Basic Information About Al Franken
Category | Politicians βΊ Democrats |
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Professions | Politician, Comedian, Author, Actor, Screenwriter, Radio personality, Commentator, Television producer |
Net worth | $10,000,000 |
Date of birth | 1951-05-21 (72 years old) |
Place of birth | New York City |
Nationality | United States of America |
Spouse | Franni Bryson - (2 OctoberΒ 1975 - present)Β (2 children) |
Gender | Male |
Height | 5 ft 5 in (1.676 m) |
Social Media | βοΈ Wikipedia βοΈ IMDb |
Famous Network of Democrats with Similar Net Worth
What Movie Awards did Al Franken win?
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![]() Golder Raspberry |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Al Franken awards
Award Name | State | Movie / Series Name | Year |
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Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Variety or Music Program | Nominee | Saturday Night Live | 1992 |
Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program | Winner | Saturday Night Live | 1989 |
Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program | Nominee | Saturday Night Live | 1980 |
Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Series | Winner | Saturday Night Live | 1977 |
Al Franken roles
Movie / Series | Role |
---|---|
Trading Places | Baggage Handler #1 |
The Manchurian Candidate | TV Commentator |
When a Man Loves a Woman | Writer |
When a Man Loves a Woman | Co-Pilot (uncredited) |
3rd Rock from the Sun | Frank Gansmiller 1 episode, 1996 |
Saturday Night Live | Writer |
Saturday Night Live | Writer |
Saturday Night Live | Writer |
Saturday Night Live | Writer |
Saturday Night Live | Writer |
Saturday Night Live | Various / ... 71 episodes, 1975-2004 |
The Larry Sanders Show | Al Franken 1 episode, 1997 |
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert | Self 2 episodes, 2017 |
CBS News Sunday Morning | Self 1 episode, 2017 |
The Daily Show | Self 7 episodes, 1998-2017 |
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno | Self 7 episodes, 1992-2005 |
Conan | Self - Guest / ... 4 episodes, 2016-2020 |
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee | Self - Special Guest 1 episode, 2017 |
I Love You, America | Self - Guest 1 episode, 2017 |
Late Night with Conan O'Brien | Self / ... 24 episodes, 1994-2006 |
Al Franken's Movie/Shows Salary
Movie / Series | Salary |
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Saturday Night LiveΒ (1975) | $325 /week (apprentice writer, Season 1) |
Al Franken's Quotes
- [at the Maine political delegation breakfast on July 26, 2004, replying to actor John Cusack, who saw Franken in the audience and said, "I'm not going to try and be funny"] I'm not going to try and act.
- [2/06, in interview with Jay MacDonald entitled "Fame & Fortune: Comedian Al Franken"] No, I grew up very middle class. My parents didn't make a lot of money. My dad was not a high school graduate - he didn't have a career as such, he was a printing salesman essentially for most of his working life."
- [interview with Marla Williams, Seattle Times, 3/11/96] I'm part of the mushball middle. I consider "confused" the majority position because, thankfully, most people would rather be uncertain some of the time than 100% positive all the time - even when they're wrong."
- [2/96, interview with Mark Schapiro for "Salon"] The reason I chose [Rush Limbaugh] is, first of all, when I made the decision, it was late '94, right before the congressional elections. He was this huge power, he was being called the "Majority Maker" . . . and I listened to him, I just listened to him. And I thought, "How does this guy get away with this? . . . Someone's got to do something that's funny. Someone's got to do something in his face.
- No one is more sensitive to the issue of overeating than the creator of Stuart Smalley.
Net Worth Details
Al Franken, the renowned American comedian, actor, writer, and politician, has built up an impressive net worth of $10 million throughout his career. His journey began in the entertainment world during the 197s, where he showcased his immense talents before transitioning into politics in the early 200s.
Biography
What is Al Franken known for?
Al Franken is widely recognized for his influential contributions to numerous fields. He initially gained prominence through his work on the legendary television show ‘Saturday Night Live’ (SNL). During his tenure on SNL, Franken received seven Emmy nominations and took home three well-deserved wins for his exceptional writing skills. He was part of the show from 1975 to 198 and then returned from 1985 to 1995. Franken’s portrayal of memorable characters such as Stuart Smalley earned him tremendous popularity.
Early life and education
Alan Stuart Franken was born on May 21st, 1951, in New York City. Growing up in a Jewish household, Franken relocated to Albert Lea, Minnesota at the age of four. Afterward, his family settled in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Franken displayed a passion for performing from an early age, partnering with Tom Davis in various comedy projects during high school.
Franken pursued his education at Harvard University, majoring in political science. In 1973, he graduated with the highest honors, summa cum laude, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree.
Career
With the dream of pursuing a career in show business, Franken and Davis embarked on a journey to Los Angeles after leaving university. Although their path to success was challenging, they eventually landed coveted positions as the original writers for ‘Saturday Night Live’ when it launched in 1975. Aside from his exceptional writing, Franken frequently appeared on SNL, showcasing his comedic skills. His first stint on the show lasted for five years.
After leaving ‘SNL,’ Franken and Davis co-authored scripts for popular movies such as ‘One More Saturday Night.’ Additionally, they ventured into acting, appearing in films like ‘All You Need Is Cash’ and ‘Trading Places.’
Franken returned to ‘SNL’ in 1985, and this time he stayed for another remarkable 10-year run. Throughout this period, Franken’s exceptional talents were acknowledged with an astounding 15 Emmy Award nominations, winning five times for his remarkable contributions.
Franke’s political activism emerged alongside his entertainment career. He hosted the radio show ‘The Al Franken Show’ starting in 2004. It was during this time that Franken’s interests shifted more substantially towards political topics.
In 2007, Franken took a significant leap and entered the political arena, joining the race for a seat in the United States Senate. His journey to Senate was fraught with challenges, with Franken emerging victorious in one of the narrowest election victories against Republican incumbent Norm Coleman in 2008.
Achievements
Al Franken’s list of accomplishments is extensive and diverse. In addition to his successful and groundbreaking career on ‘Saturday Night Live,’ Franken published several highly acclaimed books during his time as a senator. Additionally, he continued to write scripts and secured notable acting roles.
- Seven Emmy Award nominations and three wins for his work on ‘SNL’
- Author of numerous well-received books
Franken’s ability to effectively collaborate with members across the political spectrum earned him a reputation as an esteemed senator. His excellent communication skills and diplomacy allowed him to work productively with Republicans and those with differing ideological views, further solidifying his accomplishments.
Controversy
In 2017, Franken found himself embroiled in a sexual harassment controversy when Leeann Tweeden accused him of kissing her without consent in 2006. These allegations quickly gained widespread attention through right-leaning media outlets. While photos emerged showing Franken seemingly mimicking groping Tweeden’s breasts as she slept, no physical contact was evident. Despite claiming no recollection of the incident, Franken apologized. Following Tweeden’s allegations, several additional women stepped forward, each with their own claims of sexual harassment by Franken, many occurring during photo-ops.
As a result, the Senate Ethics Committee initiated a formal investigation into Franken’s conduct. Calls for his resignation grew louder as more allegations surfaced. Ultimately, Franken was forced to resign from his Senate position without receiving the opportunity to fully present his side of the story before the Ethics Committee.
Over time, inconsistencies arose among the accusations levied against Franken, including those made by Tweeden. Some Senators expressed regret for their initial calls for his resignation, acknowledging that he was denied a fair chance to address these allegations properly. Nevertheless, additional women continued to come forward with claims against Franken.
Financial Reports
According to federally released financial disclosures, Al Franken possessed a net worth of $6.2 million upon entering the Senate in 2009. Throughout his decade-long public service, his net worth fluctuated between $5 million and $9 million.
Today, Al Franken remains an iconic figure in both the entertainment and political spheres. Although his career has not been without controversy, his immense talent and ability to connect with audiences continue to leave a lasting impression. Franken’s net worth stands as a testament to his achievements, while his contributions have solidified his place in American popular culture.
Interesting Facts about Al Franken
- Left Saturday Night Live (1975) as a writer and featured cast member in 1995 after his request to be the Weekend Update news anchor was denied. He has since admitted that Norm MacDonald was the better choice for the role, due to both MacDonald's deadpan delivery and apolitical comedy style, in contrast with Franken's partisan progressive stance.
- Was an improv comedy performer and sketch comedy writer at the Brave New Workshop in Minneapolis, MN, in the early 1970s.
- Has two children: daughter Thomasin Franken and son Joe Franken.
- Graduated from Harvard University.
- When ex-President Bill Clinton was on book tour for his autobiography at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, he saw Franken and said, "My hero's here." (reported in USA Today, July 21, 2004)
- He received a perfect score (800) on the math section of the SAT.
- His book, "Lies and the Lying Liars Who Tell Them: A Fair and Balanced Look at the Right," provoked a lawsuit from Fox News--which was prominently featured in the book--alleging copyright infringement of its advertising slogan that claimed its news coverage was "fair and balanced." The suit was quickly thrown out of court as being without merit and is credited with increasing sales of the book. In fact, the publisher moved up its release date to capitalize on the publicity the suit had brought.
- He received the New York Festivals' 23rd Annual International Radio Programming and Promotions' "World Achievement Award For Breakthrough Radio" for his unique perspective and commentary on his daily radio show, The Al Franken Show, on June 27, 2005.
- Announced his bid to run for U.S. Senate in 2008 representing the state of Minnesota.
- Won the 2008 DFL endorsement for the Minnesota Senate seat against Norm Coleman. (June 7, 2008).
- Elected to the United States Senate on November 4, 2008. The election was so close that there was a subsequent recount and legal battles, and he was not officially sworn in as a Senator until July 7, 2009.
- Father of daughter, Thomasin Davis Franken (born in 1981), and named after his comedy partner, Tom Davis, from Saturday Night Live. Father-in-law of Brody Konow Greenwald (born in 1980).
- He is mentioned in Alicyn Packard's song "The Pinky Song.".
- United States Senator from Minnesota [July 2009]
- Radio talk show host in New York City. [2004]
- Radio talk show host in Minneapolis, syndicated nationally on Air America Radio. [May 2006]
- His paternal grandparents were German Jewish immigrants, and his maternal grandfather was a Russian Jewish immigrant. His maternal grandmother was born in Pennsylvania, to Russian Jewish parents.
- Attended the Blake School in Hopkins, Minnesota with fellow Saturday Night Live writer-producer Tom Davis and Paul David Stark the co-founder of Twin/Tone Records.
- In the opening pages of his 2003 book, "Lies: And the Lying Liars Who Tell Them", he quotes Joseph Welch's famous words to Senator Joseph McCarthy, "Have you no decency, sir?" then says "Unlike Senator McCarthy and his intellectual heirs, Ann Coulter and Howard Stern, I do have a sense of decency." When asked what he meant during interview with Stern, who loved the book but didn't understand the intention of that passage, Franken clarified that it was a joke in reference to Stern's notoriety for "indecent" humor.
- Franken resigned Congress on January 2, 2018, after several allegations of groping were made against him.