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A photo of Francis Newton "Frank" Gifford

Francis Newton "Frank" Gifford 1930 - 2015

Francis Newton Gifford of Greenwich, Fairfield County, Connecticut United States was born on August 16, 1930 in santa monica, los angeles county, Ca to Lola Mae (Hawkins) Gifford and Weldon Gifford. Francis Gifford had siblings Winona Gifford and Waine Gifford. He married Kathryn Lee "Kathie Lee" (Epstein) Gifford, and they had children Cody Newton Gifford and Cassidy Erin Gifford. He married Maxine Avis (Ewart) Gifford, and they had children Jeff Gifford, Kyle Gifford, and Victoria (Gifford) Kennedy. Francis Gifford died at age 84 years old on August 9, 2015 in greenwich, Connecticut us.

Francis Newton Gifford
Frank Gifford
Name
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Greenwich, Fairfield County, Connecticut United States
Last residence
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August 16, 1930
santa monica, los angeles county, California, united states
Birth
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August 9, 2015
greenwich, Connecticut, us
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Updated: March 12, 2024
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Francis Newton "Frank" Gifford Francis Gifford (1930 - 2015)
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Francis Newton Gifford's History: 1930 - 2015

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  • Introduction

    Francis Newton "Frank" Gifford was born on August 16th, 1930 in Santa Monica, Los Angeles County, California, to Weldon Wain Gifford Sr. (1900 - 1974) , who was a twin, and Lola Mae Hawkings (1904 - 1986). His father was born in Santa Barbara, California, and his mother was born in Colorado. Frank had two older siblings: Lola Winona (1926 - 2011) and Weldon Waine Gifford Jr. (1928 - 1984). Frank Gifford married three times: his first marriage was to his college sweetheart, homecoming queen Maxine Avis (Ewart) Gifford, on January 13th, 1952 in New York City. Frank and Maxine had three children: Jeff, who was born in 1952, Kyle, and Victoria. Frank and Maxine divorced. He then married fitness trainer Astrid Lindley, to whom he was married from 1978 to 1986, They also divorced. Frank's final marriage was to singer and television personality Kathie Lee Johnson, who was 23 years younger than he, on October 18th, 1986. They had a son, Cody Newton Gifford, and a daughter, Cassidy Erin Gifford. Frank Gifford enjoyed a distinguished professional football career before transitioning to roles in movies, television, and hosting sports events. See Francis Newton "Frank" Gifford: Professions.
  • 08/16
    1930

    Birthday

    August 16, 1930
    Birthdate
    santa monica, los angeles county, California united states
    Birthplace
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  • Ethnicity & Family History

    Frank, who was Caucasian, and his father, Weldon, were born in Southern California. Frank's grandfather, Carl, was also born in California. His great-grandfather was born in Illinois and his two times great-grandfather was born in New York. Frank's mother, Lola Mae Hawkins, was born in Colorado. Her parentage is unknown.

  • Early Life & Education

    Born and raised in Southern California, Frank attended Kern County Union High School, which is now named Bakersfield High School in Bakersfield, California. Bakersfield High School (BHS) is a public four-year high school located in Bakersfield, California, United States. Opened in 1893, Bakersfield High School is a public school that serves grades ninth through twelfth within the Kern High School District. After high school, Frank first attended Bakersfield Junior College, where he obtained a grade average that allowed him to enroll in the University of Southern California (USC). While in Junior College, he also played football and made the Junior College All-America team. While at USC, Frank was named an All-American football player. He graduated in 1952, the year he married his first wife, homecoming queen Maxine.

  • Professional Career

    Frank Gifford was a professional football player, playing for the NFL with the New York Giants, beginning in 1952. He made the pro bowl eight times and had five trips to the NFL Championship Game. This was before the Super Bowl was created. He retired from football in 1961, after "The Hit" - a defensive hit that resulted in a severe concussion. In 1962, Frank returned to the Giants, changing from quarterback to wide receiver. He then permanently retired after the 1964 season. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame on July 30th, 1977. After retiring from football, Frank turn to a broadcasting career, working for CBS network. In 1971, he became a play-by-play announcer for Monday Night Football. He also did the play-by-play for the first Super Bowl in 1985, as well as Super Bowl XIX, which featured AncientFaces' hometeam, the San Francisco 49ers. Frank thereafter was involved with sports commentary on both television and radio. He and wife Kathie Lee Gifford met when he guest hosted the Good Morning America show. Frank was also an actor on occasion, acting in the 1959 movie "Up Periscope" and the television shows "Hazel", the Six Million Dollar Man" and "The Adventures of Pete and Pete",
  • 08/9
    2015

    Death

    August 9, 2015
    Death date
    natural causes - an autopsy revealed that he had chronic traumatic encephalopathy, probably as a result of his football career.
    Cause of death
    greenwich, Connecticut us
    Death location
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Francis Newton "Frank" Gifford
Photo of Kathy Pinna Kathy Pinna
32.9k+ favorites
08/10/2015
Francis Newton "Frank" Gifford
A photo of Frank Gifford when he was playing for the New York Giants (when players stayed with one team for the entirety of their career!). He played both offense and defense but was best known as a quarterback. In college, he played for USC.

After he retired from football, he became a sportscaster and (sometime) actor.

Francis Newton "Frank" Gifford was born August 16, 1930 and died August 9, 2015 at the age of 84. He is survived by his 2nd wife, Kathie Lee and his five children by his two marriages, as well as five grandchildren.
Date & Place: in New York, New York United States
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Photo of AncientFaces AncientFaces
411 favorites
08/10/2015
This weekend we lost Francis Newton “Frank” Gifford. He played 12 years for the New York Giants, won the NFL’s most valuable player award in 1956, was a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a well known sportscaster, and husband to Kathie Lee Gifford.
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Photo of Paula Costa Paula Costa
via Facebook
08/10/2015
May he R.I.P.
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Other Biographies

Other Francis Gifford Biographies

Gifford, Francis (Dec 23, 1929 - Jul 4, 2003) Gifford, Francis (Dec 18, 1922 - Jul 23, 1993) Gifford, Francis (May 15, 1907 - Jun 4, 1997) Gifford, Francis (Jan 22, 1918 - Jun 1985) Gifford, Francis (Oct 30, 1925 - May 1987) Gifford, Francis (Sep 6, 1933 - Mar 5, 2007) Gifford, Francis (Nov 7, 1905 - Apr 1982) Gifford, Francis (Oct 8, 1896 - Feb 1984) Gifford, Francis (Aug 26, 1904 - Jul 1972) Gifford, Francis (Apr 28, 1924 - Jan 11, 2005)
Gifford, Francis (Sep 21, 1924 - Jun 1979) Gifford, Francis (Dec 20, 1907 - Jun 1980) Gifford, Francis (Sep 12, 1903 - Apr 1974) Gifford, Francis (Jan 8, 1918 - Jun 3, 2001) Gifford, Francis (Aug 25, 1918 - Feb 25, 2011) Gifford, Francis (Jun 25, 1906 - Dec 1974) Gifford, Francis (Mar 19, 1931 - Oct 13, 2004) Gifford, Francis (Apr 12, 1936 - Jan 17, 2003) Gifford, Francis (Dec 31, 1920 - May 1973) Gifford, Francis (Dec 2, 1915 - Nov 17, 1999)

Other Gifford Family Biographies

Gifford, Harriet (Born Sep 1873) Gifford, Stanley (Born Apr 16, 1869) Gifford, Alpheus (Aug 28, 1793 - Dec 25, 1841) Gifford, Neal (Oct 25, 1962 - Jun 26, 1993) Olmstead, Almeda (Born 1805) Gifford, Arline (Feb 27, 1916 - Apr 1985) Gifford, Alpha (Jul 22, 1883 - Oct 1970) Gifford, Alexander (Nov 20, 1896 - Jul 1964) Gifford, Marion (Feb 23, 1935 - Jan 2, 2008) Gifford, Constance (Oct 15, 1894 - Aug 1980)
Gifford, Violet (Oct 10, 1927 - Jun 22, 2009) Gifford, Warren (Oct 7, 1938 - Oct 7, 2007) Gifford, Dorothea (Jul 26, 1899 - Jun 30, 1994) Gifford, Cecil (Mar 25, 1904 - Mar 17, 2001) Gifford, Ruth (Apr 19, 1901 - Aug 1973) Gifford, May (Nov 21, 1889 - Apr 1984) Gifford, John (Jun 7, 1939 - Jul 22, 2001) Gifford, David (Apr 14, 1961 - Feb 11, 1994) Gifford, Warren (Sep 17, 1901 - Dec 1981) Gifford, Nellie (Sep 13, 1887 - Feb 1976)
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