Joe Franklin

Short Biography

Joe Franklin was born on March 9, 1926 in Bronx, New York City, New York, USA as Joseph Fortgang. He was an actor, known for The Aristocrats (2005), Broadway Danny Rose (1984) and Ghoul School (1990). He was married to Lois Meridan. He died on January 24, 2015 in Manhattan, New York City.He has been listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as having the longest-running TV talk show in history, The Joe Franklin Show (1950), for 50 years. He has interviewed many guests, including: Dorothy Lamour, Buddy Hackett, Jackie Mason, Rodney Dangerfield, Ray Bolger, Redd Foxx, Vincent Price, Jake LaMotta, Tiny Tim, Frank Sinatra Jr., Howard Stern and Buster Keaton. Franklin has also done guest spots on Live with Kelly and Michael (1988), Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) and Late Show with David Letterman (1993). He has been mentioned several times on The Simpsons (1989).Son: BradleyHe also hosted a Sunday night old movie TV show: "When Movies Were Movies" on WOR TV Ch. 9 in New York City during the 1980sThe original title of his WJZ/WABC TV Ch. 7 New York City TV show was "Joe Franklin's Memory Lane".In 1983, he sued "Uncle Floyd" Vivino for $35 million for defamation of character; Uncle Floyd had made fun of him in a sketch, calling him "Joe Frankfurter". The case was settled out of court.Enlisted as a private in the U.S. Army on 12 June 1944. He was working as a movie projectionist at the time.Married wife Lois Meridan on Bride and Groom (1951).