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