French-born Francine Larrimore, a member of the illustrious Adler dynasty of actors, arrived in the United States as a child and made her stage debut at the tender age of 12 in the 1910 production of "Where There's a Will". As a cousin of notable actors Luther, Stella, and Jay Adler, Francine's early successes were marked by her appearances in Rudolf Friml's musical "Sometime" in 1918 and the comedy "Nice People" in 1921, alongside the talented Tallulah Bankhead and Katharine Cornell.
Francine's stage presence was characterized by her portrayals of exuberant "pouty girls", and she also demonstrated her versatility by showcasing her dancing, singing, and comedic skills. At the height of her theatrical fame in 1926, Francine created the iconic role of Chicago showgirl Roxie Hart at the Music Box Theatre in New York, a part that would later be immortalized on screen by Ginger Rogers in 1942.
Despite her significant success on stage, Francine's foray into talking pictures was marked by the poorly received "John Meade's Woman" in 1937. However, she promptly returned to her first love, the stage, and continued to perform until her final appearance in "Temporarily, Mrs. Smith" in 1946.
In her personal life, Francine was married to the renowned songwriter Con Conrad, a union that likely provided her with a deeper understanding of the creative process and the music that often accompanied her performances.
