Frank Alesia (January 4, 1944 – February 27, 2011) was an American actor and television director. He was best-known for his work in the beach party film genre during the 1960s, including such films as Pajama Party (1964) and Riot on Sunset Strip (1967).[1] He later directed episodes of Captain Kangaroo and other television series.[1]
Alesia was born in Chicago, Illinois,[2] and moved to Los Angeles in 1964.[1] According to the Hollywood Reporter, Alesia became one of the last character actors in the film industry to work under the studio system, which was declining at the time.[1] He appeared in several beach party films of the 1960s, including Pajama Party, Bikini Beach, which starred Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello, Riot on Sunset Strip and Beach Blanket Bingo.[1] His television credits as an actor also included appearances in The Flying Nun, The Odd Couple, Gomer Pyle, That Girl, Room 222 and Laverne & Shirley.[1]
Alesia later directed episodes of Captain Kangaroo, which earned him a Daytime Emmy nomination in 1979.[1] He also joined the crew of Laverne & Shirley beginning in 1980 as both a screenwriter and television director.[2] He directed three episodes of Laverne & Shirley, wrote one episode, and served as an executive consultant for eight episodes of the show.[2]
He later left the entertainment industry and raced and bred thoroughbred horses.[1]
Frank Alesia died of natural causes at his home in Carlsbad, California, on February 27, 2011, aged 67.[1][2] He was survived by his wife, Sharon, and two children.[1]