Frank K. Wheaton
Encyclopedia
Frank K. Wheaton is an American
sports agent, personal manager and actor.
, but raised in nearby Compton
. He is the son of James Wheaton
, an accomplished stage actor and director who frequently appeared in movies and television in the 1970s.
After graduating from Centennial High School in Compton, he attended Willamette University
in Salem, Oregon
before transferring to Cal State Northridge, where he received a degree in broadcasting. He attended Cal Northridge with Geoff Witcher, who later became a popular sports announcer. Upon graduation, Frank began working at KPFK
and other radio stations in the Los Angeles area. Eventually, he relocated to the East Coast, where he added acting and modeling to his resume. On September 23, 1975 he married vocalist Jean Carn in Washington, DC. Together, he would help raise her three children from her previous marriage. While their marriage also ended in divorce, they maintain an amicable relationship.
After a successful career as an actor, model and radio personality, Wheaton founded The Management Group Sports/Entertainment Representatives in 1984. There he began guiding the careers of athletes and entertainers, specializing in securing product endorsements and producing special events such as the Michael Jordan Celebrity Golf Tournament for the United Negro College Fund
and working with Milton Berle
on the Ruth Berle Celebrity Golf Tournament for the benefit of the American Cancer Society
.
For several years, Wheaton served on the board of the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association
(BESLA).
Throughout his career as a personal manager, producer and agent, he has represented leading clients in sports and entertainment. These include Laker basketball great James Worthy
, Olympic Gold Medalist Bob Beamon
, actress Marla Gibbs
and the late Florence Griffith-Joyner
. For three years, he produced the James Worthy All-Star Basketball Clinic in his hometown of Compton
. It was unique among basketball clinics in that in addition to teaching young people about the fundamentals of basketball, the clinic invited leading people from a variety of fields to serve as motivational speakers. Sponsored by the Compton Unified School District in association with corporate donors, the clinic was free to all participants.
In addition to numerous athletes and entertainers, his clients have included Essie Mae Williams, who made headlines when she revealed that she is the daughter of the late senator Strom Thurmond
. In the wake of the publicity surrounding the revelation, Mr. Wheaton told the LawCrossing website that six people claiming to be the children of five U.S. Presidents have approcahed him for representation. One of them is Anne Morrow, who believes that she is the daughter of Dwight Eisenhower.
Wheaton has also served as a producer of sports-related programming. He was an executive producer of an hour-long special entitled, "Sports Greats:One on One with David Hartman" which aired on ESPN
. Hosted by David Hartman
of Good Morning America
, the program featured interviews with legendary sports figures Troy Aikman
, Hakeem Olajuwon
and Ken Griffey, Jr.
.
In 2001, he made an unsuccessful bid to unseat incumbent Compton, California City Councilmember Yvonne Arceneaux
.
Currently, Mr. Wheaton is in pre-production with Italian opera star Beppe Cantarelli of a major event entitled, “Live From The Vatican…Listen to your Soul.”
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
sports agent, personal manager and actor.
Biography
Frank(ert) Kahlil Wheaton was born September 27, 1951 in Los Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
, but raised in nearby Compton
Compton, California
Compton is a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city of Compton is one of the oldest cities in the county and on May 11, 1888, was the eighth city to incorporate. The city is considered part of the South side by residents of Los...
. He is the son of James Wheaton
James Wheaton
James Wheaton , was an American motion picture and television actor. He may be best known as the voice actor "OMM" in George Lucas's THX 1138, a role for which he was chosen over Orson Welles...
, an accomplished stage actor and director who frequently appeared in movies and television in the 1970s.
After graduating from Centennial High School in Compton, he attended Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
in Salem, Oregon
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
before transferring to Cal State Northridge, where he received a degree in broadcasting. He attended Cal Northridge with Geoff Witcher, who later became a popular sports announcer. Upon graduation, Frank began working at KPFK
KPFK
KPFK is a listener-sponsored radio station based in North Hollywood, California, United States, which serves the Greater Los Angeles Area, and also streams 24 hours a day via the Internet...
and other radio stations in the Los Angeles area. Eventually, he relocated to the East Coast, where he added acting and modeling to his resume. On September 23, 1975 he married vocalist Jean Carn in Washington, DC. Together, he would help raise her three children from her previous marriage. While their marriage also ended in divorce, they maintain an amicable relationship.
After a successful career as an actor, model and radio personality, Wheaton founded The Management Group Sports/Entertainment Representatives in 1984. There he began guiding the careers of athletes and entertainers, specializing in securing product endorsements and producing special events such as the Michael Jordan Celebrity Golf Tournament for the United Negro College Fund
United Negro College Fund
The United Negro College Fund is an American philanthropic organization that fundraises college tuition money for black students and general scholarship funds for 39 private historically black colleges and universities. The UNCF was incorporated on April 25, 1944 by Frederick D. Patterson , Mary...
and working with Milton Berle
Milton Berle
Milton Berlinger , better known as Milton Berle, was an American comedian and actor. As the manic host of NBC's Texaco Star Theater , in 1948 he was the first major star of U.S. television and as such became known as Uncle Miltie and Mr...
on the Ruth Berle Celebrity Golf Tournament for the benefit of the American Cancer Society
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is the "nationwide community-based voluntary health organization" dedicated, in their own words, "to eliminating cancer as a major health problem by preventing cancer, saving lives, and diminishing suffering from cancer, through research, education, advocacy, and...
.
For several years, Wheaton served on the board of the Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association
Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association
The Black Entertainment and Sports Lawyers Association, usually abbreviated as BESLA is a professional organization of attorneys along with sports and entertainment executives of color to provide continuing education and other support services to help its members compete in a constantly changing...
(BESLA).
Throughout his career as a personal manager, producer and agent, he has represented leading clients in sports and entertainment. These include Laker basketball great James Worthy
James Worthy
James Ager Worthy is a retired Hall of Fame American college and professional basketball player. Named as one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History, "Big Game James" was a seven-time NBA All-Star and three-time NBA champion...
, Olympic Gold Medalist Bob Beamon
Bob Beamon
Robert "Bob" Beamon is an American former track and field athlete, best known for his world record in the long jump at the Mexico Olympics in 1968, which remained the world record for almost 23 years until it was broken in 1991 by Mike Powell. This is the second longest holding of this record, as...
, actress Marla Gibbs
Marla Gibbs
Marla Gibbs is an American television and film actress and singer. She is best remembered for playing Louise and George Jefferson's sarcastic maid, Florence Johnston, on The Jeffersons and spinoff Checking In...
and the late Florence Griffith-Joyner
Florence Griffith-Joyner
Florence Griffith-Joyner , also known as Flo-Jo was an American track and field athlete. She is considered the "fastest woman of all time" based on the fact that she still holds the world record for both the 100 metres and 200 metres, both set in 1988 and never seriously challenged...
. For three years, he produced the James Worthy All-Star Basketball Clinic in his hometown of Compton
Compton, California
Compton is a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city of Compton is one of the oldest cities in the county and on May 11, 1888, was the eighth city to incorporate. The city is considered part of the South side by residents of Los...
. It was unique among basketball clinics in that in addition to teaching young people about the fundamentals of basketball, the clinic invited leading people from a variety of fields to serve as motivational speakers. Sponsored by the Compton Unified School District in association with corporate donors, the clinic was free to all participants.
In addition to numerous athletes and entertainers, his clients have included Essie Mae Williams, who made headlines when she revealed that she is the daughter of the late senator Strom Thurmond
Strom Thurmond
James Strom Thurmond was an American politician who served as a United States Senator. He also ran for the Presidency of the United States in 1948 as the segregationist States Rights Democratic Party candidate, receiving 2.4% of the popular vote and 39 electoral votes...
. In the wake of the publicity surrounding the revelation, Mr. Wheaton told the LawCrossing website that six people claiming to be the children of five U.S. Presidents have approcahed him for representation. One of them is Anne Morrow, who believes that she is the daughter of Dwight Eisenhower.
Wheaton has also served as a producer of sports-related programming. He was an executive producer of an hour-long special entitled, "Sports Greats:One on One with David Hartman" which aired on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
. Hosted by David Hartman
David Hartman (TV personality)
David Downs Hartman is an American journalist and media host who began his media career as an actor. He currently anchors and hosts documentary programs on cable TV's History and on PBS. Hartman is best known as the first host of ABC's Good Morning America, from 1975 to 1987. As an actor, he...
of Good Morning America
Good Morning America
Good Morning America is an American morning news and talk show that is broadcast on the ABC television network; it debuted on November 3, 1975. The weekday program airs for two hours; a third hour aired between 2007 and 2008 exclusively on ABC News Now...
, the program featured interviews with legendary sports figures Troy Aikman
Troy Aikman
Troy Kenneth Aikman is a former American football quarterback for the Dallas Cowboys in the National Football League. The number one overall draft pick in 1989, Aikman played twelve consecutive seasons as quarterback with the Cowboys...
, Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Olajuwon
Hakeem Abdul Olajuwon is a retired Nigerian-American professional basketball player. From 1984 to 2002, he played the center position in the National Basketball Association for the Houston Rockets and Toronto Raptors. He led the Rockets to back-to-back NBA championships in 1994 and 1995. In 2008,...
and Ken Griffey, Jr.
Ken Griffey, Jr.
George Kenneth "Ken" Griffey, Jr. , nicknamed "Junior" and "The Kid", is a former Major League Baseball outfielder and during his final years, designated hitter...
.
In 2001, he made an unsuccessful bid to unseat incumbent Compton, California City Councilmember Yvonne Arceneaux
Yvonne Arceneaux
Yvonne Arceneaux is currently the senior member of the Compton City Council. She also serves on the board of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.- Biography :...
.
Currently, Mr. Wheaton is in pre-production with Italian opera star Beppe Cantarelli of a major event entitled, “Live From The Vatican…Listen to your Soul.”