Alice Jeanne Faye (/ˈfeɪ/; née Leppert; May , â€" May , ) was an
American actress and singer. A musical star of th Century-Fox in the s
and s, Faye starred in such films as On the Avenue () and Alexander's
Ragtime Band (). She is often associated with the Academy
Awardâ€"winning standard "You'll Never Know", which she introduced in
the musical film Hello, Frisco, Hello.She left her career as a film
actress and became known for her role on the radio show The Phil
Harris-Alice Faye Show.Alice Jeanne Leppert was born on May , , in
Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, the daughter of Alice (née Moffit; â€"),
who worked for the Mirror Chocolate Company, and Charles Leppert
(â€"), a police officer. She had an older brother, Charles (â€"). Faye
was raised an Episcopalian. Faye's entertainment career began in
vaudeville as a chorus girl. She failed an audition for the Earl
Carroll Vanities when it was revealed she was too young, then moved to
Broadway and a featured role in the edition of George White's
Scandals. By this time, she had adopted her stage name and first
reached a radio audience on Rudy Vallée's The Fleischmann's Yeast
Hour.Faye got her first major film break in , when Lilian Harvey
abandoned the lead role in a film version of George White's Scandals,
in which Vallee was also to appear. Hired first to perform a musical
number with Vallee, Faye ended up as the female lead. She became a hit
with film audiences of the s, particularly when Fox production head
Darryl F. Zanuck made her his protégée. He softened Faye from a
wisecracking show girl to a youthful, and yet somewhat motherly
figure, such as her roles in a few Shirley Temple films. Faye received
a physical makeover, going from a version of Jean Harlow to a
wholesome appearance, in which her platinum hair and pencil-line
eyebrows were swapped for a more natural look.
American actress and singer. A musical star of th Century-Fox in the s
and s, Faye starred in such films as On the Avenue () and Alexander's
Ragtime Band (). She is often associated with the Academy
Awardâ€"winning standard "You'll Never Know", which she introduced in
the musical film Hello, Frisco, Hello.She left her career as a film
actress and became known for her role on the radio show The Phil
Harris-Alice Faye Show.Alice Jeanne Leppert was born on May , , in
Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, the daughter of Alice (née Moffit; â€"),
who worked for the Mirror Chocolate Company, and Charles Leppert
(â€"), a police officer. She had an older brother, Charles (â€"). Faye
was raised an Episcopalian. Faye's entertainment career began in
vaudeville as a chorus girl. She failed an audition for the Earl
Carroll Vanities when it was revealed she was too young, then moved to
Broadway and a featured role in the edition of George White's
Scandals. By this time, she had adopted her stage name and first
reached a radio audience on Rudy Vallée's The Fleischmann's Yeast
Hour.Faye got her first major film break in , when Lilian Harvey
abandoned the lead role in a film version of George White's Scandals,
in which Vallee was also to appear. Hired first to perform a musical
number with Vallee, Faye ended up as the female lead. She became a hit
with film audiences of the s, particularly when Fox production head
Darryl F. Zanuck made her his protégée. He softened Faye from a
wisecracking show girl to a youthful, and yet somewhat motherly
figure, such as her roles in a few Shirley Temple films. Faye received
a physical makeover, going from a version of Jean Harlow to a
wholesome appearance, in which her platinum hair and pencil-line
eyebrows were swapped for a more natural look.
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