Quiz

He has been listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as having the longest-running TV talk show in history, The Joe Franklin Show (1950), for 50 years. He has interviewed many guests, including: Dorothy Lamour, Buddy Hackett, Jackie Mason, Rodney Dangerfield, Ray Bolger, Redd Foxx, Vincent Price, Jake LaMotta, Tiny Tim, Frank Sinatra Jr., Howard Stern and Buster Keaton. Franklin has also done guest spots on Live with Regis and Kathie Lee (1988), Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993) and Late Show with David Letterman (1993). He has been mentioned several times on I Simpson (1989).

In 1983, he sued "Uncle Floyd" Vivino for $35 million for defamation of character; Uncle Floyd had made fun of him in a sketch, calling him "Joe Frankfurter". The case was settled out of court.

Married wife Lois Meridan on Bride and Groom (1951).

Son: Bradley Franklin.

He also hosted a Sunday night old movie TV show: "When Movies Were Movies" on WOR TV Ch. 9 in New York City during the 1980s

The original title of his WJZ/WABC TV Ch. 7 New York City TV show was "Joe Franklin's Memory Lane".

Enlisted as a private in the U.S. Army on 12 June 1944. He was working as a movie projectionist at the time.

Son of Anna (Heller) and Morris Fortgang. His grandparents were all Jewish emigrants, from Austria and Russia.

Has two grandchildren.

Has a sister, Madeline Kestenbaum.