Born Name:  Frank Fontaine

Born Date:  April 19, 1920

Born Place:  Cambridge, Massachusetts

Died Date:  August 4, 1978

Died Place:  Spokane, Washington

Occupations:  Comedian, vocalist, actor

Brief Biography:  Frank Fontaine best known for his role as "Crazy Guggenheim" on The Jackie Gleason Show during the 1960s. Known for a high-pitched, stammering character voice and a "bug-eyed" grin, he often showcased a surprisingly smooth singing voice at the end of his sketches.

Early Life and Career:
Background: Born in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to parents who were circus performers—his father was a strongman and his mother a trapeze artist.
Early Start: Began his career in the Boston area as a young performer doing impressions, singing, and dancing in supper clubs.
Military: Served in the U.S. Army for three years during World War II.

Rise to Fame:
Radio Success: Gained national attention on The Jack Benny Program in 1950, playing a character named John L.C. Silvoney (or "Sivoney"), a panhandler who constantly asked Benny for a dime.
The Jackie Gleason Show: His fame peaked in 1962–1966 with his role as Crazy Guggenheim in the "Joe the Bartender" sketches alongside Jackie Gleason.
Music Career: Due to his popularity on the show, he released the album Songs I Sing on the Jackie Gleason Show, which hit number one on the Billboard charts in 1963.

Character vs. Reality:
Despite playing a "drunken" or "dim-witted" character, Fontaine was a strict teetotaler in real life.