Franc Hale

Franc Hale (born 1905 or 1906; died June 10, 1986) was an American actress whose Broadway career spanned from 1927 to 1934. A native of Tacoma, Washington, her given name resulted from an unusual compromise: her parents had anticipated a boy and selected the name Frank, but after her birth they sought an alternative. Her mother rejected Frances, and the family settled on Franc, retaining the original pronunciation.

From the age of five, Hale demonstrated musical ability at the piano, and her early performances drew notice from Tacoma newspapers, which described her as a prodigy. She later graduated from Miss Hansom's School for Girls, where her participation in school productions shaped her ambition to pursue acting professionally. Her parents preferred that she become a writer, and Hale persuaded them by arguing that firsthand experience on the stage was necessary preparation for writing plays.

Her professional acting career began in stock theater in Portland before she joined a touring production of Ma Pettingill with a company led by May Robson, who had first observed Hale performing in a school program. By the age of 22, Hale had accumulated approximately 50 stage roles, portraying characters ranging in age from 12 to 60. For more than five years she served as leading lady with Walker Whiteside's theatrical company.

Hale made her Broadway debut in 1927 in The Arab, and subsequently appeared in The Royal Box, Sakura, Three Men and a Woman, and Late Wisdom, with her final Broadway credit coming in 1934. In radio, she took on several recurring roles, including Dale Arden on The Amazing Interplanetary Adventures of Flash Gordon, Annette Rogers on John's Other Wife, and Shanghai Lil on Jungle Jim. She was also featured on Second Husband, Aunt Jenny, Our Gal Sunday, and Young Doctor Malone.

Hale was married to screenwriter Frank Gabrielson. She died on June 10, 1986, in Santa Monica, California.