Vola Vale, a renowned beauty of the silver screen, was born Violet Smith in Buffalo, New York, and spent her formative years in Rochester, New York. As a youngster, she showcased her talent on stage, appearing in amateur productions in Rochester. At the tender age of 15, she made her film debut under her real name, which she would later change to Vola Vale in 1916.
Under contract with Biograph, she showcased her versatility by appearing in a wide range of films. In 1916, she left Biograph and joined Universal Pictures, where she starred in numerous comedy and dramatic shorts. Her feature film debut was in 1917, and she continued to work with Universal as well as independent companies, sharing the screen with renowned western star William S. Hart.
Her popularity soared between 1917 and 1918 as she churned out a plethora of films for various studios. In 1918, she married director Albert Russell, a specialist in westerns, and began making westerns herself. After their divorce, she abandoned westerns and transitioned to "society" dramas.
However, her popularity began to wane in 1923, and she found herself appearing in more and more low-budget, independent films for the states-rights market. Her fortunes changed in 1926 when she met director John Gorman on the set of one of his films, and they were married later that year.
Vola Vale retired from the screen in 1927, and her marriage to Gorman ended in divorce. She later married Lawrence McDougal, but the union was cut short when he passed away in 1970. Just a few months later, in October of that year, Vola Vale succumbed to heart disease and diabetes, bringing an end to her remarkable life.
