This veteran Hollywood star encountered rejection both in his career and at home. However, he overcame these hardships and revealed the one powerful factor he believes “saved” his life.

Growing up in a household lacking affection and encouragement, this celebrity endured emotional neglect from his parents. Despite these difficulties, he persevered and rose to become a highly successful and respected figure in the entertainment world.

The actor’s family dynamics were complicated, involving multiple marriages and blended relationships. He and his younger brother, Frank Jr., were born to Frank Sr. and Jackie, who separated in 1957. Following the divorce, his mother remarried and gave birth to a daughter, Toni Ann, in 1964.

The celebrity’s father married multiple times, adding three more children to the family—Bryan, Carla, and Dante, who was born in 1997. Carla and Bryan choose to keep their lives private.

Despite growing up in a fragmented family, the actor’s early challenges weren’t limited to relationships with his siblings. In the past, he shared, “I grew up in a really bad household, it was tough. […] Everyone was extremely unhappy with who they were. My mother and father, they certainly weren’t parents.”

His childhood included spending four and a half to five years in a boarding house in Jackson Heights, where his parents dropped him off. He described the place as “transient.” Run by an older woman, the house left him feeling isolated.

The New York native recalled sitting at a table with adults who didn’t speak to him, and at just four years old, he had no one to relate to during that crucial stage of his life.

The actor’s early life experiences profoundly influenced him, causing him to become isolated and struggle with building relationships. His mother’s remarks further highlighted the severity of this neglect.

The star remembered her saying, “‘The only reason you’re here is because the hanger didn’t work,’” or “‘Bouncing down those steps didn’t cause you to get lost.’”

These painful words offered a glimpse into his mother’s troubled past, which, according to the actor, shaped her inability to show love. He explained that she had been placed in a “very cruel orphanage,” where she was “tied to the bed,” “whipped” and “terribly molested.”

Because of this trauma, he believed her capacity to express affection was “short-circuited.” Her aversion to physical contact was something he also adopted, further complicating his relationships and interactions with others.

This lack of affection and stability at home carried over into his school life. During his childhood, the actor was expelled from 13 different schools after constantly being told he didn’t belong.

His nontraditional behavior eventually led him to enroll in military schools, including those designed for troubled youth. He characterized his younger self as merely “adventurous.”

His struggles continued into adulthood when he hit rock bottom. When he arrived in New York City with very little money, he was forced to sleep in a bus station since he couldn’t afford housing.

As he pursued acting opportunities, he feared being stuck as a “professional extra” since he “didn’t fit a certain mold” or the image of a traditionally handsome leading man.

The actor, who openly discussed having plastic surgery, explained that nerve damage from birth left the left side of his face partially paralyzed. Later on, substantial weight loss led to sagging on that side of his face, which he chose to correct with surgery.

He noted that people often misunderstand the scar but expressed no judgment toward plastic surgery. The actor commented, “Why not do it? You have body work done on your car.”

From sleeping in bus stations to battling perceptions about his appearance, his struggles left him clinging to whatever stability he could find. In those tough times, he depended on just one coat to withstand the harsh New York winters. In an interview, he reflected on its significance, “That coat saved my life.”