When Frankie Valli accepted his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame last week, only two of his three children were present to celebrate the honor. Francesco Valli Jr. was nowhere to be seen amid the pomp and circumstance.
That's because a Los Angeles County judge ordered the Four Seasons singer's eldest son to stay at least 100 meters away from his father just days before last Friday's ceremony.
According to a restraining order reviewed by The Times, Francesco must keep his distance from his father, 90, and his brother Emilio Valli, 36, until April 29, 2027. A judge granted Francesco's restraining order request. Emilio after a hearing on April 29. The order prohibits Francesco from contacting Emilio and his father and from committing any action that may “disturb the peace,” including harassing, assaulting or stalking his family.
The new order extends Emilio's original temporary restraining order against his brother, which a judge granted in early April. In his initial request, Emilio accused his brother of breaking into his father's home on April 5, People reported. Emilio alleged that his brother “repeatedly physically threatened to harm or kill” him and his father. He would also have accused Francesco of theft and destruction of the singer's property, among other accusations.
“Frankie is saddened by these unfortunate events and appreciates that his privacy is respected as he resolves these family issues,” a rep for Valli told People.
Valli shares Francesco and twins Emilio and Brando with his third ex-wife Randy Clohessy, to whom he was married from 1984 to 2004. Valli also has two daughters with his ex-wife Mary Mandel.
Friday's Walk of Fame ceremony celebrated the legacy of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, which includes '60s hits “Sherry,” “Walk Like a Man” and “December, 1963 (Oh What a Night).” During his acceptance speech, Valli recalled how he began his career as a teenager.
Frankie Valli, center, and his twin sons Brando Valli, left, and Emilio Valli on the Hollywood Walk of Fame last week.
(Jordan Strauss/Invision/Associated Press)
“It's hard to believe this all started when I was about 14 or 15 and did my first performance in front of an audience… where I sang 'White Christmas' a cappella,” she said. “Who would have ever dreamed that I would have made it this far?”
He praised his collaborator Bob Gaudio, called the musical “Jersey Boys” one of the “hardest things I've ever done” and acknowledged his family, including his fourth wife, Jackie Jacobs, whom he married last year. .
“I'm delighted to be here today,” he said. “This is truly the highlight of my life.”
Times researcher Scott Wilson contributed to this report..
