Photo: Photographer-Friedman-Abeles, New York / Public domain (source: Wikimedia Commons)
Arlene Francis was born on October 20, 1907 in Boston, Massachusetts, United States. Arlene Francis was an autobiographer, television presenter and radio personality. Death is recorded on May 31, 2001, at the age of 93. Education on record includes Finch College. Recorded honors include star on Hollywood Walk of Fame.
My Take
Arlene Francis deserves far more reverence than she usually gets. Born in Boston in 1907 and active until her death in 2001, she spanned stage, film, radio and television across a remarkable career, most famously as a panelist on What's My Line? from 1950 to 1975. A star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame barely captures it. What moves me is that she was a genuine pioneer for women on television at a time when their presence was anything but assumed, holding her place for a quarter century with wit and grace. Plenty of today's broadcasters stand, whether they know it or not, on the path she cleared.
This take was written by generative AI, one per person, from publicly reported facts (editorial policy). It is a reading of the record, not reporting.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Arlene Francis
- Name (Japanese)
- アルレーン・フランシス
- Reading
- あるれーん・ふらんしす
- Born
- October 20, 1907 – May 31, 2001
- Origin
- Boston, Massachusetts, United States
- Occupation
- autobiographer / television presenter / radio personality / stage actor / film actor
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Libra / Goat
2. Background
- University
- Finch College
Awards & achievements
- star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
3. Works & records
Filmography / notable works
| Category | Title |
|---|---|
| Notable work | What's My Name? |
4. Links
5. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
Only publicly available facts are listed; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. Base data was compiled from Wikidata from June 2026 onward; ages are recalculated daily and deaths are checked against Wikidata on an ongoing basis. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.
Frequently asked questions
When was Arlene Francis born?
Arlene Francis was born on October 20, 1907.
When did Arlene Francis die?
Arlene Francis died on May 31, 2001, aged 93.
Where was Arlene Francis from?
Arlene Francis was from Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
What did Arlene Francis do?
Arlene Francis worked as autobiographer, television presenter, radio personality, stage actor, film actor.
Where did Arlene Francis study?
Arlene Francis attended Finch College.
What was Arlene Francis known for?
Arlene Francis's notable works include What's My Name?.
Autobiographer — see all → · Television presenter — see all → · More people from the United States → · More people born on October 20 →