Frank Sinatra’s Hollywood Grudges: The Five Stars He Hated Most

By Staff Writer

Frank Sinatra, the legendary “Chairman of the Board,” was as famous for his velvet voice and magnetic charm as he was for his fiery temper and lifelong grudges. Behind the glitz and glamour, Sinatra’s relationships with Hollywood’s elite were often marked by bitter feuds, personal betrayals, and ideological clashes that still fascinate fans decades later. In a rare and explosive revelation, Sinatra once named the five stars he hated most—Marlon Brando, John Wayne, Peter Lawford, Ava Gardner, and Humphrey Bogart—each feud a story of clashing egos, creative differences, and the darker side of celebrity culture.

Marlon Brando: Method vs. Magic

Sinatra’s legendary feud with Marlon Brando began on the set of the 1955 musical Guys and Dolls, where the two icons’ vastly different approaches to acting collided. Sinatra, fresh off an Academy Award win for From Here to Eternity, favored efficiency and spontaneity, preferring to shoot scenes quickly and avoid over-rehearsing. Brando, the poster boy for method acting, insisted on deep psychological immersion and lengthy rehearsals, often frustrating Sinatra with his slow, mumbling delivery—earning him the nickname “Mumbles.”

Brando, in turn, referred to Sinatra as a “goomba,” a slang term implying a tough but unsophisticated street guy. Their feud was fueled by more than just artistic differences; cultural backgrounds and personal pride played major roles. Sinatra, fiercely proud of his working-class Italian-American roots, saw Brando’s intellectual approach as pretentious, while Brando scorned Sinatra’s showbiz glitz. The tension on set was palpable, with cast and crew reporting heated arguments and icy silences. The feud never truly ended, lingering in Hollywood lore as a classic clash between old-school star power and the new wave of psychological realism.

John Wayne: Clash of Political Titans

If Brando represented the artistic divide in Hollywood, John Wayne symbolized the era’s political rift. Wayne, “The Duke,” was an unapologetic conservative, championing patriotism and anti-communist ideals both on and off screen. Sinatra, meanwhile, embraced more liberal causes, becoming a close friend and supporter of John F. Kennedy and the Democratic Party.

Their animosity boiled over during the release of Wayne’s passion project, The Alamo (1960), which Sinatra publicly criticized as “jingoistic” and overly nationalistic. Wayne took this as a personal attack on his values and vision of America, leading to a public and private falling out. Both stars remained icons in their respective camps, with Wayne embodying conservative patriotism and Sinatra representing Hollywood’s progressive elite. Their feud was a microcosm of the broader cultural battles raging in American society during the 1960s.

Peter Lawford: Betrayal in the Rat Pack

Sinatra’s falling out with Peter Lawford was perhaps the most personal of all. Lawford, the suave British-American actor and key member of the Rat Pack, was not only Sinatra’s close friend but also his vital link to the Kennedy family through marriage to Patricia Kennedy. Their relationship was both social and political, with Sinatra relying on Lawford to connect him to the White House.

The rift came in 1962, when Lawford failed to arrange a visit from President Kennedy to Sinatra’s Palm Springs estate, citing concerns over Sinatra’s alleged mob ties. Sinatra felt deeply betrayed, viewing Lawford’s decision as a personal and political slight. The fallout was swift: Lawford was ostracized from the Rat Pack and replaced by Bing Crosby in Robin and the Seven Hoods (1964). The friendship ended in cold silence, symbolizing the complicated intersection of Hollywood, politics, and organized crime.

Ava Gardner: Love and Volatility

Sinatra’s marriage to Ava Gardner (1951–1957) was a tempestuous affair, marked by intense passion and equally intense conflict. Both stars were known for their strong wills and fiery tempers, and their union was a constant rollercoaster of love, jealousy, and public spats. Gardner called Sinatra “the love of my life,” but their fights—often loud and destructive—became legendary in Hollywood circles.

Personal struggles, including Gardner’s battle with alcoholism and Sinatra’s need for control, added fuel to the fire. Even after their divorce, their relationship remained complicated, with public barbs and lingering pain. Gardner never shied away from criticizing Sinatra in interviews, while Sinatra responded with cold silence or sardonic remarks. Their story epitomized the tragic romanticism of Hollywood, where great love often coexists with great destruction.

Humphrey Bogart: Broken Bonds in the Hills

Sinatra’s friendship with Humphrey Bogart began in the exclusive social circles of Hollywood’s “Holy Hills,” but ended in bitterness and estrangement. Bogart, revered for his tough-guy roles and grounded style, reportedly disliked Sinatra’s growing dominance and influence over their shared social scene. The final straw came after Bogart’s death in 1957, when Sinatra was accused of acting disrespectfully toward Bogart’s widow, Lauren Bacall.

Bacall herself hinted in her memoirs that Sinatra’s behavior crossed a line, leading to a permanent rift between the families. The episode serves as a cautionary tale of how fame and ego can damage even the closest relationships, and how the pressures of celebrity life can turn camaraderie into rivalry.

The Legacy of Sinatra’s Feuds

Frank Sinatra’s grudges were more than personal vendettas—they were reflections of the shifting tides in Hollywood and American society. Whether clashing over creative methods, political ideologies, personal loyalties, or romantic entanglements, each feud revealed the complexities of life at the top. Sinatra’s ability to hold a grudge became part of his legend, a reminder that behind every star, there is a human story of pride, misunderstanding, and the struggle to reconcile strong personalities.

Today, these feuds are remembered not just for the drama, but for what they tell us about the cultural and historical forces shaping Hollywood’s golden age. Sinatra’s legacy endures as both a musical icon and a symbol of the passionate, sometimes destructive, energy that fueled the entertainment world.

What do you think about the stars Frank Sinatra hated the most? Share your thoughts in the comments below—and don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more Hollywood history.