When did Connie Francis make her acting debut? ‘Pretty Little Baby’ singer's Hollywood career explored

Pop icon Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero, better known as Connie Francis, passed away on Wednesday, July 16, 2025.

Ron Roberts, the president of the late singer's record label, confirmed the news of her death on Facebook. He wrote in a post on Thursday, July 17,

“it is with a heavy heart and extreme sadness that i inform you of the passing of my dear friend Connie Francis last night. I know that Connie would approve that her fans are among the first to learn of this sad news. More details will follow later.”

Francis was well known for many of her hits during the ‘50s and ‘60s. Some of her major hits include Everybody's Somebody's Fool, Who's Sorry Now, Stupid Cupid, Don't Break the Heart That Loves You, and Where the Boys Are, among others. At the same time, Connie Francis also tried her hand at acting.

According to IMDb, the Second Hand Love performer was credited with singing or voice-only roles during the mid-to-late ‘50s for movies like Rock, Rock, Rock!, Jamboree, and The Sheriff of Fractured Jaw. However, Connie Francis made her acting debut in the 1960 romantic comedy Where the Boys Are.

In the Henry Levin-directed feature, the singer played a supporting role as a character named Angie. Connie Francis also sang the movie’s eponymous theme song, which peaked at No. 4 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Coincidentally, earlier that year the singer had scripted history by topping the US charts and becoming the first female artist to do so.

According to Billboard, Everybody's Somebody's Fool by Connie Francis, who had more than 53 career hits, peaked at No. 1 on the US Hot 100 in 1960. A few months later, My Heart Has a Mind of Its Own also topped the charts in the country. During the ‘60s, the singer also acted in Follow the Boys, Looking for Love, and When the Boys Meet the Girls.

Connie Francis was hospitalized two weeks before her passing

Concetta Rosa Maria Franconero was hospitalized at the start of July 2025, a post from Cousin Brucie’s (aka Bruce Morrow) Facebook page confirmed. The singer was experiencing “extreme pain” and underwent “tests and checks to determine the cause.” Connie Francis confirmed in the post,

“I had hoped to take part in Brucie's show for Independence Day, having had to cancel a previous slot a few weeks ago when receiving treatment on my hip. Sadly, I had to let him know that I again had to withdraw.”

In subsequent posts on her Facebook page, Francis addressed concerned fans. She confirmed in a post on July 2,

“I am pleased to advise that following a series of tests and examinations in Intensive Care, I have now been transferred to a private room.”

Francis thanked everyone for their “kind thoughts, words and prayers.” On the 4th of July, the pop legend revealed that she was feeling better. However, two weeks after her hospitalization, Ron Roberts announced the news of the singer’s passing.

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Connie is survived by her only son, Joseph Garzilli Jr., whom she adopted in 1974 with her third husband, per People. For those unaware, one of the singer’s most iconic songs, Pretty Little Baby, also went viral again on TikTok and other platforms in mid-May, more than 63 years after its original release.

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