The Tragic Life Of A Star Who Wanted To Be Forgotten
As time goes on, there are fewer and fewer fans of old black-and-white pictures that encompassed the early days of Hollywood. The stars' memories that do persist are the ones lucky enough to have acted in films that stand the test of time. Even in death, Kay Francis wanted to be forgotten.
However, she lived an unforgettable life full of decadence, mayhem, and tragedy.
1. She Had A Difficult Childhood
Born Katharine Edwina Gibbs in 1905, Kay Francis’s life began on a sour note. Her parents had married just two years before her birth—but her father, Joseph Sprague Gibbs was not a good man. He had a worrisome drinking problem which made life difficult for his wife and daughter. It was only a matter of time before the family ripped apart at the seams.
Silver Screen Collection, Getty Images
2. She Was A Child Of Divorce
When Kay was only four years old, her parents finally called it quits and divorced—but life would never be the same again. Kay's mother Katharine took her far and away from her unstable father. This new reality, while safer, wasn't always easy.
brandstaetter images, Getty Images
3. Her Mother Struggled To Get By
Without her father in the picture, Kay's mother now had the daunting pressure of raising a daughter on her own. Though Katharine worked hard as an actress and singer, she didn't always make ends meet. Some sources suggest that she even offered up her body to make money. Kay would spend the rest of her life running from a similar fate.
Elmer Fryer, Wikimedia Commons
4. She Had Appearances To Uphold
Kay's childhood might not have been picture-perfect but she certainly knew how to upkeep a facade. After high school, she attended Katharine Gibbs Secretarial School in New York City, and while there, she began flexing her acting chops—but perhaps not in the way one might think.
Elmer Fryer, Wikimedia Commons
5. She Lied About Her Family
Kay was always one to take advantage of an opportunity when it came to her. Therefore, while attending Katharine Gibbs, she allowed her peers to believe that her mother was American businesswoman Katharine Gibbs—the founder of the very school they were at. It was one of many small ways she’d try to get ahead.
Library of Congress, Wikimedia Commons
6. She Married Young
Perhaps looking to escape the meal-to-meal lifestyle that she had grown up with, Kay did what many young women did at the time: She found a husband. At the startlingly young age of 17, Kay married James Dwight Francis, a rich man from Pittsfield, Massachusetts.
But when it came to the romances of her life, this was not the end of the line—it was only the beginning.
Elmer Fryer, Wikimedia Commons
7. Her First Marriage Failed
As it turned out, this marriage was doomed to be rather short-lived. Only three years after saying "I do," Kay was on her way out. She ended up securing her first divorce while in Paris. But though she'd severed her marital ties in the City of Love, Kay was by no means ready to settle into singledom. Instead, she secured the heart of someone new.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
8. She Was A Party Girl
Kay really let loose in Paris. She danced at the clubs, indulged in drink, and was open to romance. It was here that she met her next lover, William “Bill” Gaston. Similar to her first husband, Gaston also cut an impressive form. After all, he had once played sports at Harvard and hailed from a posh family.
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9. She Was Completely Out Of It
In October 1925, Kay found herself back at the wedding altar—this time, with a different groom. According to one biography of the actress, Kay Francis: A Passionate Life and Career, the wedding had a bit of a scandalous undercurrent. Supposedly, both Kay and Gaston were utterly sloshed during the ceremony. But even more shocking? They chose to keep this marriage a secret from the general public.
Unfortunately, this relationship was doomed from the beginning.
Donaldson Collection, Getty Images
10. She Lived A Separate Life
You see, Kay and Gaston weren't exactly very close. In fact, they barely saw one another at all, with each living separate lives in separate cities. While Gaston continued on in Boston, Kay had her ambitious gaze locked elsewhere—the glittering lights of New York City. Just like her mother, she dreamed of a career on stage.
Brazilian National Archives, Wikimedia Commons
11. She Made Her Own Success
Kay Francis's ambition knew no bounds, and she succeeded in bringing her talents to Broadway in November 1925. It may have been a small part in Hamlet, but Broadway was Broadway—and a debut meant that she was only just getting started. However, her methods of getting ahead in the entertainment business weren't always moral.
John Springer Collection, Getty Images
12. She Lied To Get Ahead
Kay knew that she had to play the game to get where she wanted to go, and even confessed to "lying a lot, to the right people" to get her foot in the door of the Hamlet production. But she didn't stop there. Once she'd gotten her fingers in the pudding, she reportedly "borrowed" pieces from the production's wardrobe—unabashedly wearing these outfits out on the town.
It wasn't long before she was reaping the rewards of her bad behavior.
13. She Won Him Over
With her penchant for lying, Kay worked her magic on director and producer Stuart Walker. As a result, he extended an exciting invitation to her: He wanted her to be a part of his Portmanteau Theatre Company. This opportunity required quite a bit of travel, but more importantly, it allowed Kay to take on a variety of characters.
Kay embodied promiscuous French women and quippy administration workers, and jumped at any small role she could get her hands on. However, when it came to Kay Francis, there was simply no such thing as a "small" role.
Stuart Walker, Wikimedia Commons
14. She Stole The Show
Even when Kay Francis was playing background characters, she was a force that was difficult to eclipse. In February 1927, she returned to Broadway, snagging a role in Crime opposite Sylvia Sidney, a fellow future film star who was five years Kay’s junior. Although Sidney was cast at the start of the play, she later reported that Kay stole the show.
But though Kay’s career seemed to be taking off, her personal life was floundering.
Paramount Pictures, Wikimedia Commons
15. She Cut Off Deadweight
Throughout these exciting developments in New York City, Kay was still married to Gaston—her long-distance husband. Unfortunately, the time spent apart did nothing to keep their fading spark alive. In September of 1927, they admitted defeat and divorced. Yet, Kay still had some hearts to break.
16. She Chose Rich Suitors
Kay Francis didn't seem to have any qualms about jumping feet-first into a brand-new relationship. The very same year she divorced Gaston, she took a chance on another engagement. His name was Alan Ryan Jr, a known rake about town—and she almost followed through on a major sacrifice in order to make their romance work.
17. She Made A Promise She Couldn't Keep
As we already know, Kay had no problem paying lip service to those she needed to. In the case of her third fiancé, she made a rather shaky promise to his family, claiming that she was going to give up her acting career. Perhaps unsurprisingly, she did not follow through with it.
18. She Chose The Stage Over Him
Kay loved the stage far too much to just throw it away for a man. Though she may have tried her best to stay away from the spotlight, it only took her a few months to fold. She couldn't resist the chance to work on Venus, a play by Rachel Crothers—and in taking on the part, she had to wave goodbye to her lover boy.
At least she had her career... right?
19. She Faced The Consequences
Despite choosing her career over the potential security that a marriage to a well-off man could provide, Kay began to face trouble. Following her run in Venus, Kay only appeared in one other production, Elmer the Great. It promised great things for Kay, only to snatch them away.
John Springer Collection, Getty Images
20. She Was Broke
Elmer the Great boasted a series of big names, including the writer Ring Lardner, producer George M Cohen, and actor Walter Huston. Unfortunately, it just wasn't enough to carry the production to great heights. Elmer the Great turned out to be a resounding disappointment, bombing spectacularly. That's when the alarm bells began ringing for Kay.
She was now in the position she feared the most. She was flat broke.
White Studio, Wikimedia Commons
21. She Wouldn’t Ask For Help
As the end of the 1920s loomed, Kay Francis grappled with one of the darkest chapters of her life yet. Financially, she was in dire straits, but she just couldn't bring herself to lean on any of her close friends for help. Her pride wouldn’t allow her to stoop to such levels. After all, it was her mess, and she was determined to “crawl out of this mess herself”.
However, one question remained: Would she manage this debacle before things got desperate?
22. She Was In The Right Place At The Right Time
Kay Francis was in the right place at the right time. Luckily for her, there was a revolution happening in the acting industry: The talkies were sweeping the nation, and Hollywood was just starting to bloom. Salvation was on the horizon—and it came from a surprisingly familiar place.
Paramount, Gentlemen of the Press (1929)
23. She Used Her Connections
Elmer the Great may not have provided Kay Francis with the steady role and income that she had hoped for, but it was not a complete waste of her time either. Perhaps most importantly, the experience introduced her to Paramount Picture’s rising star Walter Huston—and Huston had a tantalizing offer for Kay.
University of Washington, Wikimedia Commons
24. She Wasn’t Loyal To Theatre
Kay's performance in Elmer the Great left a stunning impression on Huston. He thought that she could make an impressive splash on screen. So, he suggested that she take a screentest for Paramount Picture's latest film, Gentlemen of the Press. It was a welcome twist to her life that came just in the nick of time.
The New Movie Magazine, Wikimedia Commons
25. She Solved Her Own Problems
Kay Francis appeared in 1929's Gentlemen of the Press as Myra May. This was her debut film role, and it would not only launch Francis out of the poverty she had found herself in but also turn her into a star. From that initial screentest, the studio offered Francis a five-week contract. The best part of all? Her rate would be $300 per week.
This one role caused a powerful ripple effect.
Paramount, Gentlemen of the Press (1929)
26. She Moved To Hollywood
Gentlemen of the Press led to a second acting opportunity in 1929—The Cocoanuts. But this new chapter of Kay's acting career also signaled a major life change.
You see, at the dawn of cinema, the major studios congregated in New York, where all the Broadway actors were. However, as talkies grew in popularity, the film studios shifted their focus to a new hub—Hollywood, California. When they moved to Tinseltown, their actors went with them, including Kay Francis. She was finally on her way.
Paramount, The Cocoanuts (1929)
27. She Had A Speech Impediment
While not necessarily a conventional beauty, Kay Francis made a striking figure on the screen. Her unique features stood out best in lavish dresses and half-turned hats. However, she did have one surprising weakness. During her career, Kay Francis appeared in over 60 films, despite having a faint but distinctive speech impediment.
Kay would pronounce her “r”s as “w”s—and this led to her being referred to as “Wavishing Kay Fwancis”. However, she didn’t let it hold her back.
Paramount, Gentlemen of the Press (1929)
28. She Made Fun Of Herself
While some actresses may have been embarrassed by such a unique way of speaking, Kay Francis embraced it. During a scene in Living on Velvet, her co-star calls attention to her speech impediment. In response, Kay’s character recites a poem, intentionally leaning into each “w”. And, ultimately, this didn't stop her from climbing Hollywood's golden ladder.
Warner Bros., Living on Velvet (1935)
29. She Turned Heads
At the start of 1930, Kay Francis appeared in Behind the Make-Up, staring opposite fellow actor William Powell. In this movie, Powell and Kay play a secondary couple, with Kay only appearing as Powell’s mistress in the latter half of the film. Someone important, however, was taking notice.
Paramount, Behind the Make-Up (1930)
30. She Was Worth Fighting For
David Selznick was an American Film producer who would go on to produce many successful films, including the very famous, Gone With the Wind. But in 1930, he had his heart set on one perfect pairing: Kay Francis and William Powell. He wanted this dynamic duo for his next film, and he wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Edward Lynch, Wikimedia Commons
31. She Put In The Work
Later that same year, Selznick got his wish, and Kay Francis stepped into one of her first leading lady roles, opposite William Powell in Street of Chance. Their chemistry was undeniable and it locked them into a shocking schedule. They started making around six to eight movies together every year. By the time the end of 1932 rolled around, they'd cranked out a whopping 21 films.
However, Kay’s career wasn’t the only thing blooming in Hollywood.
Paramount, Street of Chance (1942)
32. She Gave Love Another Shot
Following her move to La-La Land, Kay Francis met her third and final husband—actor and director Kenneth MacKenna. The pair quickly dove into a passionate affair, which tumbled into another marriage for Kay in January 1931. But as we'll see, a "happily ever after" continued to elude her.
Unknown Author, Wikimedia Commons
33. She Wanted More
By the end of 1931, Kay Francis was a certified star at the Paramount Pictures lot. When Paramount opened their lavish art deco Paramount Theatre in Oakland, it was Kay and her co-stars who helped officially open it with the screening of their film, The False Madonna. However, there was trouble brewing on the horizon.
Warner Bros., One Way Passage (1932)
34. She Wanted More
Although Kay Francis was certainly getting her flowers at Paramount Pictures, she also had her own best interests at heart. A different studio began eying both her and William Powell from afar. This rival studio was none other than Warner Brothers—and they came to Kay with an offer she just couldn't refuse.
Not only did they promise to increase her star power, but, more importantly, they offered her $4,000 a week. Paramount Pictures was not happy.
35. She Became A Queen
Paramount Pictures sued Warner Brothers for stealing Kay Francis out from under, effectively breaking her contract with them. This drama, however, didn’t stop Kay Francis. She made good on Warner Brothers' promise and became the Queen of Warner Brothers studios. Her star continued to rise—but could this streak of good luck last forever?
Warner Bros., One Way Passage (1932)
36. She Played Herself
The Kay Francis effect was less about acting prowess—and instead, it seemed as though she was just one of those actresses who played, well, herself. Film historian Jeanine Basinger described the recipe for a Kay Francis film, explaining, “dress her very, very well…surround her with good furniture or exotic settings like Russia and Paris and Budapest…and let her suffer".
But perhaps this take on Kay Francis is a bit harsh, especially since the actress could tap into her emotional side when she needed to.
Paramount, Trouble in Paradise (1932)
37. She Was A Tragic Figure
Kay Francis's long partnership with William Powell paid emotional dividends as 1932 came to a close with the release of One Way Passage. During a sweet quick 68 minutes, Kay and Powell play a pair of lovers on a ship in a doomed romance due to the fact that they are both hiding the fact they are not long for the world.
It capitalized on what made Kay Kay, and it wasn’t the only film to do so.
Warner Bros., One Way Passage (1932)
38. She Hit Her Peak
One Way Passage leaned heavily upon Powell and Kay’s chemistry, as well as Kay’s general air of tragedy. However, the very same year, she struck gold again. This was 1932’s Trouble in Paradise, which marked the peak of her career. Directed by Ernst Lubitsch, a 1930s Hollywood legend in his own right, the role of Madame Colet was practically tailor-made for Kay Francis.
But though Trouble in Paradise proved to be one of the highlights of her career, its very title foreshadowed the next chapter of her life.
Paramount, Trouble in Paradise (1932)
39. Her Stardom Started To Crack
As 1932 turned into 1933, the highlife that Kay Francis was living began to show its cracks. Her husband, Kenneth Mackenna had not seen the success she did in Hollywood. With his career gasping for breath, he spent more time in New York. The couple separated in 1933, and Kay earned her third divorce by 1943.
Kay, however, was never lonely—and her scandalous diaries pulled back the veil on her hot and heavy personal life.
White Studio, Wikimedia Commons
40. She Kept A Diary
Despite desiring to be forgotten, Kay Francis kept diaries that survive to this day. Within these pages, she recorded the happenings of her many affairs with a blithe self-awareness that borders on self-deprecation. Among her many affairs included French actor and singer, Maurice Chevalier. It was an explosion of passion.
Paramount Pictures, Wikimedia Commons
41. She Was Insatiable
Not much of this affair with Chevalier remains on record. However, the desire between the two was undeniable. In one of Kay’s diary entries, she wrote, “had merciless afternoon with Maurice. Four times in two hours”. But though she seemed to have boundless energy at work—not to mention an enduring appetite for both men and women behind closed doors—she could not keep this pace going forever.
Agence de presse Meurisse, Wikimedia Commons
42. She Was Unkind To Herself
While Kay's diaries highlighted her exciting "extracurricular" activities, their passages also highlighted her wavering mental state. In those pages, she often referred to herself in derogatory terms. It was only a matter of time before Kay did something drastic.
Warner Bros., One Way Passage (1932)
43. She Took Matters Into Her Own Hands
In 1934, Kay starred in the film Dr Monica, which had a surprisingly daring plot for the time. It featured Kay as an obstetrician who makes a horrifying realization: One of her patients is about to give birth to her husband's child. The very same year Kay made Dr Monica, she also suffered a mysterious accident.
Paramount, Trouble in Paradise (1932)
44. She Almost Lost Everything
A strange incident occurred in 1934. Supposedly, Kay injured her wrist—but there was something fishy about the reason she gave. Reportedly, she had accidentally locked herself out of her home. In an attempt to break back in, the glass window sliced into her wrist. However, most don't believe this excuse, but rather that Kay had made an unsuccessful attempt on her life.
But if her life was already on a rocky course, things were about to go from bad to worse.
Twentieth Century, Charley's Aunt (1941)
45. She Couldn’t Hold On
In 1937, the relationship between Warner Brothers and their queen was no longer as happy as it had once been. Trouble was brewing. The year prior, Kay starred in The White Angel. This film was a Florence Nightingale biopic. While many agree that Nightingale was one of Kay’s best roles, the movie as a whole was a complete flop—and it marred her career in a devastating way.
Warner Bros., The White Angel (1936)
46. She Lost Her Influence
As a response to the horrid reviews of The White Angel, Warner Brothers began to lose faith in their former queen. Instead of giving her the best roles they had to offer, they did the opposite. The studio moved Kay down their list of priorities. Consequently, the scripts presented to her were of the most disappointing quality. Things came to a head in 1938.
Warner Bros., The White Angel (1936)
47. She Fought Back
The studio had promised Kay Francis a role in an upcoming film. However, when the time came to cast, they went back on their word and offered it to Claudette Colbert. Kay didn’t let this treatment stand. She put together a lawsuit against Warner Brothers. Things were looking dark for the studio that had formerly touted her as their best leading lady.
John Engstead, Wikimedia Commons
48. She Couldn’t Win
No one quite knows what happened behind closed doors—but in the end, when it came time for Kay to make her case in court, she had a jaw-dropping change of heart. Warner Brothers paid nothing, and Kay stayed with them for another year. However, by the end of 1939, Warner Brothers wiped their hands clean of the actress for good.
Paramount, Trouble in Paradise (1932)
49. She Wanted Security
While Kay fought the studio over her treatment, it had never been about the roles. It was about the money. It was about her livelihood. In a diary entry from around 1938, Francis wrote, “As long as they pay my salary, they can give me a broom and I’ll sweep the stage”. All these years later, and she was still running from her mother’s fate.
Twentieth Century, Charley's Aunt (1941)
50. She Didn’t Care For Fame
In that same diary entry, Kay Francis wrote another line that has become synonymous with her memory: "When I die, I want to be cremated so that no sign of my existence is left on this earth. I can't wait to be forgotten". As the 1940s wore on, it seemed as though her wish might actually come true.
Twentieth Century, Charley's Aunt (1941)
51. She Began To Fade From Sight
Although Kay continued to film movies during the 1940s, her career never truly bounced back. The times had changed and Kay couldn’t change with them.
During the 1930s, depression-era women longed to be Kay Francis. However, as WWII made the country more austere, it was no longer in good taste to appear in glamourous gowns, waving wealth and luxury around. Kay Francis’s Hollywood career had ground to a shuddering halt.
Paramount, Trouble in Paradise (1932)
52. She Went Back To Familiar Ground
Kay Francis’s last film, Wife Wanted, aired in 1946. After that, she went back to where she started. Kay spent the rest of the 1940s touring with various stage productions. She also sunk further into her depression and her vices, and it was only a matter of time before they led to a harrowing incident.
Monogram Pictures, Wife Wanted (1946)
53. She Couldn’t Avoid Tragedy
In 1948, while touring in Ohio for a production of State of the Union, Kay sustained some serious burns on her legs—and the cause was utterly tragic. Reportedly, Kay had had a respiratory infection. On top of this, she accidentally took far too many pills. After losing consciousness in her hotel room, it was both her manager and traveling companion who discovered her body.
Warner Bros., One Way Passage (1932)
54. She Burned Her Legs
In a desperate attempt to get Kay some much-needed air, her manager and companion hoisted her up and dragged her closer to the window—and that's when the steaming hot radiator branded her. Although she recovered from the incident, it aggravated her already failing health. And it wasn't long after this that she bowed out of the public eye for good.
Paramount, Trouble in Paradise (1932)
55. She Felt Her Loss Deeply
After she retired from acting, Kay Francis fell deeper and deeper into drink and melancholy. In one incident near the end of her life, Kay was so sloshed—a friend had to help her stay upright on the street. As the sad pair waited for a taxi to arrive, a passing stranger recognized Kay, and even inquired, “Is that Kay Francis?” Kay's reply was so heartbreaking—it's unforgettable.
Kay drolly replied, “It used to be”.
Twentieth Century, Charley's Aunt (1941)
56. She Wanted To Be Forgotten
After a larger-than-life career, and a personal life full of passion and heartbreak, Kay Francis finally got her wish. Her drinking habit effectively drove away those closest to her, and she began isolating herself. The end of her life was in stark contrast to the peak of her Hollywood stardom.
Universal, Between Us Girls (1942)
57. She Didn't Want A Funeral
Kay passed in 1968 from breast cancer and, true to form, made arrangements that reflected her desire to fade into obscurity. She didn't want a funeral or a gravestone. Instead, she chose cremation and didn't care about the fate of her remains at all—her will outlining how her ashes could be dealt with as "the undertaker sees fit". She'd likely be happy to learn that the world has mostly forgotten about her... mostly.
Twentieth Century, Charley's Aunt (1941)
58. She’s Remembered Despite It All
Kay Francis left her million-dollar fortune to a guide dog organization in New Jersey and was content to become a ghost of Hollywood history. Many have forgotten her films and they will continue to fade as newer and bigger things come to take their place.
However, she can be remembered through any young woman who blazes through life with the same brightness and passion that she did. That’s the true Kay Francis formula.
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