Frankie Michaels

Francis Michael Chernesky (5 May 1955 – 30 March 2016), known professionally as Frankie Michaels, was an American actor and singer. In 1966, he won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for playing young Patrick Dennis in the original production of Mame. At the age of 10, Michaels was the youngest Tony Award winner ever.[1]

Frankie Michaels
Born
Francis Michael Chernesky

(1955-05-05)5 May 1955
Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S.
Died30 March 2016(2016-03-30) (aged 60)
Chittenango, New York, U.S.
OccupationActor & Singer

Stage career

Michaels holds the record for being the youngest person to win a Tony Award -- in 1966 for Actor, Supporting or Featured (Musical) --[2] at age ten for his performance as young Patrick Dennis in the Broadway musical Mame in 1966.[3] His other stage credits include A for Adult and Happily Ever After, both off-Broadway.[4]

TV career

Michaels appeared in the TV series As the World Turns from 1964–66, Our Private World in 1965, and The Joey Bishop Show in 1967.[5] While performing in Mame he made guest appearances on The Mike Douglas Show and The Merv Griffin Show in 1966.[6]

Singing career

In 1965, at age 10, Michaels recorded Gladys Shelley's theme song for the Little Miss America pageant at Palisades Amusement Park, for Spiral Records.[7][8]

In 2010, he sang "My Best Girl," which he had sung in Mame, during a tribute to Angela Lansbury at the 2010 Drama League Gala at the Pierre Hotel in New York City.[9]

As of 2013, Michaels worked for United Radio Service in East Syracuse, New York, and sang in a lounge at the Turning Stone Resort & Casino in Verona, New York, on Friday evenings.

References
  1. "Frankie Michaels, Youngest Tony Award-winner, Is Dead at 60". Tony Awards. Retrieved 4 April 2016.
  2. "(Frankie Michaels search)". Tony Awards: History. Retrieved 2 July 2016.
  3. O'Neil, Tom. "'Billy Elliot' boys share record-breaking lead actor Tony Award win", "Gold Derby" (column), latimes.com, June 7, 2009
  4. "Other works for Frankie Michaels (I)". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  5. "Frankie Michaels (I)". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  6. TV.com. "Frankie Michaels". TV.com. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  7. "Palisades Amusement Park Historical Society - The Sounds and Music of Palisades". Palisadespark.com. 2004-01-01. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  8. "Frankie Michaels Biography". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  9. Video on YouTube
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