Arlene Francis, the witty actress and popular television personality, was born Arlene Francis Kazanjian on Oct. 20, 1907, in Boston. Her father was an Armenian immigrant, later painter and portrait photographer; her mother was the daughter of actor 'Alfred Davis from 1950 through 1967 and continued as a panelist in a syndicated version that ran until 1975, thus being with the show for its entire 25-year run. She was warm, witty and had a cute laugh--and was always fashionably dressed. She wore a diamond heart-shaped necklace, which started a fad. She was still doing radio while on TV, and in 1960, she was the star of "The Arlene Francis Show," a daily interview show in New York, on WOR; it ran for 23 years. Arlene retired from show business after that and lived comfortably. She was still giving interviews in 1991. Arlene spent her last years living in San Francisco. Arlene died of cancer on Thursday, May 31, 2001, in a San Francisco hospital, at age 93. Her many fans will miss her, Arlene was truly one of the greats.
Suffered from Alzheimers disease from mid 1980s until her death in 2001.
In 1960, her maid accidentally dropped a barbell from her apartment window or balcony, killing a passerby. Ms. Francis paid $175,000 in damages.
After unsuccessfully owning and operating a boutique on Madison Avenue in New York City, she dropped her surname, changed the spelling of her first name and headed to Hollywood.
In many of the newspapers that carried her obituary, the wrong photograph was published.
Although semi-retired starting 1983, Arlene was the co-host up until about 1986-1987 of a local New York show that aired once a week (early Saturday nights) on WNBC-TV
The heart-shaped diamond necklace she always wore was given to her by husband Martin Gabel. It triggered a heart-shaped diamond fad in the mid-50s.
She and her husband Martin Gabel were the parents of a son, Peter Gabel born January 28, 1947.
She appeared in her only episode of the "CBS Radio Mystery Theater" in 1974.
On May 26, 1963, Arlene was involved in an automobile accident in which she was injured and prevented her from being on the show that night. Kitty Carlisle stood in for her on that night.
Granddaughter of Alfred Davis.
Began her Broadway career in early 1928 in the flop play "La Gringa" (directed by Hamilton MacFadden and starring Claudette Colbert ). She remained very active there until early 1954 when her TV commitments increased. Arlene continued to appear on Broadway with far less frequency through 1975 (see "Other Works").
Began practicing yoga in the 1950s when that was unusual for New Yorkers of her generation. She never referred to it on "Whats My Line?" . Arlene was able to share her interest with Jess Stearn, author of one of the first best-selling books on yoga. Dorothy Kilgallen plugged the book in her newspaper column in 1965, misspelling his first name as "Jesse." Either Dorothy or her editor placed the item immediately after one about an upcoming Las Vegas singing engagement of Johnnie Ray.
Hosted a daily radio show broadcast locally on New Yorks WOR from 1960 until 1985, when the station canceled it.
On December 4, 1954, she was awarded a citation for outstanding performance in her profession by Emerson College in Boston.
She was awarded 2 Stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Radio at 6432 Hollywood Boulevard and for Television at 1735 Vine Street in Hollywood, California.
Her favorite song was "My Funny Valentine," composed by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart.
Often wore glasses - usually tinted, and typically off-camera - as a result of various eye injuries and hyperopia (farsightedness).
Was offered the role of Jessica Fletcher on "Murder, She Wrote" but declined because she felt the part would be mundane.
On her television show, Home, of April 3,1957, she interviewed then Senator and future President John F. Kennedy and Mrs. Jacqueline Kennedy.
Trouble is a sieve through which we sift our acquaintances. Those too big to pass through are our friends.
Trouble is a sieve through which we sift our acquaintances. Those too big to pass through are our friends.
Trouble is a sieve through which we sift our acquaintances. Those too big to pass through are our friends. .
