This seasoned Hollywood actor faced rejection not only on the screen but also within the walls of his home. Yet, despite these challenges, he has emerged stronger and shared the one profound thing that he says “saved” his life.
Raised in a home where warmth and support were absent, this celebrity faced emotional neglect from his parents. Nevertheless, he persevered and ultimately became one of the most accomplished and respected figures in the entertainment industry.
This actor’s family life was complex, shaped by multiple marriages and blended relationships. He and his younger brother, Frank Jr., were born to Jackie and Frank Sr., who divorced in 1957. Following the separation, his mother remarried and had a daughter, Toni Ann, in 1964.
The celebrity’s father remarried several times, expanding the family with three more children — Bryan, Carla, and Dante, who was born in 1997. Bryan and Carla prefer to remain private.
Despite growing up in a fragmented family, the actor’s early challenges weren’t limited to relationships with his siblings. He once shared, “I grew up in a really bad household, it was tough. […] Everyone was extremely unhappy with who they were. My mother and father, they certainly weren’t parents.”
His childhood included spending four and a half to five years in a boarding house in Jackson Heights, where his parents dropped him off. He described the place as “transient.” Run by an older woman, the house left him feeling isolated.
The New York native recalled sitting at a table with adults who didn’t speak to him, and at just four years old, he had no one to relate to during that crucial stage of his life.
These early experiences left a lasting mark, shaping the actor into a loner and influencing how he connected with others. His mother’s words revealed the depth of this neglect.
The star remembered her saying, “‘The only reason you’re here is because the hanger didn’t work,'” or “‘bouncing down those steps didn’t cause you to get lost.'”
These painful words offered a glimpse into his mother’s troubled past, which, according to the actor, shaped her inability to show love. He explained that she had been placed in a “very cruel orphanage,” where she was “tied to the bed,” “whipped” and “terribly molested.”
Because of this trauma, he believed her capacity to express affection was “short-circuited.” Her aversion to physical contact was something he also adopted, further complicating his relationships and interactions with others.
This lack of affection and stability at home carried over into his school life. As a child, the actor was expelled from 13 schools after being repeatedly told he didn’t fit in.
His unconventional behavior led him to attend military schools, including institutions for troubled youth. He described his younger self as simply “adventurous.”
His struggles continued into adulthood when he hit rock bottom. Arriving in NYC with little money, he slept in a bus station because he couldn’t afford a place.
As he pursued acting opportunities, he feared being stuck as a “professional extra” since he “didn’t fit a certain mold” or the image of a traditionally handsome leading man.
The actor, who openly discussed having plastic surgery, explained that nerve damage from birth left the left side of his face partially paralyzed. Later, significant weight loss caused that side to sag, prompting him to have it surgically lifted.
He remarked that people often misinterpret the scar, but he had no issue with people getting plastic surgery. He said, “Why not do it? You have body work done on your car.”
From sleeping in bus stations to battling perceptions about his appearance, his struggles left him clinging to whatever stability he could find.
During those difficult days, he relied on a single coat to endure the bitter NY winters. In an interview, he reflected on its significance, “That coat saved my life.”
