Occupation Actress Name Nell Franzen | Years active 1913 - 1924 Role Actress | |
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Born November 17, 1889 ( 1889-11-17 ) Portland, Oregon, U.S. Died August 21, 1973, Panorama City, Los Angeles, California, United States Movies The Strength of Donald McKenzie Parents John O'Flarrity Franzen, Mary Ellen Coshow People also search for John O'Flarrity Franzen, Mary Ellen Coshow, Jack Prescott, William Russell | ||
Nell Franzen (November 17, 1889 – August 21, 1973) was an American actress of the silent era. A native of Portland, Oregon, Franzen initially worked in local theatre and performed in various stage productions throughout the Northwest. She later moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in films, signing a contract with the America Film Company.
Her most well-known film credits are 1916's Lord Loveland Discovers America, and Embers.
Biography
Franzen was born on November 17, 1889 in Portland, Oregon to John O'Flarrity Franzen (1860-1941) and Mary Ellen Coshow (1861-1938).
She began her career as an actress working in stock theater. She performed onstage with the Baker Stock Company at their Baker Theatre location in Portland, under stage director Marshall Farnum, the brother of William Farnum. She appeared in the stage production of The Toyshop in 1908, and also performed with the Sanford Stock Company in Vancouver, British Columbia.
After moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in silent films, Franzen toured the world performing for veterans in soldier's camps during World War I alongside fellow silent film star Neva Gerber.
She starred in several silent films, most of them with the American Film Company of Santa Barbara, in which she often acted opposite Constance Crawley and Arthur Maude. She also continued to work in theatre, performing in a touring one act play titled "Room 13," written by Sherwood MacDonald, opposite Helen Emma Reaume, wife of Tyrone Power. The one-act toured throughout southern California in 1919.
She died on August 21, 1973 in Orange, California, at the age of 83.