Voting Station

Frank Abagnale, Jr.

Please vote to return to collections.

Outlaw

The Resume

    (April 27, 1948- )
    A.K.A. Frank Williams
    Portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio in 'Catch Me if You Can'
    Father, Frank Sr., was a stationery store owner
    Mother, Paulette, from France
    Parents divorced during his teens
    Chose to live with his father, had close relationship
    Joined a gang of juvenile delinquents
    Began scamming by using gas credit card
    At 16, started writing bad checks all over New York
    Later obtained false pilot's uniform and identification and began riding along on planes as a 'deadhead'
    Eventually questioned by police after using pilot status to scam thousands of dollars of bad checks
    Moved to Atlanta, Georgia and posed as a pediatrician; resigned a year later
    Studied for Louisiana Bar Exam and passed on third try, later getting a job as a legal assistant for the Attorney General
    Masqueraded as a sociology professor at Brigham Young University, Utah
    Fled to France to escape FBI
    Eventually tried and convicted by French court
    Extradited to US for trial
    Served five years in prison
    Became forgery consultant to FBI; is now foremost expert in the country

Why he might be annoying:

    His activities, while clever, were ethically dishonest.
    His methods were fascinating and his life story is amazing, but he was still essentially a thief.
    The movie 'Catch Me If You Can' embellished his story, making him out to be a Robin Hood who stole to help his father.
    In reality, he did what he did mainly to attract women and make money for himself.

Why he might not be annoying:

    His story demonstrates the heights someone can reach by combining a criminal mind with a smooth act.
    He did not hurt anybody.
    He resigned from his position as a pediatrician after he realized that lives were on the line and that he had no medical knowledge.
    His con was mainly based on his ability to charm people.
    He realized that he could accomplish more with charm than with force.
    He now works as a consultant to the FBI, helping them catch forgers and impostors.
    'Catch Me If You Can' verified Leonardo DiCaprio's ability as a serious actor.

Credit: Big Papa


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 7 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 12 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 16 Votes: 56.25% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 27 Votes: 14.81% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 9 Votes: 22.22% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 8 Votes: 12.50% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 31 Votes: 48.39% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 14 Votes: 57.14% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 14 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 16 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 21 Votes: 47.62% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 16 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 31 Votes: 58.06% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 29 Votes: 65.52% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 66 Votes: 46.97% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 35 Votes: 65.71% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 93 Votes: 49.46% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 125 Votes: 62.40% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 261 Votes: 59.77% Annoying
    In 2004, Out of 511 Votes: 63.99% Annoying
    In 2003, Out of 164 Votes: 46.34% Annoying