Louise Closser Hale

Biography

Born in Chicago, Illinois in 1872, character actress Louise Closser Hale (nee Louise Closser) began her acting studies at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in NYC and Emerson College of Oratory in Boston. On stage from 1894, her first hit show was in George Bernard Shaw's "Candida" in 1903 on Broadway, and in 1907 she made her London debut in one of her most identifiable roles, that of Miss Hazy in "Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch". About that same time she began a second career as an author and playwright with a couple of her popular works later developed into plays. In 1899, Louise married artist/actor Walter Hale (she adopted his name for the stage) who later illustrated a number of her travel books. Following his early death from cancer in 1917, she continued to write and act. At age 57, she abandoned the theatre for Hollywood and appeared in a surprisingly large number of films within a short period of time. She played everything from maids to sophisticates, most of them equipped with a tart tongue and severe look of disapproval. She gave a hard time to a number of such formidable stars as Jean Harlow, Helen Hayes and George Arliss. Louise died suddenly four years later at age 61, robbing Hollywood of a major character talent.