Fran Rafferty

Francis H Rafferty Jr. was born April 5, 1972, in Pottsville, Pennsylvania to Francis H Rafferty Sr, a Coal Miner from Gilberton, Pa. and to his beloved/departed mother Ardelle A Rafferty from Reading Pa. Fran has an older sister Kelly, who is a Paraprofessional and has a younger sister Nicole, who is a stay at home Mother/PR consultant. Both sisters reside in Pa. His Father is of Irish and Lithuanian descent, and his mother is of German and Swedish ancestry. The Rafferty family lived in Gilberton, Pa. and the children were accomplished and driven. Fran attended both Mahanoy Area School District and Cardinal Brennan Catholic School where he excelled in academics, a multitude of extracurricular activities, student council, sports and graduated with Honors. Fran received a full academic scholarship and attended Wilkes University, majoring in Pre-Medical and Psychology. During Fran's College years he also trained as a competitive teenage bodybuilder out of Karpy's Fitness Center in Shenandoah, Pennsylvania under the direction of David "Karpy" Karpovich. Fran has appeared in IronMan Magazine, Flex Magazine and Muscular Development. Fran has been involved in bodybuilding and the fitness industry since he was 12 years old until the present day. After College, Fran took a job with Electronic Data Systems in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania and moved up the ranks in the company to become a Corporate Sales Trainer under the leadership of Tom Brunner, Senior Trainer. Tom Brunner took Fran under his wing in, as well as outside of the office, training him as a fighter/boxer with hopes of one day turning professional. Fran moved to Florida to be closer to his daughter, Jessica. He immediately began training as a boxer at the Police Athletic League in downtown Jacksonville, under the specialized training of "Doc." Because of his circumstances, Fran took public transportation to and from the boxing gym each day. It was there, where Fran met Fernandina Beach Professional Fighter, David Rickman, only a few short months into David's Professional Fighting career. Fran and David quickly became friends and sparring partners. Fran learned the in's and out's of professional boxing (the good, the bad, and the ugly). During a Professional Boxing Heavy Weight bout in Savannah, Georgia, Fran's good friend and sparring buddy David Rickman was killed, Fran gave up his dream on becoming a prize fighter at his family's request that same night . David Rickman was a loving husband, a loving father, and touched the lives of so many people. He will be missed tremendously. Fran Rafferty's acting career was launched in 2010 after studying Film/Theatre for several years in Harrisburg Pennsylvania at Open Stage under the teaching and leadership of Anne Alsedek, Education Director. Fran began pursuing acting roles in student films at Full Sail University in Winter Park, Florida where he secured leading roles in Lou's Bed and Breakfast and Therapy. Following the success in student films, Fran ventured into auditioning on the independent scene where he secured leading roles in Legends 2 (2011), The Bailey Case (2011), Why We Fight (2011), and The Lesson (2011). In 2012, Fran was diagnosed with Stage 3 Testicular Cancer. He had undergone 16 weeks of intense and rigorous chemotherapy. At that time, Fran took a break from filming, and from life in general, and has made a life changing and miraculous comeback. Since then, Fran has secured leading roles in The Trade (2014), The Laughing Mask (2014), Headlocked (2015), The Anniversary (2015), Tattletale Corpse (2016), Wolf's Museum of Mystery (2016), Reconnaissance (2017), , Red Death (2017), O Holy Knight (2018), Blood and Soil (2018) and The Kamasutra Garden (2018). Since 2016, Fran has become a full time manager and lead actor for the Award Winning Show Ghosts and Gravestones in St. Augustine, Florida. He also does special appearances and events for Party Princess Productions as The Cape Crusading Hero, Batman. In his personal life, Fran has two amazing daughters (Jessica and Kiley) who he loves dearly. He is Happily Married to Jo-Ann Rafferty whom he met and married in St. Augustine, Florida. Jo-Ann is a Special Education school teacher for the Flagler School District. Fran is also a Big Fan of the Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Phillies, and the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame