Wikipedia Biography / Profile Background
Introduction :
- Also known as Franni Franken, Franni Bryson is a political activist and wife to comedian and US politician, Al Franken, for around 50 years.
- An active participant in her community, Franni has served as a board member on the West Side Little League, a PTA President & has reported for the Portland Press Herald.
Personal Life, Parents and Family Details :
- Franni Bryson was born on October 8, 1951, and grew up in Portland, Maine.
- Parents : She was raised by her mother alongside her brother and three sisters.
- Sadly, Franni’s father died in a car accident while she was still a baby. He was a WW2 Army vet who worked at a paper mill.
- The large family survived mostly from Social Security survivor’s benefits.
- Despite growing up in a low-income family, they pulled together and Franni and her three sisters all went to college.
- Her brother joined the Coast Guard before becoming an electrical engineer.
- Even Franni’s mother managed to go to college using a loan they had taken to fix a leak in the roof.
Education : Qualifications, High School & College Info
- Franni spent her High School years winning awards for civic & educational excellence at Deering High.
- Later, she attended Simmons College and graduated in 1973.
Life as Al Franken Wife and Children :
- Franni met her husband Al Franken during her freshman week at college while he was studying at Harvard University.
- The couple got married on October 2, 1975.
- Together they have two children – Thomasin Franken, now an actress, was born on February 8, 1981.
- Their youngest is Joe Franken was born in 1984.
- Joe later appeared on her husbands TV shows ‘Al Franken: God Spoke’ and ‘The Al Franken Show’, as well as Saturday Night Live.
Personal Struggles & Drinking Problem :
- In 2008, during her husband’s campaign to become the state Senator of Minnesota, Franni revealed that she was a recovering alcoholic and that had been struggling with alcoholism for over 20 years.
- She depended largely on her husband’s support throughout their relationship.
- She joined a recovery group for alcoholics, in 1986, at the same time her husband joined Al-Anon, a support group for family and friends of alcoholics.
- Later, she spoke out about her trouble in a campaign ad aiming to ‘humanize’ her husband.
- In the ad Franni said, “The Al Franken I know stood by me through thick and thin, so I know he’ll always come through for Minnesotans.”
Supporting Wife :
- Franni has been active throughout her husband’s political career, testifying to her husband’s good character.
- She has also journeyed to Minnesota regularly, meeting, greeting and supplying tasty treats to the people of Minnesota.
- After Al won the senator’s seat she told reporters “It’s So Wonderful…Finally, Franken can get started.”
- Franni also said she was pleased to be assisting with issues of importance to her such as affordable education, sexual health & decreasing domestic violence.