year at USC, Gifford violated the Pacific Coast Conference rules against practicing with the team, a violation that resulted in a $2,500 fine against USC.

Read more: Frank Gifford - Unsettled Childhood - School, Usc, Bakersfield, and Academic - JRank Articles http://sports.jrank.org/pages/1650/Gifford-Frank-Unsettled-Childhood.html#ixzz3AWglT28p^[8]

Early life From wikipedia

Gifford was born in Santa Monica, California, the son of Lola Mae (née Hawkins) and Weldon Gifford, an oil driller.

After graduating from Bakersfield High School, Gifford was unable to gain an athletic scholarship to the University of Southern California (USC) due to his low grade point average. Undeterred, he played a season for Bakersfield Junior College, making the Junior College All-American team while making the grades needed to enroll at USC.[3][4]

At USC, Gifford was named an All-American athlete and player and graduated in the class of 1952. In 1951 he ran for 841 yards on 195 carries.

Sources

1. ↑ Frank Gifford Obituary, Legacy.com
2. ↑ "California, County Birth and Death Records, 1800-1994," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9SF-8NZ5?cc=2001287&wc=FGRF-829%3A285174601%2C285242201 : 1 September 2019), Los Angeles > Birth certificates 1921-1931 no 12000-14300 > image 1863 of 2821; California State Archives, Sacramento.
3. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-L9MT-Z449?cc=2000219&wc=QZXP-R83%3A790105301%2C795263001%2C795438201%2C951902601 : accessed 4 August 2020), California > Kern > Judicial Township 6, Bakersfield, Ward 5 > 15-28 Judicial Township 6, Bakersfield City Ward 5 bounded by (N) 15th; (E) Chester Av; (S) 8th, Forrest; (W) Oleander Av, California Av, F > image 2 of 40; citing Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012.
4. ↑ http://www.pophistorydig.com/?tag=frank-gifford-joe-namath
5. ↑ http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0317520/bio
6. ↑ http://www.therichest.com/celebnetworth/athletes/nfl/frank-gifford-net-worth/
7. ↑ http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/users/b/r/u/Judith-D-Bruder-MO/WEBSITE-0001/UHP-0389.html
8. ↑ http://sports.jrank.org/pages/1650/Gifford-Frank-Unsettled-Childhood.html">Frank Gifford - Unsettled Childhood

• Wikipedia: Frank Gifford