If there is a talk on celebrities who have tried their hands at many skills, then Al Franken deserves a mention. Al is popular as a comedian, an author, actor and a screenwriter. He is also notable as a media personality, a commentator, as well as a politician. He is best known for his nearly twenty years of work on Saturday Night Live during which he wrote, produced, as well as performed in sketches that ran into hundreds.
Al Franken is also the star and producer of Lateline – an NBC sitcom. As a writer, he has four publications to his credit and as a politician, he served as US senator from Minnesota from 2009 till 2018. For his effort in news and entertainment, he has bagged four Emmy Awards for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy, Variety, or Music Show.
Al Franken – Bio
Al Franken is an American national, born in New York City on the 21st of May 1951 and his ethnicity is white. His dad has been accurately identified as Joseph Franken who earned a living as a printing salesman, while his mother Phoebe Franken (nee Kunst) who hailed from Allentown, Pennsylvania, worked in real estate as an agent. His grandparents on his father’s side were emigrants from Germany but his maternal grandfather has his roots in Grodno, Russian Empire. Another part of his family lineage that originated from the Russian Empire were the parents of his maternal grandmother.
Both of Al’s parents were of Jewish origin and consequently, he grew up in a Reform Jewish home. His family relocated to Albert Lea, Minnesota, when he was just four. There, his dad started a quilting factory which closed down under a couple of years. The Franken family later moved again to St. Louis Park, Minnesota, which is a suburb of Minneapolis. Al grew up alongside an older brother named Owen Franken who is currently working as a photojournalist. His cousin Bob is also in journalism, he is presently working for MSNBC. Another notable member of the Franken family is his second cousin Steve Franken – an actor popular for his role in the TV show titled The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis.
On the academic front, he attended The Blake School where he graduated from in 1969, during his years there, Al Franken was very active in the school’s wrestling team. His quest for further education took him to Harvard College where he graduated cum laude with a BA in Political Science in 1973.
Wife, Family
Al Franken is definitely a one-woman man, he tied the nuptials with his lifelong partner on the 2nd of October 1975 and their union has endured for over 43 years and still going strong. The duo met in Harvard, according to Franni, it was love at first sight. Al’s wife came from a very poor background. Her mom raised her alongside other siblings as a single parent after the demise of her dad, but with the assistance of the social services available, she was able to make it through college. She commenced her journalism career with Portland Press Herald as a reporter.
The couple has two children, a daughter and a son. Their daughter Thomasin is an alum of Harvard and also attended the French Culinary Institute. She is presently employed at DC Prep – an organization located in Washington, D.C. with a major focus on managing charter schools. Thomasin works in her capacity as the director of extended learning. On the other hand, their son, Joseph is employed in the finance industry.
Franni had a problem with alcohol during the first few years of her marriage. According to her, she struggled with alcoholism but her spouse stood by her through thick and thin. The first time she had a public discussion on her alcoholism issue was during the 2008 Senate campaign advert for her husband.
Net Worth
During his days on Saturday Night Live in 1975, Al Franken was earning a weekly income of £325 as an apprentice writer but his salary obviously took a turn for the better as the years rolled by. The exact amount of his earnings has, however, never come under the radar of the media. Also, his earnings as a senator have never been published but his estimated net worth has been pegged at $8 million by a source that is very reliable.
Height
On the details of his body statistics, not much information is available but his height is recorded as 5 feet 6 inches, approximately 1.676m. The details of his body weight and other relevant body statics are not known.
Is Al Franken Gay?
A man whose marriage has endured for all of 43 years is not likely to be gay. Besides, there has never been any publication indicating his gay status which means that Al’s sexual orientation can only be straight. He has two children to show for his over four decades of marriage to Franni Bryson.
Also Read: Top 10 Richest People in the world with full biography and details.
