Vola Vale
Biography
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
May Clive
The Woman He Feared
Minna Ober (Episode #1)
Perils of the Secret Service
Georgie Hibbler
Good Men and True
Diane
Crashin' Thru
Louise Alacarme
Overland Red
Hazel Mallinsbee
The Son of His Father
Ellen Ingram
The Bond Between
Boarding Schoolgirl
Liberty Belles
Betty Bryce
The Silent Man
Rose Lane
Alias Jimmy Valentine
Jacqueline
Soul of the Beast
Barbara
White Oak
Nell Woodward
A Great Love
Mildred Vandeburg
The Lady in the Library
Winifred Waverly
Six Feet Four
Mamie
Little Annie Rooney
Self (uncredited)
Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story
Mera Donovan
The Iron Rider
Mary — a foundling
The Midnight Flower
Violet Manners
Common Sense
Mimi Allen
Two Can Play
Faith Lawson
Wolves of the Rail
Kitty Miles (as Vola Smith)
The Eagle's Wings
Aline Urmy (as Vola Smith)
The Price of Silence
Home Sweet Home
Ballerina / Christines Maid (uncredited)
The Phantom of the Opera
Emily Stone
A Heart in Pawn
Countess Fontaine
Her Big Adventure
The Iron Master's Sister (as Viola Smith)
The Iron Master
The Soul of Pierre
Princess Fulvia / Princess Zenia
Zollenstein
Vesta Philbrook
The Duke of Chimney Butte
One Rainy Afternoon
Townswoman
Tomorrow and Tomorrow
Black Tears
The Sky Pirate
Mrs. Jackson Cain
Heartless Husbands
Tootles
Who Cares
Betty Bond
The Mirage
Ina Phillips
Mothers-in-Law
Rosie - Joe Cateau's Bride
The Man Between
Alice Thornton
Singing River
Molly Brent
Someone in the House
Jeanne Baldwin
The Purple Cipher
Minnie Patton
A Master Stroke
Muriel Fletcher
Hornet's Nest
Virginia Calvert
Hearts Asleep
Diana Ramon
Happy Though Married
Ruth Mason
The Locked Heart
Miriam Vale
The Secret of Black Mountain
Mattie
The Topsy Turvy Twins
Minna Ober
The Last Cigarette
Marjorie Manning
Mentioned in Confidence
Lady Pamela Vauclain
The Winning of Sally Temple
Amy Dawe
Each to His Kind
Estelle
It Sounded Like a Kiss
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Known Credits
56
Gender
Female
Birthday
1897-02-12
Place of Birth
Buffalo, New York, USA
Also Known As
Violet Irene Smith