Vola Vale
Born
February 12, 1897
Died
October 17, 1970 (73 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Buffalo, New York, USA
From Wikipedia
She was born Vola Smith in Buffalo, New York. Vale was educated in Chevy Chase, Maryland. She began her career in amateur theatricals in Rochester, New York. Then she played in stock companies for a while.
Her first movie experience was with Biograph, under the tutelage of the great film director D.W. Griffith. After a month of playing atmosphere parts, Vola was offered a genuine role. She wore a velvet gown with a train and a feathered hat. Soon she was appearing in short reel films for Biograph. Among the actors she was cast with were William S. Hart, Sessue Hayakawa, Tsuru Aoki, William Haines, Harry Carey, Tully Marshall and William Russell.
She was adept in playing Spanish, Italian, French, and Gypsy roles. Aside from Biograph Vola worked for Fox Film, Famous Players-Lasky, Universal Pictures, and Paramount Pictures.
Her ambition was to play Madame Butterfly with an actual Japanese company, as well as to act as Lorna Doone. She was most inspired by Hayakawa and hoped to learn to act inside, as he did. With Sessue Hayakawa she made Each To His Kind (1917). Before filming began it was decided that the name Smith was too common to be used by a motion picture star. She changed her professional name to Vola Vale.
Known For
Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story
Self (uncredited)
2002
One Rainy Afternoon
1936
Tomorrow and Tomorrow
Townswoman
1932
Black Tears
1927
Home Sweet Home
1926
The Sky Pirate
1926
Two Can Play
Mimi Allen
1926
Her Big Adventure
Countess Fontaine
1926
Little Annie Rooney
Mamie
1925
Heartless Husbands
Mrs. Jackson Cain
1925
The Phantom of the Opera
Ballerina / Christines Maid (uncredited)
1925
Who Cares
Tootles
1925
The Mirage
Betty Bond
1924
The Midnight Flower
Mary — a foundling
1923
Mothers-in-Law
Ina Phillips
1923
The Man Between
Rosie - Joe Cateau's Bride
1923
Soul of the Beast
Jacqueline
1923
Crashin' Thru
Diane
1923
Good Men and True
Georgie Hibbler
1922
The Duke of Chimney Butte
Vesta Philbrook
1921
White Oak
Barbara
1921
The Iron Rider
Mera Donovan
1920
Singing River
Alice Thornton
1920
Someone in the House
Molly Brent
1920
The Purple Cipher
Jeanne Baldwin
1920
Common Sense
Violet Manners
1920
A Master Stroke
Minnie Patton
1920
Overland Red
Louise Alacarme
1920
Alias Jimmy Valentine
Rose Lane
1920
Six Feet Four
Winifred Waverly
1919
Hornet's Nest
Muriel Fletcher
1919
Hearts Asleep
Virginia Calvert
1919
A Heart in Pawn
Emily Stone
1919
Happy Though Married
Diana Ramon
1919
The Locked Heart
Ruth Mason
1918
Wolves of the Rail
Faith Lawson
1918
The Silent Man
Betty Bryce
1917
Zollenstein
Princess Fulvia / Princess Zenia
1917
The Son of His Father
Hazel Mallinsbee
1917
The Lady in the Library
Mildred Vandeburg
1917
The Secret of Black Mountain
Miriam Vale
1917
The Topsy Turvy Twins
Mattie
1917
The Bond Between
Ellen Ingram
1917
Perils of the Secret Service
Minna Ober (Episode #1)
1917
The Last Cigarette
Minna Ober
1917
Mentioned in Confidence
Marjorie Manning
1917
The Winning of Sally Temple
Lady Pamela Vauclain
1917
Each to His Kind
Amy Dawe
1917
It Sounded Like a Kiss
Estelle
1916
The Price of Silence
Aline Urmy (as Vola Smith)
1916
The Eagle's Wings
Kitty Miles (as Vola Smith)
1916
The Woman He Feared
May Clive
1916
A Great Love
Nell Woodward
1916
The Soul of Pierre
1915
The Iron Master
The Iron Master's Sister (as Viola Smith)
1914
Liberty Belles
Boarding Schoolgirl
1914