A handsome, forceful, compact leading man of Italian descent with an easy, lithe manner and walk and an aggressive, sly quality not unlike Burt Lancaster, Franciosa first established himself on stage with a powerful turn as the brother of a drug addict in Michael V Gazzo's play "A Hatful of Rain" (1956). Hollywood beckoned and in 1957 he had roles in four prominent features: a nightclub owner in "This Could Be the Night", an unethical personal manager in Elia Kazan's "A Face in the Crowd", a hired man who falls for his boss' wife in "Wild Is the Wind" and recreating his stage triumph in Fred
Made Broadway debut in "End as a Man"; appeared alongside Ben Gazzara
1956
Received Tony nomination as Featured Actor in a Drama for a breakthrough role on Broadway in "A Hatful of Rain"; co-starred opposite future wife Shelley Winters and Gazzara
1957
Entered feature films with "This Could Be the Night"
1957
Recreated his stage role in the film version of "A Hatful of Rain"; received Best Actor Oscar nomination
1959
Had one of his best screen roles as a struggling actor in "Career"
