Nell W. Franzen (November 17, 1889 – August 21, 1973) was an American film and stage actress of the silent era. A native of Portland, Oregon, Franzen began her career acting in local theatre. She signed with the Baker Theatre Company and performed in various stage productions, becoming a prolific stage actress in the Pacific Northwest.
She later moved to Los Angeles in 1913 to pursue a career in silent films, signing a contract with the America Film Company. One of her earliest film appearances was in Love and the Law (1913) with Wallace Reid, followed by 1916's Lord Loveland Discovers America, and Embers. Franzen made her final film appearance in 1924 before retiring from acting.
Early life Nell Franzen was born on November 17, 1889, in Portland, Oregon to John O'Flarrity Franzen and Mary Ellen Coshow. According to the 1930 United States census, Franzen's father was from Massachusetts, and her mother a native of Missouri. She was the second of two children; she had one older sister, Mae Frances Franzen.
Career Stage career She began her career as an actress working in stock theater. She began performing onstage with the Baker Stock Company at their Baker Theatre location in Portland in 1910, under stage director Marshall Farnum. She appeared in the stage production of The Toyshop in 1908, and also performed with the Sanford Stock Company in Vancouver, British Columbia.
In 1912, Franzen appeared with the Harry Corson Clarke theatre company in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Films
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.
Among her earliest credits was opposite Wallace Reid in Love is the Law (1913). In a 1916 issue of Motography, it was noted: "Nell Franzen, who has been playing minor parts in American film productions, is climbing up in the profession...Miss Franzen won her advancement through the good work done in the small parts given her. She is small and pretty and has a pleasing screen appearance."
Her success with audiences and critics led to larger roles in silent films, most of them with the American Film Company of Santa Barbara, in which she often acted opposite Constance Crawley and Arthur Maude; these roles included parts in Lord Loveland Discovers America (1916) and Embers (1916). She also appeared in the first chapter of the film serial The Diamond from the Sky with Lottie Pickford.
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.
Personal life According to the California Death Index, she died on August 21, 1973, in Orange, California, at the age of 83. She is interred at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California, alongside her mother, Mary, and sister, Mae.
Credits Filmography Year Title Role Notes 1913 Love and the Law 1913 The Ashes of Three 1915Ima Simp, Detective 1915 The Ladder of Love John's Sister 1915 The Diamond from the Sky Ch. 1 of serial 1915 The Trail of the Serpent Carlotta 1915 Film Tempo Charlotte Briggs 1915 In the Sunset Country Madge, The Lost Soul 1915 Yes or No 1916 Time and Tide Ruth Walters 1916 Dust 1916 Lord Loveland Discovers America Izzy 1916 Life's Blind Alley Rose McKee 1916 Embers Maysie Stafford 1916 Revelations Marie 1916 The Courtesan Bettie Howard 1916 Purity Maiden 1916 The Strength of Donald McKenzie 1924 Sagebrush Gospel Mrs. Harper
Stage credits Year Title Role Location1908 The Toyshop Doll Baker Theatre, Portland, Oregon, U.S.1909 Merely Mary Ann Sister Trippitt Baker Theater, Portland, Oregon, U.S. 1910 Under Southern Skies Anner Lizer The Spokane in Spokane, Washington, U.S. 1910 The Prince Chap Phoebe Puckers Baker Theater, Portland, Oregon, U.S.1910 The Man from Mexico Baker Theater, Portland, Oregon, U.S.1910 All the Comforts of Home Emily Pettibone Baker Theater, Portland, Oregon, U.S. 1910 Sapho Soubrise Baker Theater, Portland, Oregon, U.S. 1911 Brown's in Town Freda Von Hollenbeck Bungalow Theater, Portland, Oregon, U.S. 1919 Room 13 San Diego, California; Los Angeles, California, U.S.
References
Sources
Further reading
External links
Write-up on Franzen in Motography (1916)