Charles Farrell facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Charles Farrell
Farrell in the 1930s
Born	Charles David Farrell (1900-08-09)August 9, 1900 Walpole, Massachusetts, U.S.
Died	May 6, 1990(1990-05-06) (aged 89) Palm Springs, California, U.S.
Resting place	Welwood Murray Cemetery, Palm Springs, California
Alma mater	Boston University
Occupation	Actor and Mayor of Palm Springs
Years active	1923–1956
Known for	7th Heaven Street Angel Lucky Star Liliom
Spouse(s)	Virginia Valli ​ ​ (m. 1931; died 1968)​

Charles David Farrell (born August 9, 1900 – died May 6, 1990) was a famous American actor. He was very popular in movies during the 1920s and 1930s. Later in his life, he also became the Mayor of Palm Springs, California, serving from 1947 to 1955.

Farrell was well-known for his on-screen partnerships with actress Janet Gaynor. They starred together in many romantic films. Some of their most famous movies include 7th Heaven, Street Angel, and Lucky Star. In the 1950s, he also starred in TV shows. These included the sitcom My Little Margie and The Charles Farrell Show, where he played himself. He also helped develop the city of Palm Springs.

Early Life and Family

Charles Farrell was born on August 9, 1900. His birthplace was South Walpole, Massachusetts. He was the younger of two children in his family. When he was four, his family moved to East Walpole.

He went to Walpole High School. There, he played football and graduated in 1918. After high school, he attended Boston University. He studied business but later decided to leave college. He then moved to California. He wanted to work in the business side of the movie industry.

Charles's father owned different businesses. These included restaurants and a drug store. He also owned several movie theaters. One theater was in Onset, Massachusetts. Another was at Revere Beach. Around 1920, his family moved to Onset. By 1927, the Farrell family owned three movie theaters.

Acting Career and Public Life

Charles Farrell in The Man Who Came Back (1931)

Charles Farrell started his acting career as an extra. An extra is someone who appears in the background of a movie. He also played small parts called bit roles. These were in films for Paramount Pictures. Some early movies he appeared in were The Hunchback of Notre Dame and The Ten Commandments.

After joining Fox Studios, he became a star. He was often paired with actress Janet Gaynor. Their first movie together was 7th Heaven. This romantic drama was a huge hit. Because of its success, they starred in over a dozen more films. They continued working together into the early 1930s. This was when movies with sound, called "talkies," became popular.

Life Beyond Acting

By 1934, Charles Farrell's movie career began to slow down. He then started a new business. He and actor Ralph Bellamy opened the Palm Springs Racquet Club. This was a popular sports club in Palm Springs, California.

In 1942, he joined the U.S. Navy. He worked as an administrative officer. He served with a fighting squadron. He also spent time on the USS Hornet ship.

Farrell played a big part in making Palm Springs a successful city. He was elected to the city council in 1946. From 1947 to 1955, he served as the mayor of the city.

He also appeared on the radio show The Jack Benny Program. In the 1950s, he returned to acting on TV. He played Vern Albright, the father of Gale Storm's character, on My Little Margie. This show ran from 1952 to 1955. In 1956, he starred in The Charlie Farrell Show. In this show, he played a made-up version of himself who owned a Racquet Club.

Farrell sold his real Racquet Club in 1959. He sold it for $1.2 million. But he came back to manage it in 1965 when it was sold again.

Personal Life

Charles Farrell and Janet Gaynor in Seventh Heaven (1927)

Charles Farrell had many friends in Hollywood. In 1927, he mentioned Carmelita Geraghty, Greta Nissen, Virginia Valli, and Janet Gaynor as his "best girl friends." He said that any stories about him and Greta Nissen being a couple were just made up by newspapers.

He had a close friendship with Janet Gaynor between 1926 and 1929. They were very good friends. Janet Gaynor later married a businessman named Lydell Peck. She said that she and Charles loved each other like a brother and sister.

Farrell married Virginia Valli on February 1, 1931. She was a former silent film star. They got married in Yonkers, New York. The couple made their home in Palm Springs. Virginia Valli passed away in 1968. After her death, Charles Farrell lived a quieter life. He passed away on May 6, 1990, in Palm Springs. He was buried next to his wife at the Welwood Murray Cemetery.

Honors and Legacy

Charles Farrell received several honors for his work. In 1960, he was given two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. One star is for his movies. The other star is for his television work.

In 1992, he received a Golden Palm Star. This star is on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars. A street in Palm Springs, Farrell Drive, was named after him. This was to honor his role in developing the city. In 1999, a statue of Charles Farrell was placed in front of the Palm Springs International Airport.

Filmography

Features:

Short Subjects:

• The Gosh-Darn Mortgage (1926) – Joe Hoskins
• Hollywood Hobbies (1935) – Himself
• Screen Snapshots Series 15, No. 7 (1936) – Himself