Arlene Francis, a renowned actress and television personality, was born Arlene Francis Kazanjian on October 20, 1907, in Boston, Massachusetts. Her father, an Armenian immigrant, was a painter and portrait photographer, while her mother was the daughter of actor Alfred Davis. From a young age, Arlene was determined to become a serious actress, and she studied at the Theatre Guild before moving to Hollywood.
Arlene made her film debut in the 1932 movie "Murders in the Rue Morgue," starring alongside Bela Lugosi, with whom she shared a birthday. She quickly transitioned to live theater, appearing in numerous plays, including "All That Glitters" and "Danton's Death." Her big hit was the 1942 production of "The Doughgirls," which ran for 1-1/2 years.
In the 1940s, Arlene began her radio career, playing in up to five serials a day. She later recalled that radio came easily to her. She married actor Martin Gabel in 1946, with whom she had a son, Peter, and continued to work in radio and television. Her breakthrough in television came with the 1949 show "Blind Date," which was adapted from a radio series and ran for three years.
Arlene's most notable television role was as a permanent panelist on the CBS game show "What's My Line?" from 1950 to 1967 and again in a syndicated version until 1975. She was known for her warm, witty, and fashionably dressed persona, and her diamond heart-shaped necklace became a popular trend.
In addition to her television work, Arlene hosted the daily interview show "The Arlene Francis Show" on WOR in New York from 1960 to 1983, a run of 23 years. She retired from show business after that and lived comfortably, still giving interviews until 1991. Arlene spent her later years in San Francisco, where she passed away on May 31, 2001, at the age of 93, after a battle with cancer. Her many fans will miss her, as she was truly one of the greats.
