Yola d'Avril, a French-born actress, was born on April 8, 1907, in the city of Lille, France. Growing up, she was surrounded by her loving parents and brother in the vibrant city of Paris. Tragedy struck when her father passed away in 1923, and Yola, seeking a fresh start, made the bold decision to move to Canada, where she began her career as a dancer.
As she honed her craft, Yola's talents eventually took her to the iconic city of Hollywood, where she started landing small roles in films such as Vamping Venus (1928) and She Goes to War (1929). It was during this time that she formed a close and enduring friendship with the legendary actress Gloria Swanson, who would go on to play a significant role in guiding Yola's career.
Despite her growing popularity, Yola faced a significant setback when she signed a contract with First National, only to be dropped due to her distinctive French accent. Undeterred, she continued to work in the film industry, co-starring with the talented Joan Blondell in God's Gift to Women (1931) and Spencer Tracy in Sky Devils (1932).
In her personal life, Yola was briefly married to music producer Eddie Ward, and later, she married her second husband, with whom she lived quietly in Port Hueneme, California. Although she appeared in over seventy films during her career, Yola never achieved major stardom. Her final on-screen appearance was in the drama Little Boy Lost (1953).
After retiring from the spotlight, Yola lived a peaceful life, passing away on March 2, 1984, at the age of 76.
